This is so ridiculous.

I stayed over my parents' house this past weekend, Thursday-Sunday, and forgot to bring my personal laptop. I had brought everything I wanted to (except my laptop apparently) in two small bags. (Just clothes mostly.) Then I left my parents' house at 8:50am today and FORGOT both bags, one of which included my work laptop. (I forgot I even brought that laptop with me.) Then I had to turn around and drive back another 25 minutes when my mom called me and asked if I was bringing my bags with me.

When I finally got back to my parents' house, I picked up both bags and left for my apartment. Well, when I got back to my apartment, 40 minutes later, I LEFT A BUNCH OF THINGS IN MY ROOM, including (but not limited to) a book, headphones, and my laptop charger (for my personal laptop). Now I have to go BACK AGAIN. Ugh. I blame my Lamictal and Rexulti.

How terrible is your memory?

[wildflowerchild25]

My memory has always been terrible so I can’t blame BP or meds but they certainly don’t help I’m sure.

[Sunflower123]

My daughter choked on a carrot last year and I had to perform the Heimlich maneuver on her. This was witnessed by several people. I don’t remember any detail of something that was a major occurrence. Stuff like that really bothers me. There have been a few other things as well. I bring it up to my pdoc and he says we’ll work on it when my mood improves.

[~Christina]

I’ve had BP since about age 6 untreated til age 43

I have huge problems at times.

I tie lots of napkins to my purse handle to remind me to do stuff or take stuff , in my car I lay a note pad with reminders of what I need to do next.

It seems to work great for me.

[BipolaRNurse]

My short-term memory is awful. I repeat questions and have to be told they were already answered and what the answer was. I have to say out loud where I put things or I get panicky, thinking I've lost them. I can't remember what I had for lunch two hours later (not that it matters, as few of my lunches are remarkable, lol). I have the attention span of a goldfish and sometimes I even forget during a conversation what it's all about. I've asked two psychiatrists about this, fearing I was developing dementia which is not unheard-of at my age (60), but both told me it's a combination of my meds and repeated bipolar episodes which have damaged my brain. For some reason that makes me feel somewhat better, although neither factor is modifiable. I have to take meds, and I can't undo past episodes. It's a giant pain in the arse and embarrassing AF. I hate it.

[TheSeaCat]

I have a really good memory but I do have a few tips. I keep an organizer/planner on my at all times. Michael's is having a sale on their planners at the moment. I have several for different reasons and they keep me organized. I also keep sticky notes so I know what is really important for me. Like I need to email this person about this. Both of those things really keep me organized. That and just keeping everything in general pretty organized.

[AspiringAuthor]

I have a good memory but occasional word recall problems due to Topamax.

[Guiness187055]

My long term memory is starting to get affected by the meds.

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

My daughter choked on a carrot last year and I had to perform the Heimlich maneuver on her. This was witnessed by several people. I don’t remember any detail of something that was a major occurrence. Stuff like that really bothers me. There have been a few other things as well. I bring it up to my pdoc and he says we’ll work on it when my mood improves.

Wow, that’s crazy! I don’t lose all memory of certain events, but usually my memory is hazy enough that I don’t remember the most important details. I tend to have “partial” memory, if that makes sense

I hope you’re able to find a solution.

Originally Posted by ~Christina

I’ve had BP since about age 6 untreated til age 43

I have huge problems at times.

I tie lots of napkins to my purse handle to remind me to do stuff or take stuff , in my car I lay a note pad with reminders of what I need to do next.

It seems to work great for me.

Interesting idea with the napkins.

I always used to lose my keys and work badge (to get into the building), so I put some command hooks on the walls of my apartment. I think if I do take them off, they’ll rip off the cheap paint if I’m honest, but it’s better than losing my keys and work badge and having to search for an hour (literally) for them.

I also put things on my door handle, in front of my door, or in the crack (e.g., important papers) so that I don’t leave without them.

