Brain Fog Sufferer
My first post...
I wake up with Brain Fog every morning for two years now. Some days I need a Tylenol to help me get through the day. After a sleep study in 2016 I learned that I had Sleep Apnea, and then started using a CPAP machine. My Brain Fog actually cleared up after about a month or so, but then returned to stay about two months after that point.
I take only one medication, 75 mcg Synthroid for Hypothyroidism for five years now. I am 64, exercise daily and follow good nutrition. It seems logical that either my Sleep Apnea or the CPAP is the cause of my suffering, but my numbers are consistently very good. I average about 8 hours sleep nightly. In the last six month my AHI is 2.06, avg leak rate 0.22. I also have an S+ by Resmed that analyzes your REM and deep sleep, my sleep efficiency score avg is 95%.
My doctor and sleep apnea specialist have no answer for the cause of my Brain Fog. I have had a complete physical, all of the typical blood tests show me in good health. When I awake, my 8 hours sleep feels more like 4. When I look in the mirror I look like I am suffering from a massive hangover. The fog begins to clear some after about two hours, and I improve a little more as the day goes on, and feel the best in the evening. But when I awaken the fog has rolled in again. I never feel refreshed and rested on awakening but the opposite, I feel like I need more sleep.
I wonder if the source of my problem might be something to do with my thyroid, or a deficiency of some sort. If anyone has any thoughts or advice I would be thankful.[attachment=4900]
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
I am going to follow this topic because I too have what might be "brain fog."
I cannot offer any advice comment, but would like to ask why you take a Tylenol? Does it help clear up brain fog or does your brain fog result in a headache for which you take Tylenol?
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
Pressures, leaks, time of use and event rate look pretty good to excellent. Events are mainly CA. Try cutting back EPR to 2 and see if that works a bit better with fewer events. I'm not sure we can look at your apnea treatment as a probably source of your continued brain fog.
Have you been checked for hypogonadism?
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
It does a little of both. My Brain Fog on some days is more severe to the point that I have a headache. The Tylenol usually helps ease that and reduces the Brain Fog some what also, but not entirely.
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
(03-14-2018, 03:00 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: Pressures, leaks, time of use and event rate look pretty good to excellent. Events are mainly CA. Try cutting back EPR to 2 and see if that works a bit better with fewer events. I'm not sure we can look at your apnea treatment as a probably source of your continued brain fog.
Have you been checked for hypogonadism?
I will look into the EPR, thanks. I never heard of hypogonadism, but will certainly mention it to my doctor.
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
As a fellow hypothyroid sufferer I can say that treatment can be tricky. Most docs will just get your TSH in range and call it a day. However many will still suffer from hypothyroid symptoms with a "normal" TSH. At a minimum you should be tested for freeT3, freeT4, in addition to TSH. For a more complete picture you should also test for anti-thyroid antibodies (TPO) and anti-thyroglobulin (TbAb) antibodies. Even if all that still checks out studies have shown that at least half of people with hypothyroidism feel subjectively better taking a natural desiccated thyroid medication such as Armour thyroid instead of levothyroxine. A very good website that discusses thyroid issues is http://www.tiredthyroid.com.
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
(03-14-2018, 03:14 PM)morningpersonnot Wrote: (03-14-2018, 03:00 PM)Sleeprider Wrote: Pressures, leaks, time of use and event rate look pretty good to excellent. Events are mainly CA. Try cutting back EPR to 2 and see if that works a bit better with fewer events. I'm not sure we can look at your apnea treatment as a probably source of your continued brain fog.
Have you been checked for hypogonadism?
I will look into the EPR, thanks. I never heard of hypogonadism, but will certainly mention it to my doctor.
To be specific it's a testosterone test, and a lot of male CPAP users have a problem in that arena.
Another thing to watch for, although rare, is Lupus. It should be a normal part of testing with hypothyroid, but it's out there as an advisory.
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
It is also worth getting your Vitamin D level checked. We don't make a lot naturally living in Canada and low Vit D can affect sleep quality. I took supplements to boost mine and started being sharper the next day.
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
Hypogonadism is a major contributor to Brain Fog, many males regardless of being CPAP users go totally undiagnosed with Low Testosterone but having Apnea certainly makes you a very likely candidate for it.
Given your age I would be looking at getting blood tests done to check levels particularly Free T, Total T, FSH, LH, SHBG, E2 (sensitive test) also Vit D as has been suggested.
Once your results are in dont take what the doctor says as being OK or " in range" but visit this site peaktestosterone dot com either the main site or the forum to see where your T Levels lie.
RE: Brain Fog Sufferer
I'm 29 and skinny. My untreated AHI's are over 60 with majority obstructive. For the past two years I have a lab confirmed testosterone levels of a 12 yo girl. sh*t just happens.
Also all the tests doctors do in checkup. They are all bogus. A 80 yo can have great lab values and then be dead in a week. Similarily some people have cholesterol values off the charts and never suffer a heart attack. Those basic tests only mean: "OK. this patient has low x so i can sell xyz to him, without any major side effects." And if you have symptoms without lab results, then it's either in your head or my favourite "symptoms of life".
I've personally been for the past 2 years compiling other types of tests that actually show if something is wrong and majority on the list are markers of inflamation.
Brain fog i have had since i was 12. It's gotten way worse 2 years ago. Only occasionally good sleep has lifted those, but even after they were lifted if i were to work mentally on something it would come back. I recon its just your brain that is tired, after all its still a muscle and it must be lacking fuel or its just fatigued from your routine and/or infections. Sometimes my eye fatigue causes brain fatigue and might I add when i get pain behind my eyes from overusing my eyes it feels awfully similar to a brain fog.
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