Short term memory loss!

Hi Girlie,

For that kind of issue I would really look into nootropics. That's pretty much what they are made for. Yes, I believe you can still fix that.

Cerebrolysin comes to mind but there's plenty more to try. Huperzine A is my favorite (go easy with it though), Alpha GPC, Ginkgo Biloba, L-Tyrosine (technically an amino acid) etc.

Edit: check this out for example: https://drugs.selfdecode.com/blog/nootropics-top-ways-improve-protect-memory/

I've been reading a lot lately about perimenopause/menopause and related cognitive symptoms, including short-term memory decline. Maybe that's something to look into, since there are relatively simple ways to treat hormone-related memory changes?

I don't mean this in a dismissive way, but it's pretty normal to make an appointment and use a calendar to remember when it is. That's why most people use calendars, right? Maybe the scope of the problem for you is more serious than that one example, but I wanted to reassure you that that particular example doesn't sound troubling to me.

The Dude Abides said...
Though I have no provable scientific bases for my comment, I believe healing and improvement is usually possible.

I have short-term memory issues, too. I can read something in an online article, open a new browser tab to search for more information, and completely forget what it was I was going to search. Just that quick. So, I have to go back to the original browser tab, scan the information again, and, try to jog my memory about what my previous line of thinking was, so I can hopefully arrive again at the search term(s) I was going to use.

What I wonder, though, is what's causing our memory issues?

Is it structural? Is it infection-related? Is it related to a medication? Maybe it's a nutritional deficiency? Sleep disturbances (including sleep apnea) can and do impact our memories. It could be any of these things, several of these things, and it could be other things.

This is something that concerns me, though I've not discussed with with my doctor, because I'm afraid that I'll find out something bad. But, of course, avoiding something doesn't mean it's not still happening. So, I struggle with the issue. I feel like I already have too many things going wrong and I can't deal with another one.

Have you discussed this with your doctor(s)?

Against my better judgement, I did a Google search and found the following on the Mayo Clinic's website:

Possible causes of reversible memory loss include:

• Medications. Certain medications or a combination of medications can cause forgetfulness or confusion.
  
• Minor head trauma or injury. A head injury from a fall or accident — even if you don't lose consciousness — can cause memory problems.
  
• Emotional disorders. Stress, anxiety or depression can cause forgetfulness, confusion, difficulty concentrating and other problems that disrupt daily activities.
  
• Alcoholism. Chronic alcoholism can seriously impair mental abilities. Alcohol can also cause memory loss by interacting with medications.
  
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency. Vitamin B-12 helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells. A vitamin B-12 deficiency — common in older adults — can cause memory problems.
  
• Hypothyroidism. An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) can result in forgetfulness and other thinking problems.
  
• Brain diseases. A tumor or infection in the brain can cause memory problems or other dementia-like symptoms.
  
• Sleep Apnea. Untreated sleep apnea can cause memory problems that improve with appropriate treatment.

As for medications, I found this on another website:

Certain medications may affect short-term memory. You might find that if you take any of these medications for an extended period, you could experience short-term memory loss. This memory loss may be temporary, and memory function could return after the medication wears off. Medications that may cause short-term memory loss include:

• Sleeping pills
  
• Antihistamines
  
• Antidepressants
  
• Anti-anxiety medications
  
• Prescription painkillers, particularly opioids
  
• Diabetes medication
  
• Cholesterol medication, particularly statins

Interestingly, on a Penn Medicine (University of Pennsylvania) website, I found this:

Other causes of memory loss include:

• Alcohol or use of prescription or illegal drugs
  
• Brain infections such as Lyme disease, syphilis, or HIV/AIDS
  
• Low levels of important nutrients or vitamins, such as low vitamin B1 or B12

There were other things listed, but some were repetitive from other lists. That's interesting how they referred to Lyme disease as a "brain infection."

Others often cite concerns over memory, so, hopefully, you won't delete this thread. It might get some good replies and be helpful to others.
_

///////////////////////////////
Thanks for your input Dude.
I haven’t discussed this with my Lyme doc lately - because I’m overdue to have an inperson appt - and I have decided I’m not shelling out $5000 to see him.

