Long Covid and "Foggy Brain"

Hi giulia, I haven't had Covid but have post viral CFS ( chronic fatigue syndrome) and some of the symptoms are shared with long covid including brain fog. I experience brain fog and as far as I am aware there is no real treatment. I have just completed a rehabilitation programme which has provided a range of coping mechanism to help manage brain fog plus a wide range of additional symptoms but as far as I know that's about all that's currently available on NHS currently. There are self help groups for ME/CFS which might help you, and I think Chest Heart and Stroke Charity have a telephone helpline. I hope you find something.

I too have brain fog from CFS/ME.
I don't have it all the time but very often and usually when my fatigue is very severe.
I have never been offered any treatment for any symptoms of this illness which shares many symptoms with long covid.
There is no cure and research has been slow. And any kind of help in N Ireland is practically non existent.
I take vitamin D, eat healthily and do puzzles etc to help my brain.
I wish I had been offered a rehabilitation programme Baggytrazzas. Maybe I should contact my area health board and ask why not. I assume you are in GB.

I am enquiring on behalf of my son-in-law, who is in England.
He got serious covid in late 219, before the vaccine, and still suffers. He says these self-help groups aren't very useful.

Hi, I'm in UK. The self help groups are helpful in part but very limited in what they can achieve as the range of symptoms is extremely wide and random and each person is different. I think though that it's really important that a clinical diagnosis is made to ensure that it definitely is long Covid/ME/CFS before any real support is taken up as it actually could be a whole range of other things rather than these. It took many months of tests by gp and at hospital to eliminate various other illnesses before my diagnosis was confirmed by a Consultant. I think it was early 2020 when the first covid cases were discovered in the UK and so although his symptoms are similar to long covid, it might be that he has ME or CFS or something else altogether. I'm not on any prescription medication but do take magnesium citrate which helps a bit with the ongoing insomnia and my brain fog is almost daily along with the actual fatigue itself, and sore joints. There is a lot of terrible stuff written on the internet, but there is a site that I can't remember the name of right now that is ME/ CFS based that is recommended by my gp which is helpful, and although I haven't used it Chest Heart and Stroke charity offer some online help but I think because of volume may only be able to support cases of diagnosed long covid but it's worth while contacting them to ask what support they could offer you. It is awful, and really hard to organise your life around as the symptoms seem to arise randomly and can be so varied.

I have brain fog as a result of long covid, along with a number of other symptoms. I understand there is a Covid clinic in our county, but each time I visit the doctor with a problem, he tells me it’s long covid and refers me to the appropriate specialist. With brain fog all he will say is that it will clear up in time and to try to keep the brain active by doing concentration games. The problem for me is that I want to apply for paid/voluntary work but know that I can’t retain information and that it takes longer for me to process it. My lack of focus scares me and so I rarely drive myself anywhere. My original covid was very mild. I have heard that a doctor started taking a high dose antihistamine, ate well and did gentle exercise and this helped her considerably. Your SiL needs to check with his GP or a pharmacist as you can overdose on antihistamines.

I am on two Facebook groups for M.E. They are a little bit useful but (and I do sympathise with sufferers) I find them a bit depressing.
I think it's wonderful that people with long covid are listened to I just wish M E. was taken as seriously.

Nandad, I'm sure there's some voluntary work you could do, if you explain how you are. I think it would be good for you as well as others, but don't push yourself too much.

Yes - definitely got brain fog since Covid and so has my husband. Many of our friends have it too but I have to say it is a good excuse when you can’t remember something! I notice it when doing crosswords when I know I know something but can’t think of the word. Only happened since Covid, I used to blitz them before that.

I wonder if that is why my husband is having the same problem with our crosswords. And he has to have naps.
He had covid some weeks ago. Why did I not think of it? ?

Thanks for this thread. I have brain fog as part of shingles post viral symptoms. Nothing seems to help, except it seems better if I manage to keep my head cool.
At least I know I'm not alone - it seems to happen after many viral infections.
Today in the heat I've kept sticking my head under the cold tap.

I have fibromyalgia and many of the symptoms are the same. I have found the brain fog gets worse when I overdo things and get generally fatigued. I have found I keep on a more even keel of I take light exercise and eat healthily. I am hoping the research into long Covid might help people with other illnesses.

I have had ME/CFS for a while. I have heard that long Covid is ME, sometimes with added features (like lung damage). This doctor’s treatment has helped me.
www.drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/CFS_Checklist_-_start_off_and_check_your_treatment_regime_here

OP, Dr Myhill doesn’t take new patients (she’s very popular and also spends time writing books), but your SIL could read her website articles, read her book on ME and join the Support for Followers of Dr Myhill’s Protocol Facebook group.

Dr Myhill does also run online group workshops, where she will go through her methods, interpret test results and offer advice.
drmyhill.co.uk/wiki/Workshops_for_Ecological_Medicine