Brain Fog and Neurologist.

[SueAnn]

sewandsew,

That is funny and sounds like something mine would say.

Thank you Joe for the information and links.  I have to start with a neurologist and will have this talk with him.


SueAnn

[mews]

Well I am sold on giving the supplements a try, between helping with the neuropathy and the brain fog I will give it a go...

How did it work for you, Joe did you see any changes with it? I will take even a little change!

Feel Well All
Mary

[BonusMom]

I get mine from Swanson's Health foods in Fargo, ND. I have an idea how they were prepared and the quality control. Most places have them. Canada has outlawed ALC but they allow Pre-ALC. Some have ARC instead of ALC. Ratio is 2 parts ALA to 3 parts ALC. I take 200mg ALA and 300mg ALC 2 times per day. Some people take 1000 units of ALC with no ALA.

Talk to your health care professional for appropriate doses for you. Please do your own research. Here are some places you can start.
http://www.thefactsaboutfitness.com/news/aging.htm
http://www.nutritional-supplements-health-guide.com/alpha-lipoic-acid-and-acetyl-l-carnitine.html
Web search for "cell health makeover/acetyl-l-carnitine"

I also buy all of my supplements from Swanson's, Joe.  My MIL introduced me to them a few years ago and I have introduced my mother and a few friends to them.  You can't beat their prices or easy to use website (even with brain fog!).

Thanks for posting, again, the dosage info on ALA and ALC and the links.

[CAT1962]

When you find out, let me know! Mine is horrible. I even see posts here and think, "OH. I'm going to post to this one!" Only to scroll down and realize I did the day before and don't recall doing it at all. I forget Dr's appts, birthdays, anything scheduled. I would love an iPad!  I have to schedule everything in my phone with an alarm.

[Joe S.]

I tried them for 30 days and did not have a flair during that time and thought,"Oh, they aren't doing any thing". I quit for a week and could not remember my name. I went back on them and try not to forget to take them. (I sort a week of pills at a time, so it is just to remember my AM and PM pills). My mother looked at what I was taking and said "I see you have your first meal of the day. How can you be hungry breakfast also?"

[dainbramage]

Joe S.
I looked up these supplements and I am a little worried about taking the ALC because it helps with testosterone, I don't want a beard or any manly things. I have enough to go thru now. Have any females taken this and not had the problems?

[Joe S.]

I do not know who has taken it and who has not. If it promotes testosterone you can not prove it by me. My is so low I can swim in Androgel to no effect according to my blood work. I spent a couple of months sticky from head to toe every day. I seem to remember a signature that indicated someone else was using it.

[brownskin510]

Sewandsew, that is the SAME thing my friend says. lol. But, it's actually good when my friends and family make jokes because it helps me to not worry about losing my memory so much. Shoot, I have been driving and knew where I was supposed to be going, but could not remember how to get there. So, I would have to either slow down or stop, just so I could recall. 

[irish]

I have had brain fog for years---as probably 40 years or so. I had it when I was young and the kids were small and I sure had to learn how to arrange my life in order to get through the craziness of raising small kids. I found that by having a different type of checkbook I didn't forget to write in the information. I could always tell when I was in a flare by my hand writing.

I dono't even talk about my brain fog much to my docs as it comes and goes. I share it mostly with my psych and I have to drive 30 miles one way to see him. When I am having really bad days I don't drive. Usually my description of mine is that I couldn't fight my way out of a paper bag. That pretty much is the way it is. I know that when I am really sleep deprived I can get "dingy" and I just hunker down and keep life simple.

So far I haven't had any lesions on brain scans. I still think that this is a multifaceted problem. Probably some vasculitis with flares along with some depressive issues, fatigue and maybe even nutritional issues, not to mention the hormonal. It will be interesting to see if they ever get it figured out. Mine comes and goes. I also think that social deprivation is a component in this also. When we don't get out and about, interact with people and have the stimulation that keeps us on our toes as to date, time, season, other pertinent activities, etc we tend to stagnate mentally.

Both hubby and I have the issues off and on. We joke that it takes two of us to handle what one person used to do alone. Irish

[dainbramage]

This past week was one of the worst in brain fog..I would walk around and could not remember what I was doing..it was horrible. I was ready to cry. Kids, husband, mother-in-law, and my own parents don't get it. They think I should be able to call them and tell them everything, but when I forget just one thing, they tell my husband I did not call to tell them that and he comes home and ask me why I did not tell them. I am tired of being accused of this..

[dbab]

I've been having it bad lately but I've also been in a flare.  Driving home from work everyday but don't remember the actual drive.  The best way to describe brain fog or what I call when I brain stops working is when you feel like your brain has literally hit a brick wall.  You push and push and push and no matter how much you push to think you can't, it keeps hitting that wall.  It's one of the most frustrating things in the world.

[mews]

I do have lesions on my brain, the Neuro though I had MS but decided against it in the end. I had an MRI in 2006 and again in 2009 and I had more lesions in 2009. At that point Sjogren's was not in the picture.. he couldn't figure it out, waste of a Dr!!!!!

[dainbramage]

mews,
I have white spots on the brain, on my MRI. The dr. thinks its migraines..which I started having 2 years ago. I am having another MRI next month as a follow up.

It seems the brain fog has lessened this week, either that or I stopped running around, or flare is gone for now...need to write it down on my calendar and also how long it has lasted.

[mews]

 dainbramage I don't believe that for one minute.... that's what the radiologist wrote on my report and the neuro said write away, no thats not what they are!!! I don't get enough migraines to cause that many lesions..

I have been trying to read up on SjS and brain lesions, but I keep falling asleep when I read for a long time.. so I haven't been getting anywhere LOL but I do understand there is a correlation between the two!!!

Feel Well
Mary

[irish]

People with sjogrens can have white lesions on their MRI's. I know that we have had a few people on here whose neurologists had a hard time figuring out whether they had Sjogrens or MS.

I can't remember the significance of the lesions right at the moment. I have to have a MRI of my neck and they will do my brain also. My brain scan was clear 4 years ago and it will be interesting to see what it shows now. I would think that if we did a search for "sjogrens brain lesions" we would find some information. Irish