Brain Fog

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
purple
Posts: 837
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:06 pm

Brain Fog

Post by purple » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:12 am

While we often, correctly, associate "Brain Fog" or slow thinking brain with Sleep Apnea, their are other causes, and solutions. Anyone want to suggestions to helping with a slow thinking brain. Coffee helps in the morning, but, obviously we want more powerful solutions. Anyone want to suggest?

User avatar
Julie
Posts: 19898
Joined: Tue Feb 28, 2006 12:58 pm

Re: Brain Fog

Post by Julie » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:13 am

Cold shower?

Sonnyboy
Posts: 637
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2014 8:56 am

Re: Brain Fog

Post by Sonnyboy » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:24 am

exercise

_________________
Mask

WildMtnHoney
Posts: 140
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2015 10:38 am

Re: Brain Fog

Post by WildMtnHoney » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:38 am

Check any medications you may be taking, as this can be a side effect (for example, I take topamax as a migraine preventative and slow thinking/word find issues are a common side effect) changing when you take the medication may help - I worked with my dr to take my "slow" medication so that the larger dose is at night, a smaller maintenance dose in the morning.

Also think about diet, and any vitamin deficiencies. I was found to be low in B12 and Vit D - increasing both has helped separately from the medication change.

_________________
Machine: ResMed AirSense™ 10 AutoSet™ CPAP Machine with HumidAir™ Heated Humidifier
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Sleephead (whatever version was current as of 3/15)

User avatar
Lazer1234
Posts: 301
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:08 am
Location: Sweden

Re: Brain Fog

Post by Lazer1234 » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:43 am

Antibiotics?

_________________
Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: APAP 7,8 - 20 EPR 3 No Ramp ResScan 5.1 SleepyHead 0.9.8.1
Everything I write I translate through Google Translate.
Hope you have patience with that, sometimes it can get a little crazy.
/Lazer1234

User avatar
Lazer1234
Posts: 301
Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 5:08 am
Location: Sweden

Re: Brain Fog

Post by Lazer1234 » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:43 am

Antibiotics?

_________________
Mask: TAP PAP Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Improved Stability Mouthpiece
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: APAP 7,8 - 20 EPR 3 No Ramp ResScan 5.1 SleepyHead 0.9.8.1
Everything I write I translate through Google Translate.
Hope you have patience with that, sometimes it can get a little crazy.
/Lazer1234

User avatar
SGearhart
Posts: 434
Joined: Fri Nov 07, 2014 8:54 am
Location: Georgia

Re: Brain Fog

Post by SGearhart » Sat Mar 28, 2015 10:56 am

purple wrote:While we often, correctly, associate "Brain Fog" or slow thinking brain with Sleep Apnea, their are other causes, and solutions. Anyone want to suggestions to helping with a slow thinking brain. Coffee helps in the morning, but, obviously we want more powerful solutions. Anyone want to suggest?
Medications! I know I will have one heck of a hangover if I use Zolpidem (Ambien). Also, I've noticed that if I get major leaks or mouth breathing during the night that I'm less than stellar the next morning.

Is this every morning or just now-and-then?
Julie wrote:Cold shower?
I thought that was used for other reasons. . . .

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: CMS-50F & 50IW - SleepyHead 1.0.0-Beta

User avatar
archangle
Posts: 9294
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2011 11:55 am

Re: Brain Fog

Post by archangle » Sat Mar 28, 2015 4:33 pm

Sometimes, completely getting off coffee for a few weeks will make you feel better. Also, after withdrawing from caffeine, coffee is more effective once you start back again.

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Also SleepyHead, PRS1 Auto, Respironics Auto M series, Legacy Auto, and Legacy Plus
Please enter your equipment in your profile so we can help you.
Click here for information on the most common alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check for yourself.

Useful Links.

User avatar
postitnote
Posts: 922
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2015 4:36 pm

Re: Brain Fog

Post by postitnote » Sat Mar 28, 2015 9:06 pm

My 2 youngest grandkids, both age 3. They could put a turtle in overdrive!

