Thinking through the Fibro Fog
One of the problems those with fibromyalgia face is thinking through their fibro fog. Fibro fog is known by quite a few terms: brain fog, cognitive dysfunction, mental fog, mental fuzziness and dis-cognition. It manifests itself in an array of ways: confusion, forgetfulness, word mix-ups (seeing/hearing/saying one word instead of another), concentration problems, poor word recalls, difficulty grasping a spoken or written concept and losing a train of thought.
At times fibro fog can be worse than at others. Often times it is worse when experiencing more pain or fatigue than normal or when feeling overly stimulated. Some practices that can help deal with fibro fog are creating lists, taking notes, setting calendar/phone reminder alarms and consistently putting things (keys, bills, etc…) in the same place. These methods really help me! Some medications, like Adderall or Cymbalta, may help lessen the symptoms by increasing focus and lessening our bodies’ overwhelming pain signals, respectively.
I first realized I was experiencing fibro fog when I went from being a mental phone book of new and old friends’ numbers to not remembering my current friends’ phone numbers. Yes, this was before everyone just programmed numbers into cell phones. The first years fibro fog effected me in social situations I would feel dumb and get embarrassed. I knew why I was losing my train of thought or not being able to recall simple words that I wanted to speak, but it wasn’t like I was going to give a medical explanation to people I’d just met!
I admit that sometimes I still feel that way in front of people when I first meet them, but for the most part I just laugh it off now. I poke fun at myself, play charades or “word thesaurus” trying to get people to figure out the word I’m trying to think of or sometimes I say, “I should probably just stop talking,” followed by a laugh. I know that my true friends, the people who really know me, know that I’m intelligent and not ditsy.
The good thing is that word mix-ups can make for some very comical situations! For instance, I was recently in a conversation at a party where it would’ve been funny if I brought up RuPaul. Instead I mentioned Ron Paul. I couldn’t understand why nobody thought what I said was funny. Then The Helpful Hubby heard me repeat it, started laughing and gave me the name I’d meant to say – RuPaul. Ron Paul is a politician, RuPaul is a drag queen…quite different references! LOL! Another word mix up gave my friend and fellow spoonie, @MessyHappiness, and I one of our new favorite phrases. I had written her, “I’d try to stay calm for now =) it will help your body heal faster!” and she read, “…catch some calm.” Now we use the phrase “catch some calm” quite often!
Have you had any memorable/funny word-mix ups?
It isn't only hard to see through the fog, it is also hard to think through!*
*Image Credit: from www.wikipedia.org
Posted: February 21st, 2011 under Advice, Living with Fibro.
Tags: Fatigue, Fibro Fog, Medicine, My Philosophy, Pain, Sensitivity
Comments
Comment from Monique
Time February 21, 2011 at 7:16 am
My hubby has now adopted it too. He uses it at work. From what I have heard, he uses it a LOT! LoL!
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Comment from Jassieone
Time February 21, 2011 at 12:29 pm
My sister and I both have fibro. I use the word “thing” for all nouns when I’m foggy. Thus, “can you please get me the thing out of the thing.” My family and friends just look for context and are great at translating. My sister hears very odd things – she recently recounted hearing an add for shampoo which would give your colour “extra dementia.” We live a very funny life.
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 1:56 pm
Ah yes, the “thing!” I use “thing” and “thingy” quite often too! Haha – extra dementia, those are the types of word mix-ups that are great for spicing up life! Sometimes I know I must’ve heard it wrong, but I”ll share what I heard just so everyone can get a good laugh.
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Comment from Diana
Time February 22, 2011 at 6:01 am
Love your Blog, also I copied the bridge pic. Hope that was okay!
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:10 am
Thanks, Diana! If you want a bigger version of the picture, it is a public domain picture from the fog page on http://www.wikipedia.org.
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Comment from ilona
Time February 22, 2011 at 6:17 am
I have fibro too. I am ALWAYS mixing up letters in words. I have two friends called Roxy & Beki and I accidentally called them Boxy & Reki once!
And my neighbours Bill & Wendy: They get called Will & Bendy (unintentionally of course!)
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:12 am
I do that too, Ilona! When I mix letters up it is usually swapping out the first letters of two words, like you said. Sometimes though I switch up two letters in the middle of a word too.
