Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 There's another possibility that I've observed, namely, the loss of memory after having anesthesia. Anesthesiologists acknowledge the fact of short term memory loss after anesthesia, but the reports I've read do not fully evaluate long term memory loss effects. I'm thinking that anesthesiologists may not be the best group to conduct a long term study, but in any event, this may just be another of life's tradeoffs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Loss of short term memory is one of the first signs of Alzheimer's disease which has recently been touted as another complication of uncontrolled diabetes. I cared for my Mum who had AZ for 5 years & I tend to get panicked if I can't think of a word I want to use or can't remember why I went into a room or something someone just told me. However this also happens to aging brains & to those people who are more distracted about something else in their life so I usually can talk myself out of too much worrying. If you are truly concerned, your doctor can arrange to have your memory tested. Generally these are questions answered with paper & pencil or by oral answers or drawing something or building something etc etc. My mum had them & they took several days worth of doctor visits. cappie Greater Boston Area T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. ALA/EPO, Coq10, B12, ALC, Vit C Cal/mag, low dose Biotin, full spectrum E, Policosanol, fish oil cap, fresh flax seed, multi vitamin, Lovastatin 20 mg, Enalapril 10 mg 12/04:143 lbs (highest weight 309), 5' tall /age 66, cappie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 At 03:29 PM 12/10/04, cappie@... wrote: >I cared for my Mum who had AZ for 5 years & I tend to get panicked if I >can't think of a word I want to use or can't remember why I went into a >room or something someone just told me. I've heard that it's not forgetting a word or where you put the car keys that you need to worry about, it's when you don't remember what a key IS. sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Sky: yes that is the eventual outcome but believe me that can take years to get to the point where you don't know what a key is. AZ usually starts off slowly & so one does not notice the progression till it is too late. Short term memory goes first & only much later does long term memory become impaired. cappie Greater Boston Area T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. ALA/EPO, Coq10, B12, ALC, Vit C Cal/mag, low dose Biotin, full spectrum E, Policosanol, fish oil cap, fresh flax seed, multi vitamin, Lovastatin 20 mg, Enalapril 10 mg 12/04:143 lbs (highest weight 309), 5' tall /age 66, cappie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 At 05:02 PM 12/10/04, cappie@... wrote: >Sky: yes that is the eventual outcome but believe me that can take >years to get to the point where you don't know what a key is. AZ >usually starts off slowly & so one does not notice the progression till >it is too late. Short term memory goes first & only much later does >long term memory become impaired. If I ever get Alzheimer's I sure hope I figure it out while I can go visit Dr. Kevorkian (or whoever has taken his place). I would not like to put that burden on my children. sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Oh yeah. As a matter of fact I went to the Dr. this last Tuesday and asked him about this short term memory thing. I asked about a test for Alzheimers. He claims there isnt one. And he explained why and it made good sense to me at the time. Due to my STM I cant remember what exactly he said. I'm not kidding. Jan Haney Have any of you ever notice that after having diabetes for a while you start loosing short memory. What I mean is you start forgetting things more and more. THis ever happened to any of you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Oh good, I can blame my worsening memory on diabetes. I knew there must be something good about DM. I went to my doctor yesterday and my A1c was 5.6 and last time 5.8. B/P 138/80; weight only gained 4 lbs, good for me. LDL-C 110 and HDL-C 61; microalbumin 37. My doc raised my Lipitor and Lisinopril to 20mg. He said I had a slight protein leak in my urine. When I wanted to add this info, I had to spend 5 minutes looking for it, LOL!!!!!!!!!! Lou Jan Haney wrote: > > Oh yeah. As a matter of fact I went to the Dr. this last Tuesday and asked him about this short term memory thing. I asked about a test for Alzheimers. He claims there isnt one. And he explained why and it made good sense to me at the time. Due to my STM I cant remember what exactly he said. I'm not kidding. > > Jan Haney > > Have any of you ever notice that after having diabetes for a while > you start loosing short memory. What I mean is you start forgetting > things more and more. > > THis ever happened to any of you? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 > Have any of you ever notice that after having diabetes for a while > you start loosing short memory. What I mean is you start forgetting > things more and more. > > THis ever happened to any of you? I can't remember. