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Can anyone describe what "Brain Fog" is?
You lot out there so often refer to "brain fog". Can anyone give their version of what it means? I'm not sure if it's what I think it is or something else. Does it mean that you just can't think straight? Like you're somewhere else? You know what you want to say but it comes out muddled and you feel stupid? Or does that just mean I'm naturally stupid!!!
Brain fog doesn't have to remain a permanent state. How about posting your thyroid related test results and reference ranges shown on the lab report and let members assess the status of your testing and treatment? Also, if tested for Vitamin D, B12 and ferritin, please post those, with ranges, as well.
LOL like others here I can relate to the symptoms of "Brain fog"
Funny thing is, I was just writing my name on my thyroxine tablets when I noticed this post and I had to laugh, the reason I write my name on them is because I keep my tablets in a divider box with my partner, his are on the left, mine are on the right,(although I would haveto check that again just to be sure) I only take thyroxine and nothing else so they are the only strip of tablets on my side, but I am still never sure they are mine unless I have my name on them. Even then (i haveto keep thyroxine in the fridge) I have to check the back of the strip of tablets with the box in the fridge just to be sure
Also at work, I work on a computer typing out consignment notes and billing clients for the consignment note, I would be staring at the parcel, and at the computer screen wondering, what was I doing, and making no sense of what I was doing for a few minutes, then it's like, oh that's right, I'm typing out a consignment note for this client.. duhh me
Often I will get up out of my chair at home stand for like 15 mins and wonder why I got up, or wonder why I was in that room in the first place OR if before I was sitting.. often I would sit back down, and it's a light bulb moment and I would think, Oh I remember now that's what I was going to do, or to get, and when I get or do the thing, I wonder, what did I need this for, or why did I want to do that.
These moments often last just a few mins, worst was like 45mins but I am getting useto it
My partner gets annoyed because he would be speaking to me about some thing, or some event coming up and I am positive I am listening to him, but a few mins later he would ask me what we were talking about and for the life of me, I do not know, or it takes a while for me to even get an idea of what it was, so I would spout a few words like, you were talking about going to that resturant with thingamajigg and thingamabob lol
I can laugh now but usually at the time it gets him quite irritated with me.
I seem to notice it more and more lately but you just take the good days with the bad days and move on.
There are many other moments but my recall short term is a shocker, so I couldn't really say
what I can say is thank god for the squiggly lines under spelling mistakes, because without them, you'd prolly be reading typonese lol
Funny thing is, I was just writing my name on my thyroxine tablets when I noticed this post and I had to laugh, the reason I write my name on them is because I keep my tablets in a divider box with my partner, his are on the left, mine are on the right,(although I would haveto check that again just to be sure) I only take thyroxine and nothing else so they are the only strip of tablets on my side, but I am still never sure they are mine unless I have my name on them. Even then (i haveto keep thyroxine in the fridge) I have to check the back of the strip of tablets with the box in the fridge just to be sure
Also at work, I work on a computer typing out consignment notes and billing clients for the consignment note, I would be staring at the parcel, and at the computer screen wondering, what was I doing, and making no sense of what I was doing for a few minutes, then it's like, oh that's right, I'm typing out a consignment note for this client.. duhh me
Often I will get up out of my chair at home stand for like 15 mins and wonder why I got up, or wonder why I was in that room in the first place OR if before I was sitting.. often I would sit back down, and it's a light bulb moment and I would think, Oh I remember now that's what I was going to do, or to get, and when I get or do the thing, I wonder, what did I need this for, or why did I want to do that.
These moments often last just a few mins, worst was like 45mins but I am getting useto it
My partner gets annoyed because he would be speaking to me about some thing, or some event coming up and I am positive I am listening to him, but a few mins later he would ask me what we were talking about and for the life of me, I do not know, or it takes a while for me to even get an idea of what it was, so I would spout a few words like, you were talking about going to that resturant with thingamajigg and thingamabob lol
I can laugh now but usually at the time it gets him quite irritated with me.
I seem to notice it more and more lately but you just take the good days with the bad days and move on.
There are many other moments but my recall short term is a shocker, so I couldn't really say
what I can say is thank god for the squiggly lines under spelling mistakes, because without them, you'd prolly be reading typonese lol
What were the numbers that the Endo thought were so good that you did not need meds? How can you be sure that it was the meds causing the brain fog and not that your Thyroid hormone levels were too low? We really need to have a look at your test results and reference ranges from the lab report to give our own assessment about your status.
