Some fibromyalgia patients complain of suffering from cognitive problems, commonly referred to as “fibrofog.” Researchers from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, Michigan studied patients to assess the incidence of cognitive issues associated with fibromyalgia. Tests have shown patients to have impairments in episodic memory, working memory, and semantic memory. These impairments mimic roughly 20 years of aging. Complex tasks and multi-tasking is most difficult for these patients. Depression, anxiety, sleep problems, endocrine disturbance, and pain can exacerbate these cognitive problems. A standardized test for cognitive problems in fibromyalgia patients has not yet been developed, but could aid in treating patients complaining of “fibrofog.”
Read the full abstract on PubMedthough I haven't been Dx'd with fibromyalga.. I have felt some major fogs but have to mention a new clarity since starting enbrel I originally thought my fog was due to the chemotherapy I had for lymphoma. There is something known as chemo brain and it's much like fibro fog. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of cancer survivors with FM.
I have had brain fog all along with my fibro, but since the RA started two years ago it is definitely worse. It has actually been even worse in the last few months, and I asked my RD if it could be the Orencia, and he said no, that it was the inflammation.
The more that I think about it, I would say there is a compounding affect from dealing with a chronic illness. There's so often depression mixed in with anxiety and a tendency to be easily distracted. I have a friend with fibro, we call ourselves phone pals because we're never well enough at the same time to get together. Sometimes our phone conversations consist mainly of lost threads of thought and forgotten names, forgotten words, forgot..... what was I saying? Oh yeah, brain fog.