Debilitating symptoms. Brain fog...extreme memory loss...spacey 24/7!

Posted , 640 users are following.

The last year of my life has been a brutal one. At the age of 22, I am in the lowest of lows and I desperately need some help!

Here’s my tale:

About a year ago, a couple months after an extremely strenuous relationship, I began noticing that I was tired all the time…and all around, I wasn’t really satisfied. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoyed my friends, and activities…but life just wasn’t as bright and vibrant anymore after a month of noticing this ever-present fatigue, it got a bit stronger. I would wake up each morning completely zombie-mode…and that feeling would remain throughout the entirety of my day, until my head hit my pillow that evening.

Initially, I suspected some form of sleeping disorder. I set up a sleep study, got my thyroid checked, ferritin levels, all the basics. Sleep study revealed I sleep just fine and all my other blood tests came back negative.

The fatigue and the weight of the world slowly got worse over the next handful of months, UNTIL I woke up one morning and everything escalated greatly. I felt completely stoned. I couldn’t think right. I couldn’t concentrate. I felt inebriated. I felt totally disconnected and spacey. I felt as though I had no control over myself. I lost drive and motivation. I lost a lot of confidence.  I always had an incredibly sharp memory. It was actually something well known about me to those in my family and friend circles. Yet, on this morning, almost all new information could not be retained. Things that happened earlier in the day, by evening, I felt they happened a day or two before. I could no longer recount the activities I took part in. This is possibly the worst of all the symptoms. The extreme short term memory. I have no context for time and I sort of feel like I’m just floating through life suffering.

For months I visited doctors getting tested by specialists. I visited a neurologist, infectious disease, I had an MRI, & I had about 20 different blood tests. NOTHING. My doctor literally said “I have no idea what this could be. I am beside myself” TOTES reassuring! I tried altering my diet entirely to organic and all natural. I continued my workouts and ran 15 miles a week. I tried sleeping even earlier. I tried all I could think of .

I have scoured the message boards and found a few people suffering from the same, but without answers.

I’m not sure if depression is the culprit, but depression sure has found its nasty venom-coated fangs into my veins. Tired, depressed, failed memory, no drive, scared…it’s no way to live. I want my life back.

PLEASE OFFER INSIGHT! I will be so grateful J

Sincerely,

Taylorsaurus Rex

54 likes, 1428 replies

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  • Posted

    I know I have been gluten intolerant for several years and I take efforts to reduce and cut out gluten from my diet. I get the usual symptoms of bloatedness and swollen abdomen. If I have bread (wheat flour) it affects me significantly within a few hours, stops me sleeping, servere brain fog, heavy depressed feeling in my head, poor memory and concertration, headache. Otherwise, running is my magic cure.
  • Posted

    I wonder if a lot isn't due to being on the internet, and using other electronic devices.  My symptoms have become much worse in the last month and in direct proportion to the amount of time I spend on this blasted computer.  It is difficult to stay off the computer, or whatever device you use, but I believe it must be done, and it must be done for at least a week to see what might improve.  To keep electronic use to no more than one hour per day, apart from work, would be better than nothing.
  • Posted

    Exactly same is with me...

    It started 2 yrs ago...

    But still m suffering....

    For two years i took treatment from psychiatrist and feel only 50% treated but nw whn i ended those medication my condition is same again...

    This is request to you if u find treatment for this please inform me also...

    Every point which u described fits on me...

    • Posted

      I m also mobile addictive nw... Coz of confusion... Nd state of zero mind all the time
  • Posted

    I have a similar story though with a long history of malnutrition. But even now that I eat normal again my mental symptoms that started back in summer 2014 didn't improve much. It has gotten much worse leaving me mentally unable to remember and think properly. I too was known for an excellent memory. All gone like my friends and joy for life.

    I will continue substituting my deficiencies and also check my blood pressure because the pulse in my throat, eyes, head is so strong and even visible on my belly.

    High blood pressure is known to damage blood vessels in the brain as well.

    I also noticed a need for deep breathing and frequent yawning like I'm not getting enough oxygen although substituting necessary nutrients and getting necessary fats.

    Neurological or hormonal imbalances could also be behind it but I can't deal with all this.

    If I didn't see no improvement by the time papers are due I will stop caring altogether.

