How is everyone dealing with brain fog? This is a very unexpected symptom of menopause for me!– Anna, Twin Falls, Idaho
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32Real experiences shared by the community, from the original discussion to today.
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Angles6 years ago
I’m not it’s one of my most horrible symptoms
CMJ6 years ago
Omega 3, 6 and 9 oil and prioritising sleep help, but I’ve not found anything that gets rid of it.
CJK6 years ago
It’s the hardest symptom for me, it has effected my confidence massively, I would love to hear how everyone deals with it x
Po6 years ago
I have it too. I'm curious if you're sure that it's menopause related. It because I doubt but because for myself, I can never tell if it's because I didn't get enough sleep, or if caffeine is interfering, etc.
Yasmine6 years ago
I feel I have to work extra hard to do my work, and feel drained at the end of the day.
Sal6 years ago
Hi Anna. I’ve had brain fog for around the last 4 to 5 years - and at the very start when I didn’t realise what was happening it was horrendous the impact it had - I ended up dropping out of university after a bad second year as I couldn’t grasp the content of my course, it came from nowhere, and was quite distressing as have always been a clear thinker and able to achieve in areas such as this. As of now I still haven’t found anything to lift the fog unfortunately, no miracle cure, but I started back at uni last October and just passed this year with a great result. In my experience, knowing this is happening to you, identifying the times of the month it is going to hit, planning as best you can around it - makes a big, big difference. Also I’m very blessed to have a partner who understands and can help me see, especially when I’m in the depths of it, that it follows a pattern and I’m just having a bad day. If you can find the rhythm to it and the fit your day, week, month around it - that’s my way to manage it. Hope that helps xx
Ellie6 years ago
The fact that l can’t remember when l’ve said something seconds ago, take up my phone to do something then l forget! ? but what can we do ??♀️ however I have started to put things in my phone in the calendar that l need to do, even if it’s just to make a call. Unless someone’s got any other ideas let me know ?
Glitzy McJingles6 years ago
This describes me perfectly. The brain fog and mood swing have affected my work - so much so that I have struggled to keep a job in the past couple of years as I can’t retain the information needed to learn the role - I was always a quick learner but now the fog just blocks everything!
Wendy6 years ago
I really struggle with work and memory and it’s affecting my performance , I’m hoping the increase dose of HRT will help my concentration and lesson the fog !
Emma6 years ago
I’m struggling and finding it difficult on certain days it’s worse than others.
Lynn6 years ago
Totally agree my brain fog has a detrimental effect on my day to day living. I haven’t found anything that helps to be honest and I’ve been having this almost 4 or 5 years
Naz6 years ago
It all makes sense now as there are days I cannot remember certain events names I never put this down to menopause ☹️ I thought I was going crazy with anxiety and my brain could not cope so it was shutting down ?
Sloan6 years ago
Tomorrow I’m starting an herbal supplement for peri symptoms that I’m hoping will help with mine. The brain fog & forgetfulness is causing issues in my relationship ?
Michelle6 years ago
I use Magnesium and vit D to combat tiredness which also helps the brain fog. The thing that I worry about is that it’s not brain fog, it’s early onset dementia which, if treated early, can be delayed but gp’s just look at your age and say it menopause.
Dawn6 years ago
It's definitely a frustrating symptom and I too worry about whether it's menopause related or something more serious. My husband thinks I don't listen to him (which is sometimes true) as I never remember things he's told me. Or I end up asking what he wants for lunch more than once as I can't remember what he told me! I haven't found any solutions so reading this thread with interest.
Sloan6 years ago
My bf says (and believes) I don’t listen to him as well. I know I’m listening, but not remembering very well. So frustrating for both of us!
Audra6 years ago
I’ve been suffering on and off for 5 years I’m 49 now and it gets very embarrassing at times. It effects my job confidence and the days I can’t string a sentence the anxiety kicks in. It seems to be worse around my period which are all over the place. I just about cope i try and laugh it off but it makes me feel sad and old
Trace6 years ago
I’m exactly the same Audra, I have a young daughter and added to a high pressured job I find myself looking like an idiot because I’ve forgotten something ! Laugh it off love, heck we’ve got to this age, we can seriously not take ourselves too seriously right! X
Bee6 years ago
Menopause Brain Fog or Fibro Fog? I have both. Either way it’s really debilitating. I had to give up my career as an Adult Teacher, as I just couldn’t concentrate or take anything in. Putting keys down and losing them (they were in the fridge!) and muddling up my words is the worst. Along with not remembering what things are called.. ‘You know, that thing there’ (pointing to it so my daughter can see what I mean) ‘What thing? What’s it called?’ She asks... ‘No idea but you use it on your head!’ It was a hairbrush... ???♀️ We laugh about it now but it can get upsetting when you stop mid sentence and can’t remember what you were even talking about ... ?
