I spent about 40 minutes inside. I’m only 32, but I honestly feel like I’m suffering from dementia. I’ll jot things down and completely forget I ever did it, then feel bewildered by my own notes because they’re incomprehensible, and I’m stunned that I have no memory of writing them. I’ll look at messages I’ve sent and they’re either nonsensical or riddled with errors. When I read something, I can’t recall it moments later; it feels as distant as a memory from a year ago. Even re-reading it feels hazy. My focus is non-existent. I’ve resorted to narrating my daily actions just to stay safe, like reminding myself out loud to stop at red lights and move on green. It’s totally wild. Does anyone else with fibro experience such extreme cognitive fog?
I deal with this too, and it gets even worse when my anxiety spikes. They seem to go hand in hand, and it’s a relief to know I’m not alone. It’s heartbreaking what we have to endure, but I’m holding out hope for a solution.
I’ve witnessed people leaving their car doors wide open more than once. Personally, I’ve missed my highway exits or ended up at the wrong stores. Keeping a list of destinations helps. If I need to run an errand after work, there’s a 50/50 chance I’ll just autopilot straight home instead.
I’ve had brain fog episodes that really threw me off. Sometimes I feel disoriented just being in a store by myself. One thing I hate is forgetting codes, like for my old school lockers or my current building. I’ll enter it and then completely blank on it five minutes later.
While mine might not be quite that severe, I truly empathize with you! I got a call from my doctor’s office yesterday because I missed an appointment I don’t even remember scheduling . I’ve worked with computers for over four decades, so my typing used to be excellent—I could do it blindly. Now, I have to proofread everything twice because of wrong words, omissions, or hitting the wrong keys. It’s incredibly frustrating. My word recall is also terrible; I’ll forget words or fail to remember the names of people I know well. I’ll even say the wrong word thinking it’s the right one, only to see everyone looking at me confused. Just take it day by day and try to find the humor in it; it’s better than breaking down!
I’m so sorry you went through that. I’m 67 and have been battling fibro since I was 26. It’s a struggle. I had a similar day at the hospital today, but I felt better once I got home. Sending you good energy!!
Yes, having ADHD on top of it makes it brutal. Multiple times a day, I’ll start a sentence or go to look something up on Google, and I’ll forget what it was within a millisecond. Literally, a second feels like an eternity compared to how fast the thought vanishes. Simple tasks take forever because, like you mentioned, it feels like early-onset dementia.
Are you on Cymbalta? My cognitive fog was significantly worse when I took that. I still have some issues now, but that medication definitely intensified them.
I’m so sorry, OP. I’ve been in that same headspace since Friday. It’s getting to me emotionally. I talked to my nurse because my body feels like a disaster zone. She suggested blood tests for nutrient deficiencies and a physical, plus checking for perimenopause given my history. Please be gentle with yourself. Don’t put up with any negativity. An ex-friend actually called me a slur because I couldn’t follow his intense rambling about Xbox. 
Sending love and healing your way, I totally feel you.
I’m so sorry. My recent push for a diagnosis, along with constant “flu-like” feelings, was driven by my brain feeling like mush. I was driving my son to work on a familiar route, turned around, and was horrified to see people “on the wrong side” of the road. It took a near-miss with a truck to realize I was the one going the wrong way. I’ve been getting scans because I’m terrified of hurting someone. So far, doctors just shrug and say it’s part of fibro and to “pay more attention.” 
I wanted to add to my previous comment. I’m convinced chronic pain leads to memory issues. I describe it as a toddler in my head clashing pots and pans constantly. You can’t focus; it’s overwhelming. But don’t assume every symptom is just the fibro—always get things checked. Eventually, you’ll recognize the patterns. Like, my muscle cramps lately turned out to be low electrolytes. Also, check your meds; some people have memory issues with Gabapentin. I’m lucky I live alone so no one sees my daily struggles, and my cats aren’t going to tell on me! 
I’ve done the same thing with my car—left it running at the dog park. To be fair, my car is so quiet I often can’t tell it’s on. Now I make sure I’m holding my keys before I step out. Brain fog is the worst. On days like that, I just give up and go to sleep. 
I once left my wallet on the gear shift and walked to a diner. I thought I’d lost it and had zero memory of leaving it in the car. I had my bag with me but had taken the wallet out for some reason 
. I panicked thinking I’d have to dine and dash. 
So yeah, I’m right there with you!
I’ve forgotten how to operate my wipers and once couldn’t figure out how to turn off my lights. I just sat there crying. Another time on the highway, everything suddenly looked foreign and I had to use GPS for a route I’ve driven a hundred times. Last week, the pain was so bad that after parking, I used a steering lock but then tried to pull forward without removing it. I hit the curb, panicked, jerked the wheel, and ended up breaking my windshield. The first sign was when I absolutely could not figure out how to spell the word “BRA”—now I struggle with words I’ve known forever. Feeling unintelligent when you know you’re smart is devastating, just like losing control of your physical body.