What you remember and forget

[valeriedl]

My memory is pretty bad but it's weird about the things that I can remember like it happened just yesterday and things that I don't remember a thing about.

There are some things that I remember before and after I've had epilepsy.

There was a job I worked at before I had epilepsy, that I loved, and I remember it so well that I could probably go back and work there. But there are things that people will tell me about, like vacations, that I don't remember at all.

Since I've had epilepsy there are things that I remember so well, like when my husband saw a UFO or when my friend wore her good shoes (that cost $5) and we were laughing because we were walking through mud and she got them dirty. But there so many things that don't remember at all, I'd give you an example but I don't remember any :roflmao:

I don't know if it could be because the things that I seem to remember are things that I really liked or were very funny and the things I've forgot were pretty much normal.

I don't remember a thing about the guy I had been dating for over a year before I had my first seizure. Maybe I didn't like him?

 

[seizuregirl]

Perhaps it's like selective hearing? When you only hear what you want to hear! It's just selective memory!

 

[arnie]

I think that parts of our "memory banks" just get either completely erased or at least walled off, while other areas may remain "open" far longer than they normally would. Maybe forever. Who really knows?

 

[masterjen]

What is amazing about the typical brain is that we never really forget anything, in the sense that the memory is "gone". Through the nature of brain pathways we just lose the ability to access those memories.

 

[BIGMAN131307]

I believe it is a combination of both selective memory and derailed brain pathways.

You may have bad memories you'd like to forget. While others you want to keep. Sometimes memories can get derailed for some reason or another. There can be things called a brain fart. When you are attempting to remember something very obvious, something that you know you should know. Many times you remember moments, hours, or possibly days later.

 

[Ruth]

I shocked my husband when he mentioned the time our garage was flooded by our water heater. I completely didn't remember it. I take his word for it that it happened.

I remember the time I broke my arm. I had fallen down by WalMart. I walked home and saw a plumber there. I wonder if that was the same time our garage was flooded?

 

[Belinda5000]

I had a good memory and my husband hates that, his is terrible.Except when I was Dilantin.
I took Dilantin for 36 years and it erased my memory,and when I came off it I started remembering things like crazy.I can remember the smallest things . I think it drives my family crazy.

 

[Ruth]

Hi Belinda, I like good news about memory.

 

[CathyAnn31]

I don't remember when my oldest two kids were infants and toddlers and their preschool years are still a little foggy. I forgot so much. It makes me so sad. . This was before I was diagnosed. I'm grateful I do remember more of my youngest sons early childhood.

Now a days, I remember a lot of things that happen in my life however I have a horrible time remembering things/names/spellings that I just saw, seconds before. Like if I'm on CWE and read something I'd like to look into further, I'll open another window and forget what I was going to type into google. Gone. . My hubby often says I'd make a good barista, bartender, waitress, etc.. and doesn't understand when I tell him I wouldn't be able to do it. If I go to a fast food place unless it's our usual order, I'll have to write it down, even if it's just for a few of us. it sucks.

I'm glad it's not just me. I blame it on my meds.

 

[Fedup]

I have forgotten quite a bit and keep being reminded of things but then there is the odd time I can remember.

 

[nic]

After my second seizure I forgot my Daughters name.

I can remember twenty years ago as if it was yesterday..but it will take me a while to remember what I had for tea last night. In my head I feel as if I should be nineteen years old.. Then I try and remember that over twenty years has gone by.. I got old but I can't remember how....

 

[KittyI]

My seizures have gotten worse in the past year, and since then my memory has just disappeared! Im at university and the entire academic year has been like its not happened. I dont remember lectures or books I've read or essays I've been assigned. I can't remember names!

For example, my boyfriend had a job interview at a well known publishing company I interned with for a month. I was asking him where it was and how would he get there etc...and he was very shocked & had to remind me that I had worked there and had been working in the exact same office and department only a year earlier! I was so shocked.

Yet very frequently my mind pulls up obscure and seemingly pointless memories. I could be at work and I am hit with a memory of my childhood basement or something my teacher said to me in 2nd grade. I can randomly remember feelings I've had and smells and what the breeze felt like at a park 7 years ago. It's very unsettling and comes from nowhere.


Yet a specialist telling me that I may have Epilepsy in November was forgotten for months, then I remembered and thought I'd better tell someone and pursue some tests.

The brain is a very odd and surprising thing!

 

[valeriedl]

I have a ton of time remembering what things are called and I can be looking right at it.

It took me forever to remember that president Regan had died. Something about him was brought up on tv about him a few years ago and I asked my husband if he was still alive. My husband told me that he was and we'd watched his funeral procession when it was on tv.

He was brought up on tv quite regularly over the next few months. If they didn't say he was died I'd ask my husband if he was still alive. If they said he was dead I was completely shocked and asked my husband when it had happened.

It went on for so long that my husband thought I was joking around trying to make him mad, which I was, but then he realized that I actually didn't know if he was dead or alive. After a while it finally did stick up there but my husband will still look at me with an evil eye when something comes up about him just waiting for me to ask.

Perhaps it's like selective hearing? When you only hear what you want to hear! It's just selective memory!

If you ask my husband I do have selective hearing! :roflmao:

 

[Carpentergirl]

I think it's a very good comparison to selective hearing because I get accused all the of only "remembering what I want to"....lol ..I can't remember arguments...details...and I suck at trying to prove a point because I can't think quick enough when I need to speak my mind...its' a huge disability...ppl think you don't care, or you're not listening to them because you can't recite everything back to them of what they just said...I am such a walking blank canvas....a dry sponge...unable to soak anything in....I would say thats' about the only thing that gets me down sometimes about my epilepsy....not even the seizures...that constant rubber wall of not being able to retain knowledge and broaden myself as a human being...I have a 12 year old daughter, and she is constantly asking me things about her childhood...and I literally have nothing to say....

 

[Ruth]

It took me forever to remember that president Regan had died. Something about him was brought up on tv about him a few years ago and I asked my husband if he was still alive. My husband told me that he was and we'd watched his funeral procession when it was on tv.

I cannot remember when someone mentioned on TV is dead or alive. I think there are about 5 Presidents that are alive: President Bush, President Bush, President Carter, President Clinton and President Obama.

I forget when someone famous is mentioned on TV whether they are dead or alive. My husband cannot remember either.

 

[1dayatatime]

Memory issues really suck, especially when you have 2 independent teenagers. My son was stubborn, my daughter threw the biggest 4 year pity party, drama queen fit ever. It drove me crazy when my brothers and I would get together and talk about 'remember when we were kids and.....' They are both military so visits are far and few between, different states when they're not out of the country. I'm sure I sound like a broken record but......after I started the Hemp/CBD oil, I was amazed (still am) at the things that are coming back to me. It has been proven to help people with dementia and alzheimer's. It has the omega fatty acid, supplements that are needed for good healthy brain function. Wish I would've known about it before my kids were old enough to think for themselves. They wound up being good people. Just remember...grandkids are a parents revenge!!!