Kat6 years ago
This is so me, I teach family learning and couldn’t remember the word children in the middle of a class. I think accepting it for what it is and that it won’t last forever helps as does a sense of humour but it is frustrating and embarrass times. HRT did lessen the symptoms a bit.
Beereplying to Kat6 years ago
I’ve been offered HRT by my GP (undecided as yet) and have found some CBD which I’ve decided to try. I am so tired of battling it all. Tired of pharmacy drugs. Tired of forgetting. Tired of being tired ... I thought I was perimenopausal after speaking to my GP last September. Saw him last week and he told me I’ve been in menopause since last September. No idea why I wasn’t told but my symptoms were brushed away as I suffer with fibromyalgia. I just want to know what’s going on in my own body... not too much to ask ?
Anne6 years ago
This thread makes me feel quite lucky. I frequently short circuit but if I feel a bad wave I address my nutrition. Purple foods, green food and water to lift the fog. Felt bad this morning so blended blueberries avocado banana and spinach. Definitely helps. Magnesium and vitamin d supplements too.
Heather6 years ago
I’ll second this and add, if I’m starting to leave the conscious thinking world, I workout. That way, I don’t have to think, just listen and follow along. Regular walks, plenty of fresh fruits and water make a major difference in my cognitive ability. And, if it’s really bad... I need a nap. I think diet, exercise and sleep play a huge role in my brain health, so I’m doing all I can to reroute when I need to.
Tammy5 years ago
Absolutely agree with this! Nutrition makes a major difference. When I did whole 30 and cut out simple carbs and sugar...it literally felt like someone took cotton out of my brain. Actually that’s what I would call it...cotton brain:) May be related to the hormones but I think good nutrition is one of the keys to balancing hormones along with proper rest and hydration.
Heidi6 years ago
I retired and focus on living as much of a stress free life as possible. I am trying to allow myself to feel the moments of brain fog and be ok with it. It’s the “new” me for now.
Michelle6 years ago
Coffee.... lots and lots of coffee ? actually the more I move the sharper I feel. Deep breathing helps and so does peppermint oil for clarity .... I use it on my temples and back of neck and wrists to stay cool and awake and clear.
Dana6 years ago
I really thought I was having early onset Alzheimer’s or I burnt too many brain cells growing up. I’ll be 50 next week and I’m definitely in the premenopausal stage. Lots of fun symptoms like hourly hot flashes and constant night sweats. But I was relieved to hear that brain fog was part of it because I was worried about going senile. I am taking an SSRI now plus DIM supplement. The hot flashes aren’t as often and brain fog seems to have lifted a bit.
Lu6 years ago
Same... sadly Alzheimer’s runs in my family (father, grandmother, aunt, and my memory used to be great! I’ve just had a bath and couldn't remember if I had conditioned my hair or not!!! I’m 50 soon and have been worried if it’s going to be permanent lol
Sara6 years ago
Just lose words in a sentence as I am a hairdresser it can make me look a little dense at times ?♀️?
Ari6 years ago
I’m not very clear as to what brain is. However, it pisses me off my lack of memory sometimes. I used to have great memory, and now... well, not that much. I hate it.
Anita4 years ago
The brain fog, lack of focus and concentration as well as memory has been rapidly getting worse in the last 6 months. So much so, that I had an assessment for ADHD but it’s been put down to perimenopause. This week I have done a walk in the morning and it’s literally cleared the cloud from my brain and allowed me to think! It’s also helped me feel like my ‘old’ self and able to have clarity. It’s no fun, I’ve lost confidence in my abilities and don’t trust myself, started HRT 2 weeks ago so fingers crossed !
Nikki1 year ago
I’ve just started this terrifying journey into peri menopause at 43 and between the depression, mood swings and brain fog im bordering on closing my business and being a stay at home wife at this point. I feel soooo scatterbrained and like I’m ruining what I built all these years. I once was so on top of things and so educated now I feel like a mad scientist just wandering from room to room.