Gaps in memory/blackouts

Over the last year I have had several episodes of blackouts in which I apparently was functioning normally but I have no memory of. For example I signed up to take a cpr class for work. I don't remember going. But apparently I went because the instructor came to me the other day and gave me my certificate and thanked me for helping her carry the equipment back to her car ! My laundry gets done and I don't remember doing it. My husband has made mention of things we did together but I don't remember. I've also had increasingly more hallucinations than I ve had before. Usually I just hear faint voices that sound like someone standing behind me whispering. Now the voices are louder and I ve started to have visual hallucinations as well> I see shadow people. I used to be able to take a zyprexa and it would go away but it doesnt seem to help anymore. I'm scared of the blackouts and Im afraid to tell anyone because I really don't want to end up in the psych ward. Any ideas ?

I don't claim any knowledge of this but I think I heard something sometime that certain medications can cause memory gaps. the key word is "I think"...sooooo yeah.

Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

I have had memory gaps like you have mentioned. This was when I was young and in college. But this lasted only for a relative short period of time, perhaps weeks. But my memory gaps of the distant past has been an ongoing problem and some took years to re-squire, but I still have significant parts of my past that I do not remember at all. I call it being in a mental fog that has lasted a long time.

A few years ago I had a series of memory blanks. I thought I hadn't written a test for one of my college classes, thinking about the day of the test I couldn't remember anything at all. But when I e-mailed the professor to ask if I could write at another time she told me I had written it already.

And around the same time, my psychiatrist was sending me for tests, an EEG and an MRI. I remember the MRI, but the only thing I vaguely remember about the EEG is a fleeing impression of being concerned they were putting sticky stuff in my hair. But I don't remember the actual test or even how I got the sticky stuff out of my hair eventually. But nothing showed up on the EEG or the MRI to explain the memory gaps.

In general, when I'm very manic or very depressed I have a hard time remembering what happens. Especially while manic, that gets me in trouble.

If your on Meds now would be a good time to have them deep reviewed with your Pdoc ... Meds can do the strangest things to people.

Good luck

Ive been taking the same meds for 5 years now with only one change 6 months ago we added zyprexa prn for psychotic episodes. The problem I am having no has been going on for about a year. I've always had only vague ideas of things I did while manic. This is different. Its ordinary things that I'm not remembering. Just today a friend asked me about something she talked to me about yesterday but I don't remember anything about yesterday. Its like it never happened or happened to someone else. Some of the things that I have apparently done are totally out of character for me. I'm really worried. I asked my pdoc about memory problems with my meds and he said it may be harder for me to learn new things if for example I went back to school. I was afraid to tell him about the lost days cause Im afraid he might want to put me in the hospital. EVen right now I hear whispering and the shadow people are watching me. My meds are Geodon 80 mg 4 x day, wellbutrin 450 mg, paxil 60 mg and Ativan 1 mg prn up to 3 xs a day. Zxprexa 20 mg prn psychosis. I hardly ever have to take the Ativan. My pdoc is retiring next month and i'll have to find somebody else and that has me worried too.

You are on some strong medications ... your lucky you have been able to stay on the same medications for so long but that said.... that is a long time .. Our bodies change and things work differently over a period of time..

I wish you luck finding a new Pdoc

[QUOTE=~Christina;3659185]You are on some strong medications ... your lucky you have been able to stay on the same medications for so long but that said.... that is a long time .. Our bodies change and things work differently over a period of time..

I wish you luck finding a new Pdoc [/QUOTE

Thanks Christina

I have a lot of memory problems - short and long term memories. But I blame them on having so many ECTs in my lifetime. A lot of it could also be due to Lithium and/or risperdal. I have spells when it gets bad and then gets better. Some memories I have absolutely no recollection of them. Other memories, I remember bits and pieces. On rare occasions I will remember (regain) a memory (from months or years ago).

I definitely recommend you discussing it with your Pdoc

Sounds like you may be dissociating. It can be distressing having things done or doing things without realising you have done them! It is especially scary when you dont know how you have gotten home from being out or having gone shopping without remembering it. Did your pdoc bring up this suggestion when you mentioned it to him?

It can happen more in times of high stress, but I have had it happen at all times. Now I realise when it is happening and practice grounding or breathing techniques before I lose too much time. But I was losing days at one point, and it wasnt even at a stressful time!

Keep in mind it could also be your meds. I am also on geodon when I had these experiences, I am still very forgetful but I dont lose days anymore, just hours occasionally, even in times of stress (in saying that I barely remember the last 3 weeks, but that would be more down to emotional distress than the meds or dissociation).

You won't be put in a hospital if you are functioning fine despite the blackouts. You really need to report your true experiences without trying to hide them, because what has been happening is pretty scary, and a thorough workup by a neurologist seems called for. Tell the pdoc or GP to refer you to a good neurologist. Maybe dissociation, too, as Supanova said, but first one would want to rule out organic causes.

That psychosis does not respond to 320 mg Geodon daily and 20 mg Zyprexa PRN is very strange, too. Maybe you need older AP's... just something to think about. Say, have you tried Haldol PRN?