Many patients say impaired cognitive functioning is the worst part of ME/CFS. It can certainly be the most frustrating. The cognitive functioning difficulties ME/CFS patients must cope with include:
- Short-term memory loss
- Difficulty with concentration
- Inability to retain what is read
- Word-finding difficulty
- Inability to calculate numbers
- Slowed comprehension Impaired speech
- Inability to keep track of things
- Problems with reasoning.
ME/CFS patients have coined the term “brain fog” to describe their cognitive functioning problems. It’s an accurate description because it feels as if your brain is in a thick fog, unable to “see” its surroundings.
For some tips to help you cope with and improve your cognitive functioning, read
“Clearing the Fog: Coping with the Cognitive Dysfunction of Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.”
