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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> DHE and Memory??
        
(Message started by: LindsayLoo on Aug 17^th, 2007, 9:59pm)

Title: DHE and Memory??
Post by LindsayLoo on Aug 17^th, 2007, 9:59pm

While I was on my little hiatus from you guys, as some of you know, I was in the hospital for a little over a week because I couldn't get a grip on these demonic curses.

I have no recollection of ANYTHING that went on while I was there and for about 3 days after I got home. I don't know how I got home even, well, i do now obvioulsy lol.

It all started as me being seen in ER and I made them try EVERYTHING before narcotics, nothing was working so I gave in to Diluadid (sp?) after about 4 hours. It worked right away, I was doing fine. Then, I guess, as I was being discharged (had papers in hand) something must have happened where I ended up being admitted.

Now, I have tried to get answers as to what happened to me but no one person really knows (teaching hospital).

Could this be related to the treatment somehow?Anyone know?

I got my discarge papers obviously and read them a few days later and it listed all the meds i was getting while in there they included:

DHE, Dilaudid, Caffiene drip, nicotine patch, verapamil, depakote and some others I can't remember.

I even had an eye patch on that I found in my overnight bags like a week later.

The one other thing that concerned me that was on my dc papers...

"Call blah, blah Mental Health Clininc for Psychiatry appoint as soon as possible".

WTF??? What did I say or do to warrant that?? I even called the clinic to see why I was referred but again, they didn't know.

What the hell happened to me in there??

I was just wondering if the memory loss has happened to anyone else from DHE? I lost a week of my life, literally.

Thanks,
Lindz

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by Brewcrew on Aug 17^th, 2007, 10:09pm

I've done the IV DHE thing twice, and aside from being extremely bored, I can remember just about everything.

Was DH there? Does he function as your health care power of attorney? I'd think that he should be able to help you fill in the blanks.

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by LindsayLoo on Aug 17^th, 2007, 10:17pm

He was there when he could be but mostly at night (well that's what he says anyway) he just started the police academy when i went in and had to take care of our girls too so he wasn't much help to me. My parents have Med power of attorney esp since my dad is a doc. They couldn't get up during the day because while Dh was at work they had the girls (2 under 2) but my day did call regularly to check on me but all he knows is what went on with me from a medical stand point. Noone really witnessed my behavior or anything, I guess when they were there I was passed out. My mom did say that in the 1st few days I got a massive attack and demanded and begged for (while pulling hair out) Red Bull and the nurses looked horrified at the pain I was in and called the Neuro on call and ran to the vending machines to get one. I asked if I was nasty to them and she said considering the pain, No. They knew it was the pain talking at the time. I felt awful, I sent the nurses station a card after I got out, appologizing if I mistreated them. I started the caffiene drip that night I guess lol.

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by rolo65 on Aug 17^th, 2007, 10:38pm

The K10's wipe my memory after days on end, but no DHE related memory problems though. It's natural for your brain to oppress the memories of such agonizing pain! The DHE just wipes you out physically not mentally in my experience.

PF wishes!

Rolo.

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by UN solved on Aug 18^th, 2007, 10:52am

DHE will not affect your memory. The narcotics are the more likely culprit. Maybe even the Depakote ... but not the DHE.

I've done it a gazillion times. I even done a 1mg 'push' yesterday. (I'm in the hospital right now!). some of the anti-nasuea meds might have an affect on memory as well.

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by Brewcrew on Aug 18^th, 2007, 12:02pm

on 08/18/07 at 10:52:51, UN solved wrote:

Good call. I didn't even think of the other meds affecting memory.

Now who are you again? ;)

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by UN solved on Aug 18^th, 2007, 4:26pm

LOL Brew ! I'm just a newbie looking for a cure :P

UNsolved

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by Karla on Aug 18^th, 2007, 5:07pm

When mine get really bad and I need a break I will go get a shot of 4mg of dilaudid. It will guarentee me at least a three day pain free break. It always knocks me out to a sleep state. I wouldn't be to offended by the referal to see a shrink. I know at the pain clinic I go to they have a team approach. My pcp dr., my neuro, and a phyciatrist. When you suffer from chronic pain that is this severe and never lets up it wears on you and can cause people to committ suicide or at least contemplate it. It can cause you to go a little crazy. It is been very helpful for me to have a shrink it really helps take the stress off.

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by rolo65 on Aug 18^th, 2007, 7:55pm

on 08/18/07 at 17:07:39, Karla wrote:

When you suffer from chronic pain that is this severe and never lets up it wears on you and can cause people to committ suicide or at least contemplate it. It can cause you to go a little crazy. It is been very helpful for me to have a shrink it really helps take the stress off.

I told the nurse clinician I needed help (because I was feeling that way) and she told me if I was going to do it she would have to call 911. They just don’t understand what it’s like at the end of the rope! I’m not letting them come take all my guns so I keep it to myself now. The psychologists are just as bad. The MAPS pain clinic here in Minneapolis is a big F”n joke!

I now know the psychologists are just crazy. Imagine if you were actually mentally ill, what it would be like under their care. The only solution to this problem for me has been to read and post on this site, and to feel the camaraderie of others who really understand where you are coming from. :'(

My perspective is that YOU (all) guys are the greatest!

Roland. :(

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by starlight on Aug 18^th, 2007, 11:45pm

I think Unsolved hit the nail on the head about the narcotics being the probable culprit.
Some narcotics, I believe, can cause amnesia--I don't know if they would be used to treat cluster pain but they are used for operations sometimes to help a person to relax. Maybe they used someting strong there to help with the pain.
I am sorry that you had such an unpleasant experience with memory loss--that has to be really upsetting.

Title: Re: DHE and Memory??
Post by Corax on Aug 19^th, 2007, 5:18am

Most likely the memory loss was a combination of the narcotics and the pain. They probably had you sedated a lot too. I know my memory is like swiss cheese just from the pain. I don’t have any preventatives to blame it on like Topomax, so either my brain is going or it’s the pain. And when I’m in remission my memory is fine… or at least it was during my last remission nearly 5 years ago (sigh).

Pain free wishes

Corax