[Moreta]

Went to the neuro today for the damn memory test. made me feel like a doofus. A lot of **** didn't click in my brain. neuro doesn't think it's alzheimers, thinks it has to do more with meds/ADHD. She's sending me for a brain MRI next week though just to make sure. If that comes back clear, she wants me to do more testing with a psychiatrist (whhhhyyyyy has my pdoc never brought this up?!?!? I have been telling the man for years this has been a problem). So we'll see.

I just want my brain back. I want to be able to think again. It's so ****ing frustrating.

[Tucson]

I can understand how you feel. Lately my mind has been giving me allot of trouble. Frequently I can suddenly forget what I was about to do. I can be confused at times. I have problems spelling simple five letter words. My memory is not good at all. I want my brain back. I need to have it back now for various reasons. Is this you too?

I think the doctors evaluation of you also applies to me. It is maybe the meds, and in my case the stress. However, this has happened to me periodically through the years. We need to find a way to mitigate this problem that we have. I just do not know the answer to this and even do not know where to start. Do you have any ideas? Do you think this is due to having BP?

Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone.

[Unrigged64072835]

I have a lot of forgetfulness as of late. My pnurse mentioned seeing a specialist, but my regular doc is on maternity leave and I don't know when she'll be back.

Hi Moreta. I hope the doctors get to the bottom of your mild cognitive impairment. It certainly can be a number of things.

Though I can't know if your situation is in any way the same as mine WAS, I want to reassure you and others that mild cognitive impairment is not necessarily a permanent thing. I know that medications did contribute to some of my past mild cognitive impairment. The two culprits I can really point my finger at are high dose Lamictal and Lithium. I only take low dose Lamictal along with my other meds, and I'm now fine. I remember as I went off Lithium (for kidney issues) gradually noticing the clearing of my brain. It was beautiful!

In my case, I don't think that medications were the only culprits for my mild cognitive impairments. I think that too many years of severe episodes played a role, too. I think that as I accumulated more and more time stable, my brain began to heal. Or at least that's my theory. Also, after having ECT in the past (8 years ago), it took a few months to get past those memory issues.

My current medication mix (including the low dose Lamictal) seems to be very friendly cognitively. I don't have ADHD, so I wouldn't know how that affects people. My husband does have ADD (the inattentive type) and I think he's OK cognitively. He does have issues with distraction and inability to multi-task well, but I guess that's related to his ADD.