Migraine

I am becoming very unhinged. I can't remember my address, my phone number, what I am doing and what appointments I have. And when to take my medication, if I already did take it. It is very fustrating and so I put what pills I should take and appointments I made on the calendar. Then I forget to, or forget to mark down the time.

And so it is I forgot to take a med, took in now, but since I forgot to ckeck it off the calader yesterday it is entirely possible I forgot to then as well. And I have a chiro appointment tommorow, but no idea what time it is at. I have a new drivers licence, which I forgot to renew right away, which also has the wrong address, because for the life of me I could not remember it at the time, and I guessed wrong. I in fact forget it I have posted this already.

My memory has been deteriorating a lot too since my migraines became chronic. Some of it has been the meds. Topamax made me so bad I had to give up driving, or I would have had an accident. Right now I'm on meds that shouldn't affect my memory at all, but I'm still having great difficulties. When I asked the doctor about it, they said it's probably because I've also become a depressed because of the chronic migraines and that depression can lead to memory problems. I honestly don't know what is causing my problems: the migraines, the meds, or the depression.

I've been compensating by keep a detailed schedule book and by using pill boxes. Each day I have to remind myself to look at my scheduler, that way I keep up on what I need to do that day. I also use pill boxes to remember what days I've taken my pills. It's the first thing I do when I get up in the morning, which helps me to keep consistent with taking them. In the past, though, I've had to set an alarm clock up in my bathroom to remind me to take them at certain times.

My doctor calls it benign neglect - you have other, more important things on your mind. I used to be that way, too. As my regimine began working and my migraines decreased, I got better.

It's frustrating when you're going through it, but take heart that it's not permanent.

quote:

Originally posted by Myth:
I am becoming very unhinged. I can't remember my address, my phone number, what I am doing and what appointments I have. And when to take my medication, if I already did take it. It is very fustrating and so I put what pills I should take and appointments I made on the calendar. Then I forget to, or forget to mark down the time.

And so it is I forgot to take a med, took in now, but since I forgot to ckeck it off the calader yesterday it is entirely possible I forgot to then as well. And I have a chiro appointment tommorow, but no idea what time it is at. I have a new drivers licence, which I forgot to renew right away, which also has the wrong address, because for the life of me I could not remember it at the time, and I guessed wrong. I in fact forget it I have posted this already.

I used to be able to keep track of anything and everything without calendars and little pill boxes and the like. Not anymore. I "live" out of a small calendar book, and my meds are in the weekly little containers, and placed where I'll run into them, and so can't forget them. One quick glance will tell me if I remembered to take my meds or not. Did you know they make daily pill containers that actually have alarms on them?

I think I probally should invest in a weekly pill box, because it is getting pretty difficult to determine what I have taken. At the moment it is my thyroid med, but when I get back on a preventative then it will even more pills to remember. I think maybe an daily organizer might be a good investment as well.

Well I have no problems with depression and I am not on any meds that could affect my memory.
And me anyway, it is not my having plenty to do, since right now I have plenty of time on my hands. I think it is just the lingering pain and the overall fatigue from the conistent migraines. Either I cannot sleep at all or I sleep fourteen hours. And I have not been eating all that well, so that can't help. Whatever the cause it is hard to compensate for.

It is terribly embarassing to forget your own birthday. I mean I said the wrong date of birth to my HR department, then said 'wait that is not right' *long pause* and then it kicked in. Which I guess is better than messing up my phone number and address and gicing it out to people. Or phoning my doctors office, thinking it was my neurologists, and having a long conversation with the nurse, which was confusing to her since she had no idea what I was talking about.

Migraine and thyroid ick both can play games with memory. Mine's not so spiffy some days. It definitely gets annoying.

Even though I am off Topamax my memory is still not that great. I don't think that I had a great memory to being with. But What I have done to help me is to keep a daily Migraine Diary and in that include what my medication's are and then mark an X or a checkmark next to the name of the medication so I know that I have done so. I find that doing that has helped my memory better. Because it becomes such a habbit and helpful.

