I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Cordelia on June 06, 2011, 12:40:32 PM

Title: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 06, 2011, 12:40:32 PM
Did anybody have this problem when you had renal failure and while being on dialysis? Did the brain fog ever go away with a transplant? I'm curious to know :)

My memory is horrible and this past week I had a nurse tell me she remembered me from months ago (from this past October) and I really, really did not remember her. I used to always be pretty good remembering faces, names, no, but faces, yes. So this one nurse in my unit whom I had not seen for months, told me she remembered me, and everything I said to her. I went blank and speechless, unable to recall anything I said to her. :oops; It's a very, very scary feeling to meet someone who have not seen for months and suddenly they tell you everything you said and you can't remember a darned thing!!! It's so scary........and......sad!! :banghead; :banghead; :banghead;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Ang on June 06, 2011, 07:36:13 PM
i was told by the medical professions years ago that memory loss is a direct cause of dialysis

forgot little things i had done days ago, conversations i had.

could be ageing too :urcrazy;

gonna turn 45 in about 5 days
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: RichardMEL on June 06, 2011, 07:55:42 PM
I would say yes.

Prior to dialysis I counted on my memory for just about everything. I never had need of a diary or anything like that, and I could remember obscure things like 11 digit FF numbers or random birthdays, or stuff I needed to do etc.

While on D I did find that my memory became less reliable and I would forget little things - just like Ang says.

Post transplant yes, the head has cleared up a lot. I am not sure that my memory is(or ever will be) as good as it was, but I definitely feel much more confident about my abilities post-tx with all those toxins out of the system than I did when I was on D.

Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: lmunchkin on June 06, 2011, 08:02:52 PM
I hear you Richard dear, but what would be my excuse?  I think with me its just plain ole age!  WARNING!!!!! DON'T DARE ASK ME MY AGE!   TeeeeeeHeeeee!

lmuunchkin    :flower;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 07, 2011, 08:27:14 AM
LOL!  ;D

It's such a huge relief to know/realize I'm not the only one! One thing I might add though is that I'm teased by family members for it, and that get on my nerve!  :Kit n Stik;

I do try to keep a sense of humor about it, sometimes it's not always easy and makes me pretty frustrated! :banghead;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: paris on June 07, 2011, 09:36:07 AM
I am 9 months post transplant, and I still have memory issues.  And the more someone demands that of course, I do remember -- well, the more upset I can get.  It is better than pre transplant, so I think the toxins aren't the only problem --- age is a factor too.   My Mother died with Alzheimers, so there is the constant worry of that beginning.    ..............now, what were we talking about?   :rofl;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 07, 2011, 11:58:10 AM
You have a great sense of humor, Paris! LMAO!  ;D ;D

Would I say my memory is a little better than it was predialysis, yes, but I still say I have a pretty bad memory ;D Even writing things down as a reminder, I still forget :oops; :urcrazy; ;D
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: bette1 on June 07, 2011, 01:09:37 PM
I had brain fog while I was on dialysis.  After the transplant I had a strange sensation like I had not been paying attention for a few years.  It was really weird.
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 07, 2011, 01:14:36 PM
It's interesting you mentioned that, Bette1. I wondered if that might happen for me. I'm so curious to see how I will be post transplant. :)
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: kitkatz on June 07, 2011, 01:58:54 PM
My brain fog was a lot better when I did nocturnal dialysis.  It took a few weeks to see a difference.
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 07, 2011, 04:04:41 PM
Sounds like there is hope that it will get better! I have hope! :2thumbsup;

Some days I feel as though I am losing it! LOL! :urcrazy;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: galvo on June 07, 2011, 05:54:49 PM
I am at the stage where I generally remember the things I've forgotten.
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: jbeany on June 07, 2011, 06:52:14 PM
Yes to being worse on D and better on transplant.  Yes to still being worse thanks to being older, too.

I should have bought stock in Post-it Notes - I can't live without them.
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: RichardMEL on June 07, 2011, 07:07:52 PM
No matter how much D brain fog I got I always knew what was important to me - girls, girls, girls!!!!!  :rofl; :rofl; :rofl;


 :shy;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 08, 2011, 03:10:26 AM
LMAO! ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: kamar55 on June 08, 2011, 06:15:27 AM
yes...major brain fog since dialysis. I always keep a pen & pad of paper next to me to write notes to remind me. Sometimes I'll remember something and if I don't write it down...Poof, it's gone. I try to keep my mind sharp by doing puzzles of all kinds, both online and off...have dozens of puzzle books for mental acuity and I think they do help..
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 08, 2011, 10:38:24 AM
I do that too, with the writing down of things to remember, always a pen and paper nearby for me too! :thumbup;

I should really do the puzzles too, I do like word games and do enjoy those, I should get into them again! ;D Thx for the advice! :grouphug;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: RightSide on June 08, 2011, 07:54:58 PM
Due to ESRD (and maybe HD as well), my brain fog got to the point that I was starting to forget how to drive a car!

I'm not making this up.

There I was, barreling down the left lane of Interstate 495, when I saw the sign that my exit was coming up in one more mile.  And suddenly, I forgot how to get my car off at the next exit--how and when to move into the right lane, how to decelerate, the whole thing.  And yet I've been driving for over 30 years.

After maybe 30 seconds, I remembered again, and I had just enough time to maneuver my car into the exit.

With a transplant, my memory and mental clarity have improved greatly--but they're still not quite as good as they were before my kidneys began to fail. 

I do crossword puzzles and math problems, to try to keep my brain sharp.

Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 09, 2011, 04:17:45 PM
Oh my goodness!
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: kamar55 on June 10, 2011, 03:55:02 AM
Due to ESRD (and maybe HD as well), my brain fog got to the point that I was starting to forget how to drive a car!

You just reminded me---brain fog was the major reason I had to stop driving.  :thumbdown; I do miss the freedoms of just driving but not the car payments, insurance, repairs and esp. gas   :thumbup;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: onestronglittlelady on June 10, 2011, 04:03:06 AM
I think I will print all these and take them to my Dialysis unit. They love to come talk to me during dialysis, then wonder why I have no idea what we talked about!
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 10, 2011, 05:41:50 AM
Kamar, I didn't drive for the first two months that I was on dialysis because of it.....not only that my balance was an issue, I walked like I was a drunk for the first few months! Did you give up the driving on your own or was it under doctor's advice not to drive?

LOL LMAO! onestronglittlelady! That is funny! ;) ;D
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: kamar55 on June 10, 2011, 03:41:13 PM
Kamar, I didn't drive for the first two months that I was on dialysis because of it.....not only that my balance was an issue, I walked like I was a drunk for the first few months! Did you give up the driving on your own or was it under doctor's advice not to drive?

LOL LMAO! onestronglittlelady! That is funny! ;) ;D

At first I was so sick, I barely knew what a car was....Then the brain fog set in and I decided that I just couldn't drive any more. I got rid of my car so it wouldn't be a temptation for me when I shouldn't be driving. But every once in a while when the fog clears, I would love to get in a car and drive, drive, drive.... ;)
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 11, 2011, 03:14:01 AM
I'm so sorry  :( :grouphug;
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: rsudock on June 11, 2011, 11:05:33 AM
Have you seen me use the term "dialysis brain"? Yeah can't remember anything anymore...I have to stop and think "Hhhhmmmm what was I doing again?"


xo,
R
Title: Re: Brain Fog
Post by: Cordelia on June 11, 2011, 11:46:41 AM
LMAO! Sounds familiar! ;D