UPDATE: As always, remember I'm not a doctor, just telling you what kind of results I have personally had. I've been on the low dose (5 mg/1x day) Ritalin for 2 weeks. I'm sure I'm not going to win any contests, but this is what I've seen. I haven't flooded my kitchen or laundry room. 😆 I haven't left food burning on the stove.😆 My daughter brought a new strategy board game over, and normally I would just make an excuse not to play. So I read the directions, played several times, beat the socks off my daughter, her significant other (both college grads) and my husband every game. I also kept score, which in this game, is a little confusing, and did it correctly. I didn't feel lost or confused, and actually made good strategic plans. It's not a mind boggling game. But a month ago I don't think I would have been able to play it at all. 🤗 I've managed to try a few new recipes without feeling overwhelmed by the recipe/ingredients/steps. Which is good because I love to eat. So maybe a coincidence or wishful thinking, but I have no bad side effects from the RX and I seem a bit less frazzled. I go back to talk to my doc about the results next week. So just FYI for you all. Oh yeah, and my typing is better. Good grief, every time I would try writing something before, I just couldn't get my fingers to hit the right keys. So this letter is "uncorrected" and looks pretty good. 😁

To address the original thread concerning brain fog and Ritalin- My doctor prescribed a low dose, 5 mg. I use it only when needed. I teach a graduate class, so was helpful when I was developing the class or grading assignments. It allows me to focus for longer periods of time. I am more motivated and less stressed. I don’t use it daily.
On the dizziness/vertigo- I have experienced that periodically with my MPN. I have tinnitus, too. It’s usually worse when my rbc is elevated. Hope this helps. I appreciate this forum and the helpful information!

Thanks everyone for sharing. I am convince that MPN is so new that many doctors don't really know what do to when we share symptoms with them. For years I have suffered with dizziness/ lightheadedness. I even had an minor auto accident and another time fell and sprained my right hand. My hematologist does not think it has to do with my MF, yet I probably have it as long as I have MF. I went to see Neuro and Cardio. Both did lots and lots of test and they all came back negative. My hematologist wants me to go back to them because he feels they missed something. In doing my own research i found out it MAY be imbalance from the ear. So I am going to look for an ENT doctor and see what he says. I hope the ENT will be the miracle I have been looking for years. If anybody has this problem with dizziness/lightheadedness, please share. God bless you all. Lets keep sharing.

I have problems with dizziness and vertigo periodically. Of course, everything that comes up now I blame on the PV. It may be age. It may be caused by a virus. However, it comes and goes maybe with my RBC count going up???

Thanks. I did send out an update about 3 months ago. My primary care doc put me on a very low dose of Ritalin and it did wonders for me. No more fog. Good focus and concentration. Worked like a charm!