Hi, I understand what you are experiencing. I was a practicing surgeon and forced to retire due to Cfids. Memory is a major problem as is mental functioning. I went through two neuropsychiatric evaluations to determine all levels of functioning one in the early stages 12 years ago and one recently. The most recent was encouraging. It indicated my intellect was intact and fully functional in higher order situations but seemed to be missing in everyday situations and under time constraints. Kinda like i got the equipment but the manuals missing. Two things you can try one is dialectical therapy to help you with everyday mindfulness, it works(takes work but works) and using a memory system like something from Harry Lorayne but doing it one chapter at a time, slowly so as not overwhelm yourself. Your abilities are there as I've been told but accessing them through the pain and fatigue is challenging. Sometimes I get so down but when I realize I am not alone and there are small things I can do to help then tomorrow does exist. Jim

I don't have drbear's credentials but I do know something about "brain fog". I too had psychological tests during the disability appeal process.

When I saw the results, I cried. My IQ was 85. My reading comprehension was slightly above that of a mildly retarded person. It went downhill from there.

I was an A student in HS and on the dean's list consistently in college. I was an English major. I got a combined score of 1570 on the SATs. I was a writer. I have been published in dog magazines, gardening magazines, women's magazines, and I wrote the book review in the Sunday paper in some town we've lived in. My husband is with IBM and we have moved a lot.

Now I can't spell. I can read only on a Kindle. I can't write as well as I used to. I have a terrible time conversing with people. I've put ice cream in the fridge and milk in the cupboard.

When a neurologist who is one of the leading researchers in CFIDS reviewed the tests and an MRI, he said I have a "severe cognitive impairment". Which he said and my own research has confirmed is "exactly like the early stages of Alzheimer's".

My dad had Alzheimer's so I know what it looks like. Now I know what it feels like. As far as I can tell, it's not getting better and feels like it's getting worse.

Studies have shown that people who have a SCI, have lost gray matter and white matter. It's incredibly frustrating when I can't think of the word I want. It used to be that I was searching for the 'perfect' word. Now I'm looking for anything that will convey what I want to say.

For instance, I was talking to my daughter and wanted to say that someone was very "articulate" but I couldn't come anywhere near that word. I was getting so frustrated. Finally, I said, "He talks good." It hurts to even write that or read it.

I grieve over what I have lost and am terrified about what I might lose in the future. For me it's the worst part of CFS.

I have no idea what the things are that drbear suggests. All I've done is to keep doing crossword puzzles, reading, word jumbles, anything that makes my brain work.

My dad did crossword puzzles every morning. We always played word games at the table. It didn't keep Alzheimer's away.

The only suggestion I can give you is research, google cognitive impairment/CFS. Mayo Clinic has a good site about CFS. It's www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo is the best medical facility in the country. I worked there and I was a patient there.

It's far more than "brain fog". That term annoys me.

Hugs
Vicki

I keep preaching fish oil seems lately but it helped me sooooo much that I would suggest just giving it a try.
Sorry, it is very frustrating!
Hugs

I keep preaching fish oil seems lately but it helped me sooooo much that I would suggest just giving it a try.
Sorry, it is very frustrating!
Hugs

I keep preaching fish oil seems lately but it helped me sooooo much that I would suggest just giving it a try.
Sorry, it is very frustrating!
Hugs

I agree with Vicki about the term "brain fog". Such a mislabeling of such a serious impairment. I don't have it as badly as Vicki but I have at least some idea of what she is talking about. If I said anything that needs explaining I will be glad to. We're all in the same boat now. Jim

Thanks Jim for agreeing with my distaste of "brain Fog".

I forgot to relate episodes I've had that really terrify me.

I was in a car with my granddaughter and daughter-in-law on our way to a minor league baseball game. My daughter-in-law asked me if there was a YMCA in Burlington. My mind locked on an image of the business district of the town where my brother lives in a suburb of Pittsburgh. I couldn't get rid of the image. My brain was frozen on that image and everything around me faded away. It didn't last long but was disturbing needless to say.

