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What is brain really like? How do you cope with brain fog?

Many in our community have shared experiencing and struggling with the effects of hepatic encephalopathy, also called brain fog. HepatitisC.net advocate Karen described brain fog as "very frightening because we can go in and out of it, depending on how much ammonia is in our blood stream, what we ate, or how well our meds are working. I had HE for many years and didn’t know it."

How does brain fog affect you and your every day life? What coping methods or treatments have helped you reduce your brain fog?

  1. In my experience now almost 10 years. It feels like a light headedness and everything is slow motion. My movements feel slow, my speech and my thoughts are very slow.
    At times I open my mouth to speak and nothing comes out. Like the link between my brain and my voice is disconnected.

    During my last very serious H.E. (hepatic enchephalaphathy) episode, I was at work. It began with me feeling groggy and tired. I took my medication prescribed for this from my doctor but it was not working fast.
    I emailed my co worker cause I was too weak to get out of my chair. Then texted my daughter.
    That is the last I remember anything. After waking up in the trauma unit at the local hospital I was told my email to coworker was not in complete sentences and she was one who found me at my desk, out of it.
    My daughter said the text was garbled and she knew (as I taught my kids what to do if I had an episode) She got to my work in time to let the EMT's know my condition. That helped them out so much as they were thinking I was in some diabetic coma.

    I do better with my diet (low red meats) more veggies, fruits and lots of water.
    This is a serious condition and I have personally had a close friend pass away by going into a coma his episode was so bad and ammonia levels were off the charts.
    Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. There is medication to help your liver filter out the toxins trapped in your body and are settling on the brain causing the fog.

    Kimberly Morgan Bossley - Moderator

    1. Although I had stage 1 scarring and stage 1 inflammation, I still experienced brain fog that greatly damaged my life.

      Mine was not as pronounced and obvious so I went years with low grade deficits in my cognition resulting in multiple job loses. My executive function; my ability to organize my thoughts and execute decisions which is required as a nurse and administrator in the medical field. It was not severe enough to be felt in performing most ADL’s but definitely affected more complicated thought processes.

      I was blessed to be treated in 2015 and I am pleased to say after beginning a position with a company in the under ten in the top 100 Standard and Poors, I can finally function enough.

      Those job loses caused huge financial losses and stress for years for my family and I was bewildered. I was called lazy by family members and that was the most hurtful to be a used of not trying.

      1. Hi Jallyson,

        Thank you for sharing your experiences. How are you feeling today?

        Congratulations on your new job - that's great news! It sounds like you're on the other side of some really difficult times! We hope you and your family are doing well know. Please let us know if we can do anything to support you!

        Warmly,
        Juliana, HepatitisC.net Team

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