Thanks for the list of possible causes - the only one could be sleep apnea.
I tried the C-Pap - couldn’t sleep with it on.

///////////////////////////::…..

Sorry you have this issue too, Dude!

Re:head injury.
That reminded me that my head is sore to touch (if I rub it) I first noticed it when I was on the Persisters Protocol which was brutal!

I have a chiropractor appt later today.
When I woke up this morning - I immediately remembered it!!
And I even remembered the time.

Lol -

I was going to add something to this conversation.......but I forgot what it was.

Dudes list is quite complete, a lot to check off.

Is this suddenly worse than It already was? any other cognitive declines? I dont know what your baseline comparison is.

——————

Edit: in addition to my experience below, my memory and ALL cognitive abilities were at an all time low during and a recently after lyme ABX. But my baseline was never that great either in my 5+ decades on this rock. My memory was always less than expected.

And I have no clue whats its like to be completely healthy, ever! So my baseline of everything was always from me actually asking other people and comparing, since my gut instict was that I was never normal in health. Yes, I suspected this even as an adolescent. So it prob was lyme in the 1970's. then it got worse.

-------------------
And, umm, also.......

Well,.......

I have CRS, many people over even just 40 get this. Even if we age well on the outside, memory can still decline.

Many same age colleagues have “Cant Remember Sh/# “ too.

The more im expected to remember, the more i forget.

In my personal life i have post it notes all over. In my work life i tell my colleagues to email important info. That way its also documented, so no more if the “he said she said” BS.

Perfect sleep helps a lot. To little and to much and my brain is out to lunch untill the afternoon arives.

In my case thyroud med is not as natural for the bodies energy, nothing i can do about that though. Iv done all thats possible with thyroid including trying about 10 different thyroid meds in two decades.

I am also NOT an AM person and this cannot be changed.

I remember better, think better and react better once the morning is gone . When I did outdoor endurance competition, sometimes 5-7 hrs long, I excelled at the end. (Thats how I got even with the early birds who excelled in the AM portion, so I had some fun with that to lol. )

Girlie said...
Thanks for your input Dude.
I haven’t discussed this with my Lyme doc lately - because I’m overdue to have an inperson appt - and I have decided I’m not shelling out $5000 to see him.

Thanks for the list of possible causes - the only one could be sleep apnea.
I tried the C-Pap - couldn’t sleep with it on.

Sorry you have this issue too, Dude!

Re:head injury.
That reminded me that my head is sore to touch (if I rub it) I first noticed it when I was on the Persisters Protocol which was brutal!

My pleasure, Girlie.

In addition to the short-term memory issue (or, as Astro called it, "CRS"), I have both types of sleep apnea. I keep telling myself that's the issue, though I don't really have a solution for it. I share your troubles sleeping with a CPAP, as I was never able to sleep through the night with one.

As for your opting-out on the $5,000 trip to see Dr. J., I can understand. If you have the ability to e-mail him or one of his colleagues, maybe it would be worthwhile to have them add the short-term memory issue to your record, so the next time you have an appointment, hopefully they will bring it up and discuss it with you.

You might also want to mention it to your non-Lyme doctor, too.

Girlie said...
I have a chiropractor appt later today.
When I woke up this morning - I immediately remembered it!!
And I even remembered the time.

That's a good sign!

It also mirrors what I sometimes observe in myself. Before bed, I'll sometimes think of something I read online and try to remember the website where I read it. Or, if I have Pandora playing in the background, I'll hear an instrumental tune that I recognize and can hum, but I can't recall the name of the song. But, to no avail, I can't remember it.

The next morning, though, right when I wake, I sometimes go back to what I was thinking about right before bed...and I remember it immediately without any effort. This has happened several times.

Because of my various stressors (like many others deal with, too), I have to believe my constant background worry, stress, anxiety, anger, fear, depression, frustration, and sleep apnea are affecting my memory to some degree.