I do have more problems with memory, but try to write things down. I don't usually forget my address or phone number, but when in a migraine attack it seems like I definitely have a harder time. I do forget things like phone numbers, or names of my people that I should know.
Karen

Topamax RUINED my memory! I took it in high doses about 4 years ago and still have blank spots from that time. There is a lot of stuff that was fuzzy still from that time. I had to quit floor nursing because I was afraid I would kill someone.
Ive had chronic migraines for 10 years and besides that topamax issue I still have memory problems. And I cant remember simple words or recall what something is. Im not on any prescription meds right now except for BC, my pain pills. Everything else is vitamins/suppliments. I have a new med to start tonight.
Its frustrating to have these issue and only be 28.

I've always had a problem remembering peoples' names. Faces I can remember, but not names.
What with two houses, three daughters, 3 dogs, 5 cats, 5 vehicles, & possible job loss, migraines & CFS to contend with, my memory is absolutely shot.
DH is really pushing to get us moved into the other house & get this one sold, as we really can't afford 2 houses, but I just can't keep up. Does he understand? Not only no, but H@}} NO!
Even with making lists (whiteboard markers on the bathroom mirrors are very helpful), I still forget to make phone calls, pay bills, etc. 99% of the bill paying falls to me because he works 8-5, & I work 7:30-3. Yet, I still manage to louse things up.
I've been on various antidepressants for about 20 years, & been treated for migraines for 10 years. I've had memory problems all my life. My daddy died from Binswanger's Syndrome - Multi-Infarct Dementia in 1994. So, every time I forget something, I think "Oh, dear, here we go!"
Rebecca

My memory has gotten progressively worse...which is probably due to having really long basilar migraine these past 6 mos or so...my basilar migraines typically last between 5 days to 3 1/2 weeks, occasionally shorter... plus I have had increased hemiplegic migraines (that usually last several hours to 2 days at most)...plus morning migraines.

I was on Topamax for about 3 1/2 mo, which made my already crappy memory even worse. Since I have been off of it, some of my long term memory has come back, but my short term is shot. Frequently, I go do something & then forget what I was supposed to do. I have a hard time remembering what I did throughout the day & what happens week to week, friends' names, names and words I used to know have, are more difficult to recall, things I have learned about this past year are gone...
this concerns me because I got fired from my teachign job & wonder what kind of teaching job I can get, now that my memory & dysgraphia (writing disability) have gotten progressively worse??

I still forget my home phone #, making phone calls, pay bills, etc...but this occured way before Topamax & my migraines getting worse.

I do blame Topamax (among other things including my former nuerologist telling me to take a triptan) for worsening my memory & triggering my seizure-like episodes & paresthesia...I don't think that med has been safely tested & approved of for people with complex migraines, sleep disorders & complex history, imho.

This wery interests question.

For me, I no sure.

Mine memorie is no godt. No at aall. But I tnk for me it has more to does wit the brains bleed fra anneurysm I dids has. So hards to tell on me.

But fra reads others replies sounds likes it could be wery possibles.

Sollie

I have these blank spots in my life. Friends & family have gotten to the point where as they recall something, they ask if I remember any of it. I too have a huge time span when on Topamax that is just gone from memory. Between the preventative meds & the pain meds it's a wonder I remember anything at all. So sorry to hear that your situation is as it is. Almost makes you wonder if the cure is worse then the disease sometimes?.?

i'm sorry you're experiencing this. i have it to some degree as well; can TOTALLY relate to the medicine question - did i take it already? that's scary.

sometimes i just tell my husband that i think the migraine has eaten my brain!

Myth -
You obviously aren't alone here. We all have HOLES in our heads from the migraines or associated ailments...

One interesting thing... I went to a doc and complained about my constant memory problems. He sent me for this "neuropsychological" testing, that actually showed most of my problem was with my "processing" not my memory. According to this test, I can't get the information INTO my head at all, which could certainly explain why I don't remember it ever happening!!!

I called the poison control center on myself three times before I gave in a bought the pill box. Go buy it.

And, I highly recommend a house-full of post-it notes. In BRIGHT colors to capture your attention if it's important.

I'm 38 going on 98.