Quote:
Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse
 You and me both!!! I used to have such a good mind---I read voraciously, had thoughtful discussions with people at all levels of intelligence, and had the memory of an elephant. Now I'd literally forget my head if it weren't attached to my shoulders. I have the attention span of a toddler. I haven't read a book in two years. I even forget sometimes where my hands are supposed to go on the computer keyboard, and then get pissed when I type a bunch of gobbledygook. 
I also lose track of days/dates. It scares me when I get in the car and briefly can't remember where I'm going or why. I have NO short-term memory to speak of and there are sticky notes everywhere. Then I forget to look at the sticky notes. ARRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!
My pdoc has assured me that I don't have dementia, but I wonder sometimes. I've worked with the frail elderly throughout most of my nursing career and I KNOW that a lot of what I experience is eerily similar to dementing diseases like Alzheimer's. I'm only 54 but it's not unheard-of even at my age. But between the bipolar itself and the medications I take for it, it's probably enough to screw with my head without it being due to an organic brain disorder. I hope.  |
I agree with your pdoc that it isn't dementia or alzheimers. There is a really good link I was given when I took the cognitive function test and it goes over how decline in cognition is actually part of having mental illness such as bipolar or schizophrenia and even depression.
It is exactly why I think that they should not call bipolar and depression "mood disorders." They are functional disorders. The moods are part of the symptoms, in my opinion. It would be like calling the common cold a fever disorder instead of a virus. Sure you get a fever and it effects everything going on and you need to take care of it, but that isn't what's causing the cold....
I'm going to warn you that this is very, very long. It took me a long time to read it. But it was 100% worth it. I fit into this so much and it has made me feel better:
Dealing with Cognitive Dysfunction
If it were up to me, this would be given to everyone upon diagnosis of bipolar, schizophrenia, and depression.