HORRIBLE BRAIN FOG TODAY!!!! UGGG

[RAY911]

Hi everyone.

Today its started agian sooooooo bad,, I feel brain dead!!!!!!!!!  This just *****!!!!!  I try so hard and cant for my life think straight..  I try to say something and cant find the word,, I KNOW what i want to say but cant friggen find it ,,, then I try to find another to cover up,,,,,  well that hasn't worked much either,, I swear this has got to end,, I feel like i'm on drugs or something... Please anyone relate and if so what can you do????????????????

I was thinking about that GinkoBaloba  sp???   Uno the over the counter med that is supposed to help your memory??  then I was thinking about the Alzheimer's med. lol,, no i'm not kidding,, maybe that would help??
also today It felt like there were Blood pressure cuffs pumped to the max on my legs,, BOTH legs not just one,,,
still havent heard from the doc,, I started taking some college class's to further my nursing career,, but If I dont snap out of this I dont think there will be a FURTHER nursing career,  
I'm so frustrated.  When I went to college years ago,, I could just listen to the lectures and take the test, I learned really fast...... well now what a joke,,, I have a hard time understanding ,, I read the chapter and by the time I'm at the end of the chapter, I forget most everything...

I need some input here,
thanks guys


Thanks for listening again
RAy

[LLWB]

Happy for you that you did well on exam. It's nice to feel validation for oneself. Good for you. Don't give up on your dream. Our dreams are what keep us moving forward in life. Sometimes those dreams change, but that is when we find out God's plan for us is slightly different than our plans for ourselves. And God's are always better.  Hugs & prayers.

Maggie

[Terrie2008]

Hi Ray

Really hope you have passed that's great news when will you find out for sure.


CONGRATULATIONS


Best wishes

Terrie

x x

[RAY911]

Hey guess what???

I think I PASSED my exam.... YAAAAAAAHOOOOOOO!!!!!

I needed this.  for my self-esteem...

anyway thankyou again.

Ray

[Terrie2008]

Hi Ray

Poor you I went through a spell of this I had to write every thing down.

I also had to put little notes every where to remind myself of what I had to do.

When I was out I would laugh it of and say I'm having lots of blond moments, not sure what excuse i can use next as each time i go to the hairdressers I go a little darker.

Hang on in there, This must be so frustrating for you, may be leave the studying for an hour and do some me time then go back to it.

I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we are all with you and hoping you get through

this exam all the best.

Hugs

Terrie

[RAY911]

Just wanted to Thank everyone so much for your thoughts and comments.

Today is my big Exam and i've studied my head off....
I've read and read again,  took notes,, recopied my notes. etc

It is disheartening to me how I used to be.  I dont know if it is just that i'm getting older.. or the lesions in my brain. I just dont know. But I will do whatever repetitive study to get threw this.

Thank you agian
RAy

[Deb61]

I want to chime in and say that I agree with Julia.  The Provigil has helped me more than anything with this problem.  It's an expensive medicine, so if you don't have insurance that will cover it it may not be an option for you.  But if you can get it, I'd try it.  

I'm sorry about the brain fog thing.  I hate that you're feeling like that!  I hope you start feeling better soon, Ray.

Deb

[AMO]

hi Ray,

hoow do  you feel today?  iido hope better
I was put on one alzhiemers med,  mamendatine (sp) some time back. I think it was suppose to give me e negry aand feel more here, or   i think so, it was awhile ago. I did not take it long.

I know there is anotherr drug for Alzhiemrs, i see it on the t.v.
I am lucky my doctor willing to try and treat symptoms even though the meds don't nessacary made for that.

I hope yopu feel better toady. amo

[pennst8r]

I feel your pain. I mentioned in a post yesterday about how I kept sending emails without the attachments, sayingthe wrong thing. It's embarassing to say the least.

Hang in there though, mine's better today. I prefer to call it brain farts - shame on me;) That's my common upbringing, lol!

Take care!

Penn

[julia111]

Hi Ray!  Cog Fog has been one of my biggest issues and I can totally relate even though my dx is Fibromyalgia, not MS.

There are just no words to describe it at its worse - - -

That being said, I have found that my Cog Fog has improved tremendously since I started taking Provigil for fatigue a couple of months ago.

I don't know if that would be an option for you or not??

It is definitely not a cure as I still have my moments - but I feel I am at least a semi-inteligent human being again : )

I hope this helps some!

Best wishes,
Julia

[michael1028]

So sorry to hear that you are having such difficulty in functioning. I have this problem at times but fourtunately it does not last real long. maybe a day or so.  i agree with Kathy that notes help. They sure help me. i would be lost with out them. i find myself going off to get something and then wondering what I am doing. it is indeed a strange feeling.
I pray that things get better for you my friend. I am sending prayers your way.
Bless you ray,
mike  

[Fluffysmom]

I found an article about a study they did on Ginko Biloba at OHSU.  I'm going to try to get the link to you, so you can read it.

http://news.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-3/OHSU-study-finds-ginkgo-beneficial-for-MS-symptoms-10213-2/

Just remember, if you decide to try it, talk to your doctor, since it can interact with medicines and I think it can raise your blood pressure, can't remember right now.  

If you're too foggy to read the article right now, try saving it or printing it out so you can read it later.

I always find it helpful to write things out; it helps put it in our memory banks, I think.  I did that way back when I was in college, and totally healthy, and it really helped then.  Now I have to make notes, and take notes during phone conversations, or I forget what was said.

Hey, that's a great thing about the forum; if you forget something, you can go back and look it up.  Someday I'll go back and read my first post. Can't remember what I said.

I keeping hoping and praying that you'll be feeling better soon.  I think it's awesome that you're going back to school; wish I had the guts to try!  

Kathy

[wonko]

Ditto.

I can not concentrate on my work, and it stinks.  I already feel all kinds of odd sensory nonsense, but when it literally gets into my head, I get very cranky and annoyed.  I too am dealing with some embarassment and needing to cover-up a little with co-workers, both due to the obvious discomfort I am in (sitting through meetings is awful, my sensory symptoms get worse if I can't stretch and change positions frequently, my limbs "fall asleep" so quicky), my double vision, though mild, makes it really hard to read graphs etc, and also my concentration is totally zapped.  

I attend seminars a lot at work, but lately I spend most of my energy trying to appear normal and comfortable instead of learning.  So I can relate to what you're saying about classes.  The same papers have been on my desk for quite awhile, and like you say, even if I read them, nothing "sticks," it's total teflon brain.  While I normally read as a passtime, I've been on the same book for longer than I'm even willing to admit, since I keep back-tracking!

When I was taking classes, it always helped me to re-copy all of my notes.  Granted that was before any of this, but maybe just going over things several times will help with retention.  Everyone learns differently, so hopefully you'll hear more ideas!  I've also been writing more explicit lists for myself of exactly what I should (atleast try) to do.  I need to take a lot of breaks to deal with discomfort, so having a to-do list helps me keep track of where I am and what I'm trying to do.  Plus checking things off is a sort of gratification, so I always make some of the steps really easy to give myself that tiny boost!

Sorry you have all of this to deal with!  With the BP cuff feeling, do you actually feel that tightness?  I feel like I have weights on, but no squeezing.  Sounds lousy!

Take care!