Hello!

I am newly diagnosed with adrenal dysfunction. One of my most annoying, if not THE most annoying problem is the spaciness and brain fog. I don't have clarity like normal people have. I feel like my perception of the world is altered in some way. Does anyone else suffer from this unpleasant symptom?

Thank You!
nate

Brain fog is a symptom of Addison's disease for some people. Do you have primary or secondary Addison's and how was it diagnosed? Have you had an MRI scan of your pituitary gland?

spaciness and brain fog.
is there ANYthing that can be done for this?

[This message has been edited by BrianKosh (edited 06-26-2003).]

spaciness is often experienced by anxiety sufferers, look up depersonalisation and derealisation on the net and see if this is what you have

otherwise I wonder if spaciness is the same as lightheadedness

I have this too; it's my most debilitating symptom. I have been on hydrocortisone only a short time; does anyone know whether it's possible that increasing or decreasing hydrocortisone might improve this? thanks- Katie

Yep, been there done that.

On good days I can read, play on the computer, etc.

On bad days its veg out while the world goes sliding by.

In between brain fog would describe it perfectly.

GhostH and others-

are you on hydrocortisone, or prednisone, and/or florinef? I wonder if the drug or dosage may make a difference with this spacey-head symptom; I have gotten a degree of improvement from low-dose hydrocortisone, but it's only been a few short weeks I have been on it and I wonder if the symptom will ever completely resolve or not.
-K

I'm on Cortef averaging 15 to 20mg a day. I have a new Endocrenoligist trying to get me stabilsed on thyroid also but ever time I take one I crash for 2 to 4 days.

Was on Prednisone for almost a month. First 4 days were wonderful, crystal clear & living large. Then I took a synthroid and the side effects hit me hard. Wild mood swings, terrible stomach gas, cramps, pain, & constant hunger like I'd not eaten in a week. Was the worst 4 weeks in my life.

After being off the prednisone & back on Cortef for 2 weeks again we tried thyroid. This time the dessicated real thyroid, 1/4 grain tablets, I took a half a tablet.
BAM crash, right back to the side effects I had earlier on the prednisone.

Sometimes it seems like floating in a innertube way out in the ocean. Some days are calm, peaceful, no wind.
Other days whitecaps throw water in your face.

But wind or no wind there are these big swells that slide you up & down so slowly you hardly notice. Sometimes it seems the pattern moves so slowly it takes a year. Other times the swells though smaller come quicker, ebbing & swelling like the tide.

Worst for me are the days in the middle. The bad days I tend to curl up & drift or float in & out. Just letting time go by. But the ones where I feel like I should feel good enough to get things done. Where I should be able to concentrate enough to read more than a page or 2. Yet I remain restless, unable to do much other than endure the day & hope for a better one tommorow.

Is it caused by the drugs, or the condition? Wish I knew.



[This message has been edited by GhostH (edited 07-31-2003).]

YES!!! I was ill for nearly two years, losing more strength all the time. The "spaciness" was probably the worst part of it. I saw many doctors and, despite the fact that I hold a doctorate in Psychology, they all tried to convince me that I was having a reaction to stress or that my symptoms were "psychosomatic" (did anyone ask them whether they had heard of "somatopsychic" symptoms?). That was the part that made me feel the most isolated. I just kept getting weaker and weaker and smaller and smaller. Finally, I was admitted so they could work me up for either a brain tumeror PseudoTumpr Cerebri. Once I had the diagnosis, 35mg Cortef did the trick! First, I would like to suggest that you do away with the term "brain fog" altogether; it helps docs who are so inclined to try to say it's all in yor head. Secondly, I would suggest that you get a medical bracelet right away.
The spaciness just means that the body is not getting enough cortisone, that's all. Whenever I experience that, I try to sleep. If I still have it by the next day, I increase my cortisone medication by a small amount. Your endocrinologist can help you decide what that amount is for you, when to begin decreasing it and
by how much.
DON'T EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT IT IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD!! HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY ALONE HAVE DIED OF UNDIAGNOSED ADDISON'S IN EMERGENCY ROOMS ALONE!!