If you've not yet had a chance to elevate the head of your bed a bit, I recommend giving it a try. Especially since you've been prescribed a CPAP machine.

ref the sleep apnea thing - i am a bit concerned that i have this also

main reason - people in the past have commented that i seem to stop breathing in my sleep - but i know i do also sometimes wake myself up kind snoring or semi-choking

i am tempted to take the dashcam out of my car and set it up in my bedroom overnight to see if i can do my own DIY sleep study - to see if this is the case and just how much -

as per my recent post on the similarities between bartonella (and other tick born infections) and sleep apnea in its affects on the gut (sleep apnea causes pretty dramatic leaky gut through damage to the gut lining from hypoxia ).
so if sleep apnea is present this not a good thing for general health or cognitive health as leaky gut causes many systemic and cognitive symptoms - incl difficulty with executive function and memory.

if it is part of my issue - i am also not too sure what to do about it

-i am pretty sure i could not sleep with a C-PAP thing

but don't really understand the other options well enough

-there are some dental / jaw bracing things that seem to move the resting jaw position to keep the airway open

- have heard of special pillows - again aimed at keeping the airway open

- i'm not overweight or really deconditioned ( these are risk factors for sleep apnea) so thats not really the cause or solution for me

- perhaps there are other ideas i am not aware of

Garzie said...
ref the sleep apnea thing - i am a bit concerned that i have this also

main reason - people in the past have commented that i seem to stop breathing in my sleep - but i know i do also sometimes wake myself up kind snoring or semi-choking

i am tempted to take the dashcam out of my car and set it up in my bedroom overnight to see if i can do my own DIY sleep study - to see if this is the case and just how much -

Personally, I think that's a great idea. There's wearable technology that is supposed to help track such things, but I'm unsure about the quality and validity of the data captured...or, how to properly interpret it.

The fact that you've received comments that you seem to stop breathing in your sleep AND you sometimes wake yourself up kind of snoring and/or semi-choking should already be pretty concerning.

I was diagnosed with both types of Sleep Apnea -- Obstructive and Central. (I began recounting some of my experiences on the topic, but it made me too agitated and I deleted it.) I've tried two oral devices, but they were inexpensive and did not seem to help. My dentist suggested he make a custom oral device for me, but it was going to be at least $600. And, of course, there was no "Money Back Guarantee," if it didn't work.

Anyway, if the option is available to you, I suggest discussing the matter with a doctor. If you have a regular doctor you see, at least have them add a note to your medical record about it.

While in-clinic sleep studies are supposed to be the gold standard, speaking from my own experience with two of them, they are also a difficult place to get any sleep.

I had wires hooked all over my head, the corresponding cable bundle made it difficult to move in bed and also created multiple opportunities to strangle myself, there was a stack of equipment next to the bed with bright LEDs pulsating like a video game, there was light coming in under the door from the hallway, the clinic staff entered the room at least twice, and the room temperature was slightly above that of Siberia...until I called out to the staff (who were monitoring me all night via infrared camera and two-way speaker) to help raise the temperature...which they did...to just a few degrees below that of the Sahara. I never even finished the full night at the second clinic.

As for CPAP masks, in case you don't already know, they have a few different options. There's a Full Mask, a Half Mask, and a Nasal Pillow device. There may be more, but those are the ones I remember. I needed either a Full or Half Mask, as my mouth would open during sleep. If using a Nasal Pillow (goes against the nostrils), then my mouth would open and the air would go up my nose and out of my mouth.

I have a friend that struggled with his CPAP for several weeks, but finally acclimated to it. He says it changed his life. I've heard and read many other such stories. One day, I'd like to try CPAP therapy again. (I have two machines, though the Veterans Administration abandoned me on the matter and Philips also issued a recall on them.)

In the interim, while you figure out things, please consider elevating the head of your bed about 12-15 cm, if possible. While I don't expect that to be miraculous, it could be helpful.

Astro said : “ Is this suddenly worse than It already was? any other cognitive declines? I dont know what your baseline comparison is. “

I know my short term memory was bad throughout the Persisters protocol and has continued on with the Maintenance - so at least 4 years.

Dude said: “I was diagnosed with both types of Sleep Apnea -- Obstructive and Central”

Me too!

What I really want is one of these adjustable beds. They look really comfortable.

VIEW IMAGE

I'm glad you got a laugh. The movie from which that clip was taken was a bit much at times.

That's funny about your husband. You're awake and hearing him snoring. Yet, he's asleep, has no idea he's snoring, yet he disagrees with you.