No pain? ~ More brain?

Given the choice what would you choose

No Pain or No Brain Fog?

Update: I recently discovered and read this post in my drafts from 2016. Seven years later and things really have not changed much. In the past 3 weeks I have forgotten to take my night meds at least once or twice a week. I usually figure it out when I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I have the flu coming on. I have an alarm that notifies me to take my meds but I keep on doing what it is I am doing and forget. I have had to ask my husband now to not go take his evening nap before work until he has looked at my pill container for at least a couple of weeks while I retrain myself to get take them the minute the alarm goes off.

Written in 2016

I asked a group of Fibromites and the majority of those asked responded answered “no pain”. I disagreed, I answered “No Brain Fog”.

Fibro fog is so frustrating. If I could choose between pain and fatigue or brain fog. I choose pain and fatigue. I get so stressed out when I mix up words, am unable to form a complete sentence or am so easily distracted.

My Fibro Fog is not nearly as bad as it was 2 years ago when I forgot to keep up on my medication refills and realized that I had ran out on a Friday night. I was not able to get my refills until Monday and had no idea how quick I would start going through withdrawals. It was one of the worst weekends I have ever experienced.

I spent all day this past Saturday remembering what I had forgotten to do earlier in the week. All of my non-fibro friends and family continue to tell me that it “happens to all of us as we get older”. This is not something someone with Fibromyalgia wants to hear. Honestly, that statement scares me to death. If it is “normal” for us to lose our cognitive skills as we age will we actually notice a difference? or will it increasingly get worse?

Why is this happening to us? Which comes first the chicken or the egg? or in this case the Pain or the Brain Fog?

Studies show that the cognitive dysfunction caused by Fibromyalgia is because our brain is so overwhelmed with pain signals that it can not process, retain or recall information.

So why am I still having memory problems if I have been able to find the right mix of treatments to keep my pain at a manageable level?

I had a sleep study and the results showed that I have sleep maintenance disorder, which means I do not ever reach the REM sleep. I recently learned that during the sleep stage 4 it is the time that our body reaches the restorative healing sleep. It is also when our short term memories are turned into long term memories. At least it can account for some of my memory loss.

Three years ago, I was driving home from work one day on the same roads I had been taking for 20 years. I took the wrong turn. It devastated me. I suddenly was looking around thinking where was I? I have a very long list of similar forgetfulness but ironically I can’t find it.

Last year while at my new job my students and I were conducting a lima bean experiment and they decided they wanted to know how they tasted cooked. I told them that I would take them home and cook them. The next day they asked me if I had brought them. I replied, “UGH! No, I forgot last night to cook them”.

Finally (I am embarrassed to say how many days later I remembered to cook the beans). I cooked them and put them in the refrigerator. The next morning my 2nd grader asked if I remembered to cook the beans – “yes, but I forgot them in the refrigerator.” “Make a note” she said. I wanted to cry but instead, I laughed.

If she only knew how many notes I had in my bag, my purse, on my counters and by my chair. So, then the next morning I pulled the beans from the refrigerator and put them on the kitchen counter beside my water bottle. I went back to the refrigerator to get my lemon, I cut it up and put it in my water bottle.

I was excited for her to ask me, “Did you bring the beans?” I got to class and began to prepare for my students when I reached in my bag… yep, you guessed it. I left the beans on the counter. “Again?” said my 4th grader. “you need to make a note”. She didn’t wait to see if I was going to write a note. She grabbed one of my post it notes and wrote on it “Bring beans please”.

Forgetting the lima beans was not causing any harm to anyone other than making me look bad to my students. This kind of forgetfulness happens all too many times when things really do matter.

The difference from now and 3 years ago when I couldn’t remember how to get home is my work environment. I was working a very stressful job, in so much pain and when we are in stress and pain our brain is too busy to think and remember. I have also learned what are some things I can do to help reduce some of the brain fog.

What are typical Fibro Fog symptoms?

Difficulty recalling words or names, the use of incorrect words and expressing thoughts/emotions
Forgetfulness, difficulty remembering where you put things, forgetting what you are doing, unable to recall what was heard or read
Easily distracted, difficult to pay attention to more than one thing at a time
Not knowing where you are going or where you are, not recognizing your surroundings, impaired sense of direction

What can we do to alleviate some of the brain fog and improve our cognitive abilities?

Rest your body
Keep a daily routine.
Plan your days: Use 1 to-do list and 1 calendar.
Use Reminders & Alarms; Smartphones have amazing apps to remember everything.
Focus on one thing at a time.
Meditate/Calming Exercises: meditation, gentle yoga, water classes, listening to music
Breathe: Fibromites forget to breathe; we tend to hold our breath or take shallow breaths. Slow deep breathes will help increase the oxygen and the blood flow in the brain. Cold ice on the forehead can slow down the feel of panic/anxiety.
Exercise: Exercise creates endorphins that help eliminate pain and fog.
Practice Good Sleep Hygiene: Stick to a bedtime routine, use a sleep mask, a good mattress & pillow, darkened room & light noise.
Eat a Healthy Diet: Avoid processed foods, gluten, sugar, caffeine and various food additives and preservatives which can make pain and brain fog worse.
Supplements: B vitamins, omega 3, Ginkgo biloba and magnesium.
Play Games – Puzzles, brain teasers, scrabble and word finds.

The#1 thing to remember:

Don’t Freak out when you forget things.

Early on in my illness I forgot my parent’s phone number. I had always dialed it. Never speed dialed. I sat there staring at the phone bawling. Another time, I couldn’t remember what locker I had put my clothes in at the pool. Again, staring at the lockers and bawling. All that accomplished was for my emotions to take over and the panicking lead to a major increase in pain.

The most important thing to do is to STAY CALM

and remember you are a

Fibro Warriors ~ Living Life!