memory loss?

[southernms]

I have dealt with having a bad memory as a result of having MS;forgetting the end of a book or where i put the remote.
recently I've been having trouble remembering things that have happened and being able to tell reality from something i must have dreamed.

I don't recall a conversation that i had with a friend a few days ago that she says (and i believe her) occurred.

My husband will tell me of things we have done the day before that seem like a half remembered dream.

i remember clearly my husband telling me that a coworker had passed away (must have been a dream) only to see them later in the month.

does anyone else have these problems? i feel like i can't trust what i think i remember.

[Greg]

I have been dealing with memory issues also. I haven't confused dreams and reality that is a intereasting thing. I am a non traditional (older) college student and I find I don't have issues with remembering things I know to be important, but my short term memory really sucks.

I forget whole conversations like you were talking about, or what I was talking about if the conversation gets interupted. It's really frustrating when in class and the instructor is giving a lecture and I think of a question and write it down to help me remeber then I still forget to ask at the end of the class becuase I even forgot that I wrote it down.

I have forgotten what was assinged a time or two. So I bought a digital recorder and have started recording my classes just in case.

[mjan]

Well I figure many will come on and tell you about their experience with MEMORY loss. But to me, its not necessarily MS as many folks have bouts of memory loss.

Its also a myth that as you get older you WILL lose memory ability. A myth.Not if our brains are kept healthy.

Most likely you, as others, suffer from either lack of o2 for brain to function, an obstruction of some kind, or most likely inflammation which presses on key areas of memory, speech, coordination, balance, etc. Our brains know it needs NUTRIENTS and its starving for the right balance. When our brains are overloaded it needs to be detoxed from chemicals that we drink, breathe and eat -also meds.

I remember barely walking up 19 stairs to this nutritionist's office who was highly specialised. NOT your typically trained nutritionist. After a very thorough and extensive evaluations he looked at me and said, "You are near organ failiure." I was so toxic, stressed, lacked sooo many nutrients that my brain and body systems were shutting down. He saved my life. And my neuros were amazed at how he helped me. In fact when THEY were stumped, they would recommend I see him again.

So..if you go to a neuro..they will examine you, and maybe order tests MRI, or labs only to offer you probably MORE RX as they do not know of any other options.

There is a nutrition thread on here try it. AND make sure you get evaluated too, to get everything medical ruled out.

Does family/friends ever say you space out? Or..you talk/act odd? That would be something else, possibly a seizure. You call it a dream..hmm..does it happen when you are truly sleeping? Or just feels that way..

Let us know how you are doing ok..best to you

Warmly, Jan

[wkikta]

Memory problems are quite common with MS, especially short term memory. Even when you write things down it does no good if you forget the note, kind of sucks. I do have a digital recorder for notes.

I don't believe there is really anything such as your body is 'toxic'. Just try to eat a healthy diet, American Heart Association.

[SpringOwl]

I have not been diagnosed with ms but I do have brain issues that cause spasticity and motor symptoms. My memory is so bad, mostly short term memory.

We had a family gathering last night and they were playing Texas Hold-em cards and I retreated to me bed and tv feeling like such a loser because it was too much for me to learn a card game.

Multitasking or simple math problems are things I can no longer do. Spelling simple words are hard for me. Sometimes I have to Google simple words because they just don't come to me anymore. One of my daughter's friends Mom is really smart and I know she seems to "challenge" me with conversation to see me stumble and stammer over my thoughts because she likes to show off her smarts and make me look stupid. My sister does this as well. It is hurtful as I use to be very smart and complete school with a 3.5 average and now I Google words like cheese or chocolate or something stupid.

I miss my legs and my memory but my arm is the worst loss so far. I used to be a fighter but I feel like the mountain is to high and I am slipping away from the rest of the world most times.

I am to the point I can no longer fake the cognitive stuff.

Just rambling now but last night with the cards was really sad.

[LisMG]

Southernms,

I couldn't believe when I read your post! The part about reality and dreaming something....I have been having this same issue. I am no dx yet. I thought I must be going crazy when I wondered if I dreamed something or if it really happened.

My short-term memory is horrible. Scary horrible sometimes! As well as not being able to think of correct words.

Sooo frustrating!

LImbo lander has all these memory symptoms

I am just a limbolander who gave up on getting a diagnosis unless i get worse. But when I was havng my huge flair on ON and other MS type symptoms....I exactly had each and every memory problem you and others have mentioned on this thread. I still do but to a much lesser extent. Try to work on finding ways to help yourself remember.

One of my funniest and biggest memory problems was about my eyeglasses. Even if I had 50 pairs of eyeglasses (which I did)...I often could not find even one pair. It was so so so maddening. Keep on trying though.

[southernms]

much better

Just thought i would give an update on my condition. The Neuro said most of my symptoms were being caused by my high stress job and he recommended a job change.

Well I left my job and am drawing unemployment and the change in my health has been remarkable. Most days i have no symptoms at all!!

Now I just need to find a lower stress job. any suggestions?

[debster197]

Yeap, memory issues for sure. Today a coworker said I said something about my sister and I sware I didn't. I said something about my daughter. Sad point is I trust him more than I trust myself to know what I said

[Thinkimjob]

Completely forgot co-worker was leaving today. Completely! We were only talking about it yesterday, and I was telling people we needed to get a goodbye cake, card and gift.
Friday is my day off, and I was going to come in for the farewell. I get the where are you phone call, and I swear it had not crossed my mind all morning. Good Lord, that's a wee tad scary.

[salamandertom]

HUGS.

Yes, mine are short, very short term memory mistakes. I am a student and have to work WAY harder than I used to to get stuff in there. It is not cool. My issues are more like stupid mistakes. Like I will mess up things that could be reversed. For example - the chromosomes run 1 - 23 and 1 is the largest and they get smaller as you go down the karyotype. Now in a recent discussion I said that backwards. I KNOW that fact, i can SEE the picture in my head, but it was just one of the kinds of mistakes I make now.

My husband will tell me something and then I will ask him about it two seconds later. I will not remember at all. I hate that. lol

[kbloom2]

Big Hugs, I don't believe its a myth that Ms doesn't cause Memory lose. Reasone being, I had a great memory. But when I was first dx'd DD had to babysit afterschool I knew she had to. Well I freaked out when she didn't come home I called everywhere wondering where she was, I was scared to death, I called her friend and she said " Mrs. Bloom she is babysitting".
That was the worst feeling ever. I mean I have never felt so scared ever. Now a days sometimes I cant remember what day it is.. I chalk it up as me being a blonde hehe not having Ms. I have to joke about it.
Kari

[1_4_Kimberly]

First let me say I love this site! And thank you SouthernMS for posting this.

Just this morning I had to inform my husband and mother-in-law that I am losing short blocks of time, with little or no recollection. Mostly conversations, little events, and things I am to do. If it's my daily routine, I'm good. But new things are a problem. This is a new symptom for me.

As I came crying to my computer to log on at MS World, I see your post and again am reminded, I'm not alone with this.

Hope I remember I posted this and don't do it again later. Got to keep your sense of humor!

[photomama]

I have pretty severe cognitive issues (and am not officially diagnosed, though we unofficially call this MS). A few years I went through neuropsych tests and scored in the 1% for short term memory. Yup- 1%- meaning 99% in my age group and ability/education level remember better than me.

The way it was explained to me was that it doesn't take much damage to mess up your ability to multi-task & use short-term memory.

I am a strong believer in Occupational Therapy- if you have a really hard time with remembering things, they can help you with strategies. With MS, you won't be able "get back" your memory, but you can find ways of working around it and make life easier.

With 3 kids and their various activities, I have calendars ALL over the place, including a large white board by our door. I have reminders for everything- because if it is not written down and put in my online calendar, with a reminder sent to my phone, I won't remember.

HTH!

[Dori79]

Just thought i would give an update on my condition. The Neuro said most of my symptoms were being caused by my high stress job and he recommended a job change.

Well I left my job and am drawing unemployment and the change in my health has been remarkable. Most days i have no symptoms at all!!

Now I just need to find a lower stress job. any suggestions?

That's awesome! I think my dream job would be in a nursery. Playing with plants, being surrounded by like-minded, mellow people... just a suggestion.