Memory

[Guest]

Im sure this has been a post topic at some point, but I want to open up discussion about memory issues.

Backing up about two months ago when I was in hospital recovering, I would describe these early days as my brain being like a computer powered down. Yes, I had constant headaches and lightening-like bolts of pain, in spite of morphine and other lovely drugs, but my brain was in sleep mode. For instance, I had lovely flower arrangements brought in by friends and I could identify the array of colors, but my mind didn't want to reach down and identify the types of flowers, ie carnations, lilies or freshia. I was aware of this and put it down to my brain was so busy making necessary repairs that the main storage area was shut down.

Fast forward to today, I find that, on occasion, I can picture a familiar face, but can't attach a name to it. I can see a person in a crowd that I know, but can't bring their name to mind. It's not always a person, it can be a word I'm looking for. There are chunks missing, but once it comes to me (it usually comes to me within a short period of time, I will look it up or someone will tell me), it's back for good. I won't forget that particular person or word again. I know I wasn't like this before the SAH.

I figure it's my virtual file storage cabinet that has been turned over. I'm picking up the papers and organizing them back into their respective files before placing back in the file cabinet.

How's everybody else's files doing?

[Gill C]

I'm lucky in that a lot of my memory is unaffected, there are def hazy bits of hospital especailly in HDU where I slept most of the time I think. I do find I forget dates if they are one offs & have a def problem with time especially if its something out of a regular routine.

I am a lot worse when tired & can forget a word easily, I find the best way is to talk round the word until someone supplies the correct one. In the playground last year I was talking about toys I had bought for Nathans birthday however I couldn't remember the characters name so had to supply Toy Story & not Woody to get to Buzz Lightyear!! It doesn't happen so often now but it does remind me how odd my brain is now! I also can stutter or fall over my words in an effort to get things out, this happened at the last Wessex meet cos I was so whacked out & starting with a bug

[JayKay]

Oh believe me, I know what you mean!! One of my biggest problems was memory - and it appears it still is I am just over 2 years post SAH and although I am a lot better than I was a year ago, I know that my memory still isn't back to what it was. Will it ever be completely? Who knows! I just know it's better so even if it's not perfect, I'll just have to live with it. At least I tend not to leave pans on the stove or taps running now I think the main thing for me was when I started to accept that I couldn't do what I could before. It's still painful at times but accepting it is the biggest hurdle.

You are very early on in your recovery aren't you? Don't worry too much - the brain is amazing and you will come on in leaps and bounds!

[janicegrewe]

My memory is basically ok,but there are times when my thought just leaves and then it is gone and I can not recover it,like I used to do,being able to rethink something and trace it back to my thought,now that is not possible.Just achange that I have to be aware of.Jan

[Winb143]

Hi All,

When I came round after shunt in 2010 my brain clicked into repair straight away but before my shunt...I am told i spoke but I

cannot remember a thing from Aug 2009 til 2010..I was in a dream like state......seeing family,partying with them,singing along

with them..dream? but it was nice to see .all my family who had passed away...

After shunt my brain has improved day by day...No more "Hi Thingy" or whatchamacallit...(So What was I saying..Joke lol)

Seriously my brain is getting better and I hope it keeps on improving....Try remembering songs you used to sing or poems

whatever you enjoy it helps memory..Well mine it did ..we sing talk about old times but I find 2008 to 2010 all a blur...

Love to you All and BTG Many Thanks for being here for my Daughter and Myself

WinB143 xxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Teechur]

If I'm tired or have a headache I'm finding my mind "reboots". It just reminds me of using a computer...going along fine then out of the blue, the screen goes blank and you get the POST beep when it starts back up. It takes a few minutes, and then I can function again.

I remember next to NOTHING from the hospital. Little bits and pieces come back, and pictures make me think I remember things, but I don't remember in a real way what happened. I am told I was perfectly normal in the hospital and didn't act impaired at all.

One thing I notice is that if my brain is rebooting, I need to stop forcing it. If I do then I'll end up with a headache. It is very odd to me that thinking too hard gives me a headache! :shot

I'm thrilled that I'm starting to have periods of not even thinking about thinking, though...just doing without effort. Makes me feel excited about the future!

[janicegrewe]

I too had unusual dreams,mostly funny ones or just plain strange.....i do remember in the early days in the hospital,my brother-in-law and his friend had been there to see me and i remember sheryl saying to take it easy and they would be back,but iI remember it as sitting in a wheelbarrow in a horse barn and i thought why would they come back to this horse barn!I laugh every time i think of it!!Jan

[Sandi K]

I have trouble with word finding but I'm not sure it's associated with memory. I can find the name or word today, lose it tomorrow, and find it the next day and so on. People are always filling in holes for me in my sentences. I'm always saying 'what's that word... You know not credit but the opposite' and someone will say 'debit'.

