Brain fog

So it occurred to me today that I talk a lot about brain fog and the medication I take for it, but I never really explained what it is. Brain fog is different for everyone, but in general it is just what it sounds like: foggy brain! For me this means that I have to work much harder to process information.

I do not take my medication that I take for brain fog on the weekends because it causes some gastrointestinal side effects, so my stomach needs a break and I don't need my brain on the weekends anyways! I went out with some friends the other night to a pizza place. I didn't even think of taking my medication because it is not like I had school or work that I needed my brain to be clear for. Well I realized I should have taken it! The main issue of brain fog that I noticed was that I had a very difficult time following the conversation because of how many people were talking. If only one person was talking I was just fine, but when multiple people were talking all at once I just could not process what was going on. Another issue I have with brain fog is word recall. I know what I want to say, but cannot come up with the word. For instance, I wanted to say the word "magnet" but could not come up with the right word. I instead made a rectangle with my hands and said "you know the sticky thingy for the fridge with pictures on it". Thankfully my husband is incredibly understanding, but it is really frustrating! Another example was I was trying to come up with the word "rabbit". I have 4 rabbits so this is a familiar word to me, but instead I said "you know... the little furry, jumpy creatures". I know what I want to say, but it just won't work for me!

Another symptom of brain fog is that I will walk to another room to do something, the kitchen for example, and stand in the middle of the kitchen completely unable to remember why I am there. Sometimes if I stand there long enough I will remember, and other times I don't remember at all. Another way that brain fog affects me is when I am reading. I will read the same line or paragraph over and over and over again without realizing it or retaining any of the information. Sometimes it does not matter how hard I try I simply cannot gain information out of what I am reading. For those of you who know me you know I LOVE to read, so this is extremely frustrating!

No one is 100% sure why this occurs for me and other people with POTS, but the most likely explanation is that blood pools in my legs when I am sitting or standing. Since this blood is stuck down where it is not supposed to be it is not getting to my brain. My brain is then allocating all of the blood and oxygen that it does have to essential functions like breathing and other involuntary functions. It is not enough of a deficit to be dangerous to me, but this lack of blood going to my brain is likely why the brain fog occurs. My brain simply cannot maintain all of the necessary bodily functions AND do things like come up with words or remember things at the same time.

I hope this helps at least a little bit to understand what brain fog is and how it effects me :)