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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Ch and Memory
        
(Message started by: Gator on Sep 15^th, 2004, 11:56pm)

Title: Ch and Memory
Post by Gator on Sep 15^th, 2004, 11:56pm

I have a major problem. Well, my wife says it's not a "major" problem, but it's not happening to her. I am forgetting things. Not in the forgetfullness type way you forget where you put your keys or something like that. I am forgetting entire events and conversations.

An example: Today at about 3:30, my 17 year old son talked with me about buying a truck. He says we talked for some time with me asking questions about the vehicle and commenting pro and con about it. He further says that he bugged me about it off and on all day afterwards with little things he had learned about the truck. This was substantiated by my wife. About 10 pm he told me he was going to go look at the truck tomorrow. I didn't have a freaking clue what he was talking about. I still do not remember the conversation. I asked him if it was one of those things where he was talking and thought I was listening, but he was adament about the fact that I asked questions and made comments about it.

Another example: I take a very active interest in my 15 year old sons musical abilities and aspirations. A few weeks ago, my wife, my son and I were talking about him getting lessons for his bassoon to help him with the local and state contests coming up. During the conversation he referenced having taken Baritone Sax lessons last summer. I do the finances for the family. I cringe at every unnecessary penny spent, well okay I admit it - the necessary ones too. What can I say, I'm a tight wad. Point is, I would know whether I paid for lessons, except I don't remember him taking lessons.

These are just two examples of parts of my life I have lost forever, there are more.

I NEED to know if this is something anyone else here has experienced. Is/was it ch related or medication related? How long did it last? Did you ever get over it? Did the memories return?

Help me, please.

Gator

Title: Memorex or Memory
Post by Mr. Happy on Sep 16^th, 2004, 12:20am

I dunno, Gator. I get the same crap from my future Ex-family. They telll me I don't remember squat........but.......I carry a pocket notebook and a pen. Several people can witness this. The big stuff is penned in ink. All the rest is cast aside as chaff. I don't trust them as far as I can exhale with my _good_ lung.

It's a damned conspiracy, I say.....
RJ

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by sailpappy on Sep 16^th, 2004, 1:07am

;;DGator.
I had a very similar problem back in the early 80's or was it the late 70's. My neuro had me on Lithium as a trial(Failed Miserably) in an attempt to level out my mood, his theory was no Highs or Lows would stop my attacks.
I experienced the same exact problem, could not remember taking money from the account, could not remember where I left the tool belt with my daily work tools. Could not remember getting on to the kids for cutting up and did it over and over. when I was told by my Wonderful Wife:Terri that I needed to talk to the Doctor about things, well he did some testing and immediatly pulled me off the Medication, took 10 years to recover most of my memory----------Errrr, what was I saying?? Unless your smoking a whole bunch of GatorWeed you might better get to the Doctor about it!
I have been told that sometimes extreme stress will also cause this! Pappy
Or are you just an airhead???HeHeHe!
http://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gifhttp://www.gifanimations.com/action/SaveImage?path=/Image/Animations/Animals/ocean-life/air_bubbles2.gif

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by lionsound on Sep 16^th, 2004, 1:12am

Gator,
This worries me. You need to get this checked out.

Do you have any other symptoms with it?

I get memory and speech problems with my headaches......usually a migraine pro-drome/post-drome kind of thing, that's what the docs call it for lack of anything else. Though I've had them with CH too. Sometimes it happens without pain at all. A few times with motor control wierdness. It is VERY scary and very frustrating.

The first time it happened it was the same thing.....my husband didn't think it was a huge deal and I was upset and unnerved. My brain was skipping things. I was forgetting conversations, and after that doubting my abliity to remember anything.

It still comes and goes in waves. My head is just a neuro party. I never get over it, just get used to it. The memories return because my husband puts them there.

Never did figure out if it was meds or not. My neuro was very worried about me when this first happened and it took him a few days to really think about it and try and solve the puzzle. He had no instant answer.

This is worth investigating. It could simply be meds. This worries me a lot because it's new for YOU and the music lessons are such a large something to forget.

Again, please get this checked out...at least a phone call. You might make you feel better if you do.

-lionsound

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by kimh on Sep 16^th, 2004, 7:51am

Gator,

i definitely think that ch affects memory and in a BIG way. In my case it is short term memory. When i am in cycle i can't remember SHIT! I laugh it off but it does concern me. When out of cycle it is not too bad but still a problem. When IN cycle, it's absolutely awful. I can't even remember half the time if i took my medicine or not.

I know this subject has been discussed on these boards b4 but i think it's a good idea to get more current posts about it. I betcha there is a BIG majority of ch'ers with memory problems.

