I wrote the following post last May and didn’t post it because I needed to edit it. I still haven’t edited, but finally decided it was more important to post that to have it be finished.
May 27, 2017
“I’m so happy to see all of these activities that you’re doing!” When my third friend commented on all the activites I’ve expressed interest in on Facebook—and assumed I’d actually done them—I knew it was time to follow up.
When a chronic illness blogger goes silent, readers generally assume one of two things happened: the blogger is so sick that they can’t keep up or is doing so well that they’re out having fun instead of writing. It’s rarely that simple or straightforward. Given my recent posts, I think most of you have assumed the latter.
I don’t want to worry you. I am doing remarkably well. But that brain fog I attributed to Wellbutrin is actually a side effect of my new treatment. It’s a constant low(ish)-level fog that keeps my mind functioning at about 90% all the time. I can do the normal things of life and carry on conversations pretty well. I feel mostly normal, until I sit down to write and it becomes abundantly clear that I’m not all here. After so many years of cognitive dysfunction, I thought I’d figured out how to work around it. I had as long as it followed the pattern I was accustomed to. That brain fog had peaks and valleys. I rarely become as incoherent now as I did in previous years; I also don’t have the same high-level of functioning that I used to enjoy in the my clearest moments of previous years.
So I don’t write. I think about writing. I try to write. Then I stop because I get so frustrated that I’m not all here. Instead, I spend my time feeding myself (and reading recipes gleefully) and trying to walk five miles a day and practice yoga. Back pain—a result of increased movement in an out-of-shape body—means my schedule now includes weekly visits to a physical therapist and about an hour of special stretches and exercises each day. I actually feel kind of lost right now. “Adrift” is the word that comes to mind.
I’m not sure how to organize my days (and my life) when I can’t think well enough to work and don’t have migraine looming over me all the time. Well, that’s not entirely true. Migraine does loom over me al the time, it’s just a smaller shadow than usual. How I respond to my treatment is still fairly unpredictable. While I do have more good hours in a day and even my migraine hours aren’t as debilitating as they used to be, I still have down time most days and I never know when it will be.
Everything I wrote in May is still true, though I feel less lost than I did. Unfortunately, beginning in June, I’ve also had several significant bad migraine spells. The treatment is still mostly working, but it’s incredibly finicky and unpredictable. I am working on a post about the treatment and promise to publish it even if it needs a lot of editing!
I just wanna share my experience in medical marijuana and it helps me deal with my health conditions. I’ve been suffering from chronic pain for how many years, but then when I learned that medical marijuana can help and cure sickness such mine like this article about marijuana kylekushman.com/topic/first-vegamatrix-grow-looking-really-bad-please-help/ and THC They are also new to me and I do not even smoke. If this is true I can not find any solid conclusive evidence that speaks to its efficacy.
I’m sorry to hear about the brain fog. I hope it improves for you soon.
So glad to see another post, feeling your frustration around brain fog. Write anyway if you can – brain fog you is just as real and valid and helpful as non-fog you.
Thank you for your sharing and providing a place for migraineurs. A yoga instructor we have in common recommended your blog to me many years ago…
Thank you, Inger! That’s very kind. It’s hard for me to share anything written that’s not my best work. I feel like it’s an inaccurate representation of what I want to say. But I’m trying!
Take care,
Kerrie
Just checked in today to see how you’re doing, as I’ve done occasionally since your last post. Truly appreciate (and always have!) your honesty and transparency. Best wishes for many more well moments (and completely well days!) and for that brain clarity to be there for you increasingly. Post whenever you feel up to it, and don’t worry about it being well-edited. We all just salute you being you and being willing to share a slice of your life with us.
Thanks for your post. Glad to hear the headaches have lessened but sorry to learn about the brain fog. I’m eager to hear about your current treatment I too am experience brain fog from my current treatment but it has lessened my severe migraines. Hope to hear from you again soon.
Thanks, Bonnie! I’ve decided brain fog is an OK tradeoff, but it’s still frustrating. I’m glad you have something that’s working for you. In case you haven’t seen, my new treatment is the gammaCore, which received FDA approval last week. I’m working on a series of posts about it.
Take care,
Kerrie
Sorry to hear about the brain fog, Kerrie, but thanks for posting about it. Brain fog has been a problem for me over the past months also. It’s scary stuff and so unpredictable. Have missed your posts.
Thank you for your post! Your story is quite similar mine. Why is it that we finally get a bit less headaches, something I thought would fix everything, but then it actually creates more unexpected issues. I then stress and migraines come back…they are never far away.
You should not be so concerned that your writing is not exactly how you would like it because what you have written, still helps me and probably your other readers. Maybe even yourself.
Thank you!
Thanks, Lynn! My hesitation is that I don’t feel like I say what I mean when my writing isn’t at it’s best. I’m working on letting that go, though. 🙂
Take care,
Kerrie
I have been eagerly awaiting your return and the details of your treatment. I am glad to hear that the headaches have lessened and that you are able to do things you might not have been before, but am sorry to hear the frustrating brain fog persists. Looking forward to your next post.