I know there are lots of threads on memory issues, but this seems far more than forgetfulness or absent minded... I dont just forget where i put my keys or to go to an appointment. I dont remember when I ever had the keys last or having driven. (I cant drive currently due to meds)
It's like the hard drive was wiped clean. I can not only forget a conversation, I can forget having seen/talked to someone, a whole span of hours, or even having done things and surprised to find things done and in my handwriting. My husband works third shift and when he wakes up when the kids get home from school - I will begin talking to him, as if we'd never talked since he left the night before, and we'd had the exact conversation, as he can tell me more details than i can remember having even known myself about a subject ! It's not just important things, like when I forgot I shaved and I got in the tub to find i had already done it - and apparently within the last 24 hours.
Am I going out of my mind? Should I wonder if it's more than "Chiari's Crazy Confusion" or the triple C effect :-)
I just joined this site and ran across this discussion and wanted to see if you ever got an answer. The reason I ask is because I do similar things. When I was working, I would drive to and from work and never remember the drive. Last November I drove from Indiana to Arkansas for Thanksgiving and forgot that I had drove. I didn't remember driving and thought my brother had. It took my whole family telling me that he had slept because of working until 4 that morning for me to finally believe that I had to of drove, but I still don't remember it. He said we even stopped 3 times along the way, but I don't remember it. I take showers and think that I washed my hair, until I dry it and realize that I didn't. All my meds are set in my phone on an alarm to go off when I need to take them because I will forget them if I don't, and I have to check it if I'm going to be leaving the house and take them with me, because I won't remember them when I get back if I don't. Anything that has to be bought at the store has to be written down as soon as it pops in my head. All appts. go in my calendar as soon as they are scheduled and it is checked every morning, first thing. I even have an alarm that goes off to remind me to feed my son because I forget to eat myself and when I don't eat, I'll forget to feed him. Last week I blamed my son for doing something with my sunglasses, which I can't go outside without, for 2 days because the last time I saw them I had layed them on the tv then when I went to get them they were gone. I just knew he had done something with them. He's 2 and just kept saying "no mommy, no had glasses." But I knew he had. Then my neighbor called and asked me if I was missing a pair of sunglasses. I completely forgot about going over there and going through some clothes she had and wearing them over there! Is it Chiari or something else?? I don't know, but I'm going out of my mind!!!
Hi Poptart. I was having the problems I listed before I started taking any meds so I know it isn't from any of them. I assumed it was the Chiari "fog".
Poptart said:
I would get with my doctor and report this to him. This very well could be caused by your meds. Sometimes medicines affect your ability to remember stuff. You could have something wrong with you but you may just need a medication change. This is really not normal but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is devastatingly bad or anything. You do need to go in though. Also if you are extremely busy, have a lot going on, or under an extreme amount of stress you may forget things and it might feel like you are losing your mind. The good news is that you are conscious of the change in you memory as opposed to just fumbling around and not noticing any difference which would be so much worse. Chiari can affect your ability to focus but folks without Chiari do the same things that you have mentioned. There are some tests and stuff that they can do to see if you have any type of dementia kicking in. Your doctor is going to have to rule out some other stuff. I would ask myself if I was trying to do about a zillion things a day and how chaotic my life was also. Good luck
I checked into my meds and some of the issues stemmed from meds… Others I seem to just be stuck with.n I have switched two of my medicines and improved somewhat, but I still have trouble concentrating and driving makes me nervous. I can’t do more than 15 solid minutes in a stretch. The fog overwhelms me and is made worse in the extreme heat we have right now. I almost feel like I’m blanking out, just not as often as before. So I’m not sure it’s all meds. Thanks so much for responses. I’ve found them very helpful and oddly comforting.
This happens to me too. Sometimes in between conversations. The thought just…disappears. Or I’ll repeat constantly. Happy to know I’m not alone in this.
I am sure I don't have any answers here and haven't received any from doctors either regarding my memory loss issues. I have recently lost days. The broken memory did return and I can remember the confusion now. What your saying is a familar day to me. I keep a journal with a hand written note to myself telling me about myself and life. Just a page. I journal for 20 minutes everyday ...just the highlights. It does look/act a bit like dementia. Most of my memories are not lost forever just hidden at times I think. I am very lucky to have the circle of support I have around me. I know my memory issues do get worse when I get to hot or am under an unusual amount of stress. I am 12 years now since diagnosed with out surgery. I have my tools in place and I have accepted it all as Chi... oh I like that the tripple C.. yes I love that... it is the tripple C isnt it?! hehe... I hope you are doing well and possibly the tools I use will help you in your day to day.. be well! =)
I have terrible memory problems, confusion, and frequent unconsciousness. It is very frightening. I was sure I had dementia. A doctor I saw said that if it was dementia it would be mostly the same most of the time. In my case it varies wildly- sometimes I am perfectly fine. The doctor said that since my level or consciousness and cognitive function varies so, it is most likely that it is a change in the physical state of my brain. Pinching, compression, csf flow problems. I am praying that my upcoming surgery will resolve these problems.
