![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 10:28:29
On a somewhat related note.
Sometimes I feel fine, and I'm able to work and go about my normal activities. But sometimes I feel like my brain is like sludge or quicksand. It feels as if those brain impulses just aren't zipping through my brain as they should. I feel thick and lethargic and everything is a huge effort.
I don't see any environmental factors that would account for this. It's not that I sleep less, maybe a bit more but as a result, not a cause. My diet is not really different. And the level of stress in my life doesn't seem to relate to it. At least not in a way I can see.
It's frustrating because when I feel well, I can do all the things I struggle to do when I'm not feeling well. The things that are a huge effort for me at one time, are not at all difficult several weeks later. I feel so lazy and irresponsible at those times.
I wonder if this is some medication side effect, since I don't remember having it before medication. But I never really change my dose on anything, so I wonder how it can be?
It's probably all in my mind, but it is frustrating.
Posted by B2chica on August 8, 2008, at 10:44:21
In reply to And a sludgy brain, posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 10:28:29
your describing how i feel sometimes in a depressive state. lethargic, and brain feels slow like synapse are clicking.
also the one feeling you describe, some meds make me feel like someone opened my head and poured glue in my head, thick and sludgy. that part i know for me at least are the medications.
but the feeling lazy, and mind slow and not 'getting things' at work for me at least are part of my depressive symptoms.
Posted by Justherself54 on August 8, 2008, at 12:24:08
In reply to And a sludgy brain, posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 10:28:29
Do you have any aches and pains and morning stiffness? Does this happen after you've exerted yourself physically? I have fibromyalgia and if I overdo it I spend some time in brain fog. Concentration is shot, fatigue is bad. I can handle the pain, it's the cognitive dulling and fatigue I have trouble accepting.
Just a shot in the dark, but if you have the physical symptoms, it could explain the sludgy brain.
Posted by Polarbear206 on August 8, 2008, at 12:45:47
In reply to And a sludgy brain, posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 10:28:29
> On a somewhat related note.
>
> Sometimes I feel fine, and I'm able to work and go about my normal activities. But sometimes I feel like my brain is like sludge or quicksand. It feels as if those brain impulses just aren't zipping through my brain as they should. I feel thick and lethargic and everything is a huge effort.
>
> I don't see any environmental factors that would account for this. It's not that I sleep less, maybe a bit more but as a result, not a cause. My diet is not really different. And the level of stress in my life doesn't seem to relate to it. At least not in a way I can see.
>
> It's frustrating because when I feel well, I can do all the things I struggle to do when I'm not feeling well. The things that are a huge effort for me at one time, are not at all difficult several weeks later. I feel so lazy and irresponsible at those times.
>
> I wonder if this is some medication side effect, since I don't remember having it before medication. But I never really change my dose on anything, so I wonder how it can be?
>
> It's probably all in my mind, but it is frustrating.
That's how I would get, until I started a mood stablizer. I still get like that on occasion, esp. in the winter but nothing near as bad that it interferes with my daily routine.
Posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 15:22:10
In reply to Re: And a sludgy brain, posted by Polarbear206 on August 8, 2008, at 12:45:47
It's interfering with my ability to work. And my ability to do anything else really. I sleep, drag myself awake to pretend to be normal for a few hours, then sleep again.
It does occur to me if it's related to bipolar but without the hypomania. I've had hypomania that was triggered with medication or sleep deprivation. This isn't like that. I don't feel better than normal at best, I just feel normal. My sleep is fine, etc.
I'm on 50 mg Lamictal per day for migraine prophylaxis and it does double duty as a mood stabilizer. I know that's not a huge dose, but I worry about more making me groggy.
Posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 15:24:56
In reply to Re: And a sludgy brain » Dinah, posted by Justherself54 on August 8, 2008, at 12:24:08
My body is in fine shape. I guess it has that nice barely used condition.
It tends to cycle in terms of days or even weeks rather than hours. But I sort of wonder if it may be connected to my diabetes. I seem to remember my mother sleeping for weeks at a time.
It feels so darn physical that it's hard to believe it's anything but physical.
My doctors of course nod absently and pass over the problem.
Posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 15:30:28
In reply to Re: And a sludgy brain » Dinah, posted by B2chica on August 8, 2008, at 10:44:21
The glue sounds right. It's more than mere lethargy - which I also have on occasion. It's a leaden heavy feeling in my brain. I always picture the poor little nerves trying to contact each other like someone in an action movie trying to walk through sucking quicksand. Some of them trudge through yanking one foot out and maybe leaving a boot or two behind. But some just sink without completing their mission.
I do tend to be depressed when I feel that way. But it feels more like I'm depressed because I feel bad, and I feel less depressed when I start to feel better. That could just be my perception, though.
I do wonder if it's medication related. But since I haven't changed my meds in years, it could only be timing. I don't notice a relation to timing like I do when I'm late on my klonopin and lamictal and my ears start ringing.
Posted by Phillipa on August 8, 2008, at 16:56:50
In reply to Re: And a sludgy brain » B2chica, posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 15:30:28
Dinah hate to keep repeating myself on threads but how is your thyroid as it too causes the tiredness . And isn't diabetes autoimmune like a lot of thyroid disease? Phillipa
Posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 17:06:15
In reply to Re: And a sludgy brain » Dinah, posted by Phillipa on August 8, 2008, at 16:56:50
I think they tested my thyroid recently. My form of diabetes isn't autoimmune, although there is a type that is. Mine is the sort that's a combination of genetics and a tired pancreas because I'm too heavy. At least I think that's how it goes.
Posted by Phillipa on August 8, 2008, at 19:40:51
In reply to Re: And a sludgy brain, posted by Dinah on August 8, 2008, at 17:06:15
Dinah didn't know that will have to google as paternal grandmother was insulin dependant. Thanks Phillipa
Posted by chiron on August 12, 2008, at 22:29:16
In reply to Re: And a sludgy brain, posted by Polarbear206 on August 8, 2008, at 12:45:47
Lately I've been in a mode where I have motivation and energy for a few hours in the morning, and then I am fried. I can't stand work in the afternoons. I just watch the clock go by. I eat protein for breakfast, snack & lunch. What the hell?
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.