I do lose things in my car, such as when I put things in the glove compartment or in the arm rest next to the drivers seat, so maybe I can stick a napkin in the doors of those things and close them with the napkin hanging out... I definitely use lanyards for my keys, though. DEFINITELY

[MickeyCheeky]

Unfortunately Bipolar and other MI can affect memory as well, bluebicycle. Meds can play a role in it, as well. It can be very frustrating. I'm so sorry for those who are struggling. I hope you'll all be able to find a solution. I wish I've had better advice to give to all of you. Just wanted to let you know that I'm here to listen if you want. Sending many hugs to everyone

Originally Posted by BipolaRNurse

My short-term memory is awful. I repeat questions and have to be told they were already answered and what the answer was. I have to say out loud where I put things or I get panicky, thinking I've lost them. I can't remember what I had for lunch two hours later (not that it matters, as few of my lunches are remarkable, lol). I have the attention span of a goldfish and sometimes I even forget during a conversation what it's all about. I've asked two psychiatrists about this, fearing I was developing dementia which is not unheard-of at my age (60), but both told me it's a combination of my meds and repeated bipolar episodes which have damaged my brain. For some reason that makes me feel somewhat better, although neither factor is modifiable. I have to take meds, and I can't undo past episodes. It's a giant pain in the arse and embarrassing AF. I hate it.

Oh god yes! I DEFINITELY repeat questions too. Sometimes I actually remember that I asked the question, but I don’t remember the answer, so I have to ask again.

At work, I tell people to send me emails because I know I’ll forget whatever they say to me. lol. I’m sure it drives my co-workers nuts, but better than me forgetting what I’m supposed to do.

I have the attention span of a goldfish too, although sometimes I like to call myself a squirrel because I’m hyperactive and pacing all the time. I just don’t run out into the middle of the street and try to dodge cars like squirrels do. But I am the kind of person who sometimes forgets to look both ways. lol. (Was a nightmare when I lived in downtown Boston for 6 years.)

Glad you don’t have dementia, though. I’m always afraid of that because my grandma died from it and it was terrible seeing her decline so rapidly. It eventually got to that point where she was laying in bed, couldn’t move, wouldn’t eat, and wouldn’t talk.

Originally Posted by TheSeaCat

I have a really good memory but I do have a few tips. I keep an organizer/planner on my at all times. Michael's is having a sale on their planners at the moment. I have several for different reasons and they keep me organized. I also keep sticky notes so I know what is really important for me. Like I need to email this person about this. Both of those things really keep me organized. That and just keeping everything in general pretty organized.

A planner is a great idea! I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I currently use a notebook at work to jot down ideas so that I can remember them. I also make “to-do” lists in those notebooks. I really ought to apply that to my personal life...

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

I have a good memory but occasional word recall problems due to Topamax.

I’ve heard topamax being called Dope-amax because apparently it made some people turn into a big dope. (Not the crack/ecstasy/whatever kind of dope. lol.)

Reminds me of Lamictal (which I am still on)!

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

My long term memory is starting to get affected by the meds.

Yep, same here. I think it’s the Lamictal for me.

[liveforsummer]

If I don’t write it down I won’t remember.
I ordered fish and chips once and asked if it came with fries.

My classic is at a checkout, punching in the machine for cash back. Then 5 seconds later, wondering why they are handing me money, LOL! It hasn't happened in awhile. In fact, when it was happening a lot, I was having a pretty rough patch. I'm sure it didn't help.

A long time ago, before dx (but with a decade of symptoms behind) I planned to be at someone's retirement party. I also planned to be on an out of state trip. I REMEMBERED both. What I FORGOT was that it's impossible to be in two places at once(!) Haha.

[Blue_Bird]

My memory is extremely bad. I'm 24 and it's scary to think it could get worse as I get older.

I have 3 calendars. One on my wall, a pocket sized one, and the one on my phone. Plus I have an academic planner for college, and am constantly writing notes, reminders, and lists on my phone or on sticky notes.

[Blue_Bird]

Also I set things by my door every night like clothes, keys, stuff I need for the day (backpack, books if I have classes for example) because of being so forgetful

[Daonnachd]

Ironically, I can't recall whether I've shared this here or not. Many of you know I get regular ECT. Well, at some point I didn't even know who my wife was. That has made my shoddy memory something I try to hide from her because I don't want to worry her any more than I already have.

