What have you done to combat cognitive issues?

[maxthecat43]

I met with a Neuro Rehab therapist yesterday.  After some testing, she told me that I have "high level brain dysfunction" including problems with short term memory, reasoning, and problem solving, and some trouble with comprehension.  I'm pretty bummed about it, because I used to be sharp.  I was paid to organize other peoples lives, now I can't manage my own by myself.  

She told me to buy a day planner, with specific instructions on what to include.  (I had to write it all down.)  She also gave me some printouts as homework, and said she needed to see me every week for a few weeks.  

I know mild cognitive dysfunction is pretty common for people with MS, so I was wondering what you do to cope?  How do you remember to pay bills on time?  Pick up deodorant at the store?  (And any other tricks you use.)

Thanks in advance!
Tammy

[JaneK1975]

Oh, wow. Lumosity is super fun. Thanks, Tammy!

[maxthecat43]

Ooops!  (continued from the last post...)  the skills/organizing tools- etc, to manage whatever new symptoms I get.  

She talked about many of the methods you have all mentioned.  Some of them seem very difficult to implement to me, but I am determined to make good use of everything I can.

Rendean, I am soooo looking forward to having a routine!  I haven't been able to make one yet.  

Bye for now,
Tammy

***Oh! The specialist I see recommends this website:  www.lumosity.com

[maxthecat43]

Yay!!  Things are not quite as bad as she originally thought. She has decided that I am still within the wide range of "normal", even though it has become a noticeable problem... I do however, have a LOT of trouble with attention.  She said that the reason I'm having so many of the other problems is that I can't keep my attention fixed.  I guess we have to create a "mini" memory of whatever we are doing, in order to be able to accomplish our task??  But if I write things down, and read them back, I seem to remember them better.  So, I thought that maybe this problem was not related to MS.  No such luck, she says it is because of the lesions I'm carrying around.  

Good new is, as these lesions disappear, I may regain some or perhaps even most of my lost attention.  She said that as new lesions develop, I may or may not develop new problems- but she is working with me to develop tools, so that if this happens I will already have

[maxthecat43]

Thank you for all the support, as well as all the great suggestions...  I am going to try to print this page out- or I won't remember what you've all suggested!!  

I have my next appt on Tuesday morning.  I'll update this thread with whatever my therapist recommends too.

Lots of Hugs to you all!
Tammy

[crwriter]

I live and breathe for my palm pilot.  It has a stylus so my fingers do not have to fumble.  It has all sorts of listing programs on it: health records with meds in it, books I own, books to read while in doctors’ waiting rooms.  I use the alarm on my phone to remind me to do my shots.  But sometimes I forget how to use things.  Forgot how to work my phone once.  Just went to log in my next appointment with my neuro a few days ago and forgot how to use my palm.  I feel like I need postit notes decorating my forehead.

[Guitar_grrrl]

Fortunately, cognitive problems aren't in my bag of MS problems - unless I'm in an amazing state of denial!! :-D

That said, though, I MUST keep a calendar, to-do list, shopping list, etc. on my iPhone, or I just plain forget about everything!

[Deb61]

I'm sorry you're going through this.  I have many cognitive problems and memory issues.  I'm going to be getting a neuro-psych evaluation this summer.  Hopefully, some helpful tips will be shared with me on helping me with the memory and with my attention deficit issues in following conversations.  

I cannot remember co-workers names with whom I've known for 15 years.  I've literally have lost the name for days and had to look up the person on a list of personell.  The people I do remember, I have to use mnemonic devices--then it sticks.  For example, I remember a person named Stuart because Stuart is big-- NOT Stuart Little. LOL

I also can remember better (if I can remember to use the strategy, LOL), if I use visuals with "anchors".  For example, if I want to remember items at a grocery story, I picture the entry way to my house (the anchor), with the item (one at a time), placed there.  I may see sitting on my entryway table, ice cream melting all over the floor.  Then I add the bread . . . heavens, what a mess!  Then the bananas (a monkey in the picture helps, hehehe)!  Hopefully, you get the picture . . .    I learned this tip at a teacher workshop on working with kids with special needs.  I can still remember the visual from the workshop ten years ago!  I really works for me--if I can remember to use it and have the time . . .

