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Brain/flu fog

roogirl
Community Member
Hi everyone, I am suffering from the dreaded brain/flu fog after contracting a flu like virus 5 weeks ago. Seems I have had a reaction to my super flu shot that us oldies are getting. The fog comes and goes, but it feeds into my anxiety which is mostly concerning my health. I have battled with the dreaded anxiety for about 4 years now and see a clinical psychologist who happens to be on holidays at the moment. My biggest fear is that the rest of my life will be spent in this fog and it will never leave. I know the feelings are probably unreasonable and I try and talk myself around with positive talking to my brain, but then the doubts sneak back in. Anxiety is such an insidious creature. Unfortunately for me, this is how my anxiety originally began after a misdiagnosis and treatment and I was sick for quite a few months. My GP is supportive, but I don't think she really understands, says I'm panicky, which I am. I have a referral for CT scan if this doesn't clear up in the next week. Yikes!!! Any help or suggestions to ease my anxiety would be most gratefully accepted.
11 Replies 11

Hi once again Pepper

Thought I would touch base on this cold, wet and miserable Saturday afternoon. I'm still unwell with my brain fog and anxiety. I actually have a sinus infection which is proving very stubborn. I visited another GP at the practice I attend to get a second opinion and was put on different medication to try and combat the virus. Unfortunately, I am sensitive to all sorts of medications and this one has made me quite ill and appears to have made the brain fog and anxiety intensify. So back I go this morning to my own GP who immediately knows that I have had a reaction to the meds and I'm in tears because I feel so lousy and my anxiety is running rampant. So the upshot of all this is I go back on meds I can tolerate and if the sinus infection doesn't clear up I have a CT scan of my sinuses. An emergency appointment has been made with a psychologist on Monday morning at the clinic until I see my returning psychologist on 2nd July. I love my GP, she really cares and I feel lucky to have her. Gosh, it feels like an episode of Days of our Lives and not half as interesting!!!

To top all of this off, I usually have my american grand-daughter on Saturdays while my daughter and husband work. Not up to it today, so my son and his wife have her. My daughter and family have returned 6 months ago from the USA to settle here, and I feel like my daughter wonders what happened to the mum she left behind 17 years ago when she went off to the States and married an American and forged her own life there. She is supportive,( my son-in-law also suffers from PTSD and anxiety) but I feel like I frustrate her. She wasn't here 4 years ago when I had a break-down, and while she was in contact constantly, I feel that's very different from being physically here. It's all happening from afar. I certainly couldn't have managed without my son and his family during that time. It was a nightmare. One I'm always frightened will happen again!!

Anyway, hopefully we'll all come through this and the sun will shine again.

Thanks for listening as always Pepper

Roogirl

Hi roogirl,

Always lovely to hear from you although what you’re going through is definitely far from “lovely”...you’ve clearly been having a very rough time.

You certainly have had quite a few GP appointments...I’m glad the GP that you normally see is so wonderful and clearly knows you very well.

I feel it’s a testimony to her skills (and your rapport) that she instantly picked up on your reaction to the meds. She sounds incredible and I’m so glad you have her in your corner...

It sounds like you needed to rest on Saturday so I’m glad others helped look after your granddaughter. It must be hard re-adjusting to your daughter being in Australia again...a lot can happen in 17 years...

I’m glad you had your son and his family’s support during your breakdown. It sounds like they made an enormous difference. A lifeline, so to speak. That’s pretty special...

I’m thinking of you today and hoping that your psych visit went well yesterday.

You can write as often as you like...that’s a given 🙂

Kind and caring thoughts,

Pepper