Brain Fog

August 16, 2004

Hi have severe brain fog too. Some days it seems worse than others, for me I

think it depends on how much rest I get. But it still definetly there all of

the time.

Today I had to go and register my daughter for some classes, and even to

answer some simple questions seemed to be a challange for me, and the

guidance lady was looking at me as if I had two heads...2 heads covered in P

LOL

I was wondering if some of it was due to the pain I am constantly in, but it

has to be more than that.

I can't say much about enbrel, I was only on it for about 2 months before I

got an infection and had to stop for awhile. I hope to resume it soon and I

am hopeful for ALL of us that these new meds will be the answers we are all

looking for.

right direction with a good website to go to,

>

August 17, 2004

Hi ,

If you have a look back at the archives, its been mentioned quite a lot in

the past. I personally have not been involved in the discussions although I

know exactly what you all mean. lol.

I can't make up my mind if it is my meds(MTX, Ciclosporin) or the PA itself.

I think most people in the group lean towards the meds but I would be

slightly inclined to blame the PA. I find I really struggle to think clearly

when I

am having a bad day (Like today) I feel that the shear effort it takes to

..........................??? What was I saying???.......................Oh yes,

to keep going when I am in so much pain affects me that way.

Little joke there. (Very little joke I hear you say)

Take care,

August 17, 2004

, I had brain fog so bad while taking mtx that I was sure I had lost my

once sharp mind and would never be able to function properly, ever again.

But being off mtx and taking Enbrel and Arava has made a huge difference for

me. I still have what we call " senior moments " around here but it is much

more in line with what I think is normal age related short circuit than the

devastating confusion I had before. Look back in the archives, I believe

there is a lot about brain fog. It seems to be part of the disease and also

medication related. You would find the archives interesting. Try not to

worry too much and be thankful your family can finish you sentences when

necessary. Good Luck with getting on to Enbrel. Cheri

[ ] Brain Fog

> I never hear anyone talk about " brain fog " . I'm I the

> only one that has to have help from my family members

> to finish my sentences? The words are there I just

> can't seem to get them from my brain to my mouth.

>

> I am waiting for my insurance to pre-certify Enbrel.

> I am so looking forward to all the benefits that I've

> heard you all speak of from Enbrel. I know that I

> will be terribly disappointed if it isn't as

> successful for me as it has been for many of you.

> What about " brain fog " ? For those of you taking it

> with " mental impairment " , did it help you?

August 17, 2004

> I never hear anyone talk about " brain fog " . I'm I the

> only one that has to have help from my family members

> to finish my sentences? The words are there I just

> can't seem to get them from my brain to my mouth.

>

I HAVE THAT! I don't know if it is related to posorisis or not. I

have A.D.D. (adult attention deficit disorder) Sometimes I cant fine

a simple word or name to save my life! It is really annoying.

Often I just stop in the middle of a sentance... It drives me nuts!

If anyone knows if this is related to " P " or " PA " please let me know!

Bill

August 17, 2004

In a message dated 8/17/2004 6:10:04 PM Eastern Standard Time,

bathouse@... writes:

Hi have severe brain fog too. Some days it seems worse than others, for me I

think it depends on how much rest I get. But it still definetly there all of

the time.

I always considered myself fairly intellegent. I even had several more

credits to go before dropping out of nursing school when the PA set in at full

force. Now I feel like the biggest space cadent and can hardly read these

e-mail, let alone study nursing. TALK ABOUT BRAIN FOG

Janet

August 18, 2004

, Bill, All, Brain fog is often present in Fibromyalgia (FM)

which has many of the same symptoms as PA (but different causes). FM

and PA are often found in the same patient. A good rheumy should be

able to determine whether you have both. PA meds may help, if the FM

is triggered by the PA. And FM does respond to some NSAIDs, hence,

some PA meds. You really need to have the brain fog checked out. I'd

go as soon as I remember what I was . . . uhm, well, have your

rheumy check for FM. Correct diagnosis, even a bad disorder, is

better than no diagnosis.

JudiRose

August 18, 2004

Yes Bill, " Brain Fog " is a symptom of PA. I

appreciate all the responses to my post. It makes me

feel a little less alone. I wonder sometimes if we

are in so much pain that our brains are in overloaded

just trying to deal with that. My brain fog also is

worse at times than others. I used to be the best

elementary school secretary you could imagine, and I

never brag about myself. I had to quit because of the

pain but I also was getting where I my brain just

didn't function as quickly as it needed to. It was

terribly embarrassing.

--

August 18, 2004

I have had a major problem with brain fog for years. I have been taking MTX

since 1994 and Enbrel since 2001. I got relief from the severe fatigue that

went along the brain fog when I started on the Enbrel. But, my memory

really is a problem. Just today, I couldn't remember our janitor's name. I

really like this kid and he empties my trash everyday. You'd think I'd be

able to remember his name. While on a recent cruise, I made a spreadsheet

in my Palm PDA so that I could remember the names of people we had our meals

with. I'm finding that I am using my PDA more and more to remember things,

I write everything down. I used to have an excellent memory but not

anymore. Names are the worst for me.

