Am I alone in this one?!

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I have a very big question. I've been reading a lot about short term

memory problems lately. I, too, have them. I'm not sure it's to the

extent of some I've read posts from. My question is this. Does anyone

else suffer from long term memory problems? I don't really even

remember growing up, school, shoot, most of the 15 years I was in the

military. I've been all over the world and I don't remember hardly

any of it. I see pictures but have no specific memory of when they

were taken. I know things throughout my past because I just know them,

very seldom is it because I have real memories of them. It's almost as

if I have only existed from a short time ago until the present. And it

remains that way. People, things or events can make a light bulb go

on and I'll remember something. You wouldn't believe how excited I

get!! ) Maybe it's not such a bad thing as I'm sure it protects me

from the worst times when I was on my own with this disease but it

steals the good memories too. I can sit around family and friends and

get a real kick out of hearing about myself and hearing things I

probably know but can't remember. I'm really not confused, believe me,

but sometimes it can be kind of fun and sometimes it can really be

sorrowful. Some have called me strong but I sometimes wonder if it is

true strength or just the fact that I don't have the memories, as

clearly as others, to deal with. My last relapse and herx is on the

fast track to oblivion (Nov-Dec). I wonder if it's the seizures I

had. That makes me worry about this being permanent. Strange stuff.

Any clues? Am I alone?

Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Hi Carolyn,

No, you are not alone, I suspect many of us with and without Lyme have

difficult with long term memory. I have heard from both my parents and my

grandmother before she passed on, then as you age, these memories seem to

come flooding back for some reason. I hope when this happens to me that

only the good ones come back, but I imagine that won't be the case. I look

at pictures now, and cannot remember the occasions they were taken, and my

husband reminds me of places we have been, and I'll be darned if I can

recall them. He has the same problem and he doesn't have LD. I think it is

pretty normal to have this problem. Any other comments??? I'd hate to

think it is just me and Carolyn,

Hugs,

Marta

From: CAROLYN ROWE <skidrowe@...>

>Hi All,

>

>I have a very big question. I've been reading a lot about short term

>memory problems lately. I, too, have them. I'm not sure it's to the

>extent of some I've read posts from. My question is this. Does anyone

>else suffer from long term memory problems? I don't really even

>remember growing up, school, shoot, most of the 15 years I was in the

>military. I've been all over the world and I don't remember hardly

>any of it. I see pictures but have no specific memory of when they

>were taken. I know things throughout my past because I just know them,

>very seldom is it because I have real memories of them. It's almost as

>if I have only existed from a short time ago until the present. And it

>remains that way. People, things or events can make a light bulb go

>on and I'll remember something. You wouldn't believe how excited I

>get!! ) Maybe it's not such a bad thing as I'm sure it protects me

>from the worst times when I was on my own with this disease but it

>steals the good memories too. I can sit around family and friends and

>get a real kick out of hearing about myself and hearing things I

>probably know but can't remember. I'm really not confused, believe me,

>but sometimes it can be kind of fun and sometimes it can really be

>sorrowful. Some have called me strong but I sometimes wonder if it is

>true strength or just the fact that I don't have the memories, as

>clearly as others, to deal with. My last relapse and herx is on the

>fast track to oblivion (Nov-Dec). I wonder if it's the seizures I

>had. That makes me worry about this being permanent. Strange stuff.

>Any clues? Am I alone?

>

>Carolyn

[Guest guest]

Hi Marta,

I wish I thought it normal for me!! Family on both sides have crystal

clear memories, no matter the age. That's what makes me wonder, not

really fear (for the most part), that mine is either due to the lyme

or the lyme induced seizures. I'm also hoping that 38 is still a bit

too young for other things, if you catch my drift?! I hope you're

right though. I hope they come flooding back in the future!!! )

Carolyn

> I think it is

> pretty normal to have this problem. Any other comments??? I'd

hate to

> think it is just me and Carolyn,

> Hugs,

> Marta

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/3/00 5:35:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

emcinerney@... writes:

<< BTW, somewhere along the line I read an article that stated patients

with LD are more inclined to have nausea and vomiting post-operatively.

Having

experienced this firsthand, I always ask them to go easy on the narcotic

(not give at

all if possible) and give me the valium-like drug (midazolam) >>

I had general anesthesia twice within two months..for same day surgery

..first time I was sick as a puppy when I was released a few hours

post-op.threw up was green around the gills

and was miserable for 1-2 days after..

then an RN in the recovery room turned me on to asking for Zofran intra

op...if I ever had general anesthesia again..

...well a few weeks later...needed the same exact procedure again...made sure

to tell EVERYONE...don't forget the Zofran...told in pre-op interview when

doing pre-op labs...asked when I was admitted day of...and asked just b4

procedure started....

well...I got the Zofran (it is used a lot in cancer patients to alleviate

vomiting from chemo)..and post-op could have danced in the room where they

took me once I was fully alert...was able to eat toast...went home..and had

to force myself to sit on the couch to rest...I felt so well..I wanted to go

out for the day....the differences between both exact same procedures was

truly amazing.....the only difference was the Zofran..

so if ya ever have general and suffer from nausea post-op...remember to ask

for Zofran,,,,,,,Bernadette

[Guest guest]

Dear Carolyn & Marta,

My husband's loss of short-term memory is about the only symptom he has, and

he has

moderate decreased blood flow throughout his brain. No HA's, no fatigue, no

nothing!

