Memory loss advice

[Bumbles]

Hello,

I hope you can help, it's been quite useful reading about other peoples experiences, and I suppose everyone has a different one but I can't seem to relate to any!
Sorry if this is the wrong place to post as well, I'm a newbie...

I do not suffer epilepsy but two weeks ago, I had a reaction to some medication and suffered 4 seizures within 6 hours. I was in hospital when I had them so they 'brought me out' of them (my mums words as I have no memory).

I have never had a seizure before and I seem to be taking a while to recover. The seizures happened on a sunday and I cannot remember anything about the weekend that it happened or 4 days after. I also only have very hazy memories of things that happened up to 4 weeks before. I spent a week in hospital and I have had another week off, and returned to work today and have found my memory loss to be even worse than I thought, I was struggling to remember how to do basic tasks that I have been doing for the past 18 months, I also couldn't remember that I had had a week annual leave, that I had been involved in ssomething that I was going weekly meetings for, and u forgot that I had a job interview a few weeks ago - now I remember that these things happened, I can't actually remember anything about them.
I suffer from chronic depression and have been unable to take any meds because of the muscle breakdown from the seizures so I'm not sure if the memory loss is because of the seizures, stress, lack of medication or a mixture of them all. I usually have a very good memory and it is frustrating me and getting me down quite a bit.

Any help/advice/similar experiences would be very much appreciated. I mentioned it to my doc but she didn't seem to think there was much significance but I dont always explain things properly when I'm talking!

Thanks a lot
Bumbles

 

[Bumbles]

Also....

Also, just to add, I'm really sorry if I am being really ignorant and assuming that the seizures I suffered are the same as epileptic seizures. Please correct me if I'm wrong!!!

 

[epileric]

Welcome Bumbles

What you describe sounds like seizures. I know I have trouble with my memory when I have the larger ones. Of course parts of it slowly come back over time but I never remember the whole thing. Sort of like how I remember dreams.

Has anyone else given you any information as to what might have happened that you can't remember? Have you told any doctor (specialist or not) about what happened? If not I'd suggest you do. If you're diagnosed then we'll teach you the secret handshake.

Also, I did move your post to the foyer so everyone could welcome you.

 

[mel239]

that was the main reason I finally was diagnosed-for months I suffered from memory lapses both large and small-some were seizures and some were what the doc termed interictal.After all these years we are still sorting it out and sometimes I find it really doesnt matter because there is nothing I can do to recover it-at least in my situation-and Im on AED so I just try to focus on preserving every little moment because I never know if I will remember it or not

 

[Bumbles]

Thank you for the advice, I suppose I need to go back to the docs and try to explain a bit further. Do your memories get any better with time or is it a case of them always being a bit foggy or dreamy?

 

[mel239]

I thought mine improved

 

[Nakamova]

Hi Bumbles, welcome!

I found that I've had short-term memory loss after a seizure. The more dramatic or extensive the seizure, the worse the memory loss. My last seizure was particularly intense, and it took me a month or so to shake off the fog.

You had 4 seizures in 6 hours, so that could definitely account for the extent of your memory loss. If you can, keep notes about how you are feeling, and if your memory is getting better, getting worse, or staying the same. It can be helpful to talk to friends and family members to have them "fill in the gaps."

Best,
Nakamova

 

[gabbyg2000]

I have the same reaction. After I "wake up" from one I cant remember one thing. I'll be in a weird place and have no idea who anyone is around me even if it's my parents or friends. It's scary not remembering anything. I have had so many seizures the past 6 months almost one everyday. My brain just couldn't take it. I can't remember how to spell, i can't remember certain words when I'm speaking and I''ll forget what I'm supposed to be doing. It's very frustrating not knowing how to do easy tasks but you just have to work through it and hope for the best
gabbyg2000

 

[gabbyg2000]

yes I think keeping a notebook with you is very helpful. You can write down something you just remembered that you were trying to remember before. Make lists of things you have to do so you don't forget them throughout the day also, if you feel anything weird that you think is a reaction from your meds you can write it down to share with your doc so when he asks you questions you're able to tell him everything.
gabbyg2000

 

[Endless]

Hi, Bumbles,

Welcome to the forum!

I have memory loss from my seizures. Short term and long term. Somebody in here posted a link that explained my long term loss. I was so relieved. My epi said it wasn't seizures. I'm going to find out what he says about this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_epileptic_amnesia

My short term memory loss can be temporary (if it's events before or after the seizure), or permanent (if it's events during a complex partial seizure). My friends and family don't get it. They say, "I forget things, too. It's just part of life." Well, this is different! It's like wiping part of one's hard drive, with military-protocol erasure. When it's gone, it's gone.

Anyway, advice? I don't have any, except to educate your friends and family about what happens and what the process is, so they can be supportive and understanding.