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 At 05:22 PM 12/10/04, Jan Haney wrote: >Oh yeah. As a matter of fact I went to the Dr. this last Tuesday and >asked him about this short term memory thing. I asked about a test for >Alzheimers. He claims there isnt one. And he explained why and it made >good sense to me at the time. Due to my STM I cant remember what exactly >he said. I'm not kidding. I don't think it's unusual to forget most of what a doctor has said to you, especially if it's a stressful visit. To me, no short term memory would be like me with names. Someone introduces themself and five minutes later I don't remember their name. I know this is because I'm thinking of what I'm going to say instead of paying attention and focusing on their name and using it right away. Wouldn't lack of short-term memory mean that you don't even remember being introduced? sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 At 05:52 PM 12/10/04, ml wrote: >Oh good, I can blame my worsening memory on diabetes. I knew there must be >something >good about DM. >I went to my doctor yesterday and my A1c was 5.6 and last time 5.8. B/P >138/80; weight >only gained 4 lbs, good for me. LDL-C 110 and HDL-C 61; microalbumin 37. >My doc raised >my Lipitor and Lisinopril to 20mg. He said I had a slight protein leak in >my urine. >When I wanted to add this info, I had to spend 5 minutes looking for it, >LOL!!!!!!!!!! >Lou Welcome to da club! I'm constantly running here and there looking for stuff so I can at least occasionally sound knowledgeable on this list. LOL!! If I hadn't just ordered myself a medic-alert bracelet I wouldn't have all my meds and dosages on a piece of paper by the computer. I mean, " hydrochlorothazide " is just not a word that I remember how to spell. I get the hydro and the chloro part, but always forget the last. I think that as we age we all start worrying about Alzheimers. sky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Okay I just took a nap and am sitting here trying very hard to remember what my Dr said. I think I've got it. He said, that as we get older our memories do get fuzzy. He said that forgetting words(my major thing) and forgetting where you put things etc is perfectly normal. then he said that a good example of alzheimers is " If you put a pan of water on to boil and it boils dry and you dont remember putting it on, get help " If you put a pan of water on to boil and it boils dry and you cuss cause you remember putting it on the stove and you are mad at yourself, for messing up your stove and pan thats getting older " It does make sense. So I guess if you can remember the word in 3 or 4 months (thats me) then I'm okay. But if I cant even remember ever knowing a word thats trouble. Then he told me I was still sharp as a tack. LOL Jan Haney Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 At 12:06 PM 12/10/2004, you wrote: >Have any of you ever notice that after having diabetes for a while >you start loosing short memory. What I mean is you start forgetting >things more and more. > >THis ever happened to any of you? Did 'what' ever happen to me... :o/ Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Jan: there is no specific AZ physical medical test but if one takes the set of memory evaluations tests which are given over a period of days they can give what is called a " probable diagnosis " based on the results. This evaluation is repeated after another length of time (usually months later) if there is any doubt & when further deterioration is seen that makes it pretty confirmed. The only way it can actually be confirmed tho is after death by brain disection. & yes Sky, I told my son if I ever get this & there still is no cure to take me out behind the barn & shoot me please. cappie Greater Boston Area T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. ALA/EPO, Coq10, B12, ALC, Vit C Cal/mag, low dose Biotin, full spectrum E, Policosanol, fish oil cap, fresh flax seed, multi vitamin, Lovastatin 20 mg, Enalapril 10 mg 12/04:143 lbs (highest weight 309), 5' tall /age 66, cappie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Congrats ML on the good numbers & I'm glad you got an increase in your meds too! cappie Greater Boston Area T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. ALA/EPO, Coq10, B12, ALC, Vit C Cal/mag, low dose Biotin, full spectrum E, Policosanol, fish oil cap, fresh flax seed, multi vitamin, Lovastatin 20 mg, Enalapril 10 mg 12/04:143 lbs (highest weight 309), 5' tall /age 66, cappie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Sounds good to me Cappie. But what if you don't have a son? I don't think I have one, I probably would remember that, LOL!!!!!!!!!! ml cappie@... wrote: > > Jan: there is no specific AZ physical medical test but if one takes the > set of memory evaluations tests which are given over a period of days > they can give what is called a " probable diagnosis " based on the > results. This evaluation is repeated after another length of time > (usually months later) if there is any doubt & when further > deterioration is seen that makes it pretty confirmed. > > The only way it can actually be confirmed tho is after death by brain > disection. > > & yes Sky, I told my son if I ever > get this & there still is no cure to take me out behind the barn & shoot > me please. > > cappie > Greater Boston Area > T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 > max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Thanks Cappie, I guess I don't have to worry about kidney or liver problems since it still is a low med amount? ml cappie@... wrote: > > Congrats ML on the good numbers & I'm glad you got an increase in your > meds too! > > cappie > Greater Boston Area > T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 > max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Lack of short term memory would be like not remembering being introduced or that one needs to even BE introduced. One would ask the same