Brain fog....

[justme53]

I often hear about "brain fog" resulting from tx or being HCV related, but most often spoke of in general terms.

What I want to know is how YOU define it...how it affects your life.

I find myself moving from misplacing my glasses or keys...to forgetting names, appointments, phones numbers....to now losing track of parts of conversations. I could (and have) blamed it on stress, age, ADD...what have you. But labeling it, doesn't make it go away.

To date, it is the symptom of HCV that most concerns me.

Your thoughts?

[oyasin]

I'm 57 btw. I've been bad with names and phone numbers since I was very young. long before hcv. Seemed like the more I worried about forgetting, the worse it was. Not a very good test taker in school either. Pressure to recall would wipe my mind clean, only to remember minutes or hours later. Just my personality, I figured.  Impossible to say now what is causing what in that regard.
Now, during tx, that is a different story. I tried to keep "the fog" in perspective. I knew that negative thoughts/emotions/feelings/reactions were caused by the meds. Sometimes in mid sentance I'd lose a word and just stop talking. I'd just say "sorry, I'm taking some meds that mess with my head sometimes", and continue.
One thing for sure in my case during tx, the busier I was, the sharper I was. My brain seemed to respond as well to high activity, as it did negatively to inactivity. Kind of like life with out meds, now that I think of it! Off tx 3 wks now and returning to 'normal' forgetfullness.
Also, ditto GrandmaA. There are suppliments out there for focus. I take ginsing. Aside from hcv and the sx of meds, unfortunately, age and stress will take it's toll.
A one word answer for general treatment? I'd have to say exercise.
David

[GrandmaA]

I'm also taking "Neuro Optimizer" dietary supplement by Jarrow Formulas. It contains some great stuff. I don't want to wait 3 years for this fog to lift, smile. Check it out at www.jarrow.com

[charm27]

I am 4 months into tx. Before tx I wondered too what it would be or if I would even have it. Well I have it and as of this month hit me very hard. Total utter confusuin at times, leaving refrigerator door open, taking vitamins instead of Riba, leaving things in the wrong place. Its a feeling of not being able to think further then who you are and what your name is. Things seem very overwhelming at times and your brain feels so cluttered there is no room left for anything else. Its a feeling that is hard to define. Unfortunately one has to go thru it to understand like anything else.

Hoping it wont be bad for you and you will sail thru!
good luck with tx.

[CMcH]

I feel like I have brain fog and I haven't even started TX yet so that really scares me. It has gotten worse in the past few years. At first I would blame it on age or menopause but with all the autoimmune disorders I have been having over the last few years, I am starting  to think its the Hep C.

[medicmommy]

My first episode of brain fog (that I noticed) happened while I was driving the freeway...Jus t forgot I was driving for a moment...too weird..I'd describe it as "spacing out" momentarily...Mine seems to be getting a bit better as I progress in tx..However, my spelling is worse...lol...By the way...Pudding cups that are supposed to be refrigerated and get put in the cupboard, explode...Just thought you'd like to know...lol

[sfwandwow]

i get brain fog and i just laugh at myself at times what else can we do... LOL.. may GOD bless yall

[GrandmaA]

Brain fog is also called "chemo" brain. It's from the medications, especially interferon, I believe. Yes it can cause all the symptoms you mention in your posting.

It is from ammonia in the brain. You doctor can give you a prescription for Lactulose for it (especially if you are constipated). You can also take L-ornithine.

They say it does go away in time. I know a friend who had chemo 4 years ago for cancer and he still has chemo brain. I don't know if he tried the above mentioned treatments for it.