Am I losing my mind or what?

[nancyann]

Hello Clarice (kinda spooky since 'Silence of the Lambs', huh ?):

I know that I have to concentrate more on my balance since AN surgery,  but I still believe shifting my brain/medial temporal lobe also has something to do with my memory issues. 

Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[CHD63]

Nancy .....

I get the "Silence of the Lambs" reaction frequently  until the unknowing find out my name is pronounced like it rhymes with terrace or Paris.   

Interesting thought about the memory being related to the brain being shifted.  On my first retrosigmoid surgery 15 years ago on the right side (when I was much younger .... ahem!) I did not notice the memory issues.  However, I went back to teaching school full-time 6 weeks after that one and working with junior high gifted students kept me quite stimulated and could have accounted for some of it.

The AN surgery on the left was a different ball-game, with significantly more balance issues resulting for me.

Clarice

[Syl]

My big problem is remembering people's names. I take up the collection for Lotto tickets. As I'm writing down who's participating and how much they are contributing, I have to ask people's names. These are people I see every day. Now that's frustrating.

Syl

[cin605]

My problem is words directions & what iam doing at the moment ..#s i can not recall.

[anissa]

I've had short term memory problems for a few years now and I'm almost happy its because of the AN, I seriously thought having children was to blame.  Well, it could still partly be...ha ha.  Anyway, I also can't remember people's names at all and I've noticed a couple times when telling my husband about something I'd get to a part where I'd say "and then he picked up the..um...you know, that thing that you hold in your hand and it changes the channels on the TV!".  Its so frustrating when a word just goes away!  That happens a lot.  Or I'll just randomly forget the PIN to my debit card for an hour.  I'm a real case.   

[Cheryl R]

I have always wondered but never asked my dr if left sided ANs cause more cognitive issues than right.      My first 3 surgeries were on the right and the last one which I just realized was 11 mos ago today was on the left and my memory problems have been worse since this last time.   It is so maddening when some easy word is just blank.      Anyone I am around much knows possibly why in my case.                  Just one more AN annoyance!
                                                          Cheryl R

[leapyrtwins]

I have always wondered but never asked my dr if left sided ANs cause more cognitive issues than right. 

That's a good theory, but if it's true, I'm an exception to the rule (or maybe I'm just special) 

I work with numbers for a living and have no memory issues along those lines since my AN surgery.  I'm also very good at names and always have been.  The biggest problem I have post op is mixing up words.  My mind thinks one thing, but my mouth says another.  It's almost like my mouth just can't keep up with my brain   

There is usually some connection between the wrong word (the one I say) and the right one (the one I meant to say).  I've found that if I'm thinking about or looking at an object and talking about something completely different, the object I am thinking about or looking at is the one I say.  For instance, if I'm looking at or thinking about a bird but discussing a car, I'll say "bird". 

Strange    Gets me weird looks from the person I'm conversing with too! 

Jan

[cin605]

I can see where your bird stalling would get you a look!

[leapyrtwins]

I can see where your bird stalling would get you a look!

LOL.  I've also mentioned to my kids that I'm going to "get the bird washed" and "pull the bird into the garage". 

Sometimes they think I've lost my mind in addition to half of my hearing 

Jan

[Kaybo]

Jan~
I do that EXACT thing - it was the worst when I still taught and I would be thinking or had last talked to "Aubrey" who was the perfect little student but then instead of saying, "Darius! sit down & stop talking!" I would say, "Aubrey! sit down & stop talking!"  Poor Aubrey!  I get left & right mixed up and yesterday & tomorrow and also have trouble thinking of words.  People that I am with all the time help me out.  I don't let it bother me...that's just how I am now!  At least I am here...

K 

[Patti]

i do remember (ha ha) that when i had neuropsychological testing that my reading comprehension was "superior" while almost everything else was "borderline".  the doctor said that it is because you can control the speed of information uptake when you read but not in other situations.  i was told i had slow processing, but not with reading.  patti

[salamander]

I have had some problems with phone numbers.  I went to a doctor appointment one day and saw that I had previously written my home phone number totally wrong.  Not even close. Not even a different known phone number.  Just random numbers.  I also left a message for someone one day and couldn't remember my home phone number. 

I do also lose my train of thought frequently.  My daughters have just looked at me in shock.  It is usually when I am interrupted (like a waitress wanting to take my order) and then I totally lose what we were discussing.  Even after trying to think for a minute, it is just gone.  When reminded of the topic, then it all comes right back. Wierd new normal we live. . .

Samantha

[Catflower]

I'm almost 2 years post of and also have memory problems.  I compensate by writings lots of notes and never leave home without my PDA which I now refer to as my brain .  The thing that bothers me most is the sensory overload I get when I'm trying to shop.  I also have this problem when I'm in a situation where there are a lot of people talking.  It just gets to the point where I have to leave if possible.  I've become quite a hermit because I function best within in the confines of my home.

Linda in WV

[Mickey]

Hi everyone!  I was just wondering on alot of things also being age related? As we get older alot of things happen with our memories, bodies, eyesight, hearing, coordination, and probably alot of other stuff. Just try to put it all into prospective and do all we can to live with whatever the best we can. In any case we are al l together in this journey and its great to confide in each other and mabey even come up with ideas and solutions. Mickey

[leapyrtwins]

You know, Mickey, that was my first suggestion - back on page 1 I think.

IMO age - and stress - definitely play a part in memory issues; and Lord knows both apply to me 

Jan