Memory loss

Robin for sometime now has been forgetting the occasional conversations that we have, I haven't ever given it much thought until this Saturday when she had to ask me which hand her wedding ring went on. Robin was visibly a little shaken and worried that she had to ask me. Robin just turned 50 this November so she really isn't that old yet.

I am not sure as how to proceed from here and would like some advice if yall have any.

Thanks
Don

I believe a check up is needed. Hope someone else chimes in with some advice.

Well I called the family doc and he said its probably due to stress, but give it some more time and watch.

If she has been upset or worried it could be just that. Keep an eye on it and good luck.

Snipe, I myself wouldn't wait. I've done things like this myself.....DH would leave for work in the morning and ask me to pick up stamps, I'd say sure. 3 hours later he'd call and ask if I got the stamps and I had no idea what he was talking about. I would forget entire conversations.

For me I found out it was from an anti-seizure med I was taking. Not because I've ever had seizures but the docs prescribed it because it deadens the nerve endings so I wouldn't feel as much pain. I went off the med and it's remarkable how clear my head is now.

Has your wife had surgery recently? If so that could be the cause of it....but I'm assuming you would have mentioned that. I had two surgeries 7 weeks apart in '06 and after the last surgery I was really thrown for a loop. There are about 2 or 3 days I can't remember.

I'm going to go and do a bit of research on the web about this kind of thing right now and I'll post back here if/when I find anything that may help.

Here's some info I found....

This site has been recommended to me by my insurance provider as a good site, at the bottom of the page are a bunch of questions you can answer (things your doc should ask) that may help you figure out the seriousness of the situation...
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003257.htm

Here's some info from the Mayo Clinic, some good simple causes of memory loss...
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/memory-loss/HQ00094

From WebMD, not my favorite site, they don't seem to give enough info sometimes, but still worth a read...
http://www.webmd.com/brain/tc/confusion-memory-loss-and-altered-alertness-topic-overview


I hope this info helps and that this is just a passing thing. I know (from experience and talking to others) that many of the anti-depressant drugs can cause symptoms/side effects like this. My hair dresser and I laugh about our escapades all the time...how many times have I called someone and forgot the reason why? What did I come upstairs for? Was it yesterday or the day before that I made spaghetti?....those things are normal, except when they happen so often.

If your wife has any other strange things going on I wouldn't just blow this off. Maybe seeing a different doc would help, sometimes that makes a big difference. However, if your wife just went through something very traumatic this may be "normal." (according to what I read)

Whatever the case is, if you're very concerned about your wife I would start keeping a little journal of the things that are going on. How often she forgets things, how she acts when she forgets them, her meds and when she takes them, anything that upsets her, etc. No detail is too small to write down. Then take the journal to the doc...this can make a huge difference in them taking things seriously and being able to spot what's going on.

I don't want to scare you, but my biggest concern is a stroke....maybe a mini-stroke. If she's displaying any problems with motor skills I'd go to the ER and skip the family doc all together. Slurred speech, muscle paralysis, vision problems, balance problems....see the symptoms here...
http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1020

I have a dear friend in her 30's that her doc thinks she had a mini stroke. All she had was a horrible headache and the feeling of sand *behind* her eye. The ER doc blew her off. Her regular doc has taken great care of her and she's fine now. Another friend had just had a baby and somehow ended up with a blood clot in her brain...facial paralysis, confusion, memory loss and headaches were her symptoms. This was very serious, but with meds she's fine and good as new.

I just don't like the idea that your doc blew this off so quickly. He should have at least wanted to see her. You can't make a diagnosis over the phone. From what I read, the really good thing is that your wife realizes that something isn't right....with Alzheimer's the sufferers don't realize they are doing some of the things they are doing.

Please let us know how she is doing. Again, I hope this info helps and doesn't just scare you. My thoughts are always to be safe than sorry, just pay for the doc's appt. even if it's just for them to tell you that you're worrying over nothing. The price of a doc's appt. is worth the peace of mind it gives many times.

You're both in my thoughts and prayers.
Heather

Thanks for the thoughts heathrjoy, no surgery or meds of any kind, and I will go to the site and see what they say. As I said this is something that I have noticed over the last couple of years but only about conversations, then again it could have been me that was slipping sooooooo I let it slide. You know how it is with us old folks. :)

I would say to see a Dr. I was in a wreck and had a concussion, lost several weeks that I still can't recall and acted very much alzheimers during the months afterward. They just waited for me to start recovering, but it has been hard for me at times. I still have lists and tricks to help me recall. I think it is normal for us to get more forgetful, but if you are worried it never hurts to check it out. Follow your instincts, they are usually telling you what you need in my experience. Good luck!

Well when I was about 50 and into menopause my worst problem was actually short term memory loss! I went from never maklng grocery lists to never going to the store without or I could not remember what I wanted. I had to start carrying a note book with me at work because my boss could ask me to do something and if I did not write it down I would have forgotten it by the time I got to the end of the hall! And for the most part that has persisted and I am now 68. Well at least I am retired so I don't have to remember what the boss wanted! But I keep a detailed desk calandar in front of my computor -everything gets written down there from appointments to a checkbook list - otherwise I could not run my life!

Yes, that is me, lots of lists and a dry erase board on the frig because I was losing the lists! I have my cell phone reminders set and a reminder set on my computer or I would never remember most things I really need to do. My dh is very understanding and has learned to write it on the board, not just tell me.

Don, I was glad to find this thread because my DH, who is 62 and retired two years ago, has been experiencing episodes where he suddenly forgets where he is and what he is supposed to be doing. In fact he will lose all memory of what happens over a period of 15-30 minutes even though he never loses consciousness. I am definitely going to check out those links which heathrjoy posted although I have already been to webmd without much success. DH has been to a neurologist who diagnosed his problem as being "stress related" and prescribed an anti-depressant. Personally, I think "they" have just blown him off and taken the easy way out. DH and I have noticed that these episodes happen almost without fail after he has looked to his left and then quickly looked back to the front. We told the doctors this but they ignored it. We go back to the doctor on Thursday and I am going to insist that they investigate further and not just brush it off as stress.
At any rate, I hope you find out what is causing your wife's problem and I will let you know if we find out anything further about DH. We are going to the Univ. of Ark. Med. Sciences Center, which is supposed to be a world-class teaching hospital so I think the least they can do is investigate further.
I am reminded of that show on either TLC or Discovery Channel, I think, called "Mystery Diagnosis". It just goes to show that a lot of people in the medical field do take the easy way out and brush off their patients' complaints. We have to be our own advocates when it comes to things like this and find out all we can. That is why it is good to have a forum like this because you never know when somebody will provide a clue that will bring an answer to one's particular problem. Thanks for letting me get this off my mind.
Marilyn

Well Marilyn you keep looking I have had an ear problem for years and all I ever got was put in the box and tell me I have a hearing problem in my left ear. Well duh I know that! What I want to know is why I get ear infections one after another. finally found an ENT who actually checked me and listened to what I had to say and lo and behold there is a pit in the cartilage that runs under my ear drum. They are going to have to remove the drum and repair the damage after which the ringing and infections will be gone and my hearing will be restored.

It's funny that after Marilyn's post you mentioned your ears....I was going to suggest Marilyn look up vertigo and ear problems for her DH (well, I'm *still* suggesting it, actually!).

I've been dealing with ear problems for a while now. I had a full case of vertigo hit me head on one night. Man, I'll tell you what, I've had surgeries, I've had my ankle come out of joint, I've had back spams that made me scream bloody murder....but I'd take any of them over vertigo. So, DH takes me to the ER because he can't figure out what the heck is wrong with me....I passed out there and if the nurse hadn't of caught me I'd have bounced my head off the floor. Yeah, you have to be your own advocate these days, LMBO! I told them I was dizzy, they didn't listen. They wanted to life flight me, but the hospital in Pittsburgh didn't have an open bed....finally I talked the doc into letting me stay in ICU here at home. They kept me overnight and released me with some nose spray for allergies....no diagnosis.

Since the whole bad vertigo episode that night I've seen a few docs and a lot of them blow me off. I was tested for vertigo (something your DH can have done Marilyn). I was told I have Meniere's Disease....which to me is like them telling you, "Yep, something's wrong with your ears, we don't know what, we don't know why. Good luck with that." I'm determined to get to the bottom of it though. Everyone in my family has ear troubles, there has to be something that is causing it. Tomorrow I'm going to a new ENT and also having allergy tests done. The problem around here is that our area is so small there's only two ENTs and the one I'm seeing tomorrow is an hour away. DH has to drive me because I won't drive that far because the ear problems make my eyes flick (when I try and concentrate to see something it's like trying to read a newspaper in the car, everything jumps around).

Sooo, anyway, all that blah, blah, blah to say look up vertigo and ear problems and if you find something print it out and take it to the appt. with you. Docs often seem to get an attitude if you tell them you found something on the net, but if it's printed out and they see that it came from a reliable source they seem much more inclined to listen....from my experiences.

Hope both of you and your spouses are doing better.
Heather

I am just now getting back to this because right after I made the post above, our cable and internet connections went off and we had no service for several hours. Must have had something to do with the strong, gusting winds we had yesterday afternoon.
Anyway, thanks for the suggestions about the ear problems, snipe and heathrjoy. I will look into that today. Heathrjoy, let us know what the new ENT tells you.

A visit to a neurologist would help alleviate many fears for both you and Robin, snipe.

My DH was diagnosed with short term memory loss in early January. It's scary to realize that three minutes after a story begins on radio that DH has no idea of what country they're talking about. We're taking it step by step.

Good luck, pirl. . . .and keep us posted on how your DH is doing.

Snipe, you also keep us posted. Not only about Robin but about your ear surgery.

Will do marsue.

Thanks for asking about my ENT visit. I had to cancel it though, due to very bad weather and road conditions. I haven't rescheduled yet, but hopefully I can get in soon.

You all will never believe what I just read this morning. I was just diagnosed with a kidney infection so I was looking up how long it'll take for the pain to start to subside....and it said that in elderly folks sometimes the *only* symptom of a kidney infection (UTI) is mental confusion. Now, I'm NOT calling anyone on this thread, or their spouse, elderly. My point is just how so many seemingly unconnected things can affect our memory/mental state.

Pirl, you and your DH will be in my thoughts and prayers. My DMIL had dementia...very close to Alzheimer's. She was actually treated for Alzheimer's before they ruled it dementia. Diagnosis is very important. She did much better after the proper diagnosis was made. When she was first diagnosed a friend was telling me about something she learned about dementia...she said it has something to do with an artery being pinched off in the back of the neck sometimes. If the artery can be opened back up the dementia fades. This was a while ago and I may not remember everything correctly...it was also very new info at the time. I just remember having such hope that it could help my DMIL or anyone else who found themselves in that situation. It would be so wonderful to have some sort of treatment for such things. But, I thought it was worth mentioning to you, Pirl. Maybe something you can ask your DH's doc about.

Thanks, I will ask the doctor.

That is extremely interesting, Heathrjoy, about a pinched artery in the back of the neck being a possible cause for dementia. If you will go back up to my post on Jan. 29 you will notice that I mentioned that DH and I have noticed that his episodes of confusion and forgetfulness occur after he has turned his head to the left and then looked back to the front. DH was actually diagnosed with "Pseudo-Dementia" which means they thought he didn't really have dementia but symptoms similar to dementia because of stress. They totally ignored him when he said these episodes happen after he has turned his head to the left. I am going to do some research on this on the internet and see what I can come up with. We were due to go back to the neurologist today but have also canceled due to bad weather/road conditions. :o(( At first, I was upset that we had to cancel but now I am glad I have more time to do some research. Thanks for mentioning it!!

Don and Pirl: I also wanted to tell each of you that if your spouse drinks diet drinks or uses artificial sweeteners, tell them to stop using it for a month and see if their memories improve. There's been some research done on this. I will see if I can find a link for you.

It would make sense if there is a decrease in blood flow to the brain or certain areas of the brain that problems will result.

Thanks, marsue, but no soft drinks or artificial sweeteners here.

Check for anemia. Lack of iron or B-12 can cause confusion and memory problems. My Mom was having a terrible time remembering things, but she had had an operation for diverticulosis and wasn't eating--lost bunches of weight and the confusion was getting worse. She started on ensure, has put on some weight and is so, so much better. Good luck, I know it is so scary.

And just an afterthought, have her carotid arteries been checked? Maybe they need roto-rooting to get better blood flow to the brain.

I wish I could remember what the procedure is called...or just remember more info on what that lady told me about all this that can cause dementia. If your search leaves you empty handed let me know and I'll contact the lady that told me about it.

And, the idea of blocking blood flow to the brain is correct from what I remember. It's the same type of thing that can happen when you tilt your head back to look up for too long...well, it happens to some of us and can get much worse when we are older.

There's so many things that docs seem to ignore or blow off sometimes. I don't know why they do that...if it doesn't seem to fit into the scenario of what they are dealing with or if they just honestly don't listen. I've had this happen quite a few times (been dealing with docs wayyyy too much in the last 6 years)....there's been times when what they ignored was a big deal and lead to something serious. So many diseases/conditions have the same symptoms and a doc's job a lot of times is figuring out the mystery. That's how I learned it's a good idea to keep a journal of symptoms and write down even the smallest thing, no matter how insignificant it seems, or how long it's been going on.

Now, please don't take me wrong in what I said about docs. I know they have a tough job to do...I wouldn't want their job, honestly. I think most of the problem lies in everyone being in too much of a hurry....giving 10-15 minutes for an appt. But, when you have so many patients and everyone needs to be seen, I guess you do what you have to. Again, I wouldn't want their job. I'll stick to walking the dogs and tending the flowers! :-)

I was going to mention anemia. About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with pernicious anemia. I was 51 years old and I thought only really old people had that condition, because my mother was diagnosed with it when she was in her 70's. Some people can't process B-12 from food or by taking vitamins. I have to get a B-12 shot once a month and it makes me feel one heck of a lot better. It doesn't cost much but insurance won't pay for it because it isn't a drug! Sometimes it is hard to get doctors to look beyond the most common conditions. I think this is partly because insurance companies don't want to pay for tests. It seems like it takes several visits to several doctors anymore to get any results and you have to be persistent.