New poll for

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I tried to get to the survey yesterday but I couldn't get in there. Please

help.

Thanks,

dee in Pa

[

[Guest guest]

>> " Brain Fog " - How much does it affect your daily activities? <<

Brain Fog from what exactly? Just the PA alone? The medications taken

for the PA? What if I take something for stress and sleep on top of

the PA medicine? Is your question inclusive of all these factors?

Sorry I had to ask, it might be my brain fog

- Jim

[Guest guest]

> >> " Brain Fog " - How much does it affect your daily activities? <<

>

> Brain Fog from what exactly? Just the PA alone? The medications

taken

> for the PA? What if I take something for stress and sleep on top of

> the PA medicine? Is your question inclusive of all these factors?

> Sorry I had to ask, it might be my brain fog

>

> - Jim

Jim,

Yes, my question was intended to be inclusive of all factors. As far

as I know, no one knows whether " Brain Fog " is caused by the PA

itself or by the drugs we take to control the PA. The question is

largely irrelevent however, because we're all stuck with both the PA

and the various drugs we must take to try to control it - ie;

although we have some choice as to *which* drugs to take, taking no

drugs at all is usually not an option.

-- Ron

[Guest guest]

At 12.56 12/09/02, you wrote:

>Jim,

>

>Yes, my question was intended to be inclusive of all factors. As far

>as I know, no one knows whether " Brain Fog " is caused by the PA

>itself or by the drugs we take to control the PA.

Ron, in my opinion, as someone who's never taken DMARDS, and who feels more

alert on NSAIDS, it's the PA itself that causes the 'brain fog'.

In my 20 year history of PA, my previous relatively mild flairs happened at

such physically debilitating times (lack of sleep due to a very difficult

school program, and later, babies waking me in the night:-)), that in my

general fog I'm sure I wouldn't have noticed PA-induced brain fog.

But this time around I had a bad flare involving many joints and much pain

and swelling. Never having taken DMARDS, I assure you that brain fog most

definitely comes with the flair itself. (Not that meds couldn't make it

worse, or that it might be difficult to distinguish.) I felt like I had

the flu, and had a very hard time concentrating. The most embarrasing thing

was my inability to make small talk with shopkeepers and neighbors! This

all passed at exacty the same time I started improving rapidly in terms of

pain and warm joints.

I believe that when PA affects a good part of your system, it just

naturally affects your brain. I am fortunate enough to be much improved

lately, but two weeks ago I had a a very painful carpal tunnel arm, and

work to deliver. (I work from home.) Everything else was doing much better,

however, and in fact I was very alert and thus, despite the pain (pain meds

didn't help) I managed to keep on typing and deliver my work on time.

Perhaps it's the constant pain that causes brain fog, but in my case, my

level of alertness seems to correspond with my Sed rate. I really do think

it's the inflammation state affecting the efficiency of the brain, and that

pain just makes it worse.

The brain fog I experienced this Spring was very similar to the brain fog I

get with jet lag (9 hours time difference)--the first thing affected is

that I just can't carry on a conversation! Maybe that's why I lurked on

this list for so long, till the fog lifted :-))

I believe that 'brain fog' is just one of the symptoms of rheumatic

diseases, while I feel that most doctors just chalk it up to mild or

not-so-mild depression due to chronic pain.

I decided it wasn't depression when I noticed how quickly it was " cured "

with an NSAID. Right back to life for the duration of the medication.

:-) (That was before my doctor told me it was risky to take it every day,

and I quit altogether, because it seemed I did so much worse the day after

using NSAIDs.)

What about the rest of you? Have you had 'brain fog' during a flair,

without DMARDS to confuse the issue?

Maureen

[Guest guest]

Hi Maureen & all, I'm a relative newby to PA. I was finally

diagnosed 5/02 after couple years of pain. I am currently on MTX,

but nothing else except folic acid (I'm pretty much pain free now).

Your reference to jet lag really seemed familar to me. Over the past

couple of years, I have often felt as though I have just gotten off a

very long flight. I am noticing that I forget things more often. I

have always thought of myself as someone who didn't complain or whine

about pain(hence 2 years before I was diagnosed) I am also someone

who is never affected by caffeine. I have taken Nyquil during the day

without feeling drowsy. All previous postings I have seen

about " brain fog " I just assumed were from folks who are adversely

affected by taking lots of different NSAIDS,DMARDS & other drugs.

