Brain Fog

March 7, 2000

For Laurie, myself and my 16 yr old daughter for Brain Fog:

#1 fastest reaction: Piracetam (1600 mg) and Bromelain (2400 GDU) combination - fastest way to get piracetam for you would probably need to cross the border into Mexico

Doxcycline -- (antibiotics), for most on the CFS_Mycoplasma list, the clearly of brain fog was the first symptom relief they experienced

Other possible: NADH (works with CoQ10), aspirin (one per meal)

Hope that helps

Ken Lassesen 2 @ 2 ft PWC, 2 @ 4ft PWC2 ft PWC: http://www.folkarts.com/idef/4 ft PWC: http://corgi.folkarts.com/Fax: (520) 832-6836 ICQ #: 2122097 (Netmeeting too)

----- Original Message -----

From: B.

You know, I think I'm back to experiencing Brain FogSorry to ramble on, but it's frustrating.

March 11, 2000

> You know, I think I'm back to experiencing Brain

> Fog. I'm having difficulty understanding a lot of

> things. I'm forgetting things at work too.

> Hopefully, i won't sound like too much of an idiot

> at parent teacher conferences this week.

I take tons of DMAE and phosphatidyl choline. It

helps a lot for me, but I don't know of anyone else

who has tried it.

_________________________________________________________

November 15, 2001

Hello Steve,

What study did you participate in? It is curious since there have

been numerous other published studies to the contrary. It is still a

complex and not well understood area.

Mark

> I was in an endocrinology study and they never found any

abnormality in this

> area. Have you had a neuro psych eval and have you tried any of the

new AD

> drugs. They do not have the gustro side effects associated with

Talwin.

>

> good luck

>

> Steve

August 29, 2002

Brain fog is a result of insufficient oxygen being received by the

brain cells to produce the energy it needs to do its job. The oxygen

is in the blood, it just doesn't seem to make the transfer. My guess

is intracellular potassium may be low. One function of potassium is

that it tends to attract oxygen.

In Cheney's video he talks about research findings of increased

lactic acid around the hippocampus, (especially the right. I suspect

that this is because women tend to be more right brained and more

women have FMS/CFS) Anyway, one function of the hippocampus is to

retrieve information stored in the brain.

Since there is more lactic acid in this region it suggests that the

cells in the hippocampus are relying more upon glycolysis to produce

ATP (The hippocampus uses lots of ATP). the byproduct of glycolysis

is pyruvate, which is converted to lactic acid in the absence of

oxygen.

It sounds like your brain fog increases a couple hours after you get

up because your activity level increases. As for toxins, research

would have detected them by now. There are however, many excesses

and deficiencies though.

All the best,

Jim

Fibromyalgia: A Hypothesis of Etiology

http://www.xmission.com/~total/temple/index.html

> Hi all!

>

> This question is for the ones who experience brain-fog regulary.

>

> At what times of the day you experience brain fog?

>

> I am fine for about and hour or two in the morning.It than starts

and continues until about 20:00 p.m. I am again fine at night.

>

> I wonder why?If it was due to toxins in the body,I would have it

whole day. Wouldn't I?

>

> Thanks.

>

> Nil

>

August 29, 2002

Thanks.

|

| Brain fog is a result of insufficient oxygen being received by the

| brain cells to produce the energy it needs to do its job. The oxygen

| is in the blood, it just doesn't seem to make the transfer.

Than,is this due to blood hypercoagulation we have?Than, why I don't have

hypercoagulation after 8:00 p.m?Just brain storming? This again brings me

to high/low cortisol values.I have high cortisol at night. Any opinions on

that?

Do blood thinners clear brain fog or do they only give some help?Flax seed

oil helps me but it does not clear it away.

My guess

| is intracellular potassium may be low. One function of potassium is

| that it tends to attract oxygen.

| In Cheney's video he talks about research findings of increased

| lactic acid around the hippocampus, (especially the right. I suspect

| that this is because women tend to be more right brained and more

| women have FMS/CFS) Anyway, one function of the hippocampus is to

| retrieve information stored in the brain.

Lactic acid? Thanks for the info.That was valuable.

At this point I want to share my opinion on why more woman have CFS.This is

my personal opinion obtained by making various researches on the subject. I

may be wrong.The reason why more woman have CFS may be the high estrogen

woman have.I read that estrogen increases HPA axis activity.So,I think that

explains why more woman have CFS. That also explains to me why some woman

naturally go into remission when they enter menopause. Of course this might

happen if the person has not moved into later stages and the damage done on

the glands and organs are not too much.

Brain fog and the memory problems are two different things that are

happening to us. I don't think brain fog has anything to do with Hippocampus

but memory problems sure does.When brain fog occurs I feel as if left side

of my brain is swollen.