I just want to thank everyone on here for your posts.I have been diagnosed hypo and i was on levothyroxine for 2 mnths.My endo took me off of it because I told him i felt very weird.I feel totally out of it and I feel like i can't think straight and I have brain fog.That is the best way to describe it.BRAIN FOG! Ugh I cant stand feeling like this.My primary Dr. put me on a low dose of levothyroxine because I was borderline hypothyroid.I kept telling him I felt weird and he said to continue to take it since my numbers were good.I finally told him I wanted to go to an endo.My endo took me off of it because he said that I might not need it since I was borderline.I will go to my endo in Dec so he can check my numbers.I think I am feeling this way because of this med still in my system.Even if it is a lose dose.Because, I wasn't feeling like this before the meds.I didn't have brain fog or felt out of it and i sure didn't feel anxious.Hopefully I will get answers soon and start to feel better.
A very wise woman once told me "thank goodness for brain fog. If it weren't for that, all we'd have left is fatigue and pain. At least the brain fog gives us something to laugh about." And it's true. :)
thats why I love this forum. You find out there are so many that are just like you and you don't feel alone and crazy. Isn't it great! I don't know how to make this something funny but I think we ought to laugh. linda
I put jojo because I can't remember who started this. I have frog fog too. I didn't know what it was. I am hypo, waiting to see if I have ms and going to have surgary on that back side thing, parathyroib. Can parathyroid cause it/. I can't believe so many have this, it is not wonderful but I'm not crazy now. maggiesue65
Count me in too! IM CRAZY!.....lmbo.
Yes I can be fine one day or minute and then the next im in that fog or "daze". I often find my self frightened of it too. There has been many times on the express way feeling like im in a fog and often wondering if I would get into an accident. Then I would give my self a panic attack and would have to stop the car!
I was once told ...The crazy ones are the ones that dont think they are crazy......Now those are the ones to watch out for!
Yes I can be fine one day or minute and then the next im in that fog or "daze". I often find my self frightened of it too. There has been many times on the express way feeling like im in a fog and often wondering if I would get into an accident. Then I would give my self a panic attack and would have to stop the car!
I was once told ...The crazy ones are the ones that dont think they are crazy......Now those are the ones to watch out for!
I'm really glad I posted this question because it has generated so so many responses and is still doing so and everyone of them had been fantastic. And I just wanted to say I'm knew to all this thyroid stuff so I'm never sure what is normal or not! But aswell as the other things, I too get what you get so exactly the same as you. When the brain fog comes I panic and feel so scared because to me it's as though I'm losing control. And I also get it one day, then nothing a day or two, then back again for three days, nothing for one day etc. So I honestly know exactly what you mean. So if it means "crazy", then we're both crazy together! We'll keep each other going.
I have a question to ask of those of you that posted. Do you feel "normal" at times and then back to the brain fog which for me is tenseness and feeling fear because of it along with all the other symptoms you all mentioned. I don't understand how I can feel good no brain fog or other symptoms one day and the next have everything back. I am on a low dose of synthroid because I can't tolerate more that 37.5 mg. What do you think am I crazy or not. How can you feel "normal" one day and yucky the next. I am grateful that I have a normal day once in a while. Hopefully this will get more and more as time goes on. linda
All of these posts are such true descriptions! I have always felt the brain fog as a feeling of being "out of it" (sort of like the description somebody posted of the fluffy clouds) or like somebody spiked my drink with something to "sloooowwwwwwww me down......"..I didn't like driving much for some time, it was a very scary feeling when driving down the freeway being passed by very noisy BIG trucks as my "alertness" had just about gone, the noise of the traffic seemed amplified, and I must have been driving about in a daze! However, I also found it a very difficult feeling to describe to my doctor because by the time I got there I'd usually forgotten to tell him or her how I had been feeling......and was usually too tired to care anyway!!!
For me, the most obvious part of it is forgetting the name for something. LIke I'll say, can you hand me the...the...the thing with the handle....
