[bluemountains]

My ability to remember things has really taken a dive recently. It's not just the little things like some missing word or a misplaced item, I've done this for several years and know this can be expected because I am now in my fifties. Now it is big stuff, like full events for several days.
For example, one of the posters currently has a question about rexulti and its effects. I know I recently took rexulti because I have a half full bottle left. I think I took it for a couple of months, but I don't remember what it did for me or why I stopped taking it.
Another happening, at work the other day a group was talking about a former coworker that I should know. I pretended I did, but I have no recollection of who they were talking about, or what the event they were focusing on was about.
These missing memories along with several others seem to have happened in a time when I was in the most severe and lengthy depression that I know of, before I finally fell apart and ended up in the hospital. As far as I can estimate, I managed to survive for 10 months on auto pilot, going to work during the day and staying upbeat enough to get my t and pdoc to let me keep going. At home, I spent most of my time sleeping.
I hope that the memory losses are going to be a thing of the past, but I am afraid that these will keep happening or get worse. It just pops up so often now!
Maybe my brain is getting tired of all of the drugs, all of the time. I take drugs for MI, and for high BP, and for high cholesterol, and for a low functioning thyroid. Medications have changed quite often since my hospital stay in May/June because prescribed ap's only work for a couple of months, so far. My t wants me to go away to a program for trauma (ptsd from childhood), but this isn't financially possible.
I think I am finally coming unglued, and my body doesn't like all of the changes.
Sorry for the long post. If anyone has stuck with me, thanks for reading through my fears.
Bluemountains

Sorry to hear that's happening to you. That sounds scary.

Have you brought up the memory loss thing with your psychiatrist? It may or may not be due to BP or BP meds. There could be a neurological condition that's starting up, for example, that you may need to address. Though if you've had ECT recently, that alone can lead to memory loss.

[bluemountains]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

Sorry to hear that's happening to you. That sounds scary.

Have you brought up the memory loss thing with your psychiatrist? It may or may not be due to BP or BP meds. There could be a neurological condition that's starting up, for example, that you may need to address. Though if you've had ECT recently, that alone can lead to memory loss.

Thanks, Blue, for the suggestions. Ironically enough, I have always refused to do ECT for fear of losing my memory! I have mentioned the memory problem, but I grouped it in along with everything else that is going on with the recent change to a new med, geodon. I will make a bigger deal about it next time.

[Pookyl]

I have some issues with memory due to meds I’m sure.

However, I think my biggest problem is that every time I have a bipolar episode, I lose some of my memory also. I know this because the longer I’m episode free the more my memory improves.
It’s one of my main reasons for trying to attain and maintain stability.

I do a lot of puzzles and memory games at the suggestion of my doctors.

Something to consider (I was told by drs) is that even people with no MI begin to have memory issues in their 40’s.

[~Christina]

Many psych meds caused huge problems with my memory.

I know when I am depressed I basically mentally Check out and my brain is trying to reboot in a way.

Depression makes everything dull and useless.

I hope you feel better and definitely talk to T and Pdoc about it

bluemountains, please do make a bigger deal about it to your psychiatrist. Sometimes if it is just a passing mention they let the topic pass. I've had some major side effects that my psychiatrist brushed off until I REALLY told him it was a big deal for me.

As another poster said, your memory issues could be from various things. It's good to figure out what they stem from. I have had memory issues because of my mood disorder, and even some minor issues because of dissociation. The worst were from the mood episodes themselves and not medications, in my case. If your doctor suggests you see another type of doctor, I'd do it.

[bluemountains]

I have become so used to forgetting words or leaving items behind, that I think it has taken me a while to accept that this memory problem is real.
I have decided to try and write down the incidences that I have become aware of before my next appointment, otherwise I fear that my pdoc might not really understand the problem. She never knows what she's getting when I walk through the door, so I want her to misunderstand what I am saying. Sometimes when I am finally sounding coherent, mania has started to set in and I ramble so quickly and so much that I don't get a lot accomplished at appointments.
Thanks for all of the help!

[Fuzzybear]

[Sunflower123]

Writing it down sounds like a really good idea. Good luck at your next appointment.

[bluemountains]

It turns out I am going to the psychiatrist this afternoon. I went to work this morning and had such a bad reaction to geodon that I made appointment right away. As I was driving I couldn't stay awake. I was putting a frozen bottle of water on my face, pinching myself, and finally I opened all of the windows even though it was 18 degrees outside. When I got to work I was disoriented, so I got the admin. assistant to get a substitute for me and my husband came to get me. I took the dosage later than usual last evening because we were out, but it was only off by an hour, so I am pretty surprised by the big difference of the side effects.

[~Christina]

I hope your Pdoc can get you straightened out. You deserve a break Hun

I was on Geodon for a few months .... hated it and getting off it was terrible I felt horribly ill for almost 2 weeks.

[bluemountains]

This is where I am now. The doctor lowered my dose of geodon. I wasn't on a very high dose anyway, so she's concerned about effectiveness, down to 60 mg. If this doesn't work, she says she can add back a small amount in the morning possibly. Btw, I have already been on 5 previous anti-psychotics since the hospital doc pulled me off of all drugs and switched my regiment last spring, I've even tried breaks in between to seen if I could do without. This one has been the most responsive so far. I can't remember (surprise!) what I took before the hospital. The drug change is for the problem I had this morning.
As for the memory lapses, the doctor brought up the possiblity of dissociative disorder? I think I'm getting that right. I told her I have never had any problems like this before. We also talked about the depression. There is one incident that has happened since the major depression, though. Two of my sons perform in a band and I talked with a lady who was sitting to me whose daughter also is in the band. I thought I had never met her, but it turns out at some point I have shared everything about my children with her. She knew that I have triplets and a fourth child, and she knew that I am concerned about upcoming college bills. As we talked, I kept trying to recall any conversation, where or when, that we had met.
I really don't need another label added next to my diagnosis right now!
And as we always end, whether I am seeing my psychiatrist, or my therapist, I get the question....When do you see your therapist/psychiatrist again?
I guess it's time to pass me off to the next one!

[Unrigged64072835]

I'm having similar problems with memory loss. My psychiatric nurse mentioned I should see a neurologist first. But that means a referral from my regular doc, and she isn't back from maternity leave yet. I'm also concerned this may be from my AP/mood stabilizer, as it has kept me in a stable mood but I have other side effects from it. I really don't want to have to find another mood stabilizer, as I have gone through a few combos and have fewer options.

[bluemountains]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I'm having similar problems with memory loss. My psychiatric nurse mentioned I should see a neurologist first. But that means a referral from my regular doc, and she isn't back from maternity leave yet. I'm also concerned this may be from my AP/mood stabilizer, as it has kept me in a stable mood but I have other side effects from it. I really don't want to have to find another mood stabilizer, as I have gone through a few combos and have fewer options.

Like you, I wonder if memory loss can be a side effect. I can't find it listed on any of the side effects that I've read about geodon, but that doesn't mean it's not one. AP's are powerful drugs when mixing with my chemistry. There was one that caused me such severe speech problems that I could not be understood at times, and drooling went along with the impediment. A couple of them have allowed my weight to increase by 2-3 pounds daily. The weight never goes away in the same fashion. I have had brain zaps?? that were unbearable. I would turn my head, but it felt like my brain stayed behind.

Who sees you if there is an emergency while your regular doctor is out? Can this doctor make the referral? It seems that if you are dealing with the same practice it would be okay. Of course, common sense is not a part of the insurance world.
Good luck!!