Memory is shot

[vwick77]

Would really like to hear anyone else's history on their memory related to MS

I have been having very bad episodes of short term memory lose.  Still waiting on my health insurance...... This is ridiculous of a wait!  I need to talk to my neuro but I have no insurance :(

Everyday and I mean everyday I have been burning food on or in the stove/oven cuz I completely forget I put food on!  Scary to say the least.  I start something and forget what I was doing and walk away.  Yesterday morning my children had a scheduled dentist appt and I have been talking about it with them.  Well it took till tonight to glance at calender and see I forget it and never even thought about it.  My daughter had to have items for school for tomorrow and slipped my mind completely.  

My bilateral Trigeminal Neuralgia has been coming on and off but nothing spiking like a month ago!  Still had a episode on my right jaw today and still episodes around the left eye/cheek.

Anyone relate to these memory issues?

Valarie

[Hibbles]

I forgot my phone number the other day. I often forget my purse in stores, and I thought I was pregnant once because my stomach was getting bigger and I was also nauseated. Then, I went to the bathroom and quickly realized that I wasn't.
True
Story.

[meg321]

very funny !!

[Eyesnlegs]

I also had an enormous amount of tests and found that not only is my working memory affected but my attention also, which often means that it's not that I can't remember, I just wasn't paying attention in the first place.

Knowing these details helps you plan coping mechanisms, they can also measure your per-MS ability since MS does not affect many parts of your cognition, this ives an opportunity to measure progression later too. So for example my per-MS intelligence was in the top 1% but my attention is less than 50% and therefore I have noticed a significant change. But as the neuro-psych pointed out "that makes your attention just a little below average so welcome to my world" lol.

Joking apart, for my job as a Senior Lecturer teaching Masters and PhD students it felt like a major problem, now I've retired it's less of an issue.

Good luck with it.

[vwick77]

I agree!  I will mention this to my Neuro, didn't know there was testing like this

[vwick77]

HahAhahah.  Thank  u for the laugh PastorDan , that made me smile!  

[beema36]

I carry my cellphone and put everything I need to remember in and set alarm to remind me. It really helps.

[PastorDan]

Was going to reply earlier but forgot.

[johnniebear]

I would recommend that you have Neuropsychology testing done,  they can nail down which part or parts of the brain is causing the problem - that does mean that  they have a cure for the problem area.  however they might be able to assist   you  with a plan to reduce the deficit .


I will post a page or two of my report later this week,

Take care
JB

[vwick77]

Love these Tips,

I have got to do something !  Again today I had a appt for a follow up at 11:15 a.m that of course I couldn't go to due to lack of any tests yet, well once AGAIN never thought about it this morning about calling to cancel it.  Called the girl at 11:45, I felt terrible.

This is just out of control at this point :(

[essdipity]

You can buy timers with ropes to go around your neck, so you always have it with you. This proved to be very helpful to my mother. Try sticking post-it notes on the timer, if need be.

I am very fortunate not to have noticed memory loss or other cognitive impairment thus far. If I have 'lost' function, it is so totally lost that I'm not even aware of it. I live alone so there's no one to remind me. I do get absent-minded and do a few weird things here and there, but I've been this way pretty much all my life, so I don't think it's an MS thing, but really just the human condition.

ess

[johnniebear]

I've have completed  neurophysiology testing  and retest this March.  I have confirmed working memory problems,   I cant recall a list of numbers you might give me either  written or spoken,  I can get lost in long conversations.   Reading books take much longer and filling out forms i read them a few times first.  I have problems with even simple math.


How have adjusted?  I try not to leave the kitchen when cooking, if I turn the shower on, I stay in the bathroom and won't leave.  I have to break down a list of numbers, I will read them two at time.
When I'm out and I don't understand someones conversation, I tell  them I didn't hear them or ask if they could they repeat it & sometimes I just say I have a headache and didn't understand them.
WHen I order online,  I have  a second Credit Card with only a $500 limit,  If I need to purchase something online for more that amount I let me wife order it,  because last thing I need to do is order a million widgets due to my issues.

         I use my calendar ...  I use my calendar  I use my calendar



You will need to find you own ways to deal with CI
  
        This is from  PROJECTS IN KNOWLEDGE
Cognitive impairment (CI) affects 43% to 70% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and contributes significantly to disability. MS patients with CI are less involved in social and leisure activities, have difficulty performing routine daily tasks, and are at increased risk for psychiatric illness compared with patients who have physical disability only.
CI is a major contributor to the high rate of unemployment among individuals with MS,  and increases the risk of poor psychosocial, physical, and overall health-related quality of life (QOL).Cognitive domains most commonly affected in MS


take care
JB