  • Posted

    I agree with phil37826, all of your symptoms could well be coming from a gluten intolerance. I'm 24 and I have all your same symptoms. I used to suffer with depression and anxiety much more in the past so I know the brain fog from depression and this is slightly different because I'm currently not feeling depressed. A few weeks ago I stopped eating gluten and I actually felt much better, and told myself to not eat it anymore but then I did anyways and the brain fog started to creep back and the memory loss and just feeling like i wasn'the all there, it actually wasn't that bad until today I had a piece of a baguette and I felt HORRIBLE afterwards, I pretty much passed out because I was so tired. Like others have said I exercise and eat relatively healthy and even do yoga everyday which is why I know the brain fog is not due to depression or anxiety or stress anymore. I'm going gluten free for good now because I hate feeling this way. I'm also very intelligent and used to have the best memory and be able to multitask and focus and concentrate and I want that all back, so we shall see. I hope you and everyone else on here find your answer at some point.
  • Posted

    Hello Taylor. I am Amy, 21, mother of one. I am diagnosed with Bipolar with depression , borderline personality disorder, PTSD and once was diagnosed with Manic Depression and experienced depression during my pregnancy.

    I have panic attacks when I remember anything. Dreams especially trigger an attack for me. But just 2 days ago, I woke up and have absolutely no clue what I have done or where I have been for over a week... I have apparently been living a fully functional life during this time period but with no recolection of what I did!!!!! At first it started as small slivers of information and now as I have gotten older the worse ot has become. Not sure what is to blame....... :// have you gotten any answers or theories since you posted this ?

  • Posted

    Has anyone considered that these symptoms could be due to damage to myelin sheaths?

     

    • Posted

      Just been looking that up....it seems worth trying to get a diagnosis about.
  • Posted

    Have you been tested for the gene mutation mthfr? I recommend that you do. Im homozygous 1298. It is crazy what how it affects your system. I just got my results and ive been experiencing everything on this thread. It is very common but not normal. Please google it, it may help!

    If not, id suspect an enviromental or food intolerance. Consider a naturapath. Its the only route ill go anymore.

  • Posted

    If this is your first time EVER experiencing depression, you will have a tough time coping. No doubt about it. When I first got depression at the age 17, it took me nearly 6 months to stop being suicidal. It took me more than a year to accept that I had an illness. Not to discourage you, but it took nearly two years to learn to live with it. Thinking back to it now, I should've sought help sooner. You can really curb the effects depression has on you. Seek help as soon as possible. I let mine fester for 7 years until I developed terrible anxiety. The more you let depression take it's course, the harder it will be to undo habits. All my best wishes to you! Things do get easier. If there's anything depression teaches you, it's PATIENCE. 
    • Posted

      I got server anxiety while pregnant and depression. My daughter is now 17 months and I'm still low anxious and exhausted. It's like walking through wet thick sand or been in a dark tunnel trying to find the end. I can't expect that this is my life I can't be like this !!! I see a phyciatrist I'm on my second antidepressant now it's been 15 weeks on it
  • Posted

    I think you have Lyme disease. I got a message like this and it saved my life. I don't have the timeto explain and reply to every single person affected. Research Lyme disease and brain fog. I hope it helps and wish you the best
    • Posted

      I agree laura, i have similar symptoms and haven't been diagnosed yet. Would make a whole lot of sense
    • Posted

      There are many manifestations of mental health issues,which affect people physically - theres no reason to assume it's Lyme disease. Let's leave diagnosis to drs shall we? Alarming those of a sensitive nature really isn't helpful
    • Posted

      Fair to say however what do you do having such symptoms that result in mental health. From experience drs use the "mental" health as a diagnostic tool when they cant figure out whats wrong with the patient?
    • Posted

      I think TaylorMason did see doctors, plenty of them, to no avail.

      At a certain point you have to do your own research as a patient, some hints of other people can be helpful. A Lyme test isn't that complicated, better have it checked and move on than being unaware of the possibility it could be the cause of your complaints and having your body deteriorate in the meantime.

    • Posted

      The posted question/thread is me down to a tea it's like been in a messed up dream world and then I first got it after my son I though I was dying, how can depression anxiety do this to you? I had nothing to be depressed about. Then I got it again after my daughter sad so I knew what it was but again it's so hard to believe because it's so awful and strange to feel in this fog.

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