Have you ever walked into a room to retrieve something but forget what it is by the time you get there? Or have you forgotten what you are talking about in the middle of your conversation with someone? These are examples of mild lapses in brain function.
Moments like these can often be shrugged off and laughed about and are most likely due to stress. It feels like your brain has frozen or that your memory took a break. Many people call this brain fog. The medical term is encephalopathy.
For those who have Lyme disease, brain fog is a much more severe and debilitating condition. It can make you feel afraid, uncertain, and anxious. Because brain fog is just one symptom of many, treating Lyme disease the right way is essential.
The first step in any process is to understand what you are fighting. In this case, brain fog.
What Is Lyme Disease Brain Fog?
Brain fog due to Lyme disease is complex, and it has to do with inflammation.
Lyme disease infections can inflame blood vessels in the brain, inflame nerve roots from the brain to the spinal cord, and erode the myelin sheath that protects nerves. It can disrupt thought processes, concentration, speech, and memory.
There are two kinds, Type 1 and Type 2 Brain Fog. You can have one or both categories at the same time.
Type 1 brain fog makes you feel like your brain is clouded or foggy. It’s caused by a buildup of inflammatory chemicals, like cytokine, mold, yeast, and other toxins.
Type 2 brain fog is characterized by an inability to think temporarily: confusion, poor attention, short-term memory issues, and lack of organization.
A Lyme specialist can assess you for which type of brain fog you have and develop a treatment plan for fixing it. Fixing type 2 will also fix type 1.
To do this, you must decrease inflammation and take steps to eliminate infections. Both must be done with the help of a Lyme literate specialist. Together, you can implement a treatment plan that includes the right therapies, like the ones listed below.
Antibiotics
Taking antibiotic pills for a couple of weeks is not enough. You need to consume antibiotics in a way that bypasses the digestive system, which can break down the drug and make it less effective.
Antibiotics given through an IV are recommended. The medicine is sent directly into your bloodstream to fight Lyme infection.
IV therapy can also be used to give you the best dosage of vitamins and minerals. And it can combine with multiple varieties of anti-microbial treatments.
Vitamins and Minerals
One of the most effective vitamin therapies is Vitamin C for its ability to fight viral infections. The vitamin C you receive through IV therapy is much bigger and stronger than taking a supplement. Because you need up to 100 grams of the vitamin, it should be administered at the Lyme clinic.
Silver, methylene blue, vitamin D, and gallium are nutraceutical compounds used to fight off infections while also repairing your immune system’s functioning.
IV Glutathione is another critical piece of the treatment puzzle. Low levels of glutathione have been linked to mental illnesses and produce symptoms like brain fog. Infections like Lyme disease put stress on all parts of your body. This stress depletes glutathione.
When replaced, however, the body starts to repair any damage made by an infection.
To further assist in fighting Lyme disease, you can take supplements.
Supplements
Based on your symptoms, a Lyme-literate doctor may recommend supplements that can boost your immune system. For example, curcumin is an element of turmeric that effectively lowers cytokines and quinolinic acid.
It is when the cytokines and quinolinic acid are high that you experience brain fog.
When working with a Lyme doctor who prescribes supplements, make sure they offer the top brands. With herbal supplements, brands matter. A few of the most trusted brands include Thorne, Nutramedix, and Argentyn.
Something you can do on your own is make changes in your lifestyle.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes include your diet, physical activity, sleep patterns, relationships, and home and work environments.
Anti-inflammatory diets can help you feel relief from brain fog in a short period. Because neurotransmitters reside in both the brain and the gut, what you eat does make a difference in how you feel.
Anti-inflammatory foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, and lean meats like fish or chicken. Items to avoid are processed junk food and red meats. Also, avoid drinks and foods with high sugar or high carbohydrates.
Your diet should also include exercise of any kind. Find an activity that you enjoy enough to do every day for at least 15 minutes. Walking, dancing, swimming, and jumping on a mini-trampoline are a few suggestions.
When you improve your diet, you will notice improvements in your sleep, which will lead to reduced inflammation and brain fog.
Sleep Health
You should create a sleep routine each night that turns into a habit. Eventually, your body will start preparing for a good night’s sleep on its own. Before you get in bed, take a bath, read a book, or practice spirituality.
Once you get in the bed, turn off all electronics, lights, and anything making noise or emitting light. Good sleep happens when the room is dark and quiet.
Repeat these tips each night to enjoy the benefits of sleep, like less brain fog.
Find The Right Doctor
To treat brain fog, the doctor you see will make a difference in how you heal. A Lyme literate doctor is a specialist in Lyme disease, including brain fog and eliminating it.
Lyme literate doctors provide treatments in their clinic daily. Don’t seek the closest or least expensive doctor. Instead, seek the most qualified, even if you have to go outside the U.S.
You deserve help in reducing inflammation that can eliminate brain fog. Reach out for help today.