Isolated episodes of memory loss, especially if you have Fibromyalgia, are likely not symptoms of early onset Alzheimer’s. Instead, you may be grappling with Fibromyalgia Brain Fog AKA Fibro Fog. Consider me your living example of someone, who after 40 years of living with Fibromyalgia, grapples very well.
Try on these questions. If you stand up and say, “Yes, Bonnie, these fit my life”, then let me help you. Two can grapple better than one!
Have you occasionally halted in mid-sentence and fumbled for the correct word to express yourself? Do you frequently misplace items such as sunglasses or keys? Can you recall occasions when you transposed telephone numbers? Have you found refrigerator items in the trash or keys in the freezer? Or, like me, have you started to put dinner on the table, only to discover you forgot to turn on the oven? Perhaps even worse, have you ever left the oven on for hours when nothing is cooking? Do you sometimes cross the street while the DON’T WALK sign is lit? While driving, have you ever ignored a red light without conscious awareness?
Most of these occurrences are simply annoying; however, be mindful that some Fibro Fog scenarios are potentially life threatening. Do not stress unduly, there are things you can do.
Techniques for Grappling with Fibromyalgia Brain Fog
1. Florescent lighting invites confusion. Scatter several quaint lamps about your home and arm them with sixty-watt soft white bulbs.
2. Make lists of your lists and store them in separate places. For example, I keep a handwritten calendar of appointments and my daily to do’s. Dually, I maintain identical information in a spiral notebook and check each task off when completed. It is also helpful at day’s end to list your tasks for the following day. Put sticky notes on pending projects i.e. “file”, “photocopy”.
3. Contemplate on crossword or jigsaw puzzles to stir-up those little gray cells.
4. Starting now – ditch multi-tasking. Concentrate on one thing at the time. While on the job, if you absolutely must stop the current task and start an emergency assignment, label the papers you were working on with a sticky note indicating what you were doing before the interruption.
5. Get creative – write a song or poem or story, draw a caricature of someone who annoys you. Creativity keeps brain-juice flowing.
6. The absolute worst situation (for me) is too much to do in too little time. When presented with unrealistic expectations at your workplace, STOP to breathe. Start a supply of oxygen flowing into your brain to help your clarity. Do a few stretches and then put your full attention on the task. You have likely performed a similar task before. Your brain just clouded and taking a few moments to breathe will help lighten Fibro Fog. Don’t try to absorb the whole picture; instead break the big task into small, manageable parts. Finally, if you are unable to finish by the imposed deadline, calmly explain your need for extended time to your supervisor.
7. Promote restorative rest. Sleep on the best mattress you can possibly afford. One of the nurses where I work offered this helpful tip: put a pillow between your knees and hug another one to keep your spine in proper alignment. If you have difficulty falling asleep, listen to white noise, like ocean waves or the whir of a ceiling fan.
8. Are you a morning or night person? If there is an option, select your most productive time of day to perform tasks that require intense concentration.
Contributors to Fibro Fog:
Like the syndrome itself, helpful research about Fibromyalgia Brain Fog, AKA Fibro Fog is scarce. Common sense would dictate that there are various contributors to our cognitive challenges. Chronic pain plays a starring role because processing pain signals spends a great deal of brain energy. Chronic fatigue makes concentration difficult. Sleep deprivation is also a factor.
The next time that nasty Fibro Fog grabs you, grapple for a good belly-laugh. Laughter is good medicine. If you are at home, plug in a funny movie. You may find the action you made during Fibromyalgia Brain Fog itself brings on the giggles. After all, how many people store keys and glasses in the freezer!