Deb

[supermum_ms]

If you check out sites dedicated to learning disabilities, its generally aimed at helping kids through school but basically anything connected to ADHD, dyslexia, executive dysfunction, brain injury etc and you'll find some really helpful tips worth giving a try. You've been given some good ideas so i'll give you an alternative to think about, which is trying to change or improve the way it is.

I'd always 'had' the ability to read the first page of a book and be able to remember the entire story, drove me nutts but i ended up discovering that not being able to remember what i've just read, made me more frustratingly nutty. Its not my usual cup of tea but i was given the series twilight, i read it 5 times in a row, as i finished the last book i started all over again, each time remembering more and more.  

My point was not because i wanted to 'get' the twilight phenonemon lol (try saying that when you can't speak properly lol) it was a just a method of getting information from my wonkies short term memory and into my long term memory. Commonly the issue is not being able to get the information to stick, and a way to help that is repetition, the more you do it the more likely it is to stick.

I was doing a mental expercise, using a method that i've used with kids so it was worth giving it a go, basically trying to rewire or surcumvent what wasn't working. Other methods of mental exercises are games, cross words, marjong, online memory ones etc there are a few designed for pwMS that are pretty good. There is a lot of research into this side of thing and i do feel its also worth looking into, so if your interested, look up 'brain plasticity'.

Food for thought............JJ  

[saucygrl]

I have a white board on the refrigerator that I have my family write important things I need to remember on.  When to pick them up, appointments for them etc.  There are post it notes in each room to put on the mirrors to remind me things I have to do like take my medicine.  It's part of my routine to read each one as I get ready.

At work I have post it notes all around my computer screen.  If someone needs me to do something for them, they need to write it down.  I remind them to proof everything!!  They are probably tired of hearing it, but there are consequences to me forgetting things and they need to be checked.  

My phone is also priceless to me.  I back it up on the computer because I have all the numbers and addresses I need as well as appointments.  I set my alarm for everything.  

Good luck finding a routine that works for you!
Chris

[rendean]

I, like Mary, keep my medical history pages on the computer and update as necessary and my entire family knows how to access the most current information.

My day isn't as structured as Mary's  since I am on disability. At certain times,especially in the summer , all my kids are home on a rotating basis. That's when I am at my best. When I have some reason to keep a regular schedule.

You will no doubt find  ways to make your life easier and your weekly meeting with the neuro rehab instructor will give you some excellent tips and strategies.

Best to you,
Ren

[twopack]

Picking up on Ren's last idea...
I keep all my drug info and medical history on a computer Word file.  It is very easy to make frequent changes without re-creating the whole thing every time.  

The bottom of the page says "Last Updated 5/25/2012" (for today anyway).  Whenever I make a change in info I also change the date.  Then I only have to hit the print button each time I need to have the most current version of info to take along on doctor appointment.  I let them keep it.  I can always print more of the same - or a better one.

I have pages devoted specifically to things like
**medications - scheduled ones, 'when needed' ones, Rx & OTC ones, supplements, vaccines (with date last received), allergies (with reaction type) and drugs I don't tolerate (including one I refuse to take)
**diagnostic and F/U testing (chronicling dates and major findings)
**vital info about doctors who treat my various organs (my specialist's names with their addy, phone & fax)
**personal diagnoses, surgical history and family medical history summaries
**steroid dosing history
**worksheets with dates and quick notes about symptoms, drugs, ideas and patterns that have come and gone along the way (This one mostly for my eyes only to help make up for memory farts and to keep a better idea on what turns out to be waaaay TMI.)

I can print up any combo of updated pages I think I may need for a given appointment.  Nobody needs all this stuff every time.  I've developed my system over years of time.  Start slow but start soon.  We ALL forget FAR more than we EVER thunk we would-a.... should-a.... could-a.

My husband knows all about my stored personal medical history.  If I'm ever unable to supply my own story I'd hate to be reliant on hubby's memory or his simplistic version of this ever-more-complicated tale.  I feel better when he knows there's an accurate account that he has easy access to.  (I have a memory stick to put this stuff on as an easy carry-a-long for my purse.  Just haven't got that part done yet.)