Kateee
Kateee
Ok, here goes the typing. No spellcheck or changing the words. This is brave of me.
i used to put my little boy in time out and then forget about him. My husband waould say, "What on earth did he do? He's been in there for an hour." I'd forgotten all about him. Or hi'd finally say "Mama, can I get up now?" and I'd say, "whatta I care?" he'd say, "well, you're the one sho put me in time out." "Oh," I'd say, "yeah, I think you've learned your lesson." The poor child lived in horrid fear of being put in time out. LOL
Used to put the ice cream in the fridge instaed of the freezer. Wore 2 different shoes more than once. Have worn 2 different earrings. Always going into a room and then just turning around and walking out. Don't even care why I was there.
If you really want to hear about brain fog check out the Chicken Club link Nyxie posted again.
i used to put my little boy in time out and then forget about him. My husband waould say, "What on earth did he do? He's been in there for an hour." I'd forgotten all about him. Or hi'd finally say "Mama, can I get up now?" and I'd say, "whatta I care?" he'd say, "well, you're the one sho put me in time out." "Oh," I'd say, "yeah, I think you've learned your lesson." The poor child lived in horrid fear of being put in time out. LOL
Used to put the ice cream in the fridge instaed of the freezer. Wore 2 different shoes more than once. Have worn 2 different earrings. Always going into a room and then just turning around and walking out. Don't even care why I was there.
If you really want to hear about brain fog check out the Chicken Club link Nyxie posted again.
I was arranging a football team for their photo and upon reading one player’s jersey I addressed him by that name so he could move over a little, adding the word Mr. as a courtesy. Then I turned to another player and upon reading his jersey I asked him to do the same thing, of course again adding Mr. as a courtesy. This time I heard slight giggles. Then I turned to yet another player to go through the same thing, only this time I proclaimed, ‘Gee you have the, no wait, no, you have the same name as the other two, oh wow!’ With that it got silent; then a coach said, ‘Ah, that’s our team name.’
Naturally, everyone cracked up.
Of course, this was standing in front of a bunch of monster football players in uniform, plus some all-pulled-together coaches and stern let’s-get-this-over-with managers. Worst of all it was in front of my sarcastic, smarty-pants co-worker - who likes to dog my every misstep! When I looked over at him, all he could do was roll his eyes.
I'll never forget that one. I think it was brain fog, no?
Naturally, everyone cracked up.
Of course, this was standing in front of a bunch of monster football players in uniform, plus some all-pulled-together coaches and stern let’s-get-this-over-with managers. Worst of all it was in front of my sarcastic, smarty-pants co-worker - who likes to dog my every misstep! When I looked over at him, all he could do was roll his eyes.
I'll never forget that one. I think it was brain fog, no?
"Brain Fog"
The response to my wife when she accuses me of not listening to her.
It's worked for years.
The response to my wife when she accuses me of not listening to her.
It's worked for years.
Nyxie, your comment really hit home. I spent an entire summer referring to every object I encountered as "the thingie" or "the whoosie whatsie". As I'm going to be going back to hypohe\\ this summer, I'm going to try to figure out a new word for nouns.
Your answers are so funny and until now I thought I was the only one who could open my fridge door to find a packet of cigarettes in there! I was so spooked. I kept asking my husband why would I even think of doing it, coz it seemed such a weird thing to do! And determinedly going all the way up the stairs to get something, only to get there and then stand there... and stand there....with absolutely no idea what I came for. But the thing that has been scaring me the most is the one that nearly all of you have described. I call it the glass bubble feeling. Like I'm locked inside my own world with a fluffy head, and I can see outside but it all seems to be going on around me. Wow am I glad I posted this question. I thought I was losing it!
Everything you have posted I think I have done. My boyfriend laughs at me because yesterday I couldnt remember the first name of our president here in US.......My son is 9 and daughter soon to be 8 know how bad I am. So they will listen to me when I tell them they cant go outside and then wait a little and ask again........by the time they are outside my boyfriend looks at me and I say ....What? OH......and this happens on a regular basis but they know the "routine".......lol
There was also a time when I ment to say flip flop during a discussion and called it the "thing thong"...........I always here about that one!
There have been many trips to the store only to find out that I dont have my wallet.
I have a can of food in the freezer and never recalled doing it......the list goes ON
This fog is almost knowing your hear sometimes but feeling your not....almost as if your distant. Knowing its a sunny beautiful day outside but really not seeing/feeling it.
I have also been asked during college many times on smoke break what I was smoking because I have been told my eyes dialate...........I honestly dont do any drugs I told them. I still dont understand why that happens?
