Memory loss/brain fog with autoimmune disease

[mhop111]

Hi all,

I am in the middle of the long and frustrating process of being diagnosed - first it was fibro, then RA, now maybe lupus. the other day my doctor said "you are a mystery to me" so yeh... not expecting a firm diagnosis anytime soon.

Anyway i was just wondering if anyone has experienced a significant loss of memory, focus and just general day to day thinking ability with their autoimmune disease. I've never had the best memory, but lately i can't even hold on to stuff for 20 minutes. This is probably connected to how I feel like I am becoming progressively more "ditzy" and unable to concentrate. the other day i tried to put ice cream away...i put it in the toaster oven. i am 24 years old and i am walking around doing stuff a senior citizen might do!

I should mention that this kind of stuff started happening BEFORE the slew of medications they've been trying on me, which have only made things worse. Am i losing my mind or is this a symptom of whatever is wrong with me? bc between the pain and the brain fog i have nooo idea how i am supposed to get anything done.

thanks in advance for your input. if you have suggestions on how to improve my memory/thinking, thank you even more!

[Mally_Brad]

Ehlers Danlos Syndrome-either hEDS or Classic EDS.

[Blacks111]

Hi, me too having same kind of trouble with thinkg, my RA is positive and I also feel kind of trouble with memory and concentration. The symptomps were worse before I have seen the doctor and I also used to feel depressive. Currently I am taking medication. Lets see what happens. I am sure I will get diagonised with some other king of illness too.

[Red_Star]

There are around 80 - 100 autoimmune diseases. The ones i do know that cause brain fog/memory problems include:

Multiple Sclerosis
Pernicious Anaemia
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
Graves' Disease
Celiac's Disease
Systemic Lupus Erythematous  
Sjogren's Syndrome
Diabetes Mellitus

Brain fog can be caused by many nutrient deficiency states.  The brain requires many nutrients, including protein, high quality fats and starches, many vitamins and two dozen or more minerals.  Among the most important nutrients are calcium, magnesium, zinc, chromium, selenium, iodine, L-glutamine, L-taurine, choline, thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, other B-complex vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D.

[Nicoal]

I'm sorry that you haven't gotten a diagnosis yet, that is so frustrating!  Have they done any testing for MS?  I don't know if you're having any other symptoms, but I know memory loss can happen with MS.  I've been diagnosed with it for 5 years, and I have been known to put the cereal in the fridge:)  There is a lot of "it's right on the tip of my tongue" also.

As far as memory improvement, you can do things like word puzzles and sudoku (which is a challenge for me anyway, because I hate math, haha).  I am actually trying my hand at writing to keep my brain from atrophying. You can check dictionary.com for the word of the day.  I love to learn new words.

Hope everything turns out ok.   Nicoal