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[CrispyChick]

Just that really.

Still struggling in my own hell - which seems quite unique.

So I am experiencing horrific brain fog - I'm assuming that's what it is. Given my other symptoms, it's not my worst. But I guess if I can work out if it is hormonal or not - that might give me an overall clue.

So what does it feel like for you?

Mine I feel totally dazed and spaced out. It's not the classic forgetting words - although I do get that. I just wander about with no brain whatsoever. I feel I'm struggling in conversations. I can't seem to converse. Just so dazed. I feel unsafe to drive.  I feel like I've taken a drug. But I've not.

I'm not worried it's something sinister. I'm just trying to work out if it's hornonal. I've had an ME/cfs specialist tell me my brain fog is too severe to be peri.

Love to hear your experiences.

[Konijntje]

My brain fog feels similar as the brain fog during pregnancy (in Dutch we call this pregnancy dementia). It can get pretty severe for me too, so I disagree with your specialist, I don’t think other people can understand how much hormones can affect your functioning if they haven’t experienced it themselves.

[CrispyChick]

Thanks kon.

That's helpful. I don't recall having any when pregnant. Perhaps I did. X

[Losingtheplot]

My experience of brain fog in peri is also feeling dazed, difficult to remember simple words for things so much that my brain hurts.

Feeling lost in conversations and forgetting my train of thought is a common one. I too feel spaced out and not with it if that makes sense.

People will get various symptoms of brain fog and some experiences may overlap with other people's. 

I do find it v frustrating when it happens but then if I am in company with colleagues or friends that also suffer from it we can help each other along or see the funny side - better than the alternative.

[AmandaJR]

I found it terrifying. It caused immense mental anguish, stripped confidence and made me doubt everything I tried to say, do and think. Couldn’t concentrate, frequently forgot basic words, forgot which side of the road we drive on whilst driving, felt like my brain was on very slow mode, occasionally couldn’t remember my date of birth etc. Spaced out like sedated feeling and overwhelmed by everyday things like the ‘phone ringing.
It isolated me, I was thoroughly confused and unable to communicate/get it together enough to get help.

Crispy, have you got family around you?

[Therese83]

I have to do a lot of high level thinking for my job and it felt like trying to swim through mud trying to concentrate. I would read things or watch a presentation and know that, a few years before, I'd have been making connections and understanding things but nothing would be making sense.

I also had really bad memory but that hasn't improved for me yet or at least not gone away. The concentration is immeasurably better since starting HRT.

[Abc123]

Hi Crispy, I'm sorry to see how much of a struggle life is. I do t want to be that person that suggests something you've probably already looked in to, but I have B12 Deficiency and your symptoms are very similar to it.

Unfortunately with B12 Deficiency, the regular serum B12 test alone doesn't always tell the whole story (as in your numbers can be well within range for your blood serum, but we can't measure what's being utilised by your cells and more along those lines). If you're interested in more information regarding this, I'll get some links to YT videos, websites etc that give more information.

I also have other conditions besides the B12 Deficiency but after 5 months of every other day injections (overseen by Drs but done myself), I am feeling more clarity of thought for periods in the day. The rest of the time feels like my brain has concrete poured over it and I have to go to bed and sleep.

It can have a massive impact on mental health and this was very obvious when my dogs had deficiency too. https://b12d.org/psychiatric-psychological-symptoms/

Importantly, if you think it could be low B12, please don't start supplementing before getting tested as that can skew results. Let me know if you'd like more info (I'm more than happy to share if you're interested but it takes a lot of mental energy to find the stuff and if you're not interested, then that energy can be used elsewhere (pacing)).

Take care xx

[CrispyChick]

Thank you ladies.

That's actually quite reassuring.

My brain fog seems to be getting worse and certainly a lot more frequent. It used to hit at ovulation. Now it's daily. It's extreme. But so it seems it is for others. So I'm reassured this could still all be hormones.

Mine is weird. I walk about in a daze, can't hold a conversation, feel unsafe to drive - but give me something important to write and I can still cut through the fog and do that. 💁. I just feel weirdly dazed all the time. Today I have woken up very dazed. I feel like my head has been out through a mincer.

Thanks ABC - but I don't believe I'm a b12 issue. I started supplementing about 7 years ago - my levels are fine now and my sore tongue (reason I started supplementing) went quickly and has never returned. But thank you for the suggestion.

All suggestions are welcome.

Amanda - yes I have family around. Husband and two teens. I'm missing out on so much though through all these hellish years. Hubbie now does most stuff. But yes, I'm surrounded.

[Mary G]

I'm so sorry to hear things are no better Crispy. 

It's interesting that you didn't have brain fog or any of the other terrible symptoms you are experiencing now during pregnancy when oestrogen is very high.  I wonder if that's because FSH and LH are suppressed during pregnancy and there is an abundance of oestrogen and progesterone in the system? Did you have any problems during pregnancy?

[CrispyChick]

Nope, things are no better. The last 2 years fave been hell on earth for me.

No major problems. Had a horrific episode of dizziness in my first pregnancy - chalked up to Labyrinthitis. But I'm suss now, as I get so much dizziness now.

Second preg I didn't feel as good. Put it down to morn sickness type stuff. But my mood was definitely off whilst pregnant. And I do t think I've ever been quite the same since.

Suffered with anxiety after both births.

[Intrigued]

For me I get the dazed, drugged not quite there feeling when my oestrogen spikes too high. My mental sharpness disappears. 
If that’s of any help. 

[CrispyChick]

Thanks intrigued.

Yes. I think that's what was happening previously when I noticed it at ovulation.

But now, at 49, I'm getting it most days.

[Menohell77]

For me I feel what I can only describe as I am on the outside looking in, when im with people it feels like even my ears have lowered in volume, almost like im standing in a room of people and im a ghost just watching whats going on, it doesn't happen all the time but it does happen at times and its very scary, i can honestly say i like being in the house, thankfully I am out of work at the minute due to major surgery i had but I am glad as I dont know how I would cope with work as well