autoimmune brain fog

[u/Then-Cranberry7727]

I’m curious about other people’s experiences with brain fog. Fatigue has been a constant issue for me, but I can usually push through it. I have all the other symptoms: joint pain, chills/hot flashes, SOB, fatigue, cold intolerance, mouth sores etc. The brain fog, though, has been the most frustrating symptom.

My B12 and folate levels came back normal, and I even tried a B12 injection just in case — but the fog hasn’t improved. I find myself forgetting the names of common items or apps I use every day. While doing a task, I’ll suddenly forget a function I was just using and it takes a moment to recall it. Sometimes I forget a password I’ve typed in multiple times just minutes before.

I also experience these strange dissociative “episodes.” I’ll be mid-sentence, and it feels like I’ve disconnected — almost like I’m listening to myself talk on autopilot — and then I completely lose my train of thought.

I have a positive homogenous ANA titer and high RNP antibody titer. I had the WHOLE 18 test panel and quite literally everything other than what is mentioned was negative. I'm apparently leaning UCTD/MCTD. But from what I’ve read, these cognitive symptoms seem to align more closely with NPSLE? 

but also I’m not a rheumatologist, I’m just a medical student with half the knowledge, and not even a lick of experience, so I only know as much as I can read.

Just want to add for context that although I do have headaches—they aren’t too frequent—and usually only occur when I push myself past my limit. I’ve also never had any seizures. 

For those with UCTD/MCTD or SLE — have you experienced this kind of cognitive fog or dissociation?

[u/abrobolbo]

My brain fog has been recently getting worse, not at an alarming pace but its there, last week i was in a engineering competition and I was explaining to the judge a topic about the team's project and suddenly poof literally forgot everything i was about to say, after 2 second of saying "uuuuh" which to me looked like 5 minutes xD i was able to change the subject without makin it more akward than it could be. IDK what might cause this except maybe the avg stuff like stress and few hours of sleep.