No Stupid Questions

Lots of things can cause this.

Long covid ME/CFS Alzheimer's Magnesium deficiency B12 deficiency Circulatory issues / poor cardiovascular conditioning Frequent alcohol use

You should see a doctor.

This is happening to me, or something very similar!

Tired beyond belief. Sleep doesn't matter, or at least doesn't seem to help. Everyday, it takes hours to feel awake, and only lasts for a couple hours at best.

Slow to find words when speaking, though I know what I want to say. It coupd take seconds to think of a simple word. I've started speaking in very broken, sometimes reversed, sentences. Someone said it was like listening to a slow version of Yoda, but worse.

The world feels off, as if experiencing everything through a memory rather than actually being there. The best way I've been able to describe it is, it's as if being far back in my head. Everything is at a distance, like my eyes are binoculars turned around, or like looking through tunnels.

I used to have a great memory, now I'm lucky if I remember a conversation from a week ago. Not just what was said, but I might be only vaugly aware that the conversation even happened.

Movement isn't sluggish exactly, though slower than I used to be. Doing anything, even routine tasks takes a ridiculous amount of concentration.

I've also developed weird ticks. I'll sometimes speak outloud as I'm thinking of a sentence, or lyric, or whatever, but its just one or two words. I then repeat the word over and over without realizing it. Once I notice, it takes me a second to stop. I've also started geaturing with my hands without meaning to, when not even talking or anything. Like I'll randomly point or gesture like I'm speaking.

None of it was sudden, it's been a slow build up to the point that I don't know when any of it started. The symptoms are finally enough to overcome my anxiety of talking about it, and I've scheduled an appointment with my doctor. Whatever is happening, I figure it will be better to know than not.

I'm not saying we have exactly the same thing, it just sounds like we have some similar symptoms. Whatever it is, know that you aren't alone. Take care of yourself random internet stranger, and please call a doctor.

Not a doctor and you may want a doctor's opinion on this stuff...

But I'll mention what you're describing is very much brain fog like symptoms. It's more well known as a long covid symptom nowadays however it did always appear as a symptom of other infections. I have an older family member that went through an intense encephalitis infection (for him it started out with a viral mosquito infection, west nile virus to be specific) and since encephalitis affects the brain he eventually recovered with brain fog symptoms among other things.

Thing is that healthier/younger people can be infected with viruses leading to encephalitis and be asymptomatic (no symptoms) during that time, but down the road long term symptoms can show up like brain fog. Yes, like long covid, but other infections can lead to the same result is what I'm getting at. Getting some blood work done with a doctor would narrow down or rule out stuff like this.

Very likely ME/CFS.

Also, you apparently don't want to hear this, but this is also very compatible with long COVID. A huge percentage of sufferers of long COVID had no acute symptoms, have no positive test, and otherwise have no reason to believe they ever had COVID except a) chronic symptoms consistent with long COVID b) which came on in 2020 or 2021. Nothing about "I wasn't" (acutely) "sick" or "gradual onset" sways me in the slightest away from the possibility that this sounds very much like long COVID. Both are entirely consistent, even typical, of long COVID.

I'm gonna be the donkey with the obligatory "please talk to an expert".

Joke aside, you might wanna consult with a psycho/speech therapist. The other symptoms you are described might not be related but they could be and you always wanna tackle the problem, not the symptom.

Definitely see a doctor.

The normal range for TSH is between 0.4 and 4.0 mIU/L. However, if my TSH is 4, I'd barely be able to move. I do better with it as close to 0.4 as I can manage. You could have a "normal" TSH and still have symptoms.

Also, did they check for thyroid antibodies? After my wife and I were both diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, we started pushing to get our three kids tested. They were young, and had "no symptoms", so the pediatrician didn't want to test them.

My wife chose to be a pain in the ass and harass their doctor until she gave in and ordered the tests. Imagine her shock when the two older kids had high TSH and our daughter, who was in the normal range, had positive thyroid antibodies (showing that she also had Hashimoto's even though her TSH was normal).

Also it turned out they all did have symptoms. They all experienced personality changes when their thyroid levels were off. The oldest would get mopey, middle kid would get weepy, and the youngest would get angry. It was wild.

I have been experiencing this very same thing for a while but never knew quite how to put it into words. Do you find yourself forgetting words? Like it's on the top of your tongue? That happens to me a lot. I think my ADHD medication has been masking how tired I am all the time.

I'm going to give a more optimistic suggestion. Have you considered you may have sleep apnea? I have been single for over 10 years but recently had a brief relationship where we stayed overnight a lot. She told me I snore really loudly if I'm on my back. She said it's like I'm gasping for air.

I haven't looked into it yet but I really need to. It could just be that you aren't getting good sleep, regardless of how many hours you get.

Were you sick any time before the onset of this? It sounds like the some of the symptoms of long COVID or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Between Fibromyalgia and CPTSD this is my brain now for ~8 years.

I feel so much less intelligent/responsive then before.

And knowing how I thought/felt then vs now, makes me more sad.

🥹

R.I.P. my nervous system.

Dissociation is fun.

Don't discount IBD as a potential cause. Some forms of IBD can produce tons of brain fog and confusion with few other symptoms at all; even if your digestive tract is quietly getting all messed up by your immune system, you might not feel much of anything for a while beyond the neurological effects.

Lyme disease?

Whatever it is that causes this runs in my family. My grandmother is like this, my mother, and so am I.