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Comment from Anne Marie
Time February 22, 2011 at 6:59 am
Not mine – but a friend who talked too fast for her brain, spoke of a “multi-coloured star park.” Any guesses what she meant?
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Comment from Becky
Time February 22, 2011 at 8:59 am
Personally, my memory lapses & “brain farts” are starting to scare me – does this mean Alzheimer or dementia is something to look forward to? My mind is on track, but sometimes when I try to convey the thoughts, it is nothing like what is going on in my head…
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:34 am
Becky, if you are on any medications I’d highly suggest checking to see if there are any side effects similar to fibro fog. I was on a medicine for IBS once that made my fibro fog start acting twice as worse and I was really worried. I looked at the side effects, talked with The Helpful Hubby and realized everything that was worse seemed like it was from the medicine. My doctor agreed, switched me to a different medicine and my fibro fog went back to “normal” for itself.
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Comment from thanks
Time February 22, 2011 at 9:43 am
It’s nice to know I am not alone. I have not been diagnosised with fibro, but that seems to fit best. Knowing that I am not alone helps.
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Comment from Pamela
Time February 22, 2011 at 11:04 am
You know when you get in your car and half of the window is fogged up…well I yelled at my husband to get the “fug” off of the windshield. We both laughed (and still do) so hard we had tears streaming down our faces. One thing with my fibro that has helped so much is to be able to laugh at yourself.
Keep laughing ladies!
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:41 am
Thanks for sharing your story, Pamela! I’m sure I’ll smile and think of you the next time I see some “fug” on the windows =) I agree, laughing and trying to keep things positive sure make a life with fibromyalgia more enjoyable!
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Comment from Acelia
Time February 24, 2011 at 6:12 am
I used to be asked to speak for friends and family members a few years back, now I don’t like to even answer the phone to talk sometimes. The word mix ups have emberassed me a time or two but for the most part I just say “well you know what I mean, right?” 80% of the time they do lol. I used to let the fog get to me, but now it has become a part of me.
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
February 24th, 2011 at 11:39 am
I use, “(Do) you know what I’m talking about?” quite often, in conversation, too! I agree, many times the connection is made between what I’m trying to say and what I’m actually saying.
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Comment from Ken D Berry MD
Time March 1, 2011 at 3:36 am
Fight the Fog!
As you know, Fibromyalgia is still an evolving diagnosis so I would encourage all Fibro Folks to become an Expert about their condition. I have had more than a few patients who were wrongly diagnosed with Fibro, when in fact they had another condition which acted like Fibro, but was easily curable.
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Comment from Fifo Fibro
Time March 7, 2011 at 10:42 am
I am terrible sometimes with mixing letters around! Today I said to my darling husband that he’d make a great mediator because he’s great at playing ‘avils dedvocate’ (instead of devils’ advocate) WHAT??! We laughed so much! It’s annoying, but so much better to laugh instead of crying like I used to years back when I thought I was developing dementia!
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
March 7th, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Hehe! Thanks for sharing your letter mix up, Fifo! I agree, there are some scary moments, but boy are there some fun ones!
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Comment from Monique
Time May 29, 2011 at 12:02 pm
I finally remembered to link this post up with one of my side bar pics! Just wanted to let you know.
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Comment from Sheilagh Lee
Time September 2, 2011 at 8:47 pm
I mix words up all the time. In a bad flare I slur words and I’m not understood or I say the opposite of what I mean. or drop things.
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
September 2nd, 2011 at 10:06 pm
Much to The Helpful Hubby’s dismay, I drop things as well, on our hardwood floors.
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Comment from Ana
Time October 20, 2011 at 12:31 am
I don’t really have word mix-ups but this page made me laugh. I get facial fog and its downright annoying. It is like the brain fog in the face and it feels like my whole face is “hulled.” Oh, I swear its like someone wrapped a clear, invisible plastic bag around my head, and did it as a joke. I swear it lmao! Then my face starts to tingle around my nose, and I swear its like invisible clear bees darting in and out of my face and its annoying. Today though I could not remember how to spell the word ‘caught’ lol and I wanted to write “cought,” and “cote,” I knew that wasn’t right.
I think there is a big link between not enough rest, the wrong medicines, rushing daily life when the brain can’t keep up or deal with depression… because when I am sad or too busy I tense up and or just go BLOOP. So not fun. I love your site blog it makes me laugh and I am going to link it on my tumblr.
