how do you deal with brain fog?

[Filmmaker]

Hi
I am having a quite severe episode of brain fog these days, i am actually in a pretty bad relapse that started on August and has left me in a very very bad situation... I am still hoping to see sme improvement next month... But I hate this brain fog, it's like I am not myself anymore and totally unable to do anything intellectually, i love reading and writing and I am ready to give anything to have my brain back!!!
Does your brain fog last forever or does it get better? What should I do?
Thanks a lot!!!

[CureOrBust]

I personally have not suffered from brain fog to speak of (problems remembering names since birth, and I have noticed I do get stuck thinking of "the word for"... like the name of that symptom.... )

I do suffer from fatigue, and have tried Modafinil. Although I have not read any studies suggesting it for brain fog, from my personal experience, I think it could help with brain fog, maybe you could give that a try? I think chess masters abuse it to help concentrate in competitions (banned) and its also used by university students to help them study instead of sleeping. I would give it a go, it is expensive, and please report back here for others either way if you do.

Generally, I think high dose Omega 3's (DHL) would be suggested by those on the more non chemical route.

Hope it helps.

[syckbastid]

I find exercise to be the best rememdy for brain fog. Even in the midst of relapse, it is important to stay as physically active as possible (within reason). I'm not sure the particulars of your relapse, but so long as your balance is okay, a brisk walk is a great start. Best of luck to you.

[Filmmaker]

thanks to both of you! I do force myself to take a walk everyday and do some stretching to help with pain...
My brain fog is not about remembering names or anything, my memory is fine but I definitely have less concentration and creativity, for example I don't feel I can write an article (let alone a screenplay, although that's my job ) can read and understand fine, but it seems like my brain gets very lazy...I will definitely try to get some modafinil...

[mrbarlow]

High dose omega 3 (7 x 1000mg of fish oil) and gingko biloba helped improve mine.

[jimmylegs]

ginkgo is awesome (improves blood flow and thereby improves oxygen and nutrient delivery, i noticed a huge difference back in the day, don't need it any more). and fish oil is great.

personally i was at my very stupidest when my zinc was very low. research has reported lower uric acid levels in patients during relapse. low uric acid correlates with low zinc. FM do you take zinc and if so have you had a blood test for it lately, and also do you eat gluten or high phytate foods as those can interfere with zinc absorption. also what are your main dietary sources of zinc - do you get enough red meat in your diet?

cog fog is no fun hope you feel better soon.

[Frank]

Any suggestions about the dosis of ginko biloba that might help?

Thanks!
--Frank

[jimmylegs]

you could look for 250mg capsules.

but don't forget to optimize *nutrients* in your system before adding band-aid herbals to the mix!

this reminds me: niacin flushing is a nutritional way to achieve a short term blast of blood flow through brain tissue

[CureOrBust]

this reminds me: niacin flushing is a nutritional way to achieve a short term blast of blood flow through brain tissue

I thought the niacin flush was only dilating the skin capillaries?

Oh, and just to be clear, the Modafinil didn't help me with remembering names or words (or maybe it did). I just recommended it because of the fact it seems to "wake" me up mentally more than physically, as say compared to caffeine. And now that you mention it, it has helped with the drive to get things done.

[Filmmaker]

Oh Gingko, I will definitely try that too!! Thanks a lot everyone.

[nooper]

I got brain fog terrible when I got my first relapse (still going on I think) but the brain fog faded away (but the vertigo did not). Still dealing with vertigo now.

[mrbarlow]

Beetroot might help too as it is a nitric oxide booster so improves blood flow. Also helpful if you are having any trouble in the trouser department!

[jimmylegs]

@cure,

this following text is from the klenner protocol. in the era it was written, it was not yet known that polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency prevent a successful niacin flush (which is why we all take fish oil now, which is absent from the klenner protocol - as is vitamin d3).

2) Niacin (nicotinic acid): We recommend 100mg to 3 grams, thirty minutes before meals and at bed hour, and also during the night if awake – whichever dose will produce a strong body flush. Niacin dilates the blood vessels, even those that have been compressed by scar tissue, allowing a greater amount of nutrient material to reach the cell laboratory or factor comprising muscles and nerves. This constant, repeated dilatation of the blood vessels acts in the same manner as the dilating urethral catheter to correct constriction. One is chemical, the other is mechanical. Hot fluids taken at the same time as the niacin will enhance the flush. Pyridoxine has been a suggested stimulant. The lack of constant flushing in Multiple Sclerosis is disappointing but not hopeless. It will require a longer time to achieve results. Many times patients will flush with intramuscular niacin when they fail to flush by the oral route. An occasional patient will experience the sensation of a chill following nicotinic acid flush. This is transient and of no consequence. Food, even jelly beans or a glass of milk, will prevent or minimize the experience. Some patients will flush sometimes and not at other times, even during a single day. If no flush develops within 45 minutes, the dose should be repeated. A delayed reaction of several hours can occur, and should this be superimposed upon a previous medication, the result could be severe. Do not scratch when itching from niacin. Just press the area with your fingers, or better still, with a cube of ice. Antihistamines will stop the itching and limit the flush, should this be necessary. Niacin should be given very slowly by the intravenous route in the geriatric patient, with or without cardiac pathology, since it can produce dilatation great enough to effect right-side heart failure. Myasthenia Gravis patients sometimes attain geriatric status. Vasomotor collapse of peripheral vessels, although rare, can occur. Eight mg. Decadron given IM will reverse this condition.

[Selmahope]

I do not have an MS diagnosis. I do suffer from fibromyalgia and MS type symptoms (numbness, weakness, brain fog , optic neuritis) etc et.c That said what helps me the most is juicing- green juice, lots of raw food, green salads made of all kinds of greens, meditation, good sleep and exercise all helps me. Right now I'm on mostly raw vegan diet with cooked veggies at dinner. My mind is clearer and working better, sleeping better. still a work in progess-but do try an MS recovery type of diet combined with juicing (green juice), barley green, spirulina, green smoothies, lots of raw veggies per dr. wahls diet- it will help your fatigue and brain fog has been my experience. Also see Dr. Fuhrman's diet for autoimmune disease.

[jimmylegs]

greens are awesome for magnesium, which is great for fibro, cognition and sleep!! well done.

vegan still creeps me out though - i did it for 15 yrs but not properly... lost a bunch of nutrients that i needed, for example from not eating fish but not getting enough omega 3 subtitutes, etc. not eating meat, but not adding sufficient vegan sources of zinc. and on top of that refusing to supplement b12 and other things. and i did not even know which different things to measure, other than b12, and i used to cheat on my tests. the only real clean b12 test i ever got, there was no detectable level. my spinal cord was permanently damaged as a result, leading to my msdx. no fun