constantly "foggy" brain is killing my education

[kcducttaper]

I'm a 21 year-old college kid and over the past 3-4 years, I seem to be having increasing memory problems, trouble verbalizing stuff, can't focus, absolutely no motivation, my head feels foggy/fuzzy, etc. I haven't officially been diagnosed with ADD, but I do seem to have a mild form of it, but with enough self-discipline, I can get stuff done anyways. On an average day, my brain only seems to be working at 70% or so with the short-term memory loss, asking people questions about what they just said, etc. Occasionally, it dips down to like 50% or so (like this afternoon), but on a very rare day, it jumps back up to 100%. When it does jump to 100%, I can fly through 2-hours worth of homework in under an hour, finish labs in half of the allotted time and be the first one out (even though I'm not trying to race through it), instantly give a complete and thorough response to someone, etc. I was one of those kids that just didn't have to study in high-school at all and graduated highschool with 36 hours of real college credit at a 3.0 GPA and stuff, but I've had to drop and re-take a bunch of classes over the past 2 years and even had to drop a full semester to avoid being kicked out for GPA stuff. Needless to say, this is having a drastic affect on my GPA, which could potentially affect my entire career. Now I'm struggling yet again with just 3 classes (none of them over 300 level) this semester and am on the verge of dropping another one (Calc 2). I went to my local doc and he sent me home with a round of antibiotics and Mucinex D for Chronic Sinus Congestion. That worked brilliantly for about a week, so I went to him again and he gave me a bigger round, which again worked for a short period, then it's back to normal. Staying on the Mucinex D seems to maybe kinda almost help a little bit, but it just doesn't seem like that's all there is to the problem. I know my brain is easily capable of getting my computer science degree in good time, but it's just not happening right now with all this. I'm starting to fear that I may not be able to finish college in a reasonable amount of time (I'm starting in on my 6th year already and still have 2+ years to go), or I might have a brain tumor or something ridiculous like that. I'm not really a stresser so much and when I did get stressed out, it didn't affect my memory that much when I was younger, so I highly doubt it's a stress thing. Something else occurred to me though. Since the human body is still developing until mid-twenties, perhaps as I've been getting older, my blood vessels haven't grown as large as they should for proper blood flow to the brain. If that is the case, I've heard of something or another that's supposed to help out a lot with that, which improves memory and stuff. Any ideas? On a side note that might be useful, I do have somewhat high blood pressure. I don't remember the numbers, but it's high enough that the nurse sometimes mentions something about it, but they haven't put me on any meds yet, although I'm looking into that.

[kcducttaper]

I'm a straight-to-the-point fellow, so please don't be offended by the bluntness of any of this, it's just straight to the point with no fluffy bits. :)

I already explained the fact and reasoning why I doubt it's all due to Chronic Sinus Congestion. I could see it playing a part of it, but it just doesn't seem like it's nearly the whole cause.

I'm not taking any prescription meds, I am still taking a multivitamin thing; not to boost my immune system, but just to get enough of the good stuff in my system.

I'm well aware of all kinds of things that delay graduation and am already on top of it if I get asked that question in an interview. I've already explained all that stuff to one of the engineering deans here and won't hesitate to explain it again should circumstances arise for it.

I love computer stuff and am good at it, even with 75% of my brain (it's the 60-50% days that kill me), so I'm not changing my major any time soon. I'm not really a fan of taking a test to tell me what I'm good at either. In my opinion, making those kinds of decisions based on what a little test says is not wise at all. I would consider it nothing more than a somewhat intelligent suggestion to take into consideration, but would be, by no means, a decision-maker. I am, however, debating adding Mechanical Engineering to it at some point, but not replacing Comp Sci.

Now, on to my potential 'solution'. It occurred to me the other day that since your brain is still developing until your early-mid 20's, that perhaps my brain's blood vessel's haven't developed enough to keep up with the rest of my brain yet, thus starving it of oxygen. That would explain the fluctuation as it would take into account blood pressure as well as blood thickness. I've ordered some stuff (after a couple days of research of course) that has ingredients that enlarge the brain's blood vessels as well as boosting connectivity between the neurotransmitters up there, which would more or less 'cure' the problem if my hypothesis is correct. I'll give it a shot for a while and see what happens. I have a feeling that it will help significantly, but I'll just have to wait and see.

[ggreg]

Son, I think I know what the problem might be with your brain fog.  When you get a sinus infection going good in your nose, the literature says it can indeed cause "brain fog," not to mention it will wear you slam out.  Your sinuses are why some of the medicines you're taking to keep your nose clear are slightly helping your thinking.  In addition, let us say you were taking various clogged-up nose medicines, well, some can cause the blood pressure to jump up from time to time.  Next time you see the doc who is now treating you for sinus problems, ask him if any meds you are on now might cause a high BP.

Now, I can give you a few tips to stay on top of that nose of yours.  First, at the drugstore, get a PLAIN saline nasal spray, and before breakfast and before dinner, make it a routine to squirt some of that up in your nose.  Second, drink extra water daily to help break up the mucous easier.  Third, once a week put some fresh crushed garlic clove in your food, like salads and sauces, it will help your nose and immune system.  Also, once a week, until you get to feeling better, take a complex multivitamin and mineral supplement, to help the immune system, too.  

Fourth, the humidity in your sleeping space must not get too dry, and A/C can dry you out just like heat can (I keep a container with a lid half-on of water in my bedroom on the vent).  Fifth, there is a chance your nose is like it is from allergy to one of many things, not just pollen, but even foods, so you might consider having an allergy doc test you for what you might be allergic to, if anything.  Connected to that, it is important to keep your sleeping space dusted, vacuumed, and sheets clean, do it every two weeks.  Last, think about visiting an ear nose throat ENT doctor and ask him if he would please wash your nose out (he might want to wash your ears, too), and he might even give you some drops to further clear your nose (and maybe ears) of infection.

By the by, lots of things happen to college students to delay their graduation.  Plenty of people don't finish undergrad work until later than expected, and if graduate school or employer asks you about it, you tell them you had continuing rough bouts with sinusitus and it slowed you down, but that you finally got it straight.  Then point out your fine GPA (if it's still good) or that persistance is apparently a good quality of yours.

One more thing.  Do ask yourself if taking calculus and getting a computer science degree is really up your alley.  Some universities will have a career department where they can test you on stuff you like, and you may find you would be better off tweaking your major.  Or you can flip through your college catalog of coursework in the back, just see all the wonderous things that are out there to study, and if something or other catches your eye, throw them into your elective course selections.  

Feel free to post back to us about how you are doing.  Could be I'm all wrong and you might need more replies.  But I'd work on that nose a little more, it can't hurt, that's for sure.