My most useful daily tool is a regular routine (Yeah, I guess that is redundant!).  I do best when I'm scheduled to work the same days each week, schedule doctors in the late morning, do household tasks on specific days, mix up daily chores with stuff I like to do (with some I don't), alter tiring activities with restful ones, etc.  I even eat better when I set regular times to eat foods I select with little thought from a basic home inventory of foods I routinely resupply (also with little thought).  I save my thinking time for Sudoku and ....  the MS forum!

This must have been hard to hear Tammy.  Even though we joke around and admit to suspicions we're losing ground, we're seldom prepared to believe our loss tolled by testing is greater than our personal estimate judged it would be.  The good news here is that where therapy is scheduled, improvement is anticipated.  It sounds like there are concrete steps you can climb to success.

Can't wait to hear what you learn.  Sure hope you'll share along the way.
Mary

[rendean]

I am in the same cognitive boat you are. The  posts by Jane and Sarah are good ideas.

I have a white board where I listed tasks with the date written of when it was posted and when it is due. My pills are in a pill container I keep in the kitchen next to my cooking utensil jar. Out of sight is out of mind for me. I only keep a week's worth due to the poor storage conditions  in the kitchen but it beats forgetting meds.

I carry a pocket calendar with me EVERYWHERE. I write notes on the blank pages and refer to the calendar for past and present dates. I even post MS symptoms so I can remember how long a new symptom has been present.

I do have issues with remembering conversations , especially if I am multi-tasking. I've told my family not to tell me anything important while I'm cooking ,etc. or to put it on the calender posted on the fridge. I also transfer my pocket calendar events to my fridge poster.

I also have been honest with my friends and have told them to remind me of important events and that I sometimes forget entire conversations but with key words , I can remember most of the forgotten conversation. They also have learned not to take any offense if I forget a conversation as it is not personal.

My kids do like my spotty memory when it comes to giving permission for an event or money owed,lol.

As for paying bills, I put every bill I can on automatic payment and call and talk to the company so not every bill is due the same day. They usually have no problem changing your due date if you ask politely , and you usually do not have to explain why.

I hope some of these tips help.  I almost forgot my the one thing that is used the most for me, my medication list which is typed and located next to my driver's  license as well as my pocket calendar. It lists every medicine I take and the dosage; and below , written in red are my 7 allergies and the reactions I had to them. I also have all of my docs, PCP, neuro and cardio listed at the bottom with contact info.  Most healthcare providers love this and just photocopy the list.

Good luck with this difficult symptom. You will find ways to  make your life easier and tricks and tips that work for you. If you have any new ones, please share!

Hugs,
ren

[SarahL2491]

Oh yes, lord bless the phone to remind me to take meds, keep appointments, shopping lists, etc

I have pencil and paper everywhere and still will buy things I have already bought!

Hubby says I can't speak an entire sentence without messing up half the words!

You just learn your own coping skills

I've even had to entrust friends with my passwords cause I forget them

[JaneK1975]

Long before my diagnosis I considered myself a very forgetful person. When my fiance and I first got together, we used to have little spiffs because he would accuse me of not listening to him when I wouldn't remember something he told me two days prior. I had to convince him that I was listening, I just couldn't hold everything he told me in my memory! Now I realize that my poor memory "could" be one of my MS symptoms, but over the years I have developed enough strategies for coping that it doesn't really bother me too much.

My main strategy is to use my cell phone to remind me to do things I need to do. I have an Android phone and I use Gmail, so I use Google calendars as my "day planner" and when I schedule items on my laptop, it automatically syncs with the calendar on my phone. Whenever I schedule an event on my calendar, I set reminders so that I don't forget what I'm supposed to be doing. Often on a single event, I'll schedule one reminder two days before, another reminder the day before, and another a couple hours before (so I know when to start getting ready).

I even use this strategy to remind myself of small events that occur daily, such as taking my morning pills. I set up a daily recurring event and told it to give a "pop-up reminder" ten minutes before the event. The pop-up reminder comes up on my phone, so it's with me wherever I go.

I hope that makes sense (it's kind of hard to explain in writing). I'm wishing you the best, Miss Tammy.