I have noticed though that I'm missing chunks from my memory from months leading up to the NASAH and afterward. Anything technical or detailed is gone. Including details from vacations so not just work related stuff. I haven't figured out the time period yet, I'm just realizing this as people are asking me about stuff that I have no recollection of at all. Very weird.

Sandi K.

[waterball]

Hi All,

My hubby had his SAH 2009, we have been married 17yrs this year and he does not remember much about our previous life together (very heart breaking) we have a 14yr old daughter who knows as Georgina, does not remember much about her toddler yrs but he can remember stuff before i came on the scene. As for his stay in hospital i was there every day washing him for 3wks and he does not remember, other stuff has gone on in our life since the SAH so without insulting anyone i wonder if it is selective memory loss to get him out of a tricky situation. Life goes on, he is in the gym a lot keeping fit, in the very place that his head went pop (that's how we refer to it). We have good times but also some down times and that is when i leave him to it and not pamper him.

[DawnS]

My memory is much, much improved now. My partner and I used to do memory exercises. Like as soon as I realised that I could remember getting out of bed, Andy would ask me, 'what have we done today?' and I would run through what hot drink we had and who made it, what we'd spoken about etc. Soon enough, I could remember the previous day, I was so excited the first time I remembered yesterday! Recently though, I'm finding a few holes appearing again. I will have no recollection of having discussed what we would eat for dinner, sometimes even within half an hour of talking about it. These new holes bother me a little, but I'm trying not to worry about it as this will just make it worse. I hate it when people try to provide a word for me because if the give the wrong one, it scrambles my thoughts all over again and I have to start from the beginning again. I get stuck on words beginning with certain letters, like 'o' 'w' and 'l', I'm becoming very adept at finding another word for the same thing but starting with a different letter

[goldfish.girl]

I find that using the same technique as Sandi mentioned helps enormously - I say all the words that relate to the one I can't find & someone supplies the word I am looking for! When I'm on my own it really frustrates me that I can't 'get' the word I want.

I also find myself doing something I hate as it is so bad mannered - I interrupt others when they are speaking to tell them what's in my head because I know if I don't get it out there, it will disappear - it is so rude of me but I do explain that I am sorry & I will lose the thought if I don't say it......

In the early days I said cucumber when I meant caterpillar & it became 'the word' I used when I couldn't remember one for a very long time this helped me to laugh about it but only with family & friends - it would've raised a few eyebrows elsewhere I'm sure!

Unfortunately, my memory has not improved after nearly 4 years. My son will ask for a biscuit & I'll say no, I'm about to make your tea, he'll wait 10 minutes & ask again, I know because he can't hide his smile! My memory problem works well for him!!!

It is important to remember though that in the early months of recovery your brain is still re-building itself and memory may not be a lasting issue for everyone who has a SAH.

Michelle x

I also meant to say that I can't remember finer points of the day before unless something significant happened or there is a clue on my calendar.

Edited March 16, 2012 by goldfish.girl

[Sandi K]

Oh Michelle I relate to the interrupting thing! I do the very same thing! I apologize and explain but honestly, if I have a point it has to be made or it's gone. Luckily at work I'll often have a notepad with me and I can jot down thoughts and reminders so I can try to sit and wait for my turn- but then sometimes I'm too tired to care by the time it's my turn!

Sandi K.

[MaryB]

My memory was bad before SAH and other bleed now I can use it as an excuse...I say "I am sorry I had a stroke" (because most people understand that better) and I cannot recall your name at the moment.

[Teechur]

I always joke with my kids when I'm staring right at a kid I've spend the last 75 days with, 3 hours a day and completely canNOT remember his name..."Give me a break! I have brain damage! Curse my leaky brain!" They laugh and then I make up a name for him (usually Chuck). It' when I stop trying to remember it that it'll come.

I've found for the most part that being very honest with people helps. Then they are my memory for me. It's not as bad as it was even a week ago, but there are still holes. What I don't like is when people (there are just a few) start with "Remember when I visited you in the hospital?"

"I'm sorry, I remember this time, but I don't recall a lot so I don't remember but I appreciate it."

"No, you have to remember. It was Valentines day, remember?"

"I really don't."

"How can you not remember that day? It was the day before you got out?"

At this point my head is pounding.

"I'm serious. I really don't remember it. I'm sorry!"

So far I've noticed most people are very patient, though. I'll stop talking and stare into space and will realize I'm doing that and say "I'm sorry...what was I saying? I can't think of the word." I was trying to tell my doctor I had had an ulcer on my last ummm....thingy where they stick a thingy down your throat and take pictures. I sat there and sat there and finally said, "I had one of those, you know, things where there is a hole in your stomach?" "Ulcer?" "YES! That's why I can't take the NSAIDs.

The happy news is, though, I have had a few days with MANY hours where I felt completely normal! So wonderful to get that back. Gives me hope that it will soon be here to say! Hallelujah!