Well I guess we call go through problems.....Just SOME MORE THAN OTHERS:)
There was also a time when I ment to say flip flop during a discussion and called it the "thing thong"...........I always here about that one!
There have been many trips to the store only to find out that I dont have my wallet.
I have a can of food in the freezer and never recalled doing it......the list goes ON
This fog is almost knowing your hear sometimes but feeling your not....almost as if your distant. Knowing its a sunny beautiful day outside but really not seeing/feeling it.
I have also been asked during college many times on smoke break what I was smoking because I have been told my eyes dialate...........I honestly dont do any drugs I told them. I still dont understand why that happens?
Well I guess we call go through problems.....Just SOME MORE THAN OTHERS:)
Brain fog is....
..... Making dinner for the dog and putting the dish down in front of your husband.
..... Taking the housework to-do list to the store instead of the grocery list.
..... Being confused at finding one shoe in the fridge and then not being able to figure out where the other one is.
......Remembering something to put on one of your lists but forgetting what it was by the time you take the 5 steps to wherever the list is.
...... Making up descriptions for things you can't remember the real words for. Example: hat rack becomes hat hangy uppy thingy.
..... Making dinner for the dog and putting the dish down in front of your husband.
..... Taking the housework to-do list to the store instead of the grocery list.
..... Being confused at finding one shoe in the fridge and then not being able to figure out where the other one is.
......Remembering something to put on one of your lists but forgetting what it was by the time you take the 5 steps to wherever the list is.
...... Making up descriptions for things you can't remember the real words for. Example: hat rack becomes hat hangy uppy thingy.
Re: Brain Fog
I''m not going to fix my typing to help illustrate. I'm at a TSH of 47 right now, having been off synthroid for a month for RAI. SO brain fog is my main weather pattern at the moment. You all nailed the descriptions PERFECTLY. I find typing to be laborious and slow in order to be accurate. Can't get my thoughts into the right words. It's like drivinging aroudn in a car with really really dirty windows and you just have to manage the best you can without being able to clean them!
I have been back on my 175 mcg of synthroid for 5 days...don't think it's kicking in yet...I have Cytomel too, but the first day I took it I was so sick from RAI that i quitt stopped the cytomel thinking it may be contributing to my nausea...Now I'm feeling a bit bettter and may add it back in...I really could use that jump statrt.
Emmy
I''m not going to fix my typing to help illustrate. I'm at a TSH of 47 right now, having been off synthroid for a month for RAI. SO brain fog is my main weather pattern at the moment. You all nailed the descriptions PERFECTLY. I find typing to be laborious and slow in order to be accurate. Can't get my thoughts into the right words. It's like drivinging aroudn in a car with really really dirty windows and you just have to manage the best you can without being able to clean them!
I have been back on my 175 mcg of synthroid for 5 days...don't think it's kicking in yet...I have Cytomel too, but the first day I took it I was so sick from RAI that i quitt stopped the cytomel thinking it may be contributing to my nausea...Now I'm feeling a bit bettter and may add it back in...I really could use that jump statrt.
Emmy
Brain fog....erg! Imagine driving along the road and then realising you hadn't even realised you were driving....daydreaming......feeling of unrealness.....then as you drive you suddenly realise you ARE driving so better pay attention.....but did you just go through a red light? Oh goodness! Finally park the car...now what was I coming here for? Oh I have my bag with mail to post...didn't I do that yesterday? Oh well, I'm here now.....walking walking walking....oh, where's the post office again? Oh yeah two blocks back...sheeeeeet! Ok, good now, got the brain in gear...How much you say? Oh I can't remember what my coins are supposed to represent......Oh how I just want to lie down and go to sleep...........what was I here for again?
I was feeling really sorry for myself today, but I just checked out these replies as I didn't get chance to come on yesterday and they are so good. Thanks again to all. They are all really good descriptions and I think I can thoroughly say I have "brain fog" now. At times I thought I was losing my mind. But I have to say those replies from AR-10 and TheCarman have absolutely killed me, they are so funny! And so bloody right about the way I feel since this whole thing started!!!
A good example is the following:
Yesterday I was searching all over the place for my TV remote. I couldn't find it anywhere. After 15 minutes of searching, I realized it was in my hand.
Yesterday I was searching all over the place for my TV remote. I couldn't find it anywhere. After 15 minutes of searching, I realized it was in my hand.
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