Becky

August 18, 2004

In a message dated 8/18/2004 11:46:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

juroma43@... writes:

You really need to have the brain fog checked out. I'd

go as soon as I remember what I was . . . uhm, well, have your

rheumy check for FM. Correct diagnosis, even a bad disorder, is

better than no diagnosis.

HI Judirose,

Are y ou familiar with what they use to treat the fibro. My rheumy

diagnosed me with both. I tried taking zoloft for the fibro and I did not

think it

did anything so I went off of it. I get weekly massages at the chiropractors

office and that make the fibro feel better but the brain fog..... what was

I saying?

Janet

August 18, 2004

Has anyone got any questions answered from their Rhumy regarding brain fog?

August 19, 2004

I suffered from serious brain fog when I was on MTX. Fortunately, when I

stopped MTX (I'm now on Humira and Arava), the brain fog lifted considerably.

However, I am quite forgetful and sometimes fear the early onset of Alzheimer's

(my mother had it), but my friends and family assure me that I seem to be like

every other 55 year old post-menopausal woman when it comes to these things. I

therefore attribute my poor memory (it used to be superb) to being normal rather

than to PA. There is no question that in my case, MTX magnified my brain fog

and caused me a fair degree of fatigue.

Kathy F.

August 19, 2004

In a message dated 8/18/2004 11:47:51 PM Eastern Standard Time,

maryjohnson1960@... writes:

Yes Bill, " Brain Fog " is a symptom of PA. I

appreciate all the responses to my post. It makes me

feel a little less alone. I wonder sometimes if we

are in so much pain that our brains are in overloaded

just trying to deal with that. My brain fog also is

worse at times than others.

My rheumie's theory on brain fog is related to how much fighting our bodies

are doing...we never are at rest because we are too busy attacking our

joints...so the brain fog is akin to feeling out of it when you are sick and

fighting a cold or infection...I noticed a big improvement when I got my fatigue

level under control (through sleeping 10 hours a night instead of 8, napping as

needed, and adding 2 folic acid pills a day).

August 19, 2004

Janet, As my Fm is triggered by the Pa and the PA is mild, I have

gotten by with the NSAID and with one Flexeril at night to promote

sleep. My sisters and niece are taking either Celebrex or Vioxx with

a tricyclic antidepressant (Zoloft is one) or Flexeril. Keep up the

massages if you can. And explore with the rheumy for something to do

what the Zoloft didn't. We need all the help we can get.

The need for something to promote the deep (REM lelvel) sleep is

important in controlling FM. The lack of that deep sleep may play a

part in the fog, but I don't know for sure.

Just bring up with the DR that you aren't taking the Zoloft and you

do have the fog. We sometimes think they know what we didn't tell

them from our fogs. JudiRose

August 19, 2004

Kathy, I'm no medical person, but I wonder if the lack of the mental

fog after you went off of MTX can be because your symptoms are now

being treated appropriately. I know that the FM fog is cleared by

getting rid of pain and getting enough sleep. If the fog you had was

similar, just getting the right medicine for you would help.

I feel (IMHO) that we must be our own advocates with our doctors.

They do their best, but even if they see a couple dozen different

patients with PA regularly, we seem to all be different and that has

to make coming up with appropriate treatments hard for them. Any

help we can give them through feedback is important.

You say the fog is gone but the memory is not back to where it was.

Ask the doctor. There may be something else that would help. Nothing

ventured, nothing gained.

Hoping for a better memory in your future, JudiRose

-

August 19, 2004

JudiRose,

Thanks so much for your concern and suggestions. You are so right about our

needing to be our own healthcare advocates!

I am actually quite organized about my health care. The medication I'm

currently on (Humira and Arava) has me feeling better than I've felt in years.

I visit the rheumy every two months. In between visits, I keep a daily diary

of how I felt each day, what activities I did and what other things were

going on. The day before each rheumy visit, I make a list of the prescriptions

that need renewing and I come up with an agenda of talking points. I give him

feedback on what I've been feeling, what I've been doing and what my body's

reactions have been. We also go over any questions I might have and then we

make time to talk to each other about nonsense things - his son's soccer

match, my dog's prowess in the pool - in other words, we spend a couple of

minutes talking to one another as people rather than as just doctor/patient.

As

far as the brain fog is concerned, I didn't have it before MTX, nor did I have

it after I came off MTX so I think I can safely assume it was the MTX.

Regarding my memory, my rheumy and my gyn both believe it is a function of my

age

as well as the body's stress from living with PA since I was 16 (I'm now 55).

My doctors believe that chronic physical stress creates its own set of

chemical problems and that in concert with my age and heredity, my memory is

not

what it was. I am an SVP in a major bank in NYC so I guess I still have a

reasonable degree of brain function (and stress!) and I put in about 200 hours

a year on volunteer work. I do the NY Times cross word puzzle every day (but

I can't always complete Saturday or Sunday puzzles as they are just too

tough) and I read vociferously to keep the brain juices flowing. Most nights I

manage to sleep OK, so I think I am doing what I can to keep my brain active.

Despite all of that, I have done things like leave my hairbrush in the

refrigerator. I hate to think what I used to brush my hair. I sometimes

forget

the names of people I know well. Now if only I could remember where I live...

Wishing you wellness,