I don't like the fog. In some ways it's better than pain, but being confused and not remembering are not good either.

I've had fog so bad I'll mess up words and then my hubby just says "I knew what you meant"... Which is kinda sad, b/c it means he's been around my fog *that* often.... If not for post-it notes, I'd probably... Uh, what was I saying?

Wow, like I said, good to know I'm not alone. But man, that sucks - isn't there anything to be done about it? And my neck pain today is not relieved by ANYTHING!!!!!

Fog, yep, I get that. Hubby and I were figuring out our budget for the next two weeks. I had to have him explain what we were doing with it at least 7 times. I still don't understand what he was trying to tell me. Before fibro, I worked as a unit clerk on nights at an ER. I was calling helicopters, checking in patients, running to get charts, calling for lab work, or calling in the surgery crew and more. I would be lost now trying to do that. The fog is just as real as the pain.

Counting, I have to write notes all the time. There must be a note pad & pen in my bag before I go anywhere. Then I can read notes to myself I must have written the day(s) before to help guide me. Also have notes written down on any important phone calls I might have to make the following day. Like Leo, I have trouble with words too. I know I don't have Alzheimer's, but there are days when it sure feels like it. It can frustrating. When I'm home and dont' have to be anywhere, I'm not so worried... but it causes anxiety, stress, and embarrassment when I have to be out and about and try to cope.

Before fibro I was I Marine.... At one point, right up until I started going downhill pretty quickly, I was a night dispatcher. It's probably not as chaotic as it was for Ida working in the ER, but.... we worked 24 hr shifts (24 on, 24 off and often running over). It often did get pretty chaotic and you're in charge of / managing many operations. You had to multitask like you had superpowers and make split second decisions that sometimes, if the higher ups didn't like, you'd ended up in trouble oh well, you're the dispatcher not them. Right? Anyway, I remember when my migraines became more frequent to the point it was really effecting my function. There was fatigue, and other unexplained symptoms that kept me from being up 24 hrs straight. My higher ups were furious with me. The migraines and fog alone often stopped my work in its tracks. I got fired (from that position) but they wouldn't say it was because I was in pain. Terrible rumors started going around about me. But that's anther story for anther day. I'm getting off track. It's just hard to imagine the brain power I once had before fibro. I often miss the old me. Sigh. I can only try to build a new one with what I have.

Thank you all so much for your brave responses! It makes me feel good (and sad) that so many others have lost their lives (really!) to this horrible disease! Once upon a time, I ran a 78 bed Assisted Living facility. Like you, I look back on it now and can hardly believe it was me. Patients, meds, scheduling, everything...as you say-gone. For me too, the downfall began when the migraines affected my job and my home life. I was the single parent of 4 young kids. Double sigh. There's always tomorrow, right? Today is new, different, painful, exhausting; but every day I'm alive is another chance. Peace.