Seriously though, I drink coffee in the morning and switch to tea in the afternoon and evening. I assume I don't get that caffeine buzz since I drink both strong and black and have all my adult life. I think it just keeps me at a constant state of being awake and moving. When I have time to relax and sit for an hour I do crossword or jigsaw puzzles. I read that those will keep your brain active.

If all else fails, put on some good music and dance!
Morbius, are you bored?

SteveGold
Posts: 72
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2013 5:31 pm

Re: Brain Fog

Post by SteveGold » Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:35 am

With habitual use caffeine just maintains your base line - lets you feel "normal." You'd need to come off it for a while to notice a boost. I also understand that it only creates the perception of greater alertness and cognition isn't measurably improved. But putting caffeine content aside, coffee has other health benefits that make it worthwhile.

As for brain fog, I find a little meditation can help clear my head if I've had a bad night.

User avatar
Wulfman...
Posts: 6688
Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:41 pm
Location: Nearest fishing spot

Re: Brain Fog

Post by Wulfman... » Sun Mar 29, 2015 1:44 pm

purple wrote:While we often, correctly, associate "Brain Fog" or slow thinking brain with Sleep Apnea, their are other causes, and solutions. Anyone want to suggestions to helping with a slow thinking brain. Coffee helps in the morning, but, obviously we want more powerful solutions. Anyone want to suggest?
Inadequate therapy.......optimizing therapy.

The above would also include:
pressures too low and/or too low to flush CO2 from mask,
mouth-leaking and mouth-breathing (with a nasal mask),
using ranges of pressures with APAP machines (pressure increases bumping user out of the needed sleep stages),
inadequate amount of sleep time,
shallow breathing (low oxygen levels).


Den

.
(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

FROGFATT
Posts: 20
Joined: Sun Mar 01, 2015 10:35 pm

Re: Brain Fog

Post by FROGFATT » Sun Mar 29, 2015 10:49 pm

U guys might hate me for saying this and I wouldn't recomend anyone trying it but the best way for me to get rid if the brain fog was after waking up in the morning I would sniff 2 big fat lines of WIZZ up my nose, sorted me , more alert better attention span , and also loss of appetite made me loose weight the weight loss made a world of difference

_________________
Mask

User avatar
postitnote
Posts: 922
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2015 4:36 pm

Re: Brain Fog

Post by postitnote » Sun Mar 29, 2015 10:52 pm

FROGFATT wrote:U guys might hate me for saying this and I wouldn't recomend anyone trying it but the best way for me to get rid if the brain fog was after waking up in the morning I would sniff 2 big fat lines of WIZZ up my nose, sorted me , more alert better attention span , and also loss of appetite made me loose weight the weight loss made a world of difference
What is Wizz?

NM, I googled it.
Morbius, are you bored?

User avatar
49er
Posts: 5624
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: Brain Fog

Post by 49er » Mon Mar 30, 2015 4:08 am

I intend to give fish oil another shot starting this coming Thursday, which is the day my surgeon has said I can take it. Since I seem to be quite sensitive to supplements, I will buy it in liquid form and start at a very low dose and slowly work my way to an optimal level.

49er

I

User avatar
carbonman
Posts: 2526
Joined: Wed Jun 25, 2008 7:57 am

Re: Brain Fog

Post by carbonman » Mon Mar 30, 2015 1:30 pm

Sonnyboy wrote:exercise
++1
Go for a bike ride.

Exercise your brain.
Teach yourself to do everyday things w/your non-dominate hand.
Learn to play a musical instrument.
Play mahjong. If you have a tablet, there are all
kinds of mind/memory games/apps.
Memorize a poem, a bible passage.
Journal everyday.

Learn yoga.
Stretch.

Go for a bike ride.
"If your therapy is improving your health but you're not doing anything
to see or feel those changes, you'll never know what you're capable of."
I said that.