brain fog vs cognitive dysfunction

[rendean]

I know this may seem simple to some but could someone please explain the difference between brain fog and cognitive dysfunction. For example, I have had  difficulty typing what I want my brain to say..and I do this for a living. Tis is a new symptom and since I 'm going to the neuro I wanted to add it my Tracker but wasn't sure which was which. thaks.

Rendean

[rendean]

Thanks to everyone for their input and support. All of you are describing  exactly what I have been experiencing. Nice to know I'm not alone. I will follow your advice tomorrow at the neuro and see what he says.

Thanks again!

[jensequitur]

Yup, yup, all of the above.  I've also had a neuro-psych exam, which showed 'cognitive impairment' in a few select areas.  We say brain fog, I guess because it's easier to type!

Be specific about your problems to the neurologist.  For example, I have difficulty forming sentences sometimes - putting one word in front of the other.  I also have difficulty coming up with the right word to say.  Worst of all, my typing has become atrocious, and I'll set out to type a owrd and enc up typinc something somepletly different...  as you can see here.  I usually correct everything I type.  I think what's scariest is that I now misspell words, and don't recognize that they're misspelled.  I used to be a great speller.

[doni54]

Hi Rendean,

I agree with Karen, just tell your neuro exactly what problems you are having.  I did a timeline of symptoms and my cog issues was a part of it.  This is what I gave to my neuro.  

My typing is getting worse, and I constantly transpose the letters, type the entirely wrong word, can't remember how to spell the simplest words, etc.  I know how frustrating this can be.  It takes me forever to post here as I always have to go back and recheck everything I've typed.

Good luck at your neuro appt.

doni

[Karen99]

Well.....this reminds me of myself going to my neurologist appointment and announcing that I had "short term memory problems."   I don't know why I used that term.  He did a few simple cognition tests and told me I had memory retrieval problems. He suggested I take a cognition test given by a psychologist.  The results were right on target.  While taking the tests, I could tell by my thinking process where my weakness lay.  The good part about this test is that you are also told what your strong points are.  I no longer attempt to multi-task.  But I can intensely focus on a task or project.  Just don't tell me something during that time I need to remember cuz I'll forget the conversation entirely.  

At times, I cannot find the correct words to use, but I can compensate for that and most people don't notice.  This gets worse, like everything else for me with fatigue.

So I guess my point is, tell your neuro specifically what you are experiencing cognitively; can't find the right words, can't put a sentence together, brain feels foggy, can't remember what I did last night, have a difficult time balancing checkbook, etc.

I'll have to look at that Tracker.