Dr. Donald Liebell 

At first Lyme disease was thought to be mainly an arthritic illness, but it has become clear that some of its most serious symptoms are neurological and psychiatric."

   Brian A. Fallon M.D., Masters of Public Health, Harvard Mental Health Letter, October 1995

"Borrelia burgdorferi infection can cause psychiatric symptoms, leading to psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, and that perhaps about 10% of psychiatric inpatients may be suffering from neuropathogenic effects of Borrelia burgdorferi
 
Tomáš Hájek, M.D.
Beáta Pašková, M.D.
Daniela Janovská, M.D.
Radvan Bahbouh, M.D.
Peter Hájek, Ph.D.
Jan Libiger, M.D.
Cyril Höschl, M.D., M.R.C.Psych.

Problems with Memory?  Mind in a Haze?

  By Dr. Donald Liebell

   “Fibro fog” is the popular jargon for difficulties with perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning— associated with fibromyalgia syndrome.

   If you are routinely misplacing items, having trouble finding the right words to say what you’re thinking, or forgetting about plans you’ve made… one could suggest you’re experiencing fibro fog.

   These types of cognitive impairments are often the most upsetting part of the whole fibromyalgia syndrome picture.  Some people describe themselves as mentally living in a “fog” or a haze, with short term memory loss

   There have been no official causes of “fibro fog” determined (or admitted) by medicine.  Obviously there must be something that is causing fibromyalgia victims to have altered brain function.  One hypothesis has been a problem with the brain’s ability to produce a nerve transmission chemical (neurotransmitter) called serotonin.  Low serotonin levels have been medically associated with depression, memory loss, and learning difficulties.  This seems to be the medical justification for certain drugs.

    It can certainly be postulated that chronic pain interferes with your brain’s ability to focus and process information.  The processing of pain signals does indeed require a large amount of brain energy.  Decreased blood flow to the brain may be a factor as well.  In addition, the viscous cycle of pain, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbance all seem to contribute.

   So many of my patients have reported that when their pain levels naturally reduced—and their sleep improved… the “fog” lifted. 

   What Does Dr. Liebell Have to Say About “Fibro fog?”

   I’m glad you asked!

   I’ve encountered several contributing factors.  But first, let me preface my comments by saying that my findings on the subject of “fibrofog” are not the result of published research, but rather my patients’ experience, associated with the type of methods I utilize.

 I am not claiming I “know” the cause of “fibrofog.”  In fact, I do not actively use the term in my practice; I’ve written about “it” in this article by popular demand... because it has become such a recognized term in fibromyalgia medical pop culture. 

   I prefer to discuss the detection and treatment of the various possible causes of cognitive impairment.  I’m not a fan of telling a memory-challenged chronic pain sufferer that he or she has “fibro fog.”

   What good does that do them?

   Here is my experience with so-called “fibro fog”…

 In many cases it is indeed the result of the patient’s brain being distracted by the task of dealing with chronic pain.  It has been clear that when many people experience the elimination of the so-called “fibrofog” when their bodies healed naturally.   

  In others, I think it is in part due to low serotonin levels.  However, I don’t feel a drug approach is best.  I address this through specialized acupuncture and homeopathy—with the intent of triggering better regulation of serotonin levels without drugs.  I can’t clinically prove this takes place in my practice beyond patients' symptomatic improvements (my happy patients don’t care).  There have been considerable reports in the academic medical literature that serotonin levels can indeed by modulated by such methods.

  A growing, but sadly rarely considered cause of cognitive impairment is LYME DISEASE.  I can’t stress enough my opinion that many so-called fibromyalgia sufferers have their condition as a result of chronic Lyme disease.  There are multiple associated bacterial and protozoan infections involved.  Laboratory tests for Lyme are not sufficient to diagnose it, or rule it out.  I am certain that a huge percentage of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia have Lyme at the core.  Medical studies published in major psychiatric journals have reported that Lyme disease is commonly responsible for many types of cognitive impairment.

  I have no doubt that the cognitive impairments (along with the other “fibromyalgia” symptoms), which are so casually called “fibrofog” are commonly caused by this tick-spread condition.

   My chronic pain practice family is populated largely by people who have either been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and/or chronic Lyme disease.  In neither case do I treat the diagnosis.  Nor do I treat infectious disease.  

   However, I do provide total-patient wellness care that promotes higher neurological and immune system function, which in turn enables patient recovery by natural means. 

   In either case, I am typically treating people who’ve been given these or other diagnoses, and infective treatment.  So, if you’re looking for a doctor to confirm you have “fibro fog,” you’ve got the wrong man! 

   You don’t need me (or in my opinion, any doctor) to give your troubles this pointless distinction.  I respect you too much to trivialize your suffering with this cutesy terminology.  I prefer to preserve your dignity, and work intelligently and comprehensively towards effective treatment of the causes of your memory troubles, chronic pain and other symptoms of fibromyalgia, using safe and natural, wellness-based technologies.