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

Here is a link to a great article on the subject.

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http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398316-adding-links-to-posts

http://patient.uservoice.com/knowledgebase/articles/398331-private-messages

Here is my contribution to the thread..

Six years ago my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, I helplessly watched his decline including some incidents that were horrific and impossible for my brain and emotions to process.

My dad died three years ago whilst mum and I were sat by his side. I have suffered chronic anxiety for six years. Since dad died I have suffered really bad depersonalization where I have become detached from living a normal life and lost contact with some emotion and reality, it is totally like living in a dream but being awake.

I suffered with chronic health anxiety and the many physical symptoms that it provided which fed it including palpitations, migraines and pharyngeal spasm had brain scan MRI 6 endoscopys 1 gastroscopy 5 biopsies Heart scan and 24hr monitorr, dozens of blood tests all of which came back clear.

The brain fog, lack of being present, feeling detatched, spaceyness and poor memory is crippling, ontop of that I am on diazepam and sertraline and dont sleep well.

I have started 1-1 with a psycotherapist this week who feels confident she can help me out of this brain fog and help me to improve concentration and memory.

I am so glad to know that I am not the only person who has this problem. I have had brain fog for a majority of my life. For years I had no clue what it was as a kid I thought I was just stupid or that I just had some sort of disability. I had a hard time connecting with people because I felt almost high. You have no idea how many people have asked me " Are you high?" and believe me when I actually am, there is barely a difference if any. I used to get so angry in school because 

So i know this is all 3 years ago, I doubt anyone is even logging in this site no more or sees this but if you are and you do see this I hope things have gotten better for you.

I wanted to say that I had the same issues, i went to doctors to no avail. I found out the whole time it wa sa mild form of hypothyroidism that wouldn't show up until one day i fell asleep and didn't wake up for 3 days. Finally I been on meds since, however the culprit of it all, was GLUTEN. so gluten was causing my major focusing issues, memory problems etc.. I went to doctors for several years until finally someone figured out gluten was a big culprit. Wheats, oats rye malt barely and yeast. I was also allergic to a whole list of other foods that were foods i ate regularly. I changed my diet, to a mostly vegetarian, and vegan some days diet, and stayed gluten free, and it has helped me tremendously. Try looking up the grain brain. Grains,even if you dont test positive for gluten or wheat allergies, cause inflammation in the brain. and cause a whole sort of mental issues. Google, gluten causes brain problems, gluten causes adhd, gluten causes autism, gluten causes thyroid disease, gluten causes memory loss, or gluten causes dementia, just type those in, and you'll be shocked. Gluten free has helped me alot. But i still have issues because i still eat too much junk food. WHen i fast i feel fine. Ever notice when we haven't eaten fora while we feel good? Well its the food! When your body keeps eating the same diet we normally eat, it dont get a chance to recover, when your hungry, or haven't eaten for an extended period you feel good because your body dont have the toxins in it. So the doctor that saved me was a little old man, endocrinologist who suggested i adopt a mostly organic hippicrates diet that is gluten free. and he said if im vegetarian that i might as well just toss the eggs and dairy. Found out later i was also allergic to dairy and as soon as i cut the dairy (i still have sprinkles of parm cheese for flavoring but) and just ate yogurt plainwith a bit of fructose sugar, (is better hte processed, processed sugar also causes inflammation in the brain, as does alot of food) I felt tons better!! Instead of cofee no i go for morning walks and take deep breaths. If you smoke cigarettes or weed, that's another trigger! and that is a HUGE one. so get off the cigarettes!

It’s been more than 3 years since I posted this plea for help.

It seems like every single day I get a notification(s) in my email stating a user has posted a comment or sent a private message. Words don’t fully encompass my gratitude foe each and every contribution to this thread. I believe one of the most beautiful aspects is a group of individuals who have been struggling alone have been able to unite under one online roof to come bond. It’s nice not being isolated. Thank you to each of you for sharing your stories and experiences and helping one another cope.

And now, a quick update from yours truly:

After so much time and energy spent chasing and hunting answers with no resolve, I decided I would put all these symptoms on the back burner and attempt to pursue happiness anyway that I could find it. I met a lovely woman who I charmed and wooed and persuaded to date me. She is the sweetest girl I know with a heart of gold and unmatched empathy and understanding. At this time I also took a massive risk and left the comfort of a very secure /easy corporate job to hitch the solar bandwagon. I joined Solacity the largest solar provider in America as a door to door energy consultant AKA: salesman. (Glorifying, eh?)

You can imagine the fear in me at the time. With little energy and a lack of mental clarity approaching strangers on their door step to convince them to sign a 20 yr solar contract was a daunting objective. But, I knew a lot of money could be made and I was ready for a change. I aim to never let fear dictate my decisions.

After a year and a half later and tireless obsessive hours, I was promoted to regional sales manager of a 15 man team. It was a blast. We were making a difference, working hard, and having fun. All the while, my symptoms of fatigue chipped away at me little by little. The job was extremely strenuous….the money wasn’t as good as it should have been and the door to door channel just wasn’t sustainable. Elon Musk the CEO of Tesla ( electric car company) purchased SolarCity and recently cut the entire door to door division, and I lost my job. Thank goodness, I was planning to quit the same day I got this news anyhow. (HELLO SEVERANCE!!)

After 2 years of living together, I decided there were a number of factors that pointed at me staying with this amazing woman wasn’t the right thing for my life, so I told her we should take some time a part and pursue our destinies.

So the last few months have been a whirlwind. I’m currently serving at a restaurant so I can have a flexible schedule and make decent money. I am backpacking Europe with 3 of my closest friends in a few weeks and I have ambitious to pursue my greatest passion: Acting/Filmmaking.

I am full of hope as the future unfolds. I will reopen the mysterious case of brain fog soon, but for now…I can’t let anything stop me from becoming who I was always meant to be regardless of suffering. I am wiser now…more empathetic…and I use my energy wisely because it is precious to me. No more wasted words…no more effort spent on meaningless things. It has helped me broaden my perspectives. As much as I’d KILL for a miracle…I can’t say that I’m not also grateful for this illness. It’s forced me to grow in ways I never could have otherwise.

Cheers!

Taylor