Brain freezes - Menopause Message Board

suncats · 03-16-2005, 10:11 AM

I'm 42, peri-menopausal. Is one of the symptoms foggy thinking? It drives me crazy! I used to be so much sharper.

I ran a red light this morning and caused a wreck-no one hurt-and I don't know how it happened. It was like my brain was shut off. People can talk to me and sometimes I just don't comprehend what they are saying, or I don't have the memory to recall what they are talking about. My brain feels like it's in slow motion some times and I feel like a total ditz.

rheanna · 03-17-2005, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suncats

I'm 42, peri-menopausal. Is one of the symptoms foggy thinking? It drives me crazy! I used to be so much sharper.

I ran a red light this morning and caused a wreck-no one hurt-and I don't know how it happened. It was like my brain was shut off. People can talk to me and sometimes I just don't comprehend what they are saying, or I don't have the memory to recall what they are talking about. My brain feels like it's in slow motion some times and I feel like a total ditz.

Yes, Suncats, brainfog (or brain freezes!) is one of the symptoms of lower hormone levels. If you're a candidate for hormone replacement therrapy, there are various systems you can explore with your doctor, and lots of people use progesterone creams without taking extra estrogen. Others use soy products, herbs and vitamins. Welcome to the exploration of ways that you can "thaw" out your brain freeze! Read through various of the threads here to get some ideas. The main thing is, as your body gets used to the lower hormones, I am told that your brain gets back to "normal" whatever that is -- it might take a few months or years, but you will come out of it with your brain intact. I personally have continued playing with hormones -- currently an estrogen patch for two weeks and then a patch with estrogen and progesterone for two weeks. Life is an experiment, and (peri)menopause is one of the grandest!

--Rheanna

Hopefully · 03-17-2005, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suncats

I'm 42, peri-menopausal. Is one of the symptoms foggy thinking? It drives me crazy! I used to be so much sharper.

I ran a red light this morning and caused a wreck-no one hurt-and I don't know how it happened. It was like my brain was shut off. People can talk to me and sometimes I just don't comprehend what they are saying, or I don't have the memory to recall what they are talking about. My brain feels like it's in slow motion some times and I feel like a total ditz.

Yes, brainfog stinks! Lately I've learned to laugh at myself...like today for instance, I was calling my local pharmacy to check on my prescription and I go a recording about the number not being correct. Well I looked on the display to see what number I'd dialed and it was a bunch of numbers that I did not recognize. Well, come to find out that I had dialed my prescription number instead of the phone number

.

Now there are times when it's definitely not a laughing matter, but then there are those rare moments.

suncats · 03-17-2005, 07:35 PM

I will talk to gyn about the hormone levels next appt. I am still on the pill to help with cramps and control a fibroid tumor that makes my uterus the size of a 16-20 week pregnancy. Gee, I love being a woman (but still better than being a man). I guess I assumed the pill would level out my hormones, but maybe not.