Intellect Loss with Complicated Migraines

Hello Everyone,

Has anyone else had their parts of their memory permanently wiped out from complicated migraines?

I lost my intellect (math, science, technical, etc.) in April or May of this year.  I'm not sure what event caused it. But it's completely wiped out, gone, and nothing has returned.  I'm an electrical/software engineer who owns her own consulting firm; obviously losing my intellect is a huge problem in my profession.  I've been a migraine with aura sufferer for 11 years.  This summer they've been completely out of control, lasting weeks at a time.  In August I suffered 3 days of seizures and was hospitalized for 5 days (they believe it was caused by my migraines).  In the hospital CT, MRI, and EEG were all normal.  By the way, I also have Prinzmetal Angina (diagnosed in Feb).  Since July, I get periods of confusion (don't know what day it is, sometimes don't know my name), weakness and heaviness in my left leg and right arm, stammering speech, dizziness, etc.  

My neurologist believes my migraines have elevated to complicated type, possibly Basilar, and may be responsible for my memory loss.  She's hopefull that once my migraines are under control, my memory may return and my other symptoms will stop.

In June I started studying to see if I could stimulate my memory to open back up.  I started with my engineering but couldn't understand it. Keep stepping back until I was back to Basic Elementary School Math. Wow. Couldn't understand multiplication or division.  I finally relearned/refreshed that area.  And when I study, it all seems new although some of the terms seem somewhat familiar, the concepts are all new.  I recently took a state assessment test and found out that I'm up to middle school level now.  All my education and I'm at middle school level.  Physics, chemistry, advanced math, engineering all gone.  

So I'm reaching to see if anyone else with these types of migraines has lost and then recovered their memory.  I'm looking for hope that she's right and my memory may return once the migraines are under control.  The thought of having to start over and relearn everything after a 22 year career is a little overwhelming.

Thanks to all of you, Tonya

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

How are you?
Memory loss usually partial is seen quite commonly with complicated migraines. Other symptoms may include dementia and confusion. You have a really bad case of complicated migraine on your hands.
The other cause could be Topamax if you are taking it. Long term treatment with Topamax has resulted in memory loss in many patients with complicated migraine.
I would suggest you please consult an experienced neurologist about it as other causes of memory loss and intellect like neurological lesions like brain tumors, white matter disease also need to be ruled out.

[tonyam]

Hi DrNoopurMD,

No I'm not taking Topamax.  I'm taking these medicines for my cardiac issues: Toprol XL, Imdur, 81mg Aspirin, and Nitro when needed.  My CCB was changed 2 weeks ago from Procardia to Verapamil to give me some migraine benefits.  In the hospital they started me on Tegretol to control the seizures.  All doctors assure me it's not my medicines causing this.  I'm on a strict low-sodium, no preservatives, no artificial stuff diet, organic diet for migraines and heart health. No caffiene, limited refined sugars (my arrhythmias), and no alcohol.

After such a long period (4-1/2 months), is it possible that the memory loss is temporary? Can it be progressive?  I'm only 43.

Thank you, Tonya

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

It is very difficult to tell if it is just a temporary thing which will go away on its own, since it is persisting from last 4-5 months.
I would suggest you to consult a neurologist and get a CT scan or MRI of brain done to rule out other neurological causes of memory loss.
This requires further evaluation. Please go ahead and get it done. Do keep us posted!

[tonyam]

I had a CT and MRI.  Both are normal.  I had a CT angiogram on Monday.  Still waiting on the results.  Should I insist on a MRI with contrast, as I hear small tumors may go unnoticed in a normal MRI?

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Yes MRI with contrast is much better at detecting small tumors but usually it is recommended if some abnormalities are detected on MRI without contrast.
Angiogram will have some important information related to brain ischemia or cerebral thrombosis which can cause memory loss depending on the part of brain affected.

[tonyam]

DrNoopurMD,

Thank you for your time and help this morning.  I truly appreciate it.  I used to be highly intellectual in thought and life. Now I have few thoughts and I don't even know how many planets there are in the solar system or what a volt of electricity is. You can't imagine how overwhelming all of this.

[ddodson]

I understand. Same thing is happening to me. It might be the most horrible/depressing thing that could ever happen to someone. No one seems to care because they did not learn about it in med school. My wife and family think I am joking around. I try not to talk much because I have no idea what sort of stupidity will come out. I stare at words and can't read them. I speak in an idiotic manner and have incorrect grammar. I start to write and I look down and all of the words are grossly misspelled. The other night I had to Google Dwight Eisenhower. In high school I made a 5 on all three A.P. history exams. This is all from a person that excelled in school and preformed on a very high level on standardized testing. I can't solve problems. If you take me to an airport; I am like an 80 year old with dementia and cannot comprehend what is going on around me. It is a freaking sick joke. I am 28 years old and my life has been taken away.

[Omar_habibi]

Guys, I can so relate to that. I'm eхperiencing some kind of stupidity and intellect loss. Im 24 years old, doing masters in computer science. Maybe I ve chosen wrong field , maybe I had some serious psychological trauma but **** Im staring at this simple condition statement and nothing in my head is moving. Just a symbols for me. I remember myself in 9 th grade in high school, when I was really smart , won all kind of biology n math competitions, and a lot of people had if hopes for me. Now I'm feeling that I'm not gonna make it. I'm failing because if my learning disability. Sometimes I have suicidal thoughts, I don't want exist. I want to live. Lice fully, learning and giving yourself passionately to your job. Thanks