Lack of Concentration...or...How effective are you?

[rabid1st]

Here is an example of how the brain fog/lack of concentration/fibrofog episodes of my illness limit my functionality.

I had a very simple task for today: mail a copy of a letter I had received to another person.

The post office is next door to my apartment complex. The library, where I can make a copy, is one block away. I find, address and stamp an envelope for the letter. Then, I go to the car. When I get to the library, I pick up the letter and notice that I have forgotten the envelope. How could I have forgotten it? Addressing and stamping it was the last thing I did. I had intended to circle the block and mail the letter, and then go to the local bookshop and pet the cats. But now I must go home and find the envelope. I make a copy of the letter. I return to the car (yes, I drove, because I cannot even walk the block up and back anymore), intending to take a moment to search for the envelope again...perhaps it fell onto the floor. I often blank out and miss things.

Like how I blanked out upon returning to the car. Somehow instead of searching for the envelope or going to pet cats...I go home. As I am taking off my coat, I remember I was supposed to mail the letter (you understand I am NOT doing a lot of errands or anything...just driving around one block, park, copy, post, cats). And I could not organize this into a completed task.

The blanking is lack of concentration, I'm told, and would probably be why my doctor doesn't want me to drive more than 15 minutes from home. I am not sure if she thinks I might never find my way back...or if, like me, she's concerned that I might blank out and injure myself or someone else. I should note that I am usually with someone in the car and I will pull over if I feel unable to stay alert or if I have pain, but I sometimes blank on what has just happened. It is a memory retrieval issue, not a sleeping at the wheel thing. At least, I believe that is what it is.

I look for the envelope inside. It is not there. I look outside again. It is not there. I have lost the envelope which is addressed and stamped...somewhere inside my home or car or on the way TO my car. The journey to and from the library is not part of my memory so I can only try to deduce what might have happened to the envelope. I call the library, but I do remember that I checked the car before I got out to make the copy...and there was no envelope. The brain fog has eaten my errand for the day. I am now exhausted and must wait until tomorrow to try again to mail a letter. At least that copying it part is out of the way. Provided I can find the copy tomorrow, of course.

Rae
who knows she is still smart...but is definitely barely effective for most of her day. Sleep deprivation is no joke.

Comments

[thisficklemob.livejournal.com]

{{{hugs}}} I hear you.

[mrs_roy.livejournal.com]

*Hugs*

[auntiesuze.livejournal.com]

This sounds far too familiar! I was at work for a few hours today, and I don't know how many times I went back and forth along the hallway, having forgotten what the hell I was doing, what I was supposed to be getting, who I was supposed to be talking to, etc. And this was a GOOD day! LOL

*HUGS*

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Stress makes this symptom a lot worse, I've noticed. So, you and I should both try to relax a bit. I have taken steps to calm myself down after the pony-less holidays. But my brain fog is going strong. I just joined a writer's group online...and the post I sent turns out to be mostly gibberish. Oh, well, I shall pretend English is my second language. Gibberish is my FIRST.

Rae

[astitchintime-9.livejournal.com]

Sleep-deprivation definitely causes what you've just described. I call it "Teflon brain" (because nothing sticks! LOL!).

Bit of random ramblings on the subject:

I am recommending Vitamin D to everyone I know, but especially to you if you are up at night and sleeping into/thru parts of the day. The new recommendation for minimum daily requirement has recently leapfrogged from 400 to 800 to 1000 and even 2000 IU. (I've read that even higher doses are likely to be safe.)

B-Vitamin complexes for stress.

Rescue Remedy is a homeopathic remedy for stress, but I am hesitant to recommend it for 2 reasons (and, no, neither reason is that homeopathics are hooey and a waste of $. :-P ) :

#1. When I use it, I suffer nightmares. Bizarre but true. And that may be because of reason#2.

#2. I read (just the other day, in fact!), that one of the flower essences - "Clematis" - is recommended for parents to give to their child if the kid needs to be cured of daydreaming and needs to have focus. At first glance it sounds great, but then...I didn't like the implications. I wouldn't give up the former even to achieve the latter.

So although folks swear by it, if you haven't already, I'd advise you to consider carefully before trying it. You are so creative that I'd regret offering you any measure that blunted or blocked your imagination.

Or it could be that it's all hooey and that homeopathics are a complete waste of money... :grin:


[Disclaimer: I am neither Doctor, Nurse, Dietician, Nutritionist ...nor even frog. Just little old me...]

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Well, the REAL doctor put me on Vitamin D3 as I had a massive deficiency. Worked very well for a time but a few weeks after running out of the massive amounts I was back to the crushing pain (not to be confused with the stabbing pain and the being beaten by sticks pain). I actually didn't notice it having a big impact on the foggy brain, though.

I also have some Rescue Remedy. I've used it in the past but hadn't considered using it for the lack of sleep. I have insomnia but also sleep apnea. The apnea is what is taking such a toll on my health as it is pretty untreatable given my other conditions.

Thanks for your advice though. It's definitely valid.

Rae

[sensiblecat.livejournal.com]

Your experience sounds very typical of depression/insomnia in general. I do sympathise. My own outlets (which might not be available to you, sadly) are being in nature - particularly walking and gardening. Even a window box can help a little.

I hope you feel better soon. It sounds pretty grim.

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

Nature helps a lot. I do have to travel a bit to get there, so I like to have people with me when I go. But it does clear my head to be surrounded by peaceful greenery and fresh air. And the sunlight is good for me, too.

It is pretty grim. I was sure I was developing dementia when it first started but they say my brain is fine in there. It is just that I can't really access it. I am probably definitely depressed now on top of all the rest...being this hard up is going to cause depression, I think.

[sal101010.livejournal.com]

That would seem to suck. I hope you get a good bit of time soon.

[binah1013.livejournal.com]

Well, that's got to be frustrating. :(

[rabid1st.livejournal.com]

When it first started happening a few years ago, I was convinced I'd entered early dementia. They tell me that is not the case, as far as they can tell. As far as they can tell...it is just that I have sleep apnea and my brain is chronically sleep deprived at all times.

Anyway, you know from frustations with the body and how they add to real life burdens. We just muddle on through.

Rae

[maniacalshen.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, hon. :-\

::Hugs!::