Why left? What is wrong with the left side?

|

| Since there is more lactic acid in this region it suggests that the

| cells in the hippocampus are relying more upon glycolysis to produce

| ATP (The hippocampus uses lots of ATP). the byproduct of glycolysis

| is pyruvate, which is converted to lactic acid in the absence of

| oxygen.

|

| It sounds like your brain fog increases a couple hours after you get

| up because your activity level increases. As for toxins, research

| would have detected them by now. There are however, many excesses

| and deficiencies though.

|

Thanks Jim..

Nil

August 29, 2002

Hi All,

I have been a " night " person all my life. During the day I

was kind of

hyper without caffeine. As the evening drew neigh I would start to

become

more calm and peaceful and my head would clear and my best intellectual

work was done at night. Even now, whatever fogginess and confusion I

have during the day is usually improved at night. When I first got CFS,

I had tremendous agitation during the daytime. It was torturous and I

would long for maybe an hour of peacefulness late at night only to

repeat the torture the next day. It was amazing that I survived.

I think that if this brain fog is cyclical through out a 24 hour

period

that it is probably governed by cortisol levels.

Mike

August 29, 2002

My brain fog is absolutely definitely caused by an " allergic " reaction to

molds (in air conditioning systems - the big ones with filters and

ducts). AFAIK brain fog is most often, maybe always, due to

" allergies " . So can you identify any change in your environment in day

hours compared to other times? If you are working, this is a no-brainer,

but if not maybe you spend your days ...? or you do something in the

morning. Worth a serious thought I think.

n

PS my delay in noticing brain fog after exposure is 15 mins to 2 hours, so

bear the delay in mind.

At 04:47 30/08/02, you wrote:

>Hi all!

>

>This question is for the ones who experience brain-fog regulary.

>

>At what times of the day you experience brain fog?

>

>I am fine for about and hour or two in the morning.It than starts and

>continues until about 20:00 p.m. I am again fine at night.

>

>I wonder why?If it was due to toxins in the body,I would have it whole

>day. Wouldn't I?

>

>Thanks.

>

>Nil

>

August 29, 2002

Yes,I am very excited about what you have pointed out.After reading your

note I have realized that I also had the same problem since long time.I

would not be able to think clearly if I did not drink lots of tea and coffee

in the morning and had my best brain functioning at night and had trouble

sleeping.Even before " never ending flu " started. That is an important

finding.

Thanks. Nil

Re: Brain fog

| Hi All,

| I have been a " night " person all my life. During the day I

| was kind of

| hyper without caffeine. As the evening drew neigh I would start to

| become

| more calm and peaceful and my head would clear and my best intellectual

| work was done at night. Even now, whatever fogginess and confusion I

| have during the day is usually improved at night. When I first got CFS,

| I had tremendous agitation during the daytime. It was torturous and I

| would long for maybe an hour of peacefulness late at night only to

| repeat the torture the next day. It was amazing that I survived.

| I think that if this brain fog is cyclical through out a 24 hour

| period

| that it is probably governed by cortisol levels.

|

| Mike

|

| This list is intended for patients to share personal experiences with each

other, not to give medical advice. If you are interested in any treatment

discussed here, please consult your doctor.

|

August 30, 2002

Tried to send this mesage to you off-list but my note was rejected so I am

sending it through list.

Thanks n,I will think about this. I have a cat.I owned her at the same

time I moved to later stages of the illness with increased brain-fog.I don't

know if she has any effect on my relapse.. I am not working. At home always.

What is AFAIK?

Thanks. Nil

Re: Brain fog

| My brain fog is absolutely definitely caused by an " allergic " reaction to

| molds (in air conditioning systems - the big ones with filters and

| ducts). AFAIK brain fog is most often, maybe always, due to

| " allergies " . So can you identify any change in your environment in day

| hours compared to other times? If you are working, this is a no-brainer,

| but if not maybe you spend your days ...? or you do something in the

| morning. Worth a serious thought I think.

|

| n

|

| PS my delay in noticing brain fog after exposure is 15 mins to 2 hours, so

| bear the delay in mind.

|

| At 04:47 30/08/02, you wrote:

| >Hi all!

| >

| >This question is for the ones who experience brain-fog regulary.

| >

| >At what times of the day you experience brain fog?

| >

| >I am fine for about and hour or two in the morning.It than starts and

| >continues until about 20:00 p.m. I am again fine at night.

| >

| >I wonder why?If it was due to toxins in the body,I would have it whole

| >day. Wouldn't I?

| >

| >Thanks.

| >

| >Nil

| >

August 30, 2002

Nil

AFAIK = As Far As I Know

Cats are not the sort of allergies likely to be involved here. It could be

molds in anything, in the carpet outside the bedroom, in walls etc. Or it

might be fumes of any kind that you have become sensitized to. Or

clothing. Or a treatment on leather furniture. Or some kinds of paint. I

have listed only common ones. It is bizarre, the things you can be

allergic to are astounding. I never would have believed it if I had not

seen measurements and tests with my own eyes.

