WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
I've been in treatment for over a year and a half. I have Lyme, Bart and Babesia Duncani, that I know of.
I also have yeast issues that have been with me for the past 5 months.
I have seen a lot of improvement with my many myriad symptoms by using abx, herbals, yoga, dry brushing, saunas and most recently a gluten-free diet.
But, I am still plagued by "brain fog."
I don't retain new information very well (I can read the same article again without realizing I already read it), my short-term memory is terrible, I have a hard time concentrating and a terrible time reading if it's not broken up.
I am getting really discouraged at this point. I used to be a really smart person. Now, not so much.
That smart person I used to be seems like a totally different person. I think of the things I used to be able to do and it just makes me want to cry.
I am starting to wonder if this is going to be permanent. Is this how I'm going to live the second half of my life? That's so depressing, and I can't hope to return to work in my profession like this.
My question is: is this ever going to go away? Is brain fog typically one of the last symptoms to resolve?
What can I do to clear the brain fog?
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
No, it's not permanent - each of us has to find out what's going to treat us effectively, and that's a different answer for each of us.
Instead of getting depressing about what you used to do, I think you have a different task now: to continue your inquiry about possible treatment solutions answers to your question. It may include dealing with all the infections, although I think it's the Lyme causing the brainfog.
Have you fully bloodtested your blood chemistry to see what might be low and in need of treatment?
For me, it was the thyroid - as soon as I started on Armour thyroid, 30mg 2x/day, my brain fog cleared up, I felt present again, and I could feel time passing again. I tested low on T3 and normal on TSH prior to starting the thyroid.
Posts: 13117 | From San Francisco | Registered: May 2006
| IP: Logged |
nonna05
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33557
posted
one member mentioned that her brain fog got much better when they
put her on Clyndamiacin.
bet spelling is way off on that one...
plenty of fog in Colo.
So many say that either fatigue or pain are last to give up without a big fight...So put on your gloves and let us know.
Posts: 2563 | From Denver,CO | Registered: Aug 2011
| IP: Logged |
WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Thanks for the responses!
Haven't tried Clindamycin yet - will definitely ask about it.
I do take Thyroid meds, which helped my fatigue immensely, but not the brain fog.
For yeast, I'm taking Diflucan, recently switched to a stronger/different probiotic, Florastor and TF PlasMyc and am trying to get sugar out of my diet. But finding it very hard to go gluten-free and sugar-free at the same time.
Would love to hear other ideas!
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
I have fog too. I'llread whats on tv then change the channel and totally forget what was on the channel I turned it to.
WPinVA- How long were you sick before you got diagnosed? My LLMD told me when I asked him how long before I feel good again and he said everybody is different.
An abx that works good for me might not work as well for someone else. I think also depends on how long you were sick.
My LLMD said I wasn't his easiest case but I'm not his worse case either.
Posts: 84 | From way over the rainbow | Registered: Oct 2012
| IP: Logged |
posted
The day i took Ketek 8 years ago was the day my brain fog cleared up --- i'm not sure it's still on the market because i seem to remember a liver scare...but with the first Ketek within hours it was like a veil was lifted....of course, i took that for months and then switched to other abx but it was the clincher for me....and we did monitor my liver health the whole time i was on it....
Posts: 277 | From NY | Registered: Jun 2005
| IP: Logged |
posted
I share your symptoms and the loss of normal activities and abilities. In some ways, it seems like a tragedy.
But, you are still the same person inside and people do recover from this. Keep treating, keep treating, keep treating, and don't give up.
My brain problems were so severe I had to give up my small business, I couldn't handle the work at all. Now after 3 years of treatment some of my brain problems are much better--for example I can read and think more effectively, my short term memory is mostly better, my word recall is better, etc. On good days I'm more normal, on herx days I have problems again. I also get more problems if I'm tired or stressed. I'm a long way from well, but I can see progress in that direction.
I do think it's the abx that clear the brain, but other things may be involved. I'm treating: lyme and babesia (at least)--abx parasites--rotating several meds hypercoagulation--heparin hormones--various bioidenticals & pills thyroid--T4 (also took T3 for a while) adrenals--a supplement yeast--Diflucan nutrition--good diet, replacement vit's and mins antioxidants--various supplements recommended iodine--Iodoral B12--shots, usually daily sleep--melatonin, herbal remedy, progesterone detox--saunas, massage, binders, enemas (always searching for more ways to solve the detox problem) exercise--I have been too sick to exercise, just do some stretching/yoga type things. I think when I can do more it will help.
This is not a complete list of what I do, it's just a general outline. You have to keep working at it and keep learning.
Posts: 261 | From Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2010
| IP: Logged |
CherylSue
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 13077
posted
Yeah, it's one of the scariest and persistant symptoms. For me it was up and down before aggressive abx treatment. I kept having relapses after improving a bit. I'm surprised I'm alive 13 years later. My brain was totally fried.
Yep, I mostly got it back. It took a few years of really good treatment. Now, it's just a bad dream of the past....
Posts: 1954 | From Illinois | Registered: Aug 2007
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Printer-friendly view of this topic