Fibromylagia and Brain Fog

My mind hasn't been truly strong and clear for a couple of years now. Constant pain, stress, fatigue, and crummy sleep take a toll on the brain's ability to keep up.

Plus my job requires intense focus, so when it's quitting time I can almost feel my brain turning to mush. It's not drug side effects, because I'm not on anything for fibro. Just my trusty thyroid meds that I've been on for years and years.

Anywho, it's worth nothing that after a few weeks of being on my gluten-free diet, I felt darn near lucid. But that faded when stress at my job got kicked up a notch and my pain and IBS symptoms increased.

My most recent brain fog story

We finally sold a property in another state after three years of having it on and off the market. (Talk about living a financial nightmare: two homes, two illnesses, and one income.) When the check for proceeds from the sale arrived, I kept putting off taking it to the bank to deposit. It was only written out to me, so it was my responsibility.

Husband: You ready for me to drive you to the bank?
Me: I have all these meetings and work. I'm too tired to shower.

Husband: You want me to drive you to the bank today?
Me: I just can't; I'm exhausted and I don't want to be seen in public like this.

Husband: How about now? You need to get that deposited.
Me: Look at my hair? They don't let people wear hats inside the bank I don't think.
Husband: We can just go to the drive-up teller. You don't have to go inside, you know?
Me: Oh. My. God. That's brilliant. Yes! Let's go.

I get so fixated on one way of doing things that I can't even see that there are other options, let alone try to evaluate them all and pick the best one.

Before my fibromyalgia diagnosis and celiac suspicions, my mind was a wonder. I felt smart and qualified. I miss that person. A lot.

Brain fog, medically speaking

Brain fog is a pretty common complaint for fibromyalgia patients. Sometimes it's severe and can be as life-altering as constant pain and fatigue.

As with most things fibro-related, the jury's still out on why brain fog happens. There are some theories out there about causes though, including:

• Inability to get restorative, refreshing sleep
• Abnormalities in cranial blood flow
• Brain abnormalities
• Premature aging of the brain
• Mental distraction caused by pain (brain fog gets worse when pain is worse)
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Sensory overload
• Medications taken to treat fibromyalgia

I experience the full gamut of brain fog signs. I forget words or can't recall them quickly, get dizzy and lose my sense of direction, am completely unable to multitask, can't remember where I put things or where buildings are located, and am easily distracted. I mean, I know people joke about walking into a room and forgetting why, but I've elevated forgetting purpose and intent to an artform!

Do you suffer from brain fog too?

Fibromyalgia Awareness: Resources for Patients and their Families

Because May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month, I wanted to compile a list of online fibromyalgia resources for you to use and share.

Whether you're new to the diagnosis and looking for answers, the loved one of a fibromyalgia patient, or a seasoned fibro warrior, I'm sure you'll find some—if not all of these links—helpful.

If there are additional resources you'd like to share, please post your links in the comments.

Fibromyalgia Resources For Patients & Families

National Fibromyalgia Association
FMaware.org keeps you up to date on important information pertaining to fibromyalgia and related topics.

FibromyalgiaAwareness.com
Dedicated to raising awareness about Fibromyalgia and offer online support. Find fibromyalgia information, news, interviews and tips.

MyFibroTeam
A social network for people living with fibromyalgia.

Questions and Answers about Fibromyalgia
This article contains general info about fibromyalgia: what fibromyalgia is, who gets it, and what causes it, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated.

Mayo Clinic Fibromyalgia Symptom List
Are you wondering if you're experiencing symptoms of fibromyalgia? This list may help.

Available Fibromyalgia Treatments

Fibromyalgia treatment options vary based on symptoms and approach. Treatment might include any combination of the following:

• Prescription drugs
• Alternative therapies including massage, physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, and acupuncture
• Vitamins and supplements
• Moderate exercise under doctor's supervision
• Lifestyle changes, including diet, meditation, and self-pacing

FDA-Appoved Drugs to Treat Fibromyalgia Pain

People with fibromyalgia may be treated with pain medicines, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and sleep medicines. Learn more about FDA-approved treatments at fda.gov.