Of course it could also have to do with coffee etc, but don't underestimate

allergy.

n

At 16:37 30/08/02, you wrote:

>Thanks n,I will think about this. I have a cat.I owned her at the same

>time I moved to later stages of the illness with increased brain-fog.I don't

>know if she has any effect on my relapse.. I am not working. At home always.

>What is AFAIK?

August 30, 2002

You all have described me also. Late evening into early morning hours are

usually the best for my brain to function. I go to bed at 3 am and awake

between 10 and 10:30. Have no brain function, only fog until sometime in the

afternoon, if I'm lucky, but much clearer as the evening wears on. I keep

thinking my circadian rhythm is screwed up, and it probably is, but as I

think about it, I spent much of my childhood " bedtime hours " huddled under

the covers with a flashlight and a book. Sometimes never fell asleep. Now it

makes me wonder if my circadian rhythm was screwed up then, and I couldn't

sleep for that reason, or was it because my brain was at its most alert

point? This is food for thought. I also second the coffee thing - now that I

don't drink it, perhaps I just realize how bad the fog is/was?

Donna in NC

Re: Brain fog

>

> | Hi All,

> | I have been a " night " person all my life. During the day I |

was kind of | hyper without caffeine. As the evening drew neigh I would

start to | become | more calm and peaceful and my head would clear and my

best intellectual | work was done at night. Even now, whatever fogginess and

confusion I | have during the day is usually improved at night. When I first

got CFS, | I had tremendous agitation during the daytime. It was torturous

and I | would long for maybe an hour of peacefulness late at night only to |

repeat the torture the next day. It was amazing that I survived.

> | I think that if this brain fog is cyclical through out a 24 hour |

period | that it is probably governed by cortisol levels.

> |

> | Mike

November 10, 2002

Teena, about everyone has brain fog to some extent or another,waxing

and waning periodically. Your EBV is another common finding for

us, and likely doesn't mean anything unless your titers are way

high, like you obviously have mono. THe best thing to do is to get

on a treatment regimen to boost your immune system and/or kill off

whatever it is that is causing your/our symptoms.

Mike C.

> Hi:

>

> I have been having a problem for a while now with my mentation. I

often can't remember things or use the wrong words when I am trying

to talk about something. Like yesterday, I asked my husband to bring

<<<<snip<<<<

> Does anyone else have a similar experience to relate or any

comments. I would appreciate hearing what you guys had to say.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Teena

>

November 10, 2002

Teena,

The symptoms you describe are very typical of CFIDS cognitive impairment. I

have all the ones you mentioned too. CFIDS patients often have some degree

of orthostatic intolerance. If you sit up for any period of time and notice

your cognitive problems getting worse, this could be due to blood pooling in

your lower extremities, and not reaching your brain. Yoga can sometimes

exacerbate orthostatic intolerance, due to the holding of poses (supported

poses are often recommended instead of standing ones). I have found

phosphytidl serine to be the best supplement for my cognitive problems,

though it only works a little bit. I also find that drinking a drink of 1/4

tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. salt substitute that is all potassium, in seltzer

water or plain water, helps the symptoms somewhat. CFIDS patients often have

abnormal blood flow to the brain on SPECT scans and other brain abnormalities

on MRS scans. MRI's show abnormalities on some patients, but certainly not

all.

Peggy

*********************************

web page: www.angelfire.com/ri/strickenbk

November 10, 2002

Hi Teena, Your examples regarding using the wrong word, the checkbook, and

Dr.'s instructions are classic for CFIDS/ME. I have and do experience all of

those, tho have some improvement in the degree. Off balance is also common, but

don't know specifics for others. Mine is definfitely extreme on the the

left...falling toward the left, but bump into things on the right too. There are

many things I screw up and cannot do ( yoga classes for instance), due to pain

and neurological/cognitive mix-ups, not strength per se. Since you will not

figure things out overnight, my first suggestion is totally believe yourself

that something is wrong. Do not believe anyone who mis-interprets or dismisses.

This is serious, because you have to develop strategies besides finding

treatment. Like the list at Dr.s. I had to learn to move,walk,talk,operate

( " navigate the world " ) entirely differently. In the early years,I had fender

benders,set kitchen fire,screwed up at the bank,forgot

appointments,fell...because I had this and did not know what was happening. I am

far more functioning now, but to tell you the truth, most of the above still

happen at times because I FORGET to be careful. It's almost worse when my energy

is better because I am less careful then. Alot going on around me, good or bad,

various sensory overloads and stress bring it all back, big time. I began

Neurontin a few years ago. It may not be good for the balance and some memory.