Well wishes and PFDAN

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by Svenn on Sep 16^th, 2004, 8:00am

Having simular problem here Gator.Been at the hospital for several tests about it,but nothing to do.
Only thing they said was no danger

Svenn

The comfortable thing to know is that you`re not alone :) :) :) :)

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by Tom K on Sep 16^th, 2004, 10:39am

Funny you bring this up, Gator. I was going to but actually fogot. No Kidding! I was in a meeting the other day, working at a school, you tend to watch what words you use, so you don't sound like an idiot. Well, that went right out the window. I ended up just sitting there because about 5 times in a simple sentence, I couldn't remember the word I wanted to use and then where I was going with my comment. I am in cycle so I don't know if this is because of that. I don't remember it happening before and my wife always accuses me of not remembering stuff she tells me. Thought it was selective listening, but maybe it is not! What a great excuse! Not to make light of what you are saying, but I would check it out with your neuro.

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by Biker on Sep 16^th, 2004, 10:40am

I am glad to learn I am not the only one with CRS!!!!! Thought I was getting old timers disease. The little lady calls it "selective memorie" but crs means just that.
Cant Remember Shit. I think it has more to do with thinking about the next episode than anything else. I often become pre-occupied worrying about the next hit.
I also think the medication has alot to do with my inability to remember alot. There are times I forget to take my verapamil. But WTF???? CH has changed my life. I seem to constantly fear the next attack. I often find myself anticipating another dance. I believe I spend more time waiting on the "next one" than living life the way I use to.
When the CH starts, I cannot think of anything but the pain. Once into the attack, I think of lots and lots of things, but that is only trying to excape the pain. The devil in my head has become the constant that I deal with. It is no wonder to me that other things become minor.
I also have learned to carry around a pen and pencil. I have to write the important stuff down, or I miss appointments. I find myself talking to folks who act as if they have known me for years, but cannot remember their names. Come to think about it, I cannot remember what I did on Monday, but yet, on Saturday, I attended the motorcycle hillclimbs.
Is it caused by the meds? Is it selective memory? Is it middle age? Or is it Cluster Headaches? I have no idea. CRS kinda sucks too.

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by marfanoidus on Sep 16^th, 2004, 2:16pm

I should feel ashamed to find so much comfort in the distress of others ;)

Hey kimh, I do exactly the same thing. Since February 23 of this year, I have gone through a separation, a grandmother passed away, about 3 months of a CH cycle, various trainings at work and officiating, and I have almost no memory of any of it. I woke up a couple weeks ago and said to myself "where the hell have the last 6 months gone?"

They are blurred into a diaphanous mass, void of detail.
One time, I even looked at the O2 canisters in my bedroom and briefly wondered where the hell the came from and why they were there.

I'm even having conversations more than once because the first one is completely gone from my memory. And sometimes, there is the slightest hint that I've had the conversation before and my mind struggles to identify the similarity but cannot.

Ahhhhh. So nice to know I'm not alone.
Oh, and I'm sorry all of you have to go through it. :D

good luck to you all,
walt

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by vig on Sep 16^th, 2004, 2:17pm

memory problems galore when CH is hitting me.
If I get hit during the day at work, I WON'T remember where I parked my car in the morning.

If somebody tells me something while I'm being hit, it doesn't even make it into the brain to be recalled later.

The good news is that when the CH clears, memory returns.

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by Karla on Sep 16^th, 2004, 2:21pm

I have had this problem twice in my life. The first was when I was diagnosed with epilepsy. People would say that they had conversations with me and I wouldn't recall it. It sucked. Now years latter I no longer have epilepsy. However, during the last 4 years I have had the same problem reacurr where I don't recall conversations or events. My dr and shrink have contributed it to depression and my mental status. I have been cluster free for the last 5 months and they have been the worst months I can remember ever for not remembering stuff. Consult your dr on this.

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by rubberplant on Sep 17^th, 2004, 9:32am

Yeah,

My memory is shot, I take 8 tablets a day for epilepsy. I can take the morning dose and forget almost immediately whether I have taken them or not.

It's not just the tablets I forget. I did put it down to the meds themselves but now I wonder whether it's the CH or epilipsy or maybe at 28 I have begun premature dementia!

James

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by IndianaJohn on Sep 17^th, 2004, 5:19pm

I always chalked it up to being an ex pot head....

Title: Re: Ch and Memory
Post by yikes_another_one on Sep 17^th, 2004, 7:46pm

I know we have all done the thing where you come to work, thinking it is Thursday, all day, even though it is Wed...

But an attack can make me totally loose track of all of it.

I am like the rest of you smart people,
Pad of paper and pen in hand....
problem is, I keep runnign out of ink....lol

I wonder if it is more the pre-ocupation / depression /fear

i mean I do wonder when the next attack comes.
Even a toothache makes me wonder -"Is it gonna get worse?"

Maybe our minds really do get over loaded...

maybe CH is a form of epillepsy...

Who is out there doing the research?
Who is tracking our memory problems?

Most doctors don't care, as long as you won't "die" from it.
Here's your pill, next patient please....

ugh!
TJ