Hi Vander100!!

Thank you for that brilliant piece of information and advice. I am glad you feel better. I'll talk to my endo about Cortef.

Thank you!!!!
nate

[This message has been edited by nate930 (edited 09-07-2003).]

Is spaciness when im sitting down, and when people start talking and stuff, it makes my mind jump, and everything sounds a tad bit louder and "jumps" my brain. its hard to explain, but it feels so weird and i am having it about once a day

Hunter

Anyone with the spaciness problem should have the thyroid checked. Best to get a copy of the report. Docs tend to say everythings OK when if in the low end of the range maybe it isn't!

I feel brainfog the worse when my blood sugars are low. I have been able to combat this by ensuring that I eat very regularly and have an afternoon snack of about 15g of carbohydrate - this will bring my blood glucose level up without making it rebound. It seems to work for me.

I've been reading all the information on people who suffer with 'spaciness' or brain fog and decided to register so I could get in on the discussion. Here's my story. 4 years ago I had my youngest child - we have 3. I was suffering from insomnia and a colicky baby. When he was 3 months old I started getting spacey. A few weeks after that I got depressed and went on medication. The actual depression only lasted a few months but I continued to stay on zoloft and wellbutrin for nearly 3 years. The spaciness continued to persist the whole time coming in cycles of every few weeks or so and lasting for different periods of time. I've never been convinced that the meds help relieve my spaciness. Last spring I was off my medication, got pregnant and had a very traumatic miscarriage. The next day the spaciness hit me like a wall. I went back on medication and had a horrible 4-5 months. I got a new doctor b/c my other one kept telling me I had anxiety problems and I know this is not all there is to it. I have had multiple blood tests, CT scans, MRI's etc. Last summer I found out I had a pituitary microadneoma - a small cycst on the pituitary. I also just started a low dose of Eltroxin for a low thyroid. After much thought my husband and I tried for one more baby and I am now 10 weeks pregnant. My spaciness still persists and I'm still always searching for THE answer realizing that there may not be one and that this is just the way my body is. I'd love to hear other people's experience and any thoughts any of you may have. Thanks so much!

Hi everyone,

Before I was officially diagnosed I had terrible brain fog really bad affected my job I couldn't remember things I had done even the day before. I'm alot better now that I take the Prednisone however, I have hypoglycemia as well and if I don't eat when I'm supposed to or enough protein I feel very spacey as well. MY Endo told me that hypoglycemia was pretty common with Addisons disease didn't really test me for it but changing my diet to more protein and eating every 3-4 hours seems to do the trick for me.

Justine

This is MY opinion ONLY about one reason you might be suffering from the brain fog. My son is ill, and was thought (by myself) to had adrenal problems for the past two years. As it turned out, according to the Mayo doctors, he had POTS instead. To make a long story short, I wonder whether the poor circulation of blood (and therefore, OXYGEN) to the brain from lowered BP might contribute? I know that dehydration is a problem for those with Addison's, as can be hypoglycemia, which can also cause spaciness. You have many contributing factors. My son often complains of not having the ability to focus or remember things anymore (short term memory loss). He is only 17, and was always in the "Gifted" programs in school prior to this illness. At any rate, I believe his symptoms (and YOURS) are indeed VERY real and present. What to DO about them -- I would recommend trying some diet changes (experiments) and a great increase in fluids. Be sure you get enough salt so that your body can utilize it along with the fluids to build up your blood supply. What they suggest for my son, as well, is exercise of his legs and buttocks muscles, so that they can be additional pumps of blood to his head. Much has atrophied in him, as he had no strength or stamina to get around. This may also contribute to what YOU are feeling. Just some suggestions.

Best wishes, :wave: Tracy