Except he can become inebriated on non-alcoholic beer (it does have some alcohol

in it)

and becomes inebriated on just 1 beer. I've been on IV AB's for 2 yrs now,

including a

stint of IV Zithro and oral Mepron for the Babesiosis, and my short-term memory

is about

the same as prior to treatment. Some people get their short-term memory back.

Everyone

is different. I did read somewhere about some people losing their long-term

memory,

also, which I believe you described. Most of my other symptoms have abated,

except

tonight I had my insomnia back (despite medication that usually works) and

waking up

with a HA has returned since the HBOT. Am I still herxing 1 1/2 weeks after my

last TX?

Who knows? I see Dr. B. Tuesday and have a lot of questions.

Marta, thanks for referring to me as " wisely " declining to give medical

advice. I

wouldn't mind answering questions on Anesthesiology, as long as the questioner

realizes

that any info I give is for empowerment and needs to be discussed with his/her

Anesthesia Care Team. I would hope that it's not construed as forming a

patient-physician relationship because I would not be doing that and I have no

malpractice insurance. I would be speaking as a well-informed Lymie on the

subject of

Anesthesiology. BTW, somewhere along the line I read an article that stated

patients

with LD are more inclined to have nausea and vomiting post-operatively. Having

experienced this firsthand, I always ask them to go easy on the narcotic (not

give at

all if possible) and give me the valium-like drug (midazolam) and propofol for

sedation

purposes. This way I don't barf and don't have to wait 5 hours to get off the

stretcher.

[Guest guest]

Hi Carolyn,

My roommate, Dave, is perfectly healthy and he suffers terribly from long

term memory losses.. He remembers almost nothing from his childhood, and

little from his teens. Most of what he remembers was during college and

afterwards.. Whereby I am the opposite.. My long term memory is fanastic. I

remember more than many family members... but my short term memory.. what a

joke..

It is possible that lyme affects the long term memory. Lyme often wrecks

havoc on the brain big time. So much about this disease is not understood.

hugs,

elizabeth

[Guest guest]

Ellen,

Thanks for this information. Last year when I had a " reactive lymph node "

surgically removed, I was nauseous for two days afterwards. The nurse called

to check on me, since it was an out patient procedure and said that was

unusual and shouldn't be feeling it still. So your message made that make

since.

My short term memory is gone! But I do notice long term memory problems too,

I think that is why I did bad on my psyche-neruo testing on the IQ part,

they asked questions like name the 7 continents, and I could only name five,

forgot Antarctica and EUROPE! LOL! Like your husband I also can get drunk

off just a sip of hard liquor. I made my hubby a drink and took a sip and

felt it immediately. Isn't that weird! Maybe its due to the fact we already

have so many toxins in our system. Good luck with your appt. Tuesday, I

suspect you are still herxing, which you know is a good sign. BTW, what does

" HA " mean? Vicki, Md

-----Original Message-----

>Dear Carolyn & Marta,

> My husband's loss of short-term memory is about the only symptom he

has, and he has

>moderate decreased blood flow throughout his brain. No HA's, no fatigue, no

nothing!

>Except he can become inebriated on non-alcoholic beer (it does have some

alcohol in it)

>and becomes inebriated on just 1 beer.

......Some people get their short-term memory back. Everyone

>is different. I did read somewhere about some people losing their long-term

memory,

>also, which I believe you described. Most of my other symptoms have abated,

except

>tonight I had my insomnia back (despite medication that usually works) and

waking up

>with a HA has returned since the HBOT. Am I still herxing 1 1/2 weeks after

my last TX?

>Who knows? I see Dr. B. Tuesday and have a lot of questions.

....BTW, somewhere along the line I read an article that stated patients

>with LD are more inclined to have nausea and vomiting post-operatively.

Having

>experienced this firsthand, I always ask them to go easy on the narcotic

(not give at

>all if possible) and give me the valium-like drug (midazolam) and propofol

for sedation

>purposes. This way I don't barf and don't have to wait 5 hours to get off

the stretcher.

[Guest guest]

Eileen,

Yep, Antarctica is a continent. I was surprised too, completely forgot that,

so guess my long term memory is failing too. I'm proud to say after looking

up some of the geographical questions I missed, I now know all 7 continents

now: Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, North America & South

America. Although I don't understand why North & South America aren't

considered the same continent. The definition is " Continents are large

bodies of land. Geographers organize the earth's land into seven large

masses of land, called continents. " I'm still a little confused to who

The Great is too, I thought it was the St. , but its some

Russian Czar's wife. Why was that important? Why not ask me more about

America's history! I even know quite a lot about WW11 and the civil war,

since my son and husband are into history and wars! Anyway, I'm over the

depression from the test. But may re-visit it when I get my results. I'm

just so worried the doctor will think I was trying not to do well, since I

felt I did so poorly! Hope not, then he'll just say I need psychological

counseling. I really tried hard, and my best - hard tests when your brain

isn't working.

Good news, I saw my LLMD yesterday, he is finally ordering a MRI for me. And

gave me a new combo of Abx's. I asked for Biaxtin, forget why he didn't go

for that. But he Rx'd Ceftin & Minocin. Hope that works. Not going to start

until after Gettysburg. Talk to you soon.

Vicki, Md

>Dear Vicki,

> > I'm so embarassed that I forgot about Zofran--it's customary to

give it to patients

>with a history of nausea and vomiting with anesthesia. It works for

Bernadette and

>others; unfortunately, not for me.

> BTW, Antarctica is a continent?

>Eileen