Posted: 1/23/2004 5:41:55 AM EDT
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Okay, so I got this small memory problem. I have always had a poor memory but in the last 4 years it has gotten much worse due to cronic pain levels. On days that I have high pain I often cant focus and have a hard time concentrating. But nothing like I had this week! A few days ago I could not remember a whole 3 hours period of the day. I had bank receipts showing I was at the bank...but I don't remember going. I spent $150 which I can not account for. This is occurring morer and more frequently but has never been to this large extent, It's starting to worry me. WHat to do? Anyone else haveexperiences like this? SGtar15 |
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And you are...? It's weird but if you make a conscious effort to remember something you usually will. Like if you put your keys down, point at them and say something like 'there you are'. You'll likely remember where they are later. It's all in the mind. I also feel for you re: the pain. I'd take a share for you if I could. BTW my memory lapses are usually alcohol related (at least for now)... |
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Fatigue, meds, stress, distraction/inattention... all cause cognitive problems. For instance, many medications can cause that kind of "retrograde amnesia", especially the benzodiazepine tranquilizers (like Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin) and some sleeping meds (Halcion, dalmane, Restoril). Anticonvulsants like neurontin and topomax are notorious for casuing cognitive problems as well. Pain meds are also responsible for mental changes... all these changes are worse with chronic use of meds. Other than eliminating all meds and waiting for several months for your brain to clear it all out, I'd suggest a "memory journal" (written log) for important facts and appointments, slowing down and paying closer attention when doing important tasks, and getting your wife or others to help you remember stuff. Also, physical exercise, especially cardiovascular conditioning, can also help alot. Adapt and survive... [:D] I'm sorry, what was the question again? |
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[b]sgtar15[/b]: In 1989, I was, well, killed in a fire. I spent 2 months is the hospital, 2 weeks of which was in intensive care in the burn unit. At one point I was administered last rites, and not expected to live more than a few hours. I had 3rd-degree burns over 33% of my body and 2nd-degree over another 15-20%. I had 4 or 5 skin graft surgeries. I was on massive IV doses of morphine for the 2 weeks I was in ICU, and smaller doses for 2 or 3 weeks more. That shit eats holes in one's memory like crazy. I literally have swiss cheese memory now. I remember things out-of-order, and some things I cannot remember at all. I used to think that only parts of my memory before the fire were affected, but now I know that recent things get lost or shuffled as well. For example, last Sunday, [b]Mrs. DzlBenz[/b] and I were driving to see a movie in downtown KC from our place on the frontier. I was taking the scenic route through town, and she commented that we were close to the neighborhood wher ewe got our first refrigerator. I said WTF are you talking about? She went on to explain that our first fridge was from some friend of a friend, and we had to go pick it up at the guy's house. I had absolutely no recollection of the event whatsoever. It's not like it was any major event in my life, but it got me thinking about what I will be like when I can't remember something really important, like the days that my kids were born, or something like that. For the near term, it may help you to keep a little notebook with you and write down little reminders about stuff as you go about your day. These little "ticklers" may be enough to jog your memory to recall what is essentially the trivial things in life. I, however, know that no episode in one's life, is so trivial that it's not worth remembering. Those memories are yours, all yours, and it's patently unfair that you don't have access to them anymore. You may consider some therapy for this problem. Not that the therapy will neccessarily help you recover any lost memories, but you may get some better ideas on how to understand hwat's happening and how to deal with it on a daily basis. I wish you the very best luck in handling this issue. I hope you don't forget to keep posting your funny and insightful comments here on ARFCOM, brother. |
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See your doctor and if no good reason is forthcoming consider a neurology referral. Could be med related, a senile demetia, some other metabolic or hormonal problem or an organic brain disease. Even a vitamnin deficiency. Get checked out without too much delay. You need a thorough exam and some bloodwork for starters, maybe an imaging study of your brain. Would be useful to know age, medical history, family history, med and substance use incl alcohol. Any other current problems or symptoms? |
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The last few years of his life my dad started having the same problem. It wasn't the big stuff that he forgot, it was little things that slipped his mind. Names, dates, minor events, not the "big stuff". He used to keep a spiral bound notebook by his chair and bed and be constantly writing stuff down. After he passed away I found about a dozen of these notebooks. Nothing earth shattering but filled with little stuff like a title of a movie, or a character in a book, a phone number. There were a few times during what turned out to be his last year where he'd actually call me (he being in San Diego and me in Mississippi [:)]) to ask some "silly" question that was driving him batty. |
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DzlBenz, Thanks man...sounds like you know EXACTLY what I am talking about. Quoted: Would be useful to know age, medical history, family history, med and substance use incl alcohol. Any other current problems or symptoms? I am 39, had 3 back surgeries 2 years ago. Contant L2-L5 pain with left leg numbness. Family history is average, nothing abnormal. I stopped taking almost all meds 5-6 months ago. I take darvocete 4x/month as needed but for the most part have learned to deal with the pain. Sgtar15 |
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Quoted: DzlBenz, Thanks man...sounds like you know EXACTLY what I am talking about. Quoted: Would be useful to know age, medical history, family history, med and substance use incl alcohol. Any other current problems or symptoms? I am 39, had 3 back surgeries 2 years ago. Contant L2-L5 pain with left leg numbness. Family history is average, nothing abnormal. I stopped taking almost all meds 5-6 months ago. I take darvocete 4x/month as needed but for the most part have learned to deal with the pain. Sgtar15 Sarge, There really is no quick fix or much of anything that anyone here can do for you. Trust me on this. Please. Seek medical care from a good physician(ask around if you don't already have one). There are alot of possibilities here and you need a thorough workup(not a 15 minute doc visit). It is possible that you have something progressive ongoing that could be cured or treated if discovered early but which might become irreversible if you delay much. Best of luck. If I can help at all IM or email me. |
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Buddy, I know where you are at and I feel for you....I really do. I think that the memory loss and loss of cognitive function are both caused by the intense and unyielding pain that we are both getting to experience. I have also forgotten things that I never would have in the past. In response to this, I have curtailed activities that involve a large amount of memorization and recall. As a strange compensation, I have been recalling long forgotten events in my distant childhood. I have not even remembered these events for 30 years! Recently these events have been crystasl clear as the day it happened. Wierd. I'm continuing my prayers for you, sgtar. |