My bipolar disorder has not affected my memory significantly as a long-term or permanent issue. No. I will say that some (not all) bipolar episodes and/or anxiety can make me more "in my head" or distractible at times, which does cause me either not to hear things being said (or other sounds) or makes other bits of information be stored in my working memory better than others.

When I have been severely manic, especially with psychosis, I can experience what is often called "manic blackouts". I believe I've mostly had such blackouts when manic with mixed features. I'm not an expert enough to know exactly why I had them, but it is my understanding that either trauma or being overwhelmed mentally is part of it. The same cause is known to bring about "blackouts" in other traumas. There is also dissociative amnesia.

Generally, I'm a little forgetful, but not enough that I'd complain a lot about it right now. I have had periods when I did complain more, but they have long since past. Some medications did affect me cognitively either short-term or longer term. I remember complaining about cognitive issues on higher doses of Lamictal, though I don't on my lower dose of 100 mg. When I was on higher doses of Lamictal (like 300 mg) I began to experience hypomania and eventually mania. How much of the cognitive impairment was bipolar-related? How much medication-related? Who knows! I remember that on that dose, with Abilify, I had some very productive months. Then it went south. I was becoming manic with anxious features. I recall being at work and not being able to concentrate on anything. That worsened my anxiety. I eventually couldn't work anymore.

Anxiety does affect my productivity, a lot. I'm not always anxious. Triggers (stress) make me so.

I remember a period when I tried to take a college class and could not remember anything I read. I'd read the passage, and if you asked me what I read I'd be clueless. But that definitely changed. Now I have a great memory, so obviously my bipolar disorder does not permanently affect it. Stability and decreased anxiety, surely play a part. My medication and use of therapeutic skills do.

I'm a believer that the brain does "heal" to certain degrees. I don't mean that my bipolar disorder is cured. I just mean that the cloud has cleared and whatever stuff was happening upstairs is less apt to happen. It's sort of like when you've been exercising long enough to not get sore after jogging six miles. But when you're ill and recovering, jogging that far is either not possible or is very painful. Training eventually makes the longer distance possible again. Or another analogy? When you've lost weight and improved your diet enough that your metabolism is increased. Eventually with a poorer diet and exercise it could decrease again.

The worst memory problems I ever had were during and just after my ECT nine years ago. That's well known. These issues obviously resolved themselves.


I have an outstanding long-term memory. Outstanding! No, I still don't remember what happened during some of my ECT period or manic blackouts, but why would I even want to.

[wiretwister]

even today my wife was talking about work done on a car we owned several years ago ( was in shop a week requiring a rental to replace the computer ) ... I had no memory of it ... there are entire years of which I remember nothing ... but in contrast I sometimes recall childhood events clear as if they happened yesterday ... I am 61 and I suppose beginning to lose it ... but inside I feel the meds have had the most effect on me ...

[Unrigged64072835]

Some things I remember well, others not. I always forget what I’m making for dinner. If my mind wanders off to something other than what I was doing, I’ll forget what I’m doing. I have to be really mindful when I’m doing something. I don’t remember things unless there’s an emotional charge to it, usually negative.

Today I forgot to put my shopping list on my phone and I spent some money on things I already had. Rather annoying.

Some of it’s meds, some of it’s the disease, but there is also a lot of stuff I don’t want to remember and it all gets convoluted somehow.

[Gabyunbound]

I don't have any one story; the problem with my memory is constant and intractable. I can't remember what is said to me from one day or week to the next, nor what I have said to others. I have post-its all over the place so I don't forget things I need to bring to work, etc. I even asked my PCP for a referral to a neurologist to test my cognition (which I haven't done yet).

That said, a cloud has lifted from my mind since stopping my morning 1mg of klonopin. The jury is still out as to if it will help with my memory. A pdoc once told me that klonpin is a major culprit when it comes to cognitive problems.

[Pookyl]

I’m not 100% sure my poor memory is because of my meds or MI. I’ve been in a group of menopausal women and seriously their recall is no different to mine. In addition I’ve had at least x30 surgeries under general anaesthetic. And GA’s are associated with memory loss.
When my mood is elevated my memory is shot and my hubby on occasion calls me his ‘happy goldfish’.