I hope some women who have already gone down this road will have some suggestion, hopefully a cure, for this wretched brain fog. I've found that there are several definition for brain fog...mine is a spacey, lightheaded, sorta dizzy feeling. I've been dealing with this 24/7 with varying degree of intensity since 2002 when my perimenopause symptoms when from mild to severe.

Please tell me that there is a cure.

Hey MyFaith:

No cure here, alas. But maybe we could set up a brain fog exchange program since mine is pretty different and I need a sabbatical. Mine makes me just plain stupid

Foggily Yours,

Otter

You just described my brain fog, MyFaith. Exactly. I don't think there is a cure. It's a curse. Period. Seems like all the men around me that are my age think with a such a clear head. Me? Sometimes I don't THINK I THINK at all anymore! LOL!! Seems my vocabulary has decreased drastically...when I try to say something, it just kind of comes out like: &%$#&*%$#&%)#&%. Thankfully my friends have all accepted me as being 'menopausal' lol.
Why us?
HUGS!

My description of it is "Cement Head". I swear, sometimes it feels like my head is heavier than my body! Sometimes the strangest things will come out of my mouth. Sometimes it feels like I have to work so hard to appear intelligent at work. I have tried increasing my natural estrogen and using natural supplements, but the last month has been so bad I am seriously considering Zoloft. Some have told me that this helps. I tried the natural hormones for over a year - and they helped many things - but not the cement head. This is not funny when people depend on your brain to help them!

I would love to hear suggestions for fixing this brain fog.

Ladies thanks for replying...hopefully someone will be able to shed some light on this brain fog. Sometimes I sit and try to remember what it was like without brain fog. Every now and then I have moments of clarity and believe me I cherish those moments. During those moments the world seems clear, I feel emotionally stable, I'm upbeat and cheerful. Then as quickly as it comes it goes...I haven't found any pattern or rhyme to this!

Hi there MyFaith and other ladies....
The brain fog is the pitts.... when I remember that I really am having a brain fog but I don't know that it's a brain fog...because I'm in a brain fog .... What has helped me is the power surge and the ladies... when I have these feelings - I don't panic as much wondering what is wrong with the brain - I remember that alot of other women going thru peri-meno./meno. have the same feeling...I also know... that this too will stop.... Like Kleeo - my friends understand and accept when I'm having those bad days with the brain fog...we can actually laugh about it....sometimes.... Have a great day.
Blessings,
Stacy

I wonder if that's why victorian ladies wore chatelaines with a little ivory note plate and a teensy pencil.

Perhaps we should all carry those little plastic pad things that you write on. If we wore a pediometer(is that how you spell it) I wonder how many wasted miles per day we walk, going to fetch things,then forgetting what they were!

LOL Alice, I never considered that this might be what chatelaines were for!

I want one!

Just this morning, I came into this room to answer emails, and realizing it was chilly, turned up the thermostat that's on the wall just above the ironing board. A half-hour later, still freezing, I heard a funny hiss sound behind me and yelled to my husband "Why did you turn on the iron?" I feel like an idiot!!

I had to jump in and say that you made my day with this post. I had such a good laugh, because that sounds like something I would have done (even blaming the hubby part). I needed that laugh .

I am definitely having my fair spell of brain fog! When I first entered perimeno a few years ago, I had the same feeling. In addition to always feeling in a fog, I was nauseous and dizzy (usually around my period). Well, now I don't have regular periods so I don't know when I'm going to feel like this.

I'd like to believe that this corresponds w/anxiety. I just recently moved (after being in my apt for 20 years) to a suburb and my whole life has changed - this is positive. I'm constantly tired but I attribute that to getting our house put together; my eyes burn and I attribute that to the dust in the house from having work done...Today I'm sitting in my office just feeling so poorly. BTW, I also have the fan on because I'm too hot w/it off and too cold w/it on It's been a while since I felt this way. I have a call into my doc to see what's up.

I don't think that there's anything to add but just needed to share!!
Have a nice day ladies!
Here's to feeling fine again ONE OF THESE DAYS!

EJ

Hi EJ,

It's been a long time since I've seen you post! As you can see, I'm still here.

It makes sense that having a big move such as this would leave you a little pooped out. I think we just don't bounce back from big changes as we used to while in peri.

Hope things settle quickly, and you can savor being in your new home!

Jacquie

Hi JJ
I've been reading the posts but have been too overwhelmed to add my 2 cents. I'm back now.

I just came back from my gyn. She said that all my symptoms are related to where I am in the perimenopausals state and the fluctuation of my estrogen levels. My body is still producing estrogen but ever so slowly and slightly.
Just glad to hear it's nothing else.

Hope things are well with you and that you're feeling good!

Anyway, I'm back. Thanks for missing me!

EJ

Hi ej,

It is good news that it's nothing else. A mixed blessing, isn't it? We think: oh great, you mean it really is a matter of riding this out? LOL

Here's to hanging in...

Jacquie

As I type this comment my brain is actually cooler than normal....I have been feeling dizzy for two days now, and I expect this to continue through day 3. I have been tracking this since August 2004 and I began to feel this way on day 9 from the 1st day of my last period. This month I started feeling light headed on day 7 rather than day 9.