But it has vastly improved basic intellectual functioning,such as being able to

navigate on-line and communicate. I also found dramatic improvement from

Florinef in being upright and thinking and speaking. Keep learning about this

and seeking answers, but just be very cautious and think strategy in the

meantime! It's a very complex illness. Katrina> Hi:> > I have been having a problem for a while now with

my mentation. I often can't remember things or use the wrong words when I am

trying to talk about something. Like yesterday, I asked my husband to bring the

lawnmower upstairs when what I was really trying to say vacuum cleaner. These

days I often mess up the check book and when the Dr's nurse gives me verbal

instructions for my medications; she has to write them down because they seem to

go in one ear and out the other. I have had MRIs and an MRA and they came up

clean. I have migraine ha's but I have had them since puberty. They reappeared

after an absense of many years when I got sick. I am only guessing this is the

brain fog I've heard about. I have recently been diagnosed with EBV virus and

from other symptoms I have I suspect I have CFIDS. Also, I have trouble with my

balance (mostly on my left). I have trouble putting on my shoes even leaning

against something. A while before I got sick I was going to yoga and I could not

do one particular movement involving my legs and balance. The teacher assumed my

legs weren't strong enough but I knew that couldn't be the problem because I

alternated days of treadmilling with riding an exercise bike and if anything

that would have been the strongest part of me! > > Does anyone else have a

similar experience to relate or any comments. I would appreciate hearing what

you guys had to say.> > Thanks,> > Teena> > > [Non-text portions of this message

have been removed]

November 11, 2002

Hi

What I refer to as brain fog feels more like a spaciness in my brain. What

you are refering to I call cognitive impairment. Yes, many of us have it.

The best thing I have found for it is high dose B12 shots. You might want

to look into mercury poisoning also. All the info is in the achives, but let

me know if you can't find it. Also, as someone else mentioned, do you have

to learn new ways to cope. My MRI and EEG and other brain tests come back

abnormal, but not everyone's do.

Thanks,

Doris

----- Original Message -----

From: <roteena@...>

> I have been having a problem for a while now with my mentation. I often

can't remember things or use the wrong words when I am trying to talk about

something. Like yesterday, I asked my husband to bring the lawnmower

upstairs when what I was really trying to say vacuum cleaner. These days I

often mess up the check book and when the Dr's nurse gives me verbal

instructions for my medications; she has to write them down because they

seem to go in one ear and out the other. I have had MRIs and an MRA and they

came up clean. I have migraine ha's but I have had them since puberty. They

reappeared after an absense of many years when I got sick. I am only

guessing this is the brain fog I've heard about. I have recently been

diagnosed with EBV virus and from other symptoms I have I suspect I have

CFIDS. Also, I have trouble with my balance (mostly on my left). I have

trouble putting on my shoes even leaning against something. A while before I

got sick I was going to yoga and I could not do one particular movement

involving my legs and balance. The teacher assumed my legs weren't strong

enough but I knew that couldn't be the problem because I alternated days of

treadmilling with riding an exercise bike and if anything that would have

been the strongest part of me!

>

> Does anyone else have a similar experience to relate or any comments. I

would appreciate hearing what you guys had to say.

> Thanks,

> Teena

November 11, 2002

Hi All,

I have had varying kinds of brain fog over the years. Now it

is a lot worse.

It is very hard to deal with. My mind seems to be half asleep. It is a

very

uncomfortable scary feeling. It is horrible to feel a kind of loss of

touch with

and control of life. I have a kind of helpless feeling. I don't want to

be dependent

on being taken care of by other people. This is truly a dreaded disease.

Each

day is a challenge to my survival.

Does anyone have very bad brain fog?.

thanks,

Mike

November 11, 2002

Thanks for your reply Mike. Teena

Re: " BRAIN FOG "

Teena, about everyone has brain fog to some extent or another,waxing

and waning periodically. Your EBV is another common finding for

us, and likely doesn't mean anything unless your titers are way

high, like you obviously have mono. THe best thing to do is to get

on a treatment regimen to boost your immune system and/or kill off

whatever it is that is causing your/our symptoms.

Mike C.

> Hi:

>

> I have been having a problem for a while now with my mentation. I

often can't remember things or use the wrong words when I am trying

to talk about something. Like yesterday, I asked my husband to bring

<<<<snip<<<<

> Does anyone else have a similar experience to relate or any

comments. I would appreciate hearing what you guys had to say.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Teena

>

November 11, 2002

Katte: Thanks for the words of encouragement. I naturally got scared when all

the MRIs were negative and before I knew I had EBV and CFIDS. When there is no

obvious reason you really think you are losing your mind. It is comforting to

know that others have experienced this too. I have been reading Osler's web and

wanted to see if my experiences of late were part of the general experience.

Thanks so much for helping me to believe in myself and to realize that I am not

nuts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Teena