questions of someone else over & over because not only does one not remember the answer but one does not remember even asking the question. Early AZ victims can appear very rational but the stuff they say may have no basis in fact--they simply fill in the blanks with whatever is in their imagination at the moment. cappie Greater Boston Area T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. ALA/EPO, Coq10, B12, ALC, Vit C Cal/mag, low dose Biotin, full spectrum E, Policosanol, fish oil cap, fresh flax seed, multi vitamin, Lovastatin 20 mg, Enalapril 10 mg 12/04:143 lbs (highest weight 309), 5' tall /age 66, cappie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 Well ML if he won't do it & I am too chicken then I am going to ck myself into the nearest nursing home as soon as I get suspicious. I truly just pray that I am able to have enough sense to be able to do this tho cause I NEVER want my kids to have to see me die one brain cell at a time the way I had to watch my mum go. It is not a disease that I would wish on my very worst enemy! cappie Greater Boston Area T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. ALA/EPO, Coq10, B12, ALC, Vit C Cal/mag, low dose Biotin, full spectrum E, Policosanol, fish oil cap, fresh flax seed, multi vitamin, Lovastatin 20 mg, Enalapril 10 mg 12/04:143 lbs (highest weight 309), 5' tall /age 66, cappie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 I hear you Cappie. That is one disease I sure don't want to get because then I cannot take care of myself at all. ml cappie@... wrote: > > Well ML if he won't do it & I am too chicken then I am going to ck > myself into the nearest nursing home as soon as I get suspicious. I > truly just pray that I am able to have enough sense to be able to do > this tho cause I NEVER want my kids to have to see me die one brain cell > at a time the way I had to watch my mum go. It is not a disease that I > would wish on my very worst enemy! > > cappie > Greater Boston Area > T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 10, 2004 Report Share Posted December 10, 2004 My husband had a first cousin that had AZ and she came to his Uncle's 90th birthday. She recognized Mick and I but kept asking the same questions over and over. It was very sad as she had been a very sharp intelligent lady. And the kindest lady in the world. She finally died of AZ complications. Jan Haney Early AZ victims can appear very rational but the stuff they say may have no basis in fact--they simply fill in the blanks with whatever is in their imagination at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 yes now its becoming embarasdsing and bad. i forgot my fathers' birthday last week after remimnding everybpody else on the day i forgot to call him. Other people don;t understand nor believe that i at my age could be forgetting. cheeky _________________________________________________________________ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Unfortunately AZ can strike at an early midlife age also. When it does, the early phase may last many years. Usually the early onset AZ has a hereditary component. There is a set of mini-mental status exam MMSE) available on-line--google to find them. This is not a complete neuropsychological evaluation but it is a good picture to start with or to do an ongoing evaluation over time. There are many varieties of dementia not all of them AZ--with other causes. Google for more info. cappie Greater Boston Area T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. ALA/EPO, Coq10, B12, ALC, Vit C Cal/mag, low dose Biotin, full spectrum E, Policosanol, fish oil cap, fresh flax seed, multi vitamin, Lovastatin 20 mg, Enalapril 10 mg 12/04:143 lbs (highest weight 309), 5' tall /age 66, cappie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 I blame the menopause. I have a friend who is 2 years older and she's trying everything (suppliments) she can to help her remember. The problem is she can't remember what she's taking! lol No lie. ===== Carol Type 2 Dx: 19 May 2004 Metformin 500mg x 3 Perindopril ___________________________________________________________ ALL-NEW Yahoo! Messenger - all new features - even more fun! http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 Carol: that can be VERY dangerous as she may take the same pills over & over without remembering she already took them or she may not take any at all. If something has to be taken on a regular basis & she does not get that med for days or gets too much then what? cappie Greater Boston Area T-2 10/02 9/04 A1c: 5.3 max 100 carb diet, walking, Metformin. ALA/EPO, Coq10, B12, ALC, Vit C Cal/mag, low dose Biotin, full spectrum E, Policosanol, fish oil cap, fresh flax seed, multi vitamin, Lovastatin 20 mg, Enalapril 10 mg 12/04:143 lbs (highest weight 309), 5' tall /age 66, cappie@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 11, 2004 Report Share Posted December 11, 2004 I wouldn't be able to remember what I'm taking either if I hadn't made a Pill Chart. I print out five weeks worth at a time and keep it right next to my pill bottles, meter and record book. IF I can remember to check off what I've taken it works really well. And I'm way beyond being able to blame menopause. CarolR Huntington Beach, CA Carol Fox wrote: > I blame the menopause. > > I have a friend who is 2 years older and she's trying > everything (suppliments) she can to help her remember. > The problem is she can't remember what she's taking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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