Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Support Group

It depends.

My IQ is down 20 points but it's because my processing is SO SLOW. That doesn't mean I'm less intelligent, it only means the SPEED is difference so it measures differently.

When I feel "good" (a relative term) I am able to process more quickly. When I am tired I literally lit or lay there with my mouth hanging open.

A SPECT scan shows I DO have loss is the cerebral cortex. This correlates with a blood test for MSH (an indicator of mold toxicity.) My brain has been damaged by mold. I carry a genetic marker that says I cannot eliminate mold BUT I don't think that means I have to be "stupid" the rest of my life. If I can eliminate a lot of OTHER toxins then I should see better cognitive performance.

The first year and a half with this illness I couldn't remember things well, couldn't keep my train of thought, I couldn't do "number" things...I was terrified.

Now, on year three, I see these things improving. I still have the brain foggy days, but I find that is directly proportional to my sleep. If I'm well rested, it makes all the difference in the world as to how I can USE my abilities! That tells me that my cognition is not gone or permanently damaged. It's there. It's just hard to access unless I am well rested.

I play word games on a daily basis and type and journal and do crosswords. I refuse to let my brain just "sit".

I don't think we become "stupid" with this illness. Just a bit more forgetfull...but that comes with age too!

Do what you can to keep your mind busy my friend.

God bless!

I was really “mentally incapable” for a long time I couldn't comprehend anything, was confused about everything, I slurred and stuttered, wrote dyslexic, couldn't spell (ok maybe I still can’t spell a little lol) and sometimes didn't even know my own name. I've come a really long way since then and can hold my own intelligence wise. I don't think we loose it I just think blood isn't flowing to certain parts of our brain or its swollen. I still have days where I can't think 100% but it usually pertains to how much I did or chemical exposures. Do you have Multiple chemical sensitivity? That could do anyone’s brain in because its like 24/7 low level allergic reactions which in turns swells your brain.

When I first became ill my cognitive abilities dimished almost completely. Over a period of time I regained some of them. Now going into my 3rd year when I am alert and not tired I can carry on a intelligent conversation and retain what I read or watch. When I am fatigued my brain just doesnt work well. I become confused, unfocused, lose my train of thought, slur my speech, have to really put forth effort to think straight. I would say in a given day I usually have a few good hours were I am alert and can function well. But when I have these horrible headaches my brain fog increases and I cant think. I do have a short term memory everyday - I am constantly loosing something or putting something somewhere and trying to find it. Also I have noticed that I cant carry on a conversation for long period of times. My brain feels like it just freezes up on me.

I feel that my processing is slower, especially when extrememly fatigued or stressed. I sometimes forget how to pronounce words that I knew how to pronounce like potpurri. While tutoring 5th grade math students last year I forgot how to sort one of the decimals, even though I had explained it earlier. I freqently search for words when tired. When I have more energy and less pain, then I feel more like my old or other self, quickly making connections and joking. Its very frustrating.

We tend to process things alot slower but it is also our access to our memory that is effected its all there but extremely difficult to access.

I also consider that there are connected problems such as ADD.

we need to find ways to exercise our thinking keep minds active. different for each of us. I find certain video games keep my mind thinking. I try to post to here responses where I have to maybe research information. I listen to audio books and do something to help focus on the story. Whatever doesnt take too much physically.

Though there is also truth that fatigue is not just physical it is mental fatigue as well and it can be very challenging to stay mentally active.

I thought more about this. Chronic Pain & Fatigue eats away at who we are. It effects mental function. I always wanted to be a writer. ME/CFS stole away the words to express the stories I want to tell. I am lucky if I can manage a few sentences and well that doesnt work for writing. It takes alot of effort to write messages. But I keep trying. Even when I am too tired to think.

thinking for ME/CFS is phsyically exhausting. but there can also be other things contributing to it.

Entranced maybe if you spoke to someone about possibility you have ADD.

Im sorry I dont really have answers but we all share in this struggle and get by the best we can day by day.

i think it's connected to sleep disorders. try to get a sleep study. without restorative sleep the brain doesn't function as well and as fast as before. everyone knows what one night without good sleep feels like. now with this illness try 20 years of poor sleep. exercise will help with brain reaction, too. we need the circulation to get blood up there. feel better soon, i hope.

I think that exercise can be very helpful. I started doing crossword puzzles to calm myself and I noticed that after I do something strenuous I can do the puzzles much better. The mental disability is not constant, it varies all over the place, and I would guess that blood flow to the brain is important in this.

Yes, I agree the blood flow to your brain is really important for these activities and I do not have the blood getting up there and therefore depriving of oxygen probably that's why my legs hurt bad sometimes. The blood flow is down as I walk and stand up for a long time in the kitchen or so but doesn't go to the heart as fast as it should be going.
I don't even feel like reading or writing nowadays and when I do I make alot of mistakes.