BRAIN FOG and FATIGUE – WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?
Brain fog is one of the most common symptoms that occur after a Covid infection and is usually part of long Covid. It often shows up after the symptoms like cough, congestion, headache, and sore throat are gone.
Brain fog can come with fatigue, a very exhausting type of fatigue, the kind of fatigue that feels like you have walked up a hill for miles but you’ve only walked into your kitchen. The medical term for this type of fatigue is post exceptional malaise.
We all want our minds to be clear and work fast. We all want the energy we had before this infection. However many of the things we do to try to achieve these goals actually can make matters worse.
So what can we do to not harm ourselves and help make ourselves better?
There are now Post Covid Care Clinics in different places in the country to help treat this problem. Some are run by the Cleveland Clinic for Medicine.
Here are some of their strategies for both brain fog and fatigue:
1. They teach a self-guided program that uses a slow and gradual progression of rehabilitation using cognitive and physical therapy. They use separate treatment programs for mild, moderate and severe symptoms. The program includes guidance from physical therapists,, occupational therapists, and speech therapy.
Overall the program emphasizes a gradual increase in activity and level of complexity, not rushing oneself to make progress.
Many people around us seem to take pride in their ‘ability’ to multi-task. Multi-tasking is a myth. We can attempt to do several things at once but in reality we are doing a few things poorly instead having the concentrated effort required to do one thing well.
2 For cognitive clarity they recommend a low histamine, low inflammatory diet with foods of a low glycemic index.
3. Vit B 12, Carotene, Co-enzyme Q 10, and Omega 3 fatty acid supplements may be helpful and are being tried by many. Presently some doctors are trying different medications for fatigue and brain fog, two of them are Methylphenidate and Amantadine. Methylphenidate is typically used for ADHD, Narcolepsy or Somnolence. Amantadine is prescribed for Dystonia and Parkinson Disease. Both drugs affect the central nervous system.
4. Acupuncture is also being trialed.
Overall a sleep evaluation is a key component of the assessments performed at Long Covid or Post Covid Clinics. A balanced lifestyle plays an important role in restoring optimal cognitive function; combined with the component of time, these seem to be two of the key underlying factors to reverse the effects of the Post Covid symptoms of brain fog and fatigue.
On entry, patients are evaluated to determine their personal, health and rehabilitation needs. Patients can expect an initial one-hour virtual visit via telemedicine to begin this screening. Our screening methods include: 1. Medication reconciliation 2. Rehabilitation Needs Screen: Bowel, bladder, pain, ADL/iADL performan… See more
Reports suggest that following infection, many novel coronavirus patients will experience lingering deficits in pulmonary and cognitive functioning, as well as multifaceted health issues … See more
Questions? For clinical questions, referral, and scheduling, please call 215-893-2668 . Records can be faxed to 215-893-2686.
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About BIAPA
Brain Injury Association of Pennsylvania is a statewide organization supporting education, advocacy, and research in the field of brain injury. We envision a world in which all people with brain injuries and their supporters are leading fulfilling lives and are empowered to participate in their communities.