HELP WHAT IS HEPATITIS C BRIAN FOG?

[lrs162007]

Has anyone here experienced this? If so can you please list the symptoms?

[Luna7]

Brain fog is probably different depending on each person with HCV, and can even differ at various times of each day.

For me, I have trouble with 'frontal brain' tasks like learning new things -- and that makes it very hard at my job where I'm supposed to be innovative.

It's like there's cotton in my head and I just can't think clearly at times...thoughts are moving slowly and memory is diminished.

Sometimes my vision even gets blurry during these times.
Depression is often a part of it, although I don't know if it's a physical depression or one caused by frustration at not being able to think clearly and function well.
My best guess is all these symptoms occur/get worse when the inflammation is higher.

[Bucky]

Has anyone here experienced this? If so can you please list the symptoms?

Hi Irs,
I think that most of us have experienced it especially those of us with long time hep infections. I would like to add to Luna7's list. I had a loss of motivation, a heavy feeling head and blunted emotions.
I don't know if you have every been a drinker, but the fog is very close to a bad hangover that never goes away.
The fog is something that the IDS's at my hospital weren't very aware of until the new meds. Since most of the people who were treated with the older toxic meds felt so bad during treatment they did not notice it to much. With the new meds people feel better without many of the SEs of the old drugs so this phenomenon occurred. Now my IDS asks people who are in or finished treatment about their energy level as well as their mental acuity to judge how well they are doing.
Bucky

[BattleTheBeast]

Has anyone here experienced this? If so can you please list the symptoms?

For me it included:

Blurred vision especially when tired, this was one of the first symptoms that I had looking back
Can't find the words: Have you ever not been able to find the word to express something? That was new for me and pretty frustrating.  Or even sayings such as "bull in a china shop" - somehow I lost them
Can't spell a word: I have always been a great speller and all of the sudden I couldn't spell even an easy word, it's just dropped

These things also caused depression, lack of motivation and overall blah! It was so frustrating to me and the more I fought it the worse it got.

Those were the worst that I have had so far. I would also suggest to everyone to make sure you have your ammonia level checked, mine was elevated and the brain fog did lift a ton more once we had that back where it belongs.

[badbradley]

Recalling word's, memory, and learning abilities definitely diminished. Neurocognitive dysfunction Ithink it's called - (if I have the right word)! Once at work I needed to clean up a spill,had to ask a co-worker for some of that stuff that comes on a roll. We finally determined it was paper towel. Frustrating!
                                                              Brad

[Luna7]

Grrr I'm getting angry thinking about all we suffer through yet in so many cases they won't treat atm unless your liver is collapsing...

Yes I hate the lack of motivation and blunted emotions that come with the depression of brain fog.

I've noticed 2 types of brain fog -- one type feels more mellow...like a hangover or times when one just can't seem to wake up in the morning.
The 2nd type has more of an agitated energy with it....similar to mental states during the flu or a cold.

[lrs162007]

Wow I went through all of this its horrible!!!! Since starting my sovaldi/olysio 13 days into treatment almost all of this has diminished. Thanks to all for replying to my post & God bless

[Luna7]

Good to hear the brain fog is diminishing

I think it was Mike here that said he managed high ammonia levels (which is a cause of some types of brain fog) by not eating a lot of protein and drinking more water.
When the liver is not well it has trouble processing protein, and the water helps the kidneys rid the body of toxins.

Just my ramblings here...but it seems wise to not put any additional stress on the liver when going through treatment. Perhaps the liver would be more free to get rid of the virus and not have the additional burden of processing protein.
Likewise with chemicals in processed food.

I do wonder why some are able to clear the virus in treatment while others don't, and wonder if this could be one of the factors.

[BattleTheBeast]

Good to hear the brain fog is diminishing

I do wonder why some are able to clear the virus in treatment while others don't, and wonder if this could be one of the factors.

Hey Luna,

I wonder why some people are able to clear the virus on their own, then there are others who never get sick and then there are the ones like us and ones who get even sicker faster. I guess that's what makes the investigatory and trial work they do in the background so important. It's amazing how different we can be yet how similar we can all be. They body is an amazing thing....

M

[Luna7]

Indeed BattleTheBeast, the body is so amazing.

It's always hard to know what is in one's control....all I know is that before I start treatment I will lose a few pounds, minimize protein, drink plenty of water, eat plenty of vegetables and minimal fresh fruit, keep taking the Vit D and omega oils, and not neglect that walk today though it's awfully wet out there...