[kempse]

Can SO relate to so much that has been written on this thread - would love to tell you about some of my many "memory" incidents - but unfortunately I can't remember them:biggrin: Some of my dislodged memory files work ok - others are beyond repair and need taking out of the cabinet! I am a little concerned that I appear rather stupid/gormless at times at work - colleague asking me various questions about certain incidents at work and I just can't recall it well enough to answer:frown: I seem to be forever saying "sorry, I can't remember" I feel daft when I say it, but it's true.

My daughter has just rung me to ask me to fetch her at 10 past 10 (half an hour away)- I have, as I usually do, told her to ring me again nearer the time to remind me:lol:

Sarah

[Winb143]

I really can relate also....My daughter did what Dawns partner did.....She would make me look at brain book and ask

me questions like what colour jacket did the woman have on..it has all helped me...still remember it was a yellow

jacket ..

Win <~~~Brain of Britain now lol thanks to my daughter xxxxx

Wish I could forget my weight !!

Love to all

Fatty ~ WinB143 xxxx

[Teechur]

Sarah

This is where I find my iPhone absolutely a NECESSITY. I can say "Remind me in 20 minutes to check the bread." and it'll do that. The 4s is amazing. I got it because I "wanted" it. Little did I know what an important role it would play in less than two months after updating. Being able to just push a button and say to it, "Take a note...." or "Remind me when I get home to call the doctor" or "Remind me at 10:30 to email Fred" is invaluable.

[lisac]

I find my memories of my hospital stay very limited too. I'm not even sure some of my memories are correct. They may be a combination

of fact, dreams and things I overheard people say. I'm 7 wks post surgery. I find the occasional loss of word or name too, but what I find

most odd is my recall of the recent past. If I try to remember details of something a week ago, it's like my brain can't focus. Further in the past I'm okay, just the last week or two. Who knows!

A funny story I remember from being in the hospital. A nurse came in and told me she needed to put a picc line in my arm and would be back the

next day to do it. For me, they wanted to be able to draw blood easier - I have memories of them drawing from my feet (not sure if that one is correct!). Anyway, I called my husband to tell him they wanted to put a picc line in because they were giving me lots of IV fluids but they weren't coming

out and they wanted to find where the fluids were going in my body! My husband is GP and knew this wasn't correct, but got a good laugh. I'm not sure how my brain put the that one together!

[kempse]

That, Teechur, sounds like a gift from heaven:-D

Sarahx

PS I did forget to fetch my daughter yesterday, although she did ring me 5 minutes after I should have been there to remind me:roll: Maybe it's time I invested in one of these gadgets!

[Guest]

That, Teechur, sounds like a gift from heaven:-D

Sarahx

PS I did forget to fetch my daughter yesterday, although she did ring me 5 minutes after I should have been there to remind me:roll: Maybe it's time I invested in one of these gadgets!

Love my ipone 4s! The reminder app for all my various medical appointments is invaluable. Just even the ability to tell Siri to make notes is great post SAH. I like the free app italk and I actually record my specialists appointments.

Get one, you won't regret it!!

Sue

[Guest]

Ok. So I worked a half day yesterday. I took my colleague up to re-list a client's rural property and here's a couple of things I learnt.

1. Only I remembered where all the property pin markers and ribbons were located in the heavy bush. Even the owners couldn't find them or remember where they were. I previously had this property for sale 14 months ago. The only time I'm struggling with memory is the short period of time during the early weeks of recovery, for instance: I spent an hour looking for a plastic file folder box that I put away the first week home from hospital. I had a few of these incidents, but it's only for that time period.

2. I'm very much aware of forgetting a word when conversing with others. I feel like I'm in the hot seat when that happens and wonder if it affects my credibility with clients. I'm ultra aware when this happens, but realize that most people my age or older are forgetting things too, even without having had a SAH

As I mentioned, I only need to replace the missing word once, then it appears to be back for good. Let's hope it stays that way!

Sue

[KelBel]

Like Michelle & Sandi I also tend to interrupt people quite often as I think of something, as I know I will quickly forget that thought...

In the early months I forgot I had started running a bath & left pans to boil of over and food would be ruined, but I still have odd times like that now though...

I will be in the kitchen and go through to the front room to get something then I notice something that needs doing in the front room and do that and totally forget what I went in there for in the first place...

The other evening I managed to get in, make myself a cup of tea and put it on the table in the front room...I then went into the kitchen for something else and ended up making myself another cup of tea! That is a first

[Teechur]

So good to hear I'm not the only one who does things like that, Kelbel! I've made myself two cups of coffee at work! Always look on the bright side...better one cup too many than one cup too few!

[goldfish.girl]

There's always a bright side! I often go into my wardrobe and find something I bought weeks before & forgot about - it's like getting new clothes/shoes/bags twice - I definitely don't mind my poor memory when this happens

Michelle xx

[Winb143]

MichelleI Hi

I have doubled my clothes also...lol...wish I doubled the size as half don't fit.......

Keep well all

Love

WinB143 xxxx .

Edited April 14, 2013 by Winb143