What is brain fog like? How can I better understand as a caregiver?

I have 24 7 brain fog from long covid and having brain fog is really described in 2 parts. I hope this will make sense. First, it’s the head sensation that your eyes and top of head is heavy/pressure like your wearing a helmet. When you look around, it’s like your head is in a bubble. You look around and your vision is clear, but your head is foggy. Your reflexes are slower. It’s like going to bed for a few hours and waking up or the feeling when you wake up from anesthesia or you’ve taken a bad drug. The second part is the short term memory loss, difficulty with attention, focusing, multi tasking. Then lastly, from this you can get exertional fatigue from things you do mentally and physically. Hope this helps.

Thank you @collenyoung for highlighting this discussion and for your good explanation of how brain fog can feel.

As a lymphoma patient (DLBCL) who completed chemotherapy in April 2024, I am still struggling with brain fog today. This brain fog affects my short term memory, ability to focus, and causes trouble multitasking.

Being a software developer for 40 years (retired after cancer treatments), this lack of mental sharpness is an ongoing challenge. I do try to find acceptance and some humor in the brain fog issues but it is frustrating at times. I continue to work on it and remind myself each day how very fortunate I am to be here.

Reading of others who are struggling with brain fog and sharing my own experience in this community is comforting. It helps me remember I am not alone in this. Thanks to all the members who have shared their experiences here.

In case anyone missed this educational posting by Mayo education on brain fog after cancer, including the link here. The information below was encouraging to read in that brain fog can improve in some cases and provided some information on things that might help. Best wishes to all dealing with this.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/newsfeed-post/your-brain-after-cancer-what-to-expect-and-how-to-help/

Correction to name above….Thank you @colleenyoung for highlighting this discussion and for your good explanation of how brain fog can feel.

I have had it twice. Once, after a serious lupus episode. That brain fog left me helpless and almost childlike. I couldn't remember what you said at the beginning of a sentence you made. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't hold anything in memory. My speech was garbled. Luckily, that faded.
The second episode was 2 years ago after a craniotomy. I simply lose words and I have lost a lot of memory. When reminded, memories come back. But I do know something is not right. I can hide it and I hope it also fades. I work on this all the time by reading and writing. I read hard, big books and challenge myself.