[badbradley]

Hey Luna7,
           I think you have an excellent health plan for treatment. It is almost identical to mine. I'm done treating, about 1 month post. I felt fairly decent for the most part. I treated on S/O. Dito on the 'minimal' fresh fruit. I ate my protein w/brkfst, along with my meds. Protein w/brkfst keeps you feeling satisfied longer. The A.M. dosing was just my personal choice. Wondering if you have any thoughts on dosing time. As I said, I'm all done w/meds-just curious.
    I felt my kidneys were struggling some the last few wks. so I ditched my multi,krill,vit D. Seemed to help some. Figured a few wks at the end wouldn't hurt. Went back on vits. 2 wks post treatment. Also waited for my flu shot until 3 wks post treatment. Just didn't want to inject anything that wasn't absolutely neccesary.   Good luck on your treatment.
                                                         Brad

[HHburme]

I realize now that all the problems with me were symptoms that my HCV was causing. First headaches, then fatigue. Thought I was working too many hours. Then at times I could not think of the words to say when in a conversation. No ambition, depression set in, thought I was losing it. Now believe these to be directly related to my HCV. Didn't know about the "brain fog" until recently. I also experience tingling in my feet, toes and have developed tinnitus. Not sure if the latter is from the HCV. Thanks to this forum and for others sharing their symptoms and struggles. Thanks everyone !!
Day 3 on the Harvoni Highway to the cure. No complaints here as very minor SE. Fingers crossed it stays this way.  Health and Happiness !!

[badbradley]

I also have developed tinnitus. Not sure if the latter is from the HCV.

HHburme, I also developed tennitus around the time I was diagnosed, also just turned 49,(3 yrs ago). I was a full time drummer for years, Hearing specialist says it's from that. I'm not 100% convinced but I'm sure it didn't help- damn cymbals. Anyways, as I'm typing this I have a high pitched ping going on. Interestingly, the first two weeks of S/O, it disappeared, only to return. It was a nice break though.
Feelin' your 'ping'! lol      Brad

[mario555]

To HHBurme. I have tintinitis too! I've also read another post where someone else had that but I don't remember who! Check your blood pressure! Mine was way up and the tintinitis has lowered since I've taken steps to lower my blood pressure. I was telling my wife the sounds I was hearing sounded like a liquid going rapidly through a hose. It must have been my own blood flying fast in my veins because of the high pressure!!!  Let me know how your blood pressure is, I'm curious!  Best of luck
Mario

[Luna7]

As I began to feel sicker I developed ringing in the ears too along with blurry vision.

badbradly, in answer to your question, I have just a little protein with each meal to keep my blood sugar at a good level as I tend to get hypoglycemic.
Protein shakes made me feel horrible - not sure if it was the excess protein or the fact that processing protein too much can be bad for you and have effects like MSG.
Sometimes I have a blueberry shake in the morning with a bit of hemp protein...no ill effects from it.

[HHburme]

Mario, BP was up. Doc gave me some meds to lower. Hopefully they will work  This tinnitus is annoying. Day 8 today on Harvoni.....going strong.

Fight the Good Fight

[badbradley]

As I began to feel sicker I developed ringing in the ears too along with blurry vision.

badbradly, in answer to your question, I have just a little protein with each meal to keep my blood sugar at a good level as I tend to get hypoglycemic.
Protein shakes made me feel horrible - not sure if it was the excess protein or the fact that processing protein too much can be bad for you and have effects like MSG.
Sometimes I have a blueberry shake in the morning with a bit of hemp protein...no ill effects from it.

It was also my experience with tinnitis,seemed to be more pronounced with my diagnosis 3 yrs ago. Loud noises were especially exaggerated. Unfortunately there's not much one can do for it except mask the symptoms.

[badbradley]

Hey IRS,   Google -  hepatitis c neurocognitive dysfunction - There are a number of sites with some interesting info, particularly - HCV SVR Improved Neurocognitive Function After SVR .
                              Brad

[emmett]

To HHBurme. I have tintinitis too! I've also read another post where someone else had that but I don't remember who! Check your blood pressure! Mine was way up and the tintinitis has lowered since I've taken steps to lower my blood pressure. I was telling my wife the sounds I was hearing sounded like a liquid going rapidly through a hose. It must have been my own blood flying fast in my veins because of the high pressure!!!  Let me know how your blood pressure is, I'm curious!  Best of luck
Mario

Funny I have been having weird hearing problems since on Harvoni, I'm irritated by loud noises at times, seems like sounds are all amplified like a drum in my ear...it's a bummer because I love to drum. I went out last night to play and my ears rang for a few hours when I was done playing, got to remember the ear plugs. If I have to stop playing the drum life won't be as fun, maybe I'll have to take up the penny whistle instead,:-). Hope I'm not developing a bad case of tinnitus.

Wow, it's good to hear in a strange way that others have had such bad side effects as a result of living with hepc.  I kept most of my battle bottled up inside and thought maybe I was going crazy or getting Alzheimer's, wish I had found these blogs years ago. I'll get my one month test results Jan 2, keeping my fingers crossed that I'm undetectable or close, f3, 1a 4mil viral load. Side effects on Harvoni, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, anxiety especially at night and this weird hearing problem. I have had a couple of days of feeling good, it was almost too good for words, I had energy that I forgot about, hoping those days come back and stay because that would be the best New Years surprise and a frickin miracle. I don't know what I'll do if I start feeling good again I'm so used to being fatigued, my brain screwed up and feeling sick, the constant effort to do anything but to date I never stopped it's just screwed up when it's such a damn struggle and you can't just scream out, "I"M SICK and need some help now and then". I made it to the precipice and their is a chance I'll live again feeling half way normal, whatever that is. Here's to a NEW YEAR with as many of us as possible clearing the damn virus and having a chance at our dreams again.