When I saw your mention of " jet lag " , I thought that really does

describe how I feel more & more often. Since I'm not on many drugs,

it could be the disease. Actually, it's kind of scary that it might

be. How far could the " fog " progress? Could it ever get to be like

alzheimer's? .....

Something to think about, or to try not to think about.

Be well.

>

> >Jim,

> >

> >Yes, my question was intended to be inclusive of all factors. As

far

> >as I know, no one knows whether " Brain Fog " is caused by the PA

> >itself or by the drugs we take to control the PA.

>

>

> Ron, in my opinion, as someone who's never taken DMARDS, and who

feels more

> alert on NSAIDS, it's the PA itself that causes the 'brain fog'.

>

> In my 20 year history of PA, my previous relatively mild flairs

happened at

> such physically debilitating times (lack of sleep due to a very

difficult

> school program, and later, babies waking me in the night:-)), that

in my

> general fog I'm sure I wouldn't have noticed PA-induced brain fog.

>

> But this time around I had a bad flare involving many joints and

much pain

> and swelling. Never having taken DMARDS, I assure you that brain

fog most

> definitely comes with the flair itself. (Not that meds couldn't

make it

> worse, or that it might be difficult to distinguish.) I felt like

I had

> the flu, and had a very hard time concentrating. The most

embarrasing thing

> was my inability to make small talk with shopkeepers and

neighbors! This

> all passed at exacty the same time I started improving rapidly in

terms of

> pain and warm joints.

>

> I believe that when PA affects a good part of your system, it just

> naturally affects your brain. I am fortunate enough to be much

improved

> lately, but two weeks ago I had a a very painful carpal tunnel arm,

and

> work to deliver. (I work from home.) Everything else was doing much

better,

> however, and in fact I was very alert and thus, despite the pain

(pain meds

> didn't help) I managed to keep on typing and deliver my work on

time.

>

> Perhaps it's the constant pain that causes brain fog, but in my

case, my

> level of alertness seems to correspond with my Sed rate. I really

do think

> it's the inflammation state affecting the efficiency of the brain,

and that

> pain just makes it worse.

>

> The brain fog I experienced this Spring was very similar to the

brain fog I

> get with jet lag (9 hours time difference)--the first thing

affected is

> that I just can't carry on a conversation! Maybe that's why I

lurked on

> this list for so long, till the fog lifted :-))

>

> I believe that 'brain fog' is just one of the symptoms of rheumatic

> diseases, while I feel that most doctors just chalk it up to mild

or

> not-so-mild depression due to chronic pain.

>

> I decided it wasn't depression when I noticed how quickly it

was " cured "

> with an NSAID. Right back to life for the duration of the

medication.

> :-) (That was before my doctor told me it was risky to take it

every day,

> and I quit altogether, because it seemed I did so much worse the

day after

> using NSAIDs.)

>

> What about the rest of you? Have you had 'brain fog' during a

flair,

> without DMARDS to confuse the issue?

>

> Maureen

[Guest guest]

Yes it does itch, but my GP tried to tell me once that it don't, put it this

way he soon took it back. Ha!

[Guest guest]

Enter your vote today! A new poll has been created for the

group:

Do you think you might have issues with

gluten and/or casein?

o I've had tests confirm that I'm allergic or sensitive to gluten and/or

casein.

o I've had tests confirm that I'm allergic or sensitive to gluten but not

casein.

o I've had tests confirm that I'm allergic or sensitive to casein, but not to

gluten.

o I've had tests confirm that I'm NOT allergic or sensitive to gluten and/or

casein.

o I don't know for sure if I have problems with gluten or casein, but I have

symptoms when consuming one or the other that make me suspect I have issues with

one, the other or both.

o I've never been tested but have a severe reaction when consuming one, the

other or both so am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that I have a problem

with gluten and/or casein.

o No, I have no reason to believe I have issues with either gluten or casein.

To vote, please visit the following web page:

/surveys?id=1723944

Note: Please do not reply to this message. Poll votes are

not collected via email. To vote, you must go to the

web site listed above.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

Wow -- looking at the results so far, is there anyone who *doesn't* have issues

with

these?

Suze - it may be easier for you to create poll titled " Who does NOT have issues

with

Gluten and/or Casein " and then simply subtract the number of positive responses

from the

total number of members ;o)

--- wrote:

>

> Do you think you might have issues with

> gluten and/or casein?

__________________________________________________