Tips on How to Deal with Cognitive Problems

Most Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS or CFS) patients suffer from cognitive difficulties. This is also referred to by sufferers as "fibro fog" or "brain fog". Examples of cognitive difficulties include problems with short-term memory, difficulty finding the right words to complete sentences, severe concentration impairment and confusion. My own personal experience with cognitive difficulties have included getting lost while driving in areas I have been around my entire life, not being able to do simple math equations, and not being able to speak because the words would just not form in my brain to make a sentence, forgetting family member's names, phone numbers and addresses.

There can be several factors that will cause Fibromyalgia and CFS patients' "brain fog" to worsen. Some of these factors may include:

Poor sleep
Overexertion
Stress
Multi-tasking
Over stimulation to noise, light, etc.
Hunger
Side effects from prescription and non-prescription medications

There are different ways Fibromyalgia and CFS sufferers can minimize cognitive difficulties. From personal experience, I have found the following tips to help me deal with "fibro fog" or "brain fog".

1. Pick your best time of day to tackle chores such as housework, errands, and laundry.

2. Cancel any activities if you are not mentally up to it. Do not push yourself. Pushing yourself mentally is just as detrimental to your health as pushing yourself physically.

3. Make lists and reminders as you think of things that need to be done. You can also use lists to prioritize tasks according to your daily capabilities. Just make sure you do not make your list too long. Try to keep your list to a maximum of six tasks or chores.

4. Create a routine for yourself. It is easier to remember things when you are on a routine schedule.

5. Reduce unnecessary stress from your life. Stress is a major culprit in increasing symptoms of "fibro fog". I know it is easier said than done, but one way to reduce stress is to not overload yourself with time commitments. Start saying "no" more and learn how to delegate to others.

6. Get plenty of sleep. Insomnia, which is a problem for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue sufferers, worsens cognitive functioning. If you are not getting enough sleep, your body is not able to mentally or physically restore itself. Lack of sleep is very damaging to the body and even more so for those who are already health challenged. Some medications to try for insomnia that do not require prescriptions are Melatonin and 5-HTP. Your local drug store should carry both of these. The nice thing about Melatonin and 5-HTP is there are no side effects and you will not feel hung over as you might with prescription sleep aids.

7. Take breaks throughout the day and just rest. Take three 15 minute to 30 minute rest breaks throughout the day to give your body and mind a chance to rejuvenate. If you work outside of the home and you don't really have your own office or someplace where you can go and lie down, go into the bathroom, or out to your vehicle on your breaks and just relax! Close your eyes, and unwind from your day.

8. Exercise is a great way to keep your mind and body fresh and ready to go. Even with illnesses such as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, we still need exercise. Just remember to pace yourself and not try and do too much at one time.

These are just some things that I have personally tried and have had success with. I am not a doctor and you should discuss any new treatments or lifestyle changes with your physician first.