Then a week or so later we were in a Mexican restaurant. I've been to many many Mexican restaurants. I opened my menu and I could read the words but had no idea what they meant. I was getting frantic. What would I do when the waitress asked what I wanted? My granddaughter was sitting across from me and when she ordered she said she wanted ENCHILADAS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT MY GRANDMA LIKES BEST. Somehow she knew I was in trouble and how to help me. Enchiladas are my favorite.

Another time I was vacuuming and had some type of blackout or something I can't really describe it but one minute I was vacuuming and the next I had no idea what I was doing or what the noisy thing in my hand was. I wanted it to shut up but didn't know how. I started hitting it and screaming at it. I must have hit the on/off switch because it turned off. I dropped it and ran upstairs. I was sobbing by then.

Another time I was standing in the kitchen holding a juice glass. I didn't know how I got there or what I was holding. I put the glass on the counter and ran up to my bed.

I don't know what causes these episodes. But they are scary.

Has anyone else had anything like this?

CFS is such a quirky illness. Not in a fun way!

I've tried fish oil and it did nothing for me.

Hugs
Vicki

I had brain fog 24/7 and an abysmal memory, forgetting keys, sunglsasses in the short term, forgetting what I did yesterday midterm and longer term forgetting my childrens birthdays an our anniverary, etc.

The juice of a lemon and half a lime mixed with equal parts water and down the hatch, every day for 12 months fixed my brain fog within 3 months, brain fog = Gone, I could read more therefore I read more research articles without getting migraines, and my memory is better than it was before I started juicing lemons. In Doctors speak my Antioxidant Carrying Capacity (blood test) went from below 2000 to above 10,000.
Havee yo had your Antioxidant Carrying Capacity (blood test) done to see where your at below 3000 is to low, above 10,000 is to high, 7000, to 8000 is just about right.

Many drugs that are prescribed for us impact on out brain activity our allertness , our foggyness and our memory.
Hope something here helps
Cheers
Al

Dixienme is spot on when she says we need fish oil;

not just any fish oil but wild fish oil like cod liver oil or wild cryl oil or wils salmon oil (not farm fed fish oil inwhich fish arent fed the right balance of foods so their fish oil is of a lesser quality).

Dr. Terry Wahls - Minding Your Mitochondria
Video available on youtube is great

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc

2.36 minutes,
"you have a billion cells in your brain,
wih 10 trillion connections" coming from those billion's cells neural networks, "All of that connective wiring must be protected with myelin" (just like electrial leads ar protected withinsulating barriers and coaxial TV cables are protected and shielded,. Guess what I'm an Avionics Engineer from the Aviation Industry, our cables in Jets were protected witha dielectric electrically insulating material that forms a layer usually around only the signal carrying component the wire with a substance called Myelin, the myelin sheath was its name.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myelin

"In order to make healthy robust Myelin your brain needs a lot of the B vitamins;
B1 which is Thiamin
B9 which is Folate
B12 which is Cobalamine
Omega 3 Fatty acids
and Iodine"
There you go thats the immediate optimal shopping list for just protecting your myelin sheiths in your brain.

3.06 minurtes ,
"This is a Synapse"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapse

"Those beautiful golden drops are NeuroTransmitters. For your brain to make neurotransmitters your brain needs a lot of sulphur and Vitamin B6 which is pyridoxine, (pyridoxal, pyridoxamine)."

"These are Mitochondria, they are so beautiful, and they are critical for your lives, because its the tiny Mitochondria that are in and surround each of our cells that will manage the energy supplies for that cell. Without Mitochondria we would be no bigger than bacteria".

"Mitochondria need a lot of B Vitamins, Sulfur and Antioxidants"

etc
One thing I like is that in Dr. Terry Wahls "Minding Your Mitochondria";
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc
Terry referances all of her statements and research to clinical peer reviewed research papers.

