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

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TaylorMason
TaylorMason

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

1428 Replies

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  • deirdre._03652
    deirdre._03652 TaylorMason

    Edited

    Dear Taylor. It sounds highly likely that you may be suffering from anxiety and depression, but the primary cause could well be FIBROMYALGIA...

    It causes every single symptom that your are suffering...

    I was diagnosed this year after endless rounds of scans and many other varied investigations.. I found the lack of cognitive function ( fibro fog )

    Very difficult to live with also the absolute exhaustion.. it may be well worth your while asking your GP their opinion... it is normally diagnosed after all else is ruled out... it can hit at any age and turns your life upside down... I would certainly look into this young man, and I truly sincerely wish and hope that you find an answer... Make an app as soon as you can.. in my thoughts, Deirdre xx

    sim

    • TaylorMason
      TaylorMason deirdre._03652

      Posted

      Hi there!

      Thank you so much for your response.

      Hmmm...this was considered at one time, but I believe it was ruled out because I don't experience the muscle or joint issues, tingling in hands or feet, and headaches... But I suppose it could STILL very well be this. 

      once you were diagnosed, has treatment helped?

    • deirdre._03652
      deirdre._03652 TaylorMason

      Posted

      Hi Taylor, there is no treatment I am afraid, but just knowing it is something real helps a great deal... I truly hope you find an answer to your problem... please take care young man, in my thoughts Deidre xx
  • abella
    abella TaylorMason

    Posted

    Hi TaylorMason

    Those are all depression symptoms. I know every one of them and the foggy brain with no memory of what you did an hour ago, is the worst bit. I got help and got well again with a lot of medication and supervision. You can be normal again too, but you need help for depression. Different options will be given to you, but dont try to struggle through believing you can control this. It is just illness, and it is something everyone here knows about. Good luck and GET SUPPORT from a professional. My life saver was a psychiatrist and I cant thank him enough for making me well again.

    Hugs xxx

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 abella

      Posted

      Is it normal to recover in patches? I have patches where I'm OK like a hour then sink back. I don't feel depressed about anything though I have a happy life its like its there trying to get me. Week 7 fluoxetine expected better results I think xxxx
    • shawn23899
      shawn23899 abella

      Posted

      How did the psychiatrist help and what meds did he put you on? I'm suffocating with the same symptoms.

  • abella
    abella TaylorMason

    Posted

    Hi Rachel

    I used to feel normal for whole days only to crash back down the next day. So yes you do get better in fits and starts. If you need to try a new medication it will kick in much sooner because you have been taking other meds for 7 weeks. I needed benzodiazapines as well as antidepressants for the first 3 months on anti depressants. Only then did I manage to smooth out my ups and downs. I have also heard that the second bout of depression is often worse than the first. Its like it becomes your weakness and when under too much stress, the depression raises its ugly head again. Just when you thought youd put it behind you.

    I would ask what more you can do because this depression is not lifting as much as you,d hoped it would by now. GP s dont understand as well as psychiatrists either. They try but they tend to underestimate how bad you are feeling.

    About the bad memory... I was a cot case and had to leave notes for myself because my brain was like a sieve. Right onto it now though. Got my memory and my sanity back. I know you can get there too.

    Please get all the help you need and deserve.

    • rachel62244
      rachel62244 abella

      Posted

      Iv got to see how I am after the baby which is so hard as I wanted to b well by then so I can care for my family. I feel OK ish just spaced out and dulled. After the baby I'd up the dose but if its the meds spacing me out that wouldn't b helpful. Scared of a new med too as its starting again and risking square one. My p.Dr thinking I'll feel normal again in time. My gp is quite good he's very understanding, I believe his wife has anxiety issues. 7 weeks is just sooooo long when iv so much depending on me sad xx
  • pf7
    pf7 TaylorMason

    Edited

    I have these same EXACT problems I constantly feel as though im in a dream(more like a nightmare) my head alaways feels so cloudy. I have had multiple blood teats that come back normal and I even saw a neurologist but she said an MRI wasnt necessary as I have no headaches, loss of memory etc. I am currently seeing an endocrinologist who is also baffled she put me on luvox a few weeks back but it has not helped. Most recently I have started to become very itchy, ddehydrated, craving sweets/carbs, the fog has become unbearable and has caused much anxiety, thebsole of my left foot tingles at times, my lower back hurts, my eyes and vision are all messed up and I have sever gas. I dont know how much longer I can live like this getting out of bed and facing the day has become extremely hard.
  • Susanna1122
    Susanna1122 TaylorMason

    Posted

    Hi Taylor

    Just wondering if you've heard of a condition called Reactive Hypoglycemia or even having your blood sugars checked for Type 2 Diabetes. A craving for carbs or sugary stuff is classic and it's the stuff you steer clear of. I was diagnosed with RH last October and the worst part of it for me is the brain fog and all the symptoms you describe..feeling cloudy, stoned, memory loss (mine's terrible!). But sometimes your blood sugars can be normal but you experience all the symptoms of it. You have my sympathies..

    • rachel90526
      rachel90526 Susanna1122

      Posted

      Ugh, this is how I feel! It's crazy tho because at night out of the sun light I'm a lot better! Mine just started three days ago but it's not that big of a suprise because when I was in grade school I had this feeling and head aches every single day until I got older and started hanging out with people a lot maybe being more active or the pot smoking helped but it's went away and today I got a head ache so I feel like it's coming back again and now I have kids and no car so I'm always stuck at home nothing I can do but just suffer until I get a car and im not smoking pot lol ....I can't go to the Dr until I get a car...all I can say for anyone who is going Tru this is just try to be as normal as you can...rolleyes
    • hazelN
      hazelN rachel90526

      Posted

      Have you heard of Irlen syndrome? Symptoms range from trouble concentrating, migraines and a host of emotional, mental behavioral problems caused by bright lights (often flouresent lights, but even sunlight).. causing sensory overload.. look it up. I also used feel better at night practically all of my life but now im sleepy all the time, loss of motivation, energy both physical and mental, or just need to close my eyes and want to shut down (particularly during the day), memory problems, spaciness etc i've lost my personality and no amount of "positive thinking" helps.. so i feel you.
    • Quandryite
      Quandryite rachel90526

      Posted

      No one can watch the kids and there is no bus, taxi, friend that can help so you can see a doctor?  You say at nightwhen out of the sunlight, you feel a lot better.  What  the home, is different then?  Kids asleep?  Someone else there?
    • deb25734
      deb25734 Susanna1122

      Posted

      How long did it take your brain to function properly after you found you had reactive hypoglycaemia?
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