post-op meds and short-term memory

[Guest guest]

I have a question about how you guys feel your short-term memory has

been while you were on meds. I basically feel like I have almost no

short-term memory right now. I know I'm on high-dose stuff right now,

and that it's affecting it, but it is so FRUSTRATING.

For instance, I mostly work with the same PT and OT people, but

occasionally have someone different (especially on weekends). A PT or

OT will walk in and say hi and start talking to me like they obviously

know me. I will glance at their nametag and that will not ring any

bells either. I just have absolutely no memory or meeting them,

working with them, etc.

And the same goes with phone conversations. I can't remember who I

talked to on certain days, or who I've told what things to. I find

myself starting a story with someone and they'll say " Yeah, you were

telling me about that yesterday. " And I don't even remember CALLING

that particular person yesterday, much less telling that specific story.

I've also ended up asking someone a question only 2 minutes after

already asking it (reminding me of my grandma at the beginning of her

Alzheimer's battle).

I assume this is fairly common, or at least I hope so! Otherwise I am

really losing it If this is common, I hope I can assume that the

short-term memory stuff will improve after I cut down on the pain

meds....? Any input would really be appreciated! It has definately

felt worse in the past several days though, but maybe I am imagining

it...

[Guest guest]

Yes, short-term memory is definitely affected by the medication. I

wouldn't worry about it. Just chalk it up to the meds. I still have

trouble remembering some things. Anesthesia affects a person's

memory, too. I know that to be a fact!! I'm off of the hard stuff

(Oxycontin) but I occasionally take a Percocet (which has a small

amount of Oxy in it). But I'll try to remember something that

happened in this past year, and sometimes it's a total blank!! I can

remember stuff before surgery, but not after, sometimes, too.

Don't worry about it --it will get better.

Carol V.

>

> I have a question about how you guys feel your short-term memory

has

> been while you were on meds. I basically feel like I have almost

no

> short-term memory right now. I know I'm on high-dose stuff right

now,

> and that it's affecting it, but it is so FRUSTRATING.

> For instance, I mostly work with the same PT and OT people, but

> occasionally have someone different (especially on weekends). A PT

or

> OT will walk in and say hi and start talking to me like they

obviously

> know me. I will glance at their nametag and that will not ring any

> bells either. I just have absolutely no memory or meeting them,

> working with them, etc.

> And the same goes with phone conversations. I can't remember who I

> talked to on certain days, or who I've told what things to. I find

> myself starting a story with someone and they'll say " Yeah, you

were

> telling me about that yesterday. " And I don't even remember

CALLING

> that particular person yesterday, much less telling that specific

story.

> I've also ended up asking someone a question only 2 minutes after

> already asking it (reminding me of my grandma at the beginning of

her

> Alzheimer's battle).

> I assume this is fairly common, or at least I hope so! Otherwise I

am

> really losing it If this is common, I hope I can assume that

the

> short-term memory stuff will improve after I cut down on the pain

> meds....? Any input would really be appreciated! It has

definately

> felt worse in the past several days though, but maybe I am

imagining

> it...

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I suffered short term memory loss after revision surgery while on meds

AND for about 3 or 4 months after I stopped taking meds. My symptoms

were forgetfulness, searching for the right word when speaking,

going to redo the same chore for the second time. I know it was

the medication, it diminished greatly after I stopped but I continued

with symptoms for a long time. I am fine now but I did have to take

some online memory exercises to fine tune my " word searching " that

drove me crazy like, " I was just at the store across the street, you know,

the ????? " It has only been across the street for 10 years. I was quite

concerned for a long time but I am fine now.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Carol & . It's nice to hear that it WILL go away at some

point and that I'm not crazy It's so frustrating to deal with

though! I'm so glad that I'm writing a lot of stuff down in a

notebook - how I'm feeling, what I did that day, etc. Otherwise I

wouldn't have a clue what was going on a day or two ago