Confusion and cognitive abilities

My other thread was getting pretty long, so I think a fresh topic needs a new thread.

I have been getting so confused lately. Someone can ask me a simple question and I just can't think my way to an answer. I can't really describe it, but I don't like it. I know where I am and what day it is, so it isn't disorientation, but I just can't seem to figure anything out of make a decision or a plan for anything, simple or otherwise.

My husband has noticed it too.

Anyone else get this? Were you able to do anything to help?

It could be depression setting in. That's how I get. People will talk to me and I don't even understand the words, it's like it doesn't even process. Alternatively, you might have a med issue. Dunno if you take meds, but some of them can cause cognitive impairment. My lithium does that to me.
Hope this helps.

Yes, I have noticed similar in myself. I also have a terrible memory. I get totally lost in a conversation. I'm finding it's taking a LOT of energy and concentration to try have a conversation with someone.

Don't rule out a physical cause, either, like hormones or thyroid. If you haven't had a complete physical in a while it might be a good idea.

I agree about getting your thyroid, vitamin B, vitamin D all checked, etc.
And tell your pdoc to address whether it might be a side effect.
But, in my experience, this sounds like depression setting in. To fight it, I try to to "engrossing" things that require little effort, only enjoyment, like: watch my two favorite movies: Muppets Treasure Island, and Shrek. (and this time of year, I watch Muppets Christmas Carol); go for walks--with the dogs, who don't require conversation; scan MSN news on my homepage....look at recipes in cookbooks (but I avoid actually cooking because I can't keep track of the recipe items or steps, grrr); stuff like that.

Fortunately I see my p-doc tomorrow so I can bring this all up with her.

I can relate. I'm in school and I can't keep up with the lecture. Just realized I forgot to make a car payment. My boyfriend swears I repeatedly ask him the same questions over and over again. I don't know what to attribute it to.

Let me know what your pdoc says.
I was just reading a thread, where I posted on 8 December, and I really don't remember writing it, or at least half of it...
Arg; that's so frustrating!

P-doc wants to go back to Lamictal. I was with a different p-doc the first time I tried it and had a reaction. We want to see if the reaction was a coincidence or if it was a real reaction. I am going to start the starter pack tonight. I am to report anything out of the ordinary.

She mentioned that I should go to my regular doc and see about the heartburn and some of the other physical symptoms.

Wanted to chime in since I have had this going on for the past month and I have had a depression AND thyroid issues going on along with D and C issues. Have not been able to answer questions and have been completely "lost" for a better word. They are fixing all my out of whack hormone and vitamin issues, but it will take a while until I am back to "normal." I felt like a complete idiot when I can't help my kids with 5th and 6th grade homework or even answer the question "what's your favorite food?" I have no idea or at least I haven't had I have been in such a fog for the past month it has been horrible. I blamed everything on the depression luckily I found out it wasn't just the depression, but it was thyroid, D and C issues. It may not be your case, but when we start to act differently after being on meds for a while we should look for a medical cause and I am glad I did before it got worse.

So the starter pack was out of stock yesterday at the pharmacy. They tried to order it for today and found that it is unavailable. They called my p-doc's office, which is closed on Wednesdays. So I called my p-doc's office and left a message too.

Why is it so hard to get meds?

I guess I am not starting my Lamictal today after all.

I don't remember being on a starter pack-just titrating up- although it was so long ago and I didn't do well on lamictal at all as I got the famous rash and can never take it again which SUCKS since it is generic and seroquel in NOT.

I just called Glaxo-Smith-kline and the starter packs are no longer being manufactured. Nice of them to tell health care providers and pharmacies about that, so they don't send their patients on a goose chase.

Well, I will wait to hear from my p-doc about what the plan is.

Like the others have said, culprits can be, depression (even mild), vit D, iron, thyroid, other medical conditions such as chronic infections, and MEDS.

I had some horrible times with meds, but now have a good combo that works with minimal side effects. Keep on persisting, and talk with your pdoc about side effects.

I plan to give my doctor a call about the vit C and D, etc. I just hope I can get some meds straightened out soon.

Still no word on the Lamictal. I have now called twice and left messages for my p-doc.

She called back and she is going to try to figure out what the dosing for the starter pack was and then prescribe the pills the way they would be given to me. I hope the instructions will be explicit because I am already totally confused about this whole thing.

It would almost be easier to go to the hospital and have them do it there, but this is a 5 week med change and I do not want to be inpatient for that long. I'll do what I have to do at this point to get better because I am sick of being sick. She probably hasn't suggested hospital because of the amount of time I would have to be there.

Yeah I had this same issue and the doctor had to change my meds cause .It gotten a lot better.Big huggs hope you find out why it haveing confused.

These were my instructions:
Week 1 - 12.5 mg once a day
Week 2 - 12.5 mg twice a day
Week 3 - 25 mg a.m., 12.5 mg p.m.
Week 4 - 25 mg twice a day
After that, it was increased 25mg every week until I reached the proper dosage.

Hope that helps

Not too confusing, although she said that there is a different dosing schedule than usual because I am on Depakote and they compete to be metabolized by the same place in the liver. It raises the Lamictal level in the blood or the liver, I don't remember which. Either way, it can mean too much medicine if I go too fast.

There is a different schedule if you are changing from Depakote to Lamictin. It's in the package insert - maybe you can look for it on Google?

I went a very similar route to PT52, but I wasn't on a mood stabiliser at that time.
A general blood test may prove very useful to eliminate any other possible causes

I hope you get this sorted ASAP

Thank you. I was able to start the lamictal the night before last. So far so good. My p-doc figured out the dosing sched for people on depakote.

A better couple of days for sure.