Suggestions for short term (i.e. 1.5 hrs) brain fog management

Posted by mrsstitches @mrsstitches, Oct 13 8:52am

I am doing a trial return to “work” for 1.5 hours today. By work I mean that I volunteer at my child’s school doing checkout in the cafeteria during lunch. I’ve done it so much in the past that I hope muscle memory will kick in. My supervisor has gotten a stool so I can sit, but it is a lot of sensory input with smells, bright lights, and kiddos talking. Thing is, I woke up in massive brain fog today despite my best efforts to rest last night. Anyone have some simple ideas to help wake up/support the brain for a bit?
What I plan on currently: healthy breakfast, take meds/supplements as scheduled, take 1 tablet Adderall that I have for PRN situations, avoid anything physically or mentally strenuous beforehand, sit outside in fresh air and sunshine for at least 10 minutes.
-Maybe add a grounding meditation?
-Take noise canceling earbuds?
-Wearing sunglasses would be awkward, but they do provide us with school labeled visors.
-Add wearing a mask for the smells?
What other ideas?

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essiee | @essiee | Oct 14 4:41pm

Hope you managed your volunteer shift alright, and are not having to spend too much time ‘in recovery!’ If you don’t mind, would you say how much (what MG) Adderall you are prescribed? I take a generic, 5 mg ER, sometimes adding another 2.5 mg (instant release) and find it to be very helpful. I’ve been on this stimulant for many years; current doctor (or the government?) seems very wary of it…I have to have a ‘drug’ check every 3 months. I’ve heard of other LC or CFS patients using much more…just wondering why such concern if in fact it’s helpful to many of us. (As far as I know I don’t have ADD…it was originally prescribed for fatigue.) Thanks, and hope you can continue to be a cafeteria helper…and that perhaps it’s therapeutic!

clanmacjammies | @clanmacjammies | Oct 21 6:30pm

Hey, y'all!
I'm new here - got sick in May 2025, and still experiencing debilitating fatigue and muscle weakness, and of course the ubiquitous brain fog. I, too, have noticed sensory processing changes, and I'm very interested to learn more about your experience with that. I totally lost taste and smell for a couple of months, but those senses have mostly recovered on their own, without intervention. But I am noticing increased sensitivity to sounds and bright lights, and increased anxiety when I'm in a crowded store or restaurant. I am also more clumsy than I was before - wondering if I have diminished proprioception? We have all heard a lot about the loss of taste and smell, but I'm super curious about what's happening to other sensory systems in Long Covid. Thanks in advance for any experiences you (or others) might share about sensory processing issues in LC.

essiee | @essiee | Oct 21 9:08pm

In reply to @clanmacjammies "Hey, y'all! I'm new here - got sick in May 2025, and still experiencing debilitating fatigue..." + (show)

@clanmacjammies I definitely have increased sensitivity to light, so much so that I have to wear sunglasses in the house sometimes on bright days. When I first ‘came down with it’ I had such an intense negative reaction to sound that I had to leave a concert…a choral Christmas concert, not a rock concert! Both these senses seem to be moderating from ‘acute’ towards more ‘normal’ thresholds (after 2+/- years). I’ve not experienced the anxiety you and others describe…maybe because I’m much too tired to shop or go out to eat. Fortunate that a.) I’m retired and b.) husband (also retired) shops for us. Hang in there….good that you’re already seeing improvement in some areas.

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