Do you think it is helpful in any way to have a neuro pchy test done?
I have been ill for many years. I have thought I helped clear out some
of the cob webs by avoiding gluten and sugar. After a strict 4 month cleanse, I was amazed to have a 15 year fog lift. It was like cotton candy was not longer in my head. Don`t get me wrong, it could and did come back but never lastsif I do what I need to do.
I was still with fatigue and chronic "face pain" 24/7. I have been trying everything under the sun to figure out whats going on trying to get better with no luck. I even went so far as to have all my mercury fillings removed 6 months ago. I do not know what has happened but I`am so weak now. The fatigue if worse than ever. My brain is at its worse. I can`t remeber anything. I walk in circles most of the wasting precious energy trying to rememeber what I was looking for.
Last month I mentioned to my pcp that I would like a neuro pchy test done. She wrote up. Patient has very minor memory issues, she is worried about. I don`t think she gets it! But if its not important, then I won`t force the issue.. What can it be helpful for?
I`am fully disabled already.. Does anyone have any answers?
Sorry I didnt mean to hijack your post..

Rosanne

RosanneA:

I completely understand how you are feeling. Until recently I was experiencing a lot of the same symptoms.
I do have a few suggestions that have been a life saver for me:
For the pain, the only thing that I have ever found to help was a medication called Lyrica. Since I have been on it I only have a little pain daily that I am use to mostly, and the flare up are very seldom.
Also for the fatigue, the only thing I have found to help is a medication called Provigil and the newer version called Nuvigil. These medications are normally for people with sleeping disorders that are more sever than my own, but my neurologist fought with Medicaid and got it approved for me. It doesn't last all day, but I have learned that if I break up my dosage into 3 or 4 hour intervals it keeps me going.
I've heard that physical therapy and exercise can also help, but unfortunately for me they cause a flare-up unless they are very easy such as stretching, and of course don't over do it. Take it slow and let your body tell you when to quit.

I just wanted to thank everyone for their support. It really got me to thinking. I have since decided to start using B-12 and Omega 3 to see if it helps with my memory.
I'll keep everyone updated, but I'm going to give it a while to get into my system before deciding if it is working or not.
Thanks again for all of the responses.

You answered my question in another thread. For two days I have been
racking this sick brain trying to remember the name Provigil. Oh I hope this new neurosurgeon I`am going to meet with in two weeks will rx that
for me. I would also love to try lyrica but I`am on medicare and its not covered, unless of course you want to cought up $60 a month for a rx. I can`t afford that.. I did call the manufacturer and they said the doctor would have to write a hardship letter to get that drug approved .. I haven`t even met this new doctor. I don`t know how open he will be to me asking for all this. I have not had the best luck with ologists.. because the cant see what I have. You know how some of these doctors can be.. very particular.. I sure hope I luck out..

Thanks
Rosanne

Hey Roseanne,
My experience with/as a physician is that if you are up front and honest with him succinctly and say this has worked for you in the past (provigil) he/she will probably put you on it. If he has experience with the Lyrica then you might get that also but you may also have to visit a couple of times so he can assess better what you're like. Drs. are people who will actually "trust" pts they know better but will still adhere to the first do no harm adage. You should go in educated and concise to put forth what you would like and why. Don't demand or override won't work .

MONAVIE
I was a outside sales rep when The brain fog hit and I couldn't drive for a while. No more driving so I went to being an inside sales associate then I lost control of my balance and had a rotten time remembering orders. Came out of that went back to school got my bookeeping updated and started my own business. I relearned the bookkeeping through two crashes. The last time was in 2010. The brain fog had me having problems remembering how to use Quickbooks which I use to teach. I got lost getting to and from places I knew. I didn't make sence when I spoke and losing words was awful.
Then my son and my parents begged me to try a product called Mon Avie. They all swore by it. I finally, reluctantly gave in. I started with a tsp once a day, then after a week 1 tsp morning and evening. It has been just over a month and I am at 1 oz in the Am and 1 OZ in the PM. The brain fog has lifted. It is basicly gone!! I am very scared of trying new things because of the way my body reacts to new anything but this is working. The Brian fog was mild as I traveled with my husband only when we awere at truck stops. I am very sensitive to Desiel smoke. That is lifting already after less than two days home. My kids and my friends have all remarked that I am brighter and more co-herient. I still can't spell though.LOL
You can find more out about MonAvie on the internet. Contact me if you want to know more. I DO NOT sell this stuff.I just use it.They do not guarentee anything and it is not an instant fix but it may help you too. Hugs Marlene