Fibro Fog in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Brain fog (also called fibro-fog or cognitive dysfunction) is one of the most common complaints of people with fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). For many, it can have such a big impact on their lives than pain, or fatigue. In fact, some people say brain fog is their most debilitating physical symptom. We still don’t know exactly what causes cognitive dysfunction in these conditions, but we have plenty of theories about possible contributing factors, including:
• Lack of restful sleep
• Abnormal volume or flow of blood from the skull
• Brain abnormalities
• Premature brain aging
• mental distraction due to pain
Symptoms include:
Use of words and memory:
• Difficulty remembering familiar words, using incorrect words, remembering names slowly.
Short term memory issues:
• Forgetting, inability to remember what you have read or heard.
• Spatial disorientation: by not recognizing a family environment, he is easily lost, has difficulty remembering where things are. Difficulties in multitasking:
• Inability to pay attention to more than one thing, forgetting the original task when distracted.
• Confusion and difficulty concentrating, problems processing information, easily distracted. Mathematics / difficulties with numbers:
• Difficulty performing simple mathematical operations, remembering sequences, transposition numbers, problems remembering numbers.
• Some people may also have other types of brain disorders.
Brain fog and learning disabilities: So far we have no evidence that our brain fog comes from known learning problems, but our problems are similar to those associated with disorders such as dyslexia (problems reading ), dysphasia (difficulty speaking) and dyscalculia. (math/time/spatial problems).If you think you might have a learning disability, talk to your doctor.Diagnosis can help you get reasonable adjustments at work or apply for benefits of disability. The treatment of brain fog. For some people, brain fog resolves with effective treatment for pain or sleep problems. However, not everyone can find effective treatments, leaving many affected without treatment for this problem. Supplements are a common option. Although we don’t have much evidence to support its effectiveness, some doctors and people with these conditions have noticed that the supplements help improve brain function/thinking.
Common supplements for brain fog are:
• 5-HTP
• Vitamines B
• L-Carnitine
• Hills
• Omega-3 (fish oil) (Chia)
• Rhodiola
• St. John’s wort
• Theanine (amino acid found in tea leaves) Some doctors recommend dietary changes to include “brain- friendly ” foods , some of which are natural sources of the supplements mentioned above. Some of these foods are:
• Fish (omega-3)
• Canola oil or walnut oil (omega-3)
• Eggs (hill)
• Fruits and vegetables
• Carbohydrates
• Chia seeds (omega-3)
Some fibromyalgia research shows that moderate exercise can also help improve brain function. Researchers are learning more about the brain and how it works, and new information may help us understand brain fog. Research into brain aging and certain degenerative diseases shows that cognitive training can sometimes delay, stop, or reverse the loss of function intellectual functions. Some doctors use intellectual training programs, which often include software that you use at home. Video game companies and websites that offer games that say they can improve intellectual function, some evidence suggests that virtual reality games improve memory and critical thinking skills. Because this is a new scientific field,it is likely that more will be learned about mental processes and their functions in the years to come.