Aquatic Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Aquatic therapy has been recommended for the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Learn why in this summarized study.

Vitamin D Supplements for Fibromyalgia

Vitamins (especially Vitamin D) have been suggested for helping ease the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia.

5 Best Workouts For Chronic Pain
If you have fibromyalgia, exercise may improve your quality of life and reduce pain. Prevention lists the best workouts for fibromyalgia sufferers.

Fibromyalgia Books

Take Back Your Life: Find Hope And Freedom From Fibromyalgia Symptoms And Pain by Tami Stackelhouse

The FibroManual: A Complete Fibromyalgia Treatment Guide for You and Your Doctor by Ginevra Liptan

Foods that Fight Fibromyalgia: Nutrient-Packed Meals That Increase Energy, Ease Pain, and Move You Towards Recovery by Deirdre Rawlings

The Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Solution: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia, Made Easy! by Jacob Teitelbaum M.D.

This post is part of Being Fibro Mom's Chronic Friday Linkup.

Amy's Bowls Mexican Casserole Gluten Free Review

I've completed three weeks on a gluten-free diet. Without the help of packaged foods and my husband, I don't think I'd have made it this long.

Eating gluten free is so, so hard, but especially for someone who's so physically spent she struggles to walk down the hallway, is on the verge of passing out after every shower, and doesn't possess enough strength at the end of an average day to roll over in bed at night.

With my perpetual brain fog, reading an ingredients list is a challenge. Nevermind trying to plan meals or alter recipes at this stage. It. Just. Isn't. Gonna. Happen.

At least for now.

So here's another of my gluten-free food reviews. I bought this myself and haven't been compensated in any way for what I'm about to tell you.

Amy's Bowls Mexican Casserole

Price: $3.99
Count: 1
Taste: 5/5
Texture: 5/5

The Bad News
As with everything gluten free, it costs more money. Four dollars for a meal that only serves one person? I don't know how much money you make, but for me that's brutal. Chronic illnesses are so freaking expensive, throw special dietary requirements in and...good God.

The Good News
This tastes fantastic. I've always found that Mexican dishes stand up really well to the freezer. This one does too. It doesn't taste like a frozen dinner at all, and when my husband wants to get a burrito from the local Mexican restaurant, I can pop one of these in the microwave without feeling left out or sorry for myself. I think it's that yummy!

The Verdict
Buy this. Serve with pico, sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, or whatever you like. (For Cinco de Mayo, I splurged and had a Cayman Jack Margarita*.)


* This drink is "crafted to remove gluten." Not recommended for those with celiac disease, but I tried it anyway without reaction. Don't be stupid like me, unless you're stupid like me.

Practicing Self-Care with a Spoonie Progress Report

Via The Good Vibe on Bloglovin'

At the end of every month, I have to compile a progress report for my job. It's a little tedious, but oddly rewarding.

To complete the report, I go through my worklogs and note every project I worked on for the last 30-ish days. It's arranged so that my boss and my boss's boss can see what a badass I am at a glance. But you know what? It also helps me see what a badass I am.

As a Spoonie, I need to take note of the things I accomplish on any given day. It's so easy (but so futile) to obsess over all of the things I can't do or can't do as well as I used to since my fibromyalgia diagnosis.

For the record, that includes putting a sticker on my Chart of Life™ any time I:

• Take a shower
• Make a meal
• Put on real pants
• Fold a basket of laundry
• Change the sheets on my bed
• Leave the house
• Put an entry in my food diary
• Make time to soak up some sun

You get the idea.

I'm lucky to have a full-time job with benefits, but there have been too many days in the past couple of years where I've been riddled with anxiety, fretting that I would lose my position due to chronic illness.

If I don't work, there is no money to pay the mortgage or get groceries. And being sick all the time is catastrophic enough.

But I'm not going to worry about those things today. I'm going to take another glance at my progress report for work and give myself a hellzyeah! (or two) for a job well done, despite life's mentally and physically crippling challenges.

Even if you don't work, I encourage you to keep track of all the little but important things you do. For a few minutes a day, you can shift your focus. That's empowering.

So grab a journal or open a new draft in your blog and start your Spoonie Progress Report for May!