When I feel dizzy its like tuning in a fuzzy television picture....the picture is just slightly fuzzy....and just turning the dial 1/8th of an inch would make the picture clearer. That is how my dizziness feels.....I am almost tuned in.....if only I could turn the knob 1/8th of an inch and my dizziness would be gone. Well...if this pattern stays the same, I have only to get through day 3 which is tomorrow................and then my ability to sit and rock in my rocking chair without feeling dizzy will be possible and maybe even driving my car will be safe........LOL

EJ - i am new to this forum and glad to read your post regarding nauseau and dizziness. i thought i was the only person experiencing these symptoms. for me it happens anytime and lately more often. these are only some of the symptoms of periomenopause i experience, there is a list. anyway, it's comforting to know i am not the only one with this. cat-e

Omega3 has seriously helped me with the brain fog. I highly recommend it. My husband noticed it when he took it too. I take 1-2,000 mg per day. Remember that fish used to be called "brain food"? There was truth in that. Just make sure you get one that is free of toxins. ****I take the maximum strength formula. It helps with a myraid of other things as well. *** I have hardly any muscle spasms anymore either. I also noticed that the puffiness under my eyes is gone.
Calcium/mag has helped me to sleep better and reduced the palps. I think that the omeag3 is helping with the palps too. I'm still mood swingy and bleeding irregularly.. but hey...one thing at a time, right?
I am going to look into vitex angus cactus (aka chaste berry) to try to maintain some sort of balance with this nuisance bleeding. I read that it takes 6 months to work usually, but it's worth a shot, I guess.
I love you guys! This site nearly saved my life. I really thought that I was headed for the looney bin. I was sure of it. LOL. There is so much to be thankful for.. like finding this site! It has decreased my anxiety so much just knowing that I was just going through a normal phase. I had no idea! I just wish that I found this place sooner. It would have saved me an awful lot of brain cells from worrying that I was dying and insane!
Much love to you ladies!


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AND RIGHT BACK ATCHYA INSANE

hey insane, thanks for the info. on omega - 3. I take omega's now but not on a daily basis, i guess none of the natural alternatives will work unless taken on a daily basis. I'm curious to see how you make out with the chaste berry. I also have irregular bleeding - what a drag. For me finding this site has also been a big relief Thanks to everyone for all the info. and advice. It's great to be communicating with others who know exactly what your going through! CAT-E

The brain fog drives me crazy! There will be days when I can't even think straight. My balance is off, my right hand has tremors, my vision is weirded out (not blurred or doubled) just don't see as well. I think this all goes hand in hand with the peri/meno. I notice the days I have the brain fog I also have the off balance, light headedness, hand tremors, achey joints, frequent urination.

What I want to ask is how all of you handle the brain fog and other symptoms without getting anxious or upset! I try to relax and keep a positive attitude - but when at work and the brain is dead I get very upset! I would love to hear how any professional women deal with the brain fog and crazy emotions when you can't just hide in your office.

Long time hormonal sister
Boone

Boone sorry for the delay in replying, but to answer your question I take it one day at a time. I pray, talk with friends and family, and communicate with other women via the internet who know exactly what I'm dealing with day to day. My co-workers know that I'm going through perimenopause and I've been blessed to work with women who are very compassionate and knowledgeable. One of my co-workers also had a difficult time, but she's now doing well. Although communicating with women who are also experiencing the same symptoms is helpful, but I find it more encouraging hearing from those women who have made it to the "other side". They tend to provide such comfort and reassurance.

Yup, same here.

I have noticed, however, that if I have a glass of milk first thing in the morning with my vitamins and magnesium, the brain fog is more tolerable, the tremors seem almost to disappear, and the "off balance" feeling is almost tolerable. Maybe it is all just a "placebo effect" ... but as long as it works for me, I will continue doing this.

I have a glass of milk at lunch, and another with dinner ... and if I miss one of these "doses" the symptoms seem to return.



WandaSue

So the dizzyness, lightheadedness, headaches, heavy arms(sometimes it feels like I cant even lift them), and all that is lead to brain fog? Oh my gosh. I cried to my mommy saturday "its not fair to have to go thru all this just to be a woman". I have been on the pill for a long time and dont get periods because of it BUT i get my daughters PMS. Why Lord Why?
Im going to try the milk remedy.

Hey Miss Dee,

Not everyone gets the same symptoms of peri-menopause. You may be one of the "lucky" ones (so to speak) who doesn't get the brain fog!

I'll pray you don't - sounds like you've got enough of the other nasty symptoms to keep you busy!

Take care!

Hmmm....I just read another post (different site) who found relief from her dizziness and brainfog by daily drinking soy milk, so I'm going to give this milk remedy a try. I'll let y'all know in a couple of weeks.

Cheers to all drinking a big glass of milk. Gulp, gulp, gulp .

My faith
I put soy milk on my cereal in the morning and also some in my coffee. Thought you might like this tip in case you don't like the taste of soy. I love the very vanilla flavor. It makes your cereal sweet so you don't have to add sugar.

I don't drink soy milk. Hate the flavor, and i think it messes with my thyroid, or something.

I go for the dairy -- 1 % fat.

Also -- try taking 1200 mg of Omega 3 in the morning, and another at night. This has helped me a LOT!