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Comment from Ana
Time October 20, 2011 at 12:46 am
I used to use and still do but not as often, the word thingy and thing. I would say also “Can you bring me the thing, off the thingy” I have found that fibro brain works on stress levels not. Sometimes I don’t know how to speak right, I will want to speak shorthand. like “I take nap” “I go to eat” “I type now” “I go away” or something similar to this. Sometimes I wish i could stare at people and I could telegraph the thought to them, so they would know I don’t want to talk to them. I have no problem typing, because I want to enlighten people, but if you want me to say it I am going to look at the floor. That’s bad and I get tired. I get so tired, and not sleep tired. Its important to me to be so independent. But I get tired. I want to stop and do nothing but that’s not productive. I am a bit OCD on taking care of myself. I hate being that tired, being worthless tired. I also just got off of sleep aid. People think it will work for fibro people but it won’t. It makes me sleep to long or restlessly.
Sometimes, I describe my fibro as being a zombie for a while then coming back to life for short bursts. People don’t understand why I don’t like going out to places that have scares to them like anyone thuggy could walk in and I could get scared or hurt. My Fibro accompanies msd and PTSD, and anxiety disorder. I can’t go in places that are unsafe where guys or girls hang out that is raunchy, or bad for people. People don’t understand that I just can’t hang at the local 20 something coffee shop. It’s really draining sometimes.
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Comment from karen
Time November 14, 2011 at 12:19 pm
My fibro fog has gotten really bad lately. I did talk to my dr about adderall but the side effects were something I didn’t want to cope with. I’m already on the max of Cymbalta (120 mg) so I can’t do anything else there.
I get very embarrassed when I double-book myself, I do that a lot b/c I’ve forgotten previous committments, I forget words all the time – I substitute the word “peanut butter” for whatever the word is I’ve forgotten. I forget if I’ve fed my dog, so I feed her again….she’s not gonna starve, that’s for sure. I’ve got to figure out a way to deal with this, it’s really starting to interfere with my day to day life in a negative way but I don’t know what to do. I sleep well, take my meds and control my pain pretty well but this brain fog I cannot get ahold of.
karen recently posted: Prefense Non-Alcohol Sanitizer – Product Review and Giveaway!!!
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Have you tried using an online calender? I couldn’t live without using Google calendar on my phone and computer. They sync up automatically and I can share my calender with people if I choose too. If I’m scheduling something I put it right into my calender before moving from the location that I’m at. You could even put in alarms for feeding your dog at certain times or for when you need to take medicine.
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Sandy O Reply:
August 31st, 2012 at 9:24 am
I have over booked often, then I am to embarrassed to call and cancel one within an hour or so of the appointment. Sometimes I have gotten fees for that, drives my husband crazy.
Then I purchase items I already bought because I can’t find where I put it.
Great idea about the phone alarm, not sure if I would remember why I set it though, lol
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Comment from karen
Time November 14, 2011 at 2:47 pm
I have a calendar…I just forget to use it! LOL! I’m pretty good about remembering my meds…maybe I can think of something that will let me know if I fed the dog or not in the mornings. I gotta do something. Adderol is not an option for me – I already have been diagnosed w/ anxiety, I sure don’t need to be on amphetamines to hype me up. I have been reading on some supplements and other things, even aromatherapy that might help. I’ll keep u posted
karen recently posted: Prefense Non-Alcohol Sanitizer – Product Review and Giveaway!!!
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
November 14th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I used to forget to use my calendar too – that is when I made my rule of entering something in it right when I schedule it before I can do anything else. Before that I used to think, oh I’ll enter it in a few minutes and then I’d forget.
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Comment from Pam
Time December 7, 2011 at 11:36 pm
I have fibro also and Imin a bit of a fog lately, and sooo tired. It seems that when I get very overwhelmed with stress, it triggers the next few days of fog. My daughter gets so mad because i repeat things over and over. Now Im starting to forget what i was doing and start something else, then remember i was doing something and its waiting for completion. My words are getting mixed up or I forget the right word. My sister also has fibromyalgia but she has had her arms lock up at the shoulder and has to get cortisone shot. Both my children have multiple sclerosis with is an autoimmune disease!!! I feel guity that somehow my genes gave the MS to them. I am depressed but still try to “live” its so hard when Im tired because I just want to rest my body. I take cymbalta and gabapentin for the nerve pain. Cant sleep much even though im exhausted. Doc gave me 100mg of trazodone to sleep and it gets me to sleep but when I woke up im still groggy…zzz (lol) And i think i could really use some aromatherapy i think and any suggestions u guys could make would be awesome!!! I just found this blog and im so happy I did. I really dont like medicine that messes with my brain !!! Sodoing some aromatherapy b4 bed maybe would help??? tyvm everyone, glad i found u!!!
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
December 31st, 2011 at 1:12 pm
I also find that when I’m overwhelmed/stressed my fibro fog gets worse. They say that peppermint, citrus and jasmine oils can help concentration, focus, alertness. I wrote a post about aromatherapy here: http://feliciafibro.com/2010/12/13/aromatherapy/
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Comment from Karen Greenberg
Time December 30, 2011 at 6:58 pm
As a teacher I am so self-concious about mixing up and “losing” words. I did notice that it gets worse when I’m under stress.
Karen Greenberg recently posted: Friday’s Fave Five- December 30, 2011
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Comment from Sharon
Time January 8, 2012 at 5:39 am
During a conversation with someone, I asked them if they worked in the same…I couldn’t think of the word! So I started describing it- “you know, the big thing where all the people are, with the windows and the rooms…uh…you know…uh….BUILDING!!!That’s it! Do you work in the same building?”
I also forget clients names but they know me well enough that I can joke and say “Who are you, again? Wait, who am I?” 
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
January 8th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
That first example reminds me of when I was talking to someone about vacationing in Kauai (they had been and we were going) and I completely blanked out on the name of the place, even though we’d been using it. It was a friend of a friend that I didn’t know that well and I had to say, “you know, that place we were just talking about.” This is one of the experiences that led to me to realize and IBS med was making my fibro fog worse (as I commented about to Becky, above)
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Comment from MIKI
Time March 13, 2012 at 3:04 pm
Felicia, I put this on your FB page today but adding it here…I said to my hubby “stop shredding worms” when I meant “do not split hairs”. Uh-huh, LOL!
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
March 13th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
Thanks for sharing your funny fibro fog moment too!
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Comment from Jennifer
Time April 17, 2012 at 10:57 pm
You are an angel! I appreciate all the tips & Support that you give. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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Comment from Sandy O
Time August 31, 2012 at 9:17 am
I don’t know if anyone will anwer this as the last comment was a while ago.
The brain fog drives me nuts. I have what I call my “backward days”. I litterly do theng backwards. unrolling toilet paper becomes confusing. One time I could not understand why I was not getting soap when I pushed down on the faucet. Driving is horrible and I tend to stay home. Typing is grueling. You get the picture. If I try focusing to hard, I get dizzy and moody.
Another thing that happens it I can not find things. When I park my car, I simply can not find it. A dr. I have seen loads of time, I suddenly can’t remember where his office is. I forget the name of people have known for years. I forgot my pin number for days and ended up having to get a whole new card. Forget trying to dial a phone number or math, even with a calculator. To make it worse I have numerical dislexia. grrrr…
Depth perception is gone. I bang things like putting a glass on the counter and hitting the rim of another and breaking it. Banging thing, walk into things & people and step on the small pups I have.
Talking is confusing. My family knows to play the “thesaurus game”, but it is still embarassing.
I have tried writing notes, but can’t remember to look at them. I have note everywhere. I even put things to remember on my back door at eye level so I will see it when I leave. For some reason I think it is part of the decor and ignore it and just don’t really see it.
Have you found any techniques to help with thing like what I described??
Thanks in advance. Sandy O
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Comment from lilhippiegirl
Time March 19, 2013 at 8:36 pm
I’ve just been diagnosed with fibro and have had fog now for probably 6 months or more. I have just felt so stupid lately forgetting simple words or the fact that I did things the day before not days ago like I thought. I used to be so quick on my toes and good with words. I just got diagnosed. I’m happy to finally know what’s wrong, still hard to grasp. I’ve felt this pain for so long and I thought it’d be fixable. Very happy to find such a wonderful site
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Felicia Fibro Reply:
February 21st, 2011 at 10:37 am
Awesome sauce!
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