{{{{{{{{{{{ Rhonda }}}}}}}}}}}

Honey, you are far from being alone in this area!!!

I have really really been struggling lately with cognitive issues,
especially since my stroke.  Now, the stroke did play into all of this
to some extent, but the chronic health issues also play their part.

I got so bad a couple of weeks ago, that twice within a few days of each
other, I had to pull off the road, because I couldn't even remember how
to operate my own vehicle.   Couldn't for the life of me remember how to
shut off my windshield wipers, couldn't remember how to use the
windshield solvent, and couldn't remember how to turn my lights from
bright down to the normal setting.  Ugggh! Truly, I got so scared by
those events that I talked to my primary care about it all when I saw
him.   He said he thought it was more than likely due to the fact that I
just wasn't feeling well and that was probably clouding my thinking a
bit!  yeah, well, it still was pretty scary.  He did say if it happend
again or continued to happen to let him know.

I really think with all we have to deal with as far as pain, lack of
sleep, chronic illness and not feeling well, etc that it definitely
takes its toll on all of us!

Hang in there, know that you are NOT alone, and perhaps talk to your
doctors about what is going on to see if they have any suggestions, etc.

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Donna
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1.)   ANGELS EXIST, but some times, since they don't all have wings, we
call them FRIENDS......

2.)    J.K.M.A.

Hi Rhonda,
Definately know how you feel. Could be result of depression, meds,
mini-stroke, or possibly any combination
of the above. I would pursue this further with the docs to try to identify
the cause.
GaryZ

Hey Rhonda  - First thing I would do is check all your meds & see if
there are substitutes.  I've found that some of prescriptions for OA
over the years have made me absolutely STUPID.  The scene you described
above was me, on Celebrex. (switched to Mobic). Tell your doc & try
something else!

/Beth
(Yes, I would take Vioxx again in an instant. I felt so much better on
it than anything else, I would take the chance.)

Is this aphasia?  Charlie has had problems off and on with that forever.
Just can't get the next right word out.

Jo

Rhonda, I know that we call it Fibro Fog...and I think that it is the snow
ball effect of everything else going on in your life...
I know that at my worst, I was trying to work, not making ends meet, lots of
pain...and depression...
After going on disability you would have thought it would have gotten
better...but no..there was so much more going on in my life...the final
straw for me..the death of my Dad...that is when I went for counseling.
And as I got my depression and pain under control, things started getting
better...I still have days and days where I can't get anything done because
I am all over the place, but I am much better.
The part about not articulating your thoughts...well, that was one of the
reasons I was having so much trouble at work. I had a very stressful
strenous job with lots to remember, schedules, part numbers and talking  to
the managers...I wrote things down to remember them, and most of time, I was
on the go and wrote them on my hands, or anything else I could get a hold
of....
So no you are not an idiot, just someone who is going through way too much.
You spoke of some of your problems awhile ago...that in itself would be
enough to completely throw you off...
Hang in there Rhonda, and don't hesitate to see a counselor...Mine works out
of the Norman Mental Health Clinic. But he also does work for his Church and
members and non members can see him and pay what they can...the Church pays
Him....When I started recieving medicare, and they don't pay for him, he
would see me at the church, and I would pay as I could.

Lots of prayers and hugs
Cindy

rhonda, i hope you're discussing this issue with your doc. however, i
know you have a lot of company here. i attribute my cognitive problems
to fibro fog (or ra fog or some kind of fog), but they ARE scary. i'm
57 and sometimes feel as though my mother's late-in-life dementia is
hitting me early. i have trouble coming up with the words i know
sometimes, but the really scary one for me is repeating myself, since
that's what my mom did. sometimes, i think of something to say and
then can't remember if i've said it or not. my doc thinks i just have
too much on my mind, which is certainly true. i write novels, and i
find it's harder to keep all the pieces of a story in my mind than it
used to be. all of this is indeed scary, and it's hard to know how
much is the "fog" versus medication vs something more serious.
just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

hugs,

diane

that is the way my fibro fog works.  Alot of us that have fibro talk about
how bad it gets with forgetting things, not getting the names of things out,
etc. It is a mess.

I am sorry to hear you are going thru this. I know financially you are
hurting, but if you could see a dr to rule out stroke activity that would be
a good thing.

Hey, Rhonda, I'm another who has dealt with the infamous "fog".  In my case,
I really didn't think I had fibro and thought the fog was just fatigue and
the Joys of dealing with major life changes  (she said, dripping with
sarcasm).  I'd gone from keeping track of 5 things at once at work to
constantly losing track of my thoughts.  When I was diagnosed with having
fibro on top of the PA, I was put on an anti-depressant to help with sleep
and pain issues.  In less than 2 days, it was like someone flipped a switch
back on in my brain.  I'm not back to where i was when my diseases were
quieter, but it is much, much better.  Whenever circumstances keep me from
getting enough rest for a couple of days again, though, it kicks right back
up until I catch up.  

Definitely discuss it with your doc and your counselor.  It could be just all
the stresses, could be a side effect of meds or could be from treatable
health issues.  Don't assume it's something you have to keep living with.

{{{{Rhonda}}}}  You are none the less for having trouble with cognitive
distortions.  You are still the same person you once liked!  I understand
isolation, because that's my method when I feel too bad and get tired of
trying to explain it to people.  You are NOT stupid or idiotic, just as you
said!

Do the best you can, and don't be so hard on yourself.  I have a feeling
most of us have this problem, in varying degrees.  Gentle hugs, Nanny