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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by michael73 on January 31, 2003, at 13:30:45
In December I had started a thread on brain fog and wanted to report what I've since experienced. I tried coenzyme Q10, 100mg a day and it may have helped a bit but I'm not totally sure. I associated brain fog with a pressure in my forehead and I now think that pressure may have been my sinuses. I experienced a good bit of relief from that pressure by taking Sudafed (non-pain relief). Michael73
Posted by noa on January 31, 2003, at 17:52:41
In reply to Brain Fog, posted by michael73 on January 31, 2003, at 13:30:45
My sister suffers from frequent bouts of fluid in the ears, and she describes feeling foggy and cut off from the world.
Posted by Dave1 on February 2, 2003, at 22:45:56
In reply to Brain Fog, posted by michael73 on January 31, 2003, at 13:30:45
Hi,
I think I have brain fog too. I keep thinking it is psychosis. Now, my pdoc is telling me to get on clozaril because I'm getting schizophrenia. It is really scary thinking your going insane. I've had OCD and chronic depression for years. The OCD caused my depression. My brain fog is characterized by things not looking familiar, sort of having trouble making sense of things, derealization and depersonalization, and time seeming distorted. Does this sound like psychosis or brain fog? I don't know. I was thinking about having a MRI and show to a neurologist/psychiatrist so he could tell me if I have schizophrenia, psychotic depression or what. I'm really obsessed with it and the obsession just makes my condition worse. I read your original post and when my depression started everything went dark in my head. I was convinced it was brain damage and went to a bunch of neurologists and had an MRI which I showed to the guy I mentioned above. Everyone said it was biochemical changes and not brain damage. I finally went to OCD doc and he said that all the weird pains in my head which I thought indicated brain damage were common for people with depression. Sorry to ramble your post just struck a nerve.
Dave
Posted by michael73 on February 3, 2003, at 20:24:13
In reply to Re: Brain Fog, posted by Dave1 on February 2, 2003, at 22:45:56
Hi Dave, The term "brain fog" is really loose. I seem to always be obsessing about something involving my mind. I'm a confused person. The "feeling in my head" is all but forgotten (I suspect it was my sinuses) and I've moved on to just as disturbing things. For a couple years I was stable - or maybe just coasting. I remember during that period being astonished that I ever thought I had brain damage, OCD, or depression. But considering that picking out eyeglasses or silverware is a major event for me because I can't make up my mind I probably wasn't as well as I thought. Then it suddenly all came back as strong as ever. A month ago I was to take a career type job and attend graduate school - now I seriously question my ability to perform any job and I'm scared. I suppose the stress and reality check triggered it. Luckily I still have my old highly irregular job that seems to be what I'm suited for. But I don't know how long it will last. When the depression hit me last month, like a Mack truck, the inside of my head felt like it was bleeding. I went into a total daze. I'll make it into the women's restroom yet. (I almost accidentally went into it during my first bad depression because I was so confused.) Picking east or west on a freeway at the last minute often confuses me. I get so slow. I was even able to enjoy it for a short while by wandering around the mall and going to a movie as if I was on something - but my body did not follow my mood - it was still sick. For me depression is whole body - head sensations and all.
I've diagnosed my self with all sorts of things. Was looking at a form of bipolar yesterday. I'm starting to seriously consider that a more or less pure obsessive form of OCD is my nemesis. I too am hoping to have an MRI. I have a need (probably obsessive)for that information. I too have perceptual issues especially derealization. It comes on strongest in the outdoors. I tend to forget about it when I am reading or into something and for periods of time all together. Today just trying to sort through some old clothes disturbed me because I can't let things go or make decisive decisions. As long as my bookeeping is in order I feel tentavely all right. But if something doesn't fit or confuses me I freak out. It's like a part of my brain simply doesn't work and I over heat other parts to compensate. I try to relive this agony by fully knowing what I'm going to do before I even start - very inefficient and unproductive. I avoid a lot of new things because of this. I just bought my first computer a month ago. New technology causes me distress. I guess I'm a perfectionist too though of course I have trouble thinking of myself that way since I might leave a mess just because I can't think up the perfect way to deal with it. I've had good results with Anafranil in the past but the side effects were bad. I think with a good OCD medication when I forget something it feels normal and it's not an issue for me. Ill as I am now, every time I forget something I think I'me losing my mind. I'm trying Luvox now and hope I can stick with it the 10 weeks that it might take to have and effect on OCD. Sleepiness is bothering me a lot and it will have to go away for me to continue indefinitly.
From what I've read the hippocampus part of the brain can become shrunk in people with depression and this can effect short term memory. I was obsessing about my short term memory recently and would like an MRI for what it could tell me. For what it's worth I frequently feel and believe I'm losing my mind. I am coming to terms with that, delusion or not, and am focusing on living my life around it rather than trying to force my life through it. Hope it helps if you can relate to some of these things. Good luck to you. Michael73
Posted by Dave1 on February 3, 2003, at 21:07:22
In reply to Re: Brain Fog » Dave1, posted by michael73 on February 3, 2003, at 20:24:13
Hi,
I can definetly relate to the stuff your saying, I think we have alot in common in terms of our situations. I think the MRI is a good idea because I've read that different parts of your brain are different based on what you have. Atleast it would definitive. If I go to 3 different pdocs they tell me 3 different things and I don't know what to think. Then I make up my own diagnoses. Also, I think I will try cognitive therapy because it is supposed to help obsessions. Also, I recently joined a YAHOO group for OCDers which has docs that answer your posts as well other OCDers. If your interested let me know. I'm learning alot about OCD there.
Dave
Posted by Dave1 on February 3, 2003, at 21:13:44
In reply to Re: Brain Fog » michael73, posted by Dave1 on February 3, 2003, at 21:07:22
The address for signing up for the YAHOO OCD group is
in case you or anyone else is interested.
Dave
Posted by michael73 on February 4, 2003, at 16:46:07
In reply to Re: Brain Fog, posted by Dave1 on February 3, 2003, at 21:13:44
> The address for signing up for the YAHOO OCD group is
>
> http://login.yahoo.com/config/login?.intl=us&.src=ygrp&.done=http://groups.yahoo.com%2Fclubs%2Fobsessivecompulsivedisorder
>
> in case you or anyone else is interested.
>
> Dave
Thank-you, I am interested. Michael73
This is the end of the thread.
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