Do you forget alot?

I called my sister last night to ask her a question. I knew I had asked her the same question before but I couldn't remember what she said. Well she gave me the answer but she was very short with me. I blew it off because I knew it wasn't like her so I assumed she was having a bad day.

Anyway she called me back about 10 min. later and apologized. She said "I know I should be more sympathetic but I know we talked about this before"

I don't want nor did I ask for her sympathy. I just can't remember things anymore. I didn't go into detail with her I just said karen I take a ton of meds my brain just doesn't work like it used to. I didn't want to go into a bunch of details because I didn't want to start crying and make her feel bad or think I was looking for sympathy again.

I really am to the point where I don't want to talk to anyone about anything. I rarely ever talk to family about being sick. That's why I come here. I don't know maybe I need a brain scan?

I have a very good friend here that told me on the 22nd that her birthday was the 23 and on the 23 I had already forgotten. Than I had a friend come over after christmas and mention the christmas present she gave me. I had forgotten she gave me one. What is wrong with me!

thanks for letting me rant and snivel

love

carol

Hey Carol . . . sorry you are having such a hard time. YES! the old noggin doesn't work right, especially when we are in a flare or recovering from one or heading into one. We call it "brain fog". We can have a fare amount of brain fog just from the chronic illness, but you are right, a pile of meds and certain meds will add to it. We had a funny string going a couple years ago where everyone told their worst brain fog moments. OH MY GOSH!! We laughed and laughed. One of my stories (I think I had a few on that string) was about making chilli for dinner and pouring dog kibble into the pot while hubby stood there with his mouth open!!! and YES! I need to ask the same question w/i a few minutes just because I didn't absorb the answer so people think I am just "out of it". Lots of members here will sympathize with your dilemma and yes it is common with Lupus . . . but make sure you tell your rheumy each time you visit how bad it is. Some of the immuno-suppresants can actually help that if its real bad. Lynnwood takes one (took one?) the has helped her a great deal. Blessings!

Hi Fran, Rosie, and emmie, Boy you ladies really nailed it! I'm sorry you all have to live with that too.
Fran, I'm glad your daughter understands what is going on with you. but I can sure relate to not being able to stop it. It's like emmie said the I feel so d*mn stupid syndrome.
Well rosie I guess if we ever get together we go out for dinner! LOL that is about the funniest thing I ever heard. All though my SIL was making porkchops one night while I was there and she browned one side and turned them over and went to spray some of that spray oil in the skillet. She was really spraying it on there and my brother said hey hun you just sprayed furniture polish in the pork chops! sure enough lemon pledge! and she doesn't even have Lupus LOL we went out for chineese.
Emmie, I used to know what encephalopathy is but I can't remember. Now actually I'll have to look it up. I've heard of it but I'm clueless. I did want to mention something you said in the other post to me about the help I was going to get helping out with my other emotional problems and stuff. Your right. Being alone and trying to do everything myself gets very overwhelming. Just worrying about weather I got all my bills paid is hard enough. I mentioned once about getting counseling but now that they are willing to pay for transportation I am gonna try to find one that takes my champva insurance. They pay 100% of counseling up to 20 visits. Getting some of this other stuff off my back will be such a Godsend I might actually be able to talk to a counselor. Who knows if I could get passed some of the stress and depression I might be able to think a little clearer and feel more in control of my life.
anyway I know I got off topic but I just wanted you to know I was reading what you said and I appreciate it.
love ya guys
carol

What was the question again???????????????

Well, I feel your pain.....if i could remember...I spoke to my doctor in Oct. about the same issues. His reply was one that i am depussed and two that i am over worked. NO WAY NOT ME...Well, the best thing about the fog for me....I can watch re-runs and it's like seeing it the frist time.

Hi Carol.  My brain fog gets denser every day.  I recently went through a string of overdrawn checks again (and the resulting fees) so I finally asked my BF to manage my money. I used to manage budgets at work in the hundreds of thousands.  Obviously I don't do that job now.  And yep, not only do I love watching reruns, I learn new stuff each time I watch.  Lately I've given up trying to remember things like actors names and dog breeds (even though some are the same).  I do remember the thread Rosie refers to and some of the funniest stories are about the lupies who get lost, but the dog kibble is right up there.  Ummm textured, dry protein.

Love, Butterflake

Yeah, so that story about the dog kibble really made me laugh. MMM-MMMM.

People give me that look all the time - like "what is wrong with you"? - while my brain takes a few moments to process what's been said. It can take up to 20 seconds between when someone gives me new information, and when I "get it". I know I've always been this way a little bit (My big brother calls it my "delay"), so I try not to worry too much, but I am definitely noticing that it's getting worse the more meds I take.

I'm not sure if my signature has updates itself yet - I tried to update it last week and it didn't take - anyway, I'm taking 8 meds now, and it's def. changing my ability to remember to an even greater degree........

What was the question?  Oh yeah,  forgetfulness.

Cognitive problems are common with lupus and can involve many aspects.  Also, some meds like prednisone can also cause problems....so take your pick.  The fatigue you feel is also probably caused by lupus and is neurological in origin. 

In my case, fatigue, short term memory loss, and concentration are the most apparent.  Also, I do not cope as well with certain types of stressful situations.  Often I cannot remember a word that I have used my entire life....it is as if someone has torn out pages in my mental dictionary.

It has gotten better as lupus and my other auto immune diseases have come under control and I have gotten physically stronger but there is no question that I am not the person I was 3 years ago in those areas.  I did have formal testing when I was in a rehab hospital so it is not my imagination and I have had discussions since with a neuro psychologist who tried to explain how all that works.

You are not going crazy and most of us have a problem to some degree.  Call it lupus fog whatever the origin.

Bill

Bump! Up you go for KaAl

KaAl . . . I think I know what you mean . . . I'm never sure if it is meds??? It definitely is worse in a flare and when I don't get restorative sleep. I am WAY like that if I eat sugar (especially before bed). Funny thing is . . . I started my first pred-pack this week and the first morning after taking the first day of it . . . I felt great when I got up. I know high does - long term pred - doesn't act that way . . .but it was nice to have a little slice of "normal". But as I tapered, I gradually lost that. I hope some of the others can shed some light on the drunk feeling. Its so nice to be able to get some help on our issues!!! I'll be looking for responses too. Blessings!

OK and my name is WHAT???? Oh yeah..Back in Oct. I told my doctor about all the forgetting and the fog. Reply is that I am over worked and depession. Now, I am taken cymbalta...It has help and having the whole month off in Novermber didn't hurt. I THINK!!!

Best to all

Poor memory is just an opportunity to recreate yourself.

Bill

i go through the same thing, like walking into a room and completely forgetting why i went in there in the first place, my family and friends are great about it, if i forget a question i was gonna ask them or dont remember plans that we made, they just laugh it off with me and we change the subject. so now i carry around a small notebook in my purse and there are pens and pads of paper all over our house so that if i need to remember something i can just write it down, and i even have a note pad in my cell phone so that if i dont have pen or paper around i just grab my cell phone (its always close to me because when my hubby is at work i feel safer knowing that if i fall or something my phone is next to me so i can call for help). my mom also gets me a big calendar every Christmas so that i can put my doc appts and other dates i need to remember (for my hubby too, he forgets my doc appts, not that i blame him i have so many he cant keep all the docs and their specialties straight)