{"id":84743,"date":"2024-09-02T09:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T23:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/?p=84743"},"modified":"2024-09-02T09:00:11","modified_gmt":"2024-09-01T23:00:11","slug":"yes-midlife-brain-fog-is-real-and-heres-how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms.smooth.com.au\/lifestyle\/health-beauty\/yes-midlife-brain-fog-is-real-and-heres-how-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Yes, Midlife Brain Fog Is Real And Here\u2019s How To Talk To Your Doctor About It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Have you walked into a room only to forget why you went in there in the first place? Do you struggle to concentrate? Are you in the middle of a sentence when you suddenly lose a word you need?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you may be experiencing is brain fog, a symptom of menopause reported by up to 62% of women. It can be a worrying symptom \u2013 many women fear they are slipping into early onset dementia \u2013 and you may struggle to explain it to your doctor. But we\u2019re here to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 These tips and tools can help you to kick off the conversation and get the treatment that\u2019s right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Call It By Its Name<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talking about brain fog can be tricky. It\u2019s a symptom that often comes and goes and can be hard to describe. But Jean Hailes GP Dr Tessa King says that providing details and examples of your experience is crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re not performing as well at work, or if you\u2019re having difficulty in juggling the schedule of everyone at home, tell the doctor,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can say things like, \u2018it feels like a physical fog around me\u2019, or \u2018my brain is not working with the same clarity as before\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEven using the word \u2018brain fog\u2019 can be helpful. The doctor will be trying to make sense of the symptoms so the more detail you can provide, the better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Associate Professor Caroline Gurvich, deputy director of HER (Health, Education, Research) Centre Australia, agrees. \u201cTell the doctor exactly what is happening. If you have difficulty remembering names, if you feel you can\u2019t make decisions as efficiently as you used to, tell them that. If you can\u2019t find the right words to describe what is happening, use the term \u2018brain fog\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ask If It\u2019s Menopause<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the large number of midlife women who struggle with brain fog, it has not always been discussed as a symptom of perimenopause or menopause. \u201cIf you have night sweats or hot flushes, they\u2019re more obvious,\u201d says Associate Professor Gurvich. \u201cPsychological symptoms are less spoken about and women are less likely to link these symptoms to perimenopause.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important for women to empower themselves by asking the question \u2013 Is this [symptom] part of menopause? Is it perimenopause? If it is, then you can discuss treatment options. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) for example, can be helpful for some women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get to know the wide-ranging symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, with our checklist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing For Your Consultation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing down your brain fog symptoms in the lead-up to your appointment can be helpful, says Dr King. \u201cWe all have difficulty remembering things over time so making notes in a diary can be very useful. You might note how long the symptoms of brain fog have been going on, exactly what\u2019s happening, and how often it\u2019s happening.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Associate Professor Gurvich also thinks keeping a journal is a great idea. \u201cThe more evidence you can gather, the easier it will be for the GP to understand what is going on,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might find it easier to record your notes on your phone, including dates and times of symptoms, and how it\u2019s impacting you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if the doctor dismisses you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr King says that women’s midlife psychological symptoms, like brain fog, can sometimes be dismissed by health professionals. \u201cHowever brain fog is becoming more accepted and understood in mainstream medicine and media,\u201d she says. \u201cBut sometimes women worry that it\u2019s something worse than it is. They become anxious and that can make their brain fog symptoms worse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf women feel that their brain fog is a symptom of perimenopause but it\u2019s being dismissed, they should find a doctor that specialises in women\u2019s health where their issues will be adequately addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can search for a GP that has a special interest in menopause on the Australasian Menopause Society website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article has been published with the permission of Jean Hailes for Women\u2019s Health. Learn more about Women\u2019s Health Week here<\/a>.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Have you walked into a room only to forget why you went in there in the first place? Do you struggle to concentrate? Are you in the middle of a sentence when you suddenly lose a word you need? What you may be experiencing is brain fog, a symptom of menopause reported by up to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":84744,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[417,201],"tags":[8702],"geo_market":[],"class_list":["post-84743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-beauty","category-lifestyle","tag-womens-health-week"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nYes, Midlife Brain Fog Is Real And Here\u2019s How To Talk To Your Doctor About It<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Have you walked into a room only to forget why you went in there in the first place? 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