Brain Fog??

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It has gotten worse today oddly, no idea why.
I feel worse in my apartment actually. More time spent in, worse I feel.
But otherwise, it comes and goes... I cannot remember last time I felt fully alert.
And it is worse in winter.

Apart from the obvious benefits of clean air and sunlight, there could be something specifically hidden about your apartment - air quality/toxicity, electro-magnetic pollution - lots of appliances (esp. cordless) - nearby phone masts etc.

Simplest/easiest things that comes to mind that you could try now is sleeping/spending time in another room. Also turning off everything electrical in the room your in, including cordless appliances in all rooms.

Its all about elimination - for instance you could hang around near a phone mast for a few hours - if you dont get especially ill, then at least you can rule out electrosensitivity. Then again, keep in mind that there might not be a single cause and it might be a combination of factors.

Brain fog... this reminded me of the movie Joe vs the Volcano (though that was a "brain cloud"). You might enjoy it.

I've had similar symptoms, where I literally feel like my head is stuffed with gauze, and everything is muddled and confusing. I can't initiate or direct a train of thought. I can't do anything but stare off into space and feel frustrated. Sometimes it seems like my senses are lagging, like when I turn my head, it takes a while for my eyes to make the transition. Medication has helped a great deal, but it still comes and goes. Brain fog is just one of several brain states I get that shut me down.

Could you elaborate on which medications, and whether youve been able to attribute any particular medications with relief from particular brain states?

Focalin

I would credit Wellbutrin, primarily, though I was also started on Remeron at the same time, so it may field some of the credit, too. I still have foggy days, but they're nowhere near as frequent. I used to have entire months spent foggy and weird, and now it's more like a few bad days a month. I never could identify a pattern to what caused the fog. I tried exclusion diets, more exercise, more sleep, therapy, more water, more/less caffeine, etc, but nothing stood out as a clear culprit. I also had numerous tests (thyroid, blood sugar, heart conditions) which revealed nothing unusual.

I also get "brain buzz," where my I can't think, but instead of feeling like my head is full of old socks and mucous, it feels tingly and buzzy. I usually feel kind of weak and shaky on those days. Nervous and edgy. I prefer the buzz to the fog, but neither are productive. The worst is derealization, which I haven't had since taking the meds.

I'm wondering....mold? mildew? Sometimes it's hidden though and not too obvious. If you've spent the night elsewhere in the past, have you noticed a lack of symptoms?

Lack of physical stimulation can cause brain fog. Going out and doing things and getting some mild exercise seems to help me a little. Brain fog is not really the same thing as depression, but the effects are similar in that it makes you feel mentally lethargic. My biggest problem is that I'm a night person so I always seem to have the brain fog during the day. I can only think hard late in the evening or at night.

Isn't the brain buzz fun? I had it for a couple months straight. The culprit was clonazepam withdrawal. I felt shaky, weak, light headed, and tingly all the time. Plus I had this sensation like I was always cringing from something inside me (kind of a fingernails-on-chalkboard feeling). The cringy feeling made me want to tightly clench my fists, curl my toes, or lay fetal position. It's impossible for me to accurately describe what that feeling is like.

This is a possibility actually as I did not feel as bad prior to moving to this apartment, which has had a leaking ceiling in the past and is pretty damp in places.
I had not realised that can cause this issue ?

This is a possibility actually as I did not feel as bad prior to moving to this apartment, which has had a leaking ceiling in the past and is pretty damp in places.
I had not realised that can cause this issue ?

You did a good job of describing it. Pretty much spot on. I feel overloaded/overwhelmed like I'm wound way too tight and at any moment I'm going to either cry or curl up under my desk or have a seizure. It makes me feel very small and frightened, if that makes any sense, like a squirrel trapped in a cage. Clonazepam withdrawl would be a quick route to that. I'm not sure why I get it, beyond some perfect storm of med levels and brain state and blood sugar? It seems to peak in the afternoon. I just had it happen yesterday.

Search "sick building syndrome"....very real, and can make you very sick.

Found one link...there's a lot more.

http://www.presenting.net/sbs/sbs.html

Just had a major lawsuit some time ago at hospital around here...half the workers became ill, some losing their hair even... due to problems with crap in the ventilation system.

Had mold problems with this house...roof leaked prior...basement also...I feel it had alot to do with me getting sick.

I had noticed and been confused that as soon as I sat down in here in the evenings, I started to feel very sleepy.

I am praying the back apartment might be less damp else I shall have to look to moving somewhere else.

I know the house the apt is in suffers bad subsidance.

Ooops. Grrrr

Last edited by Graelwyn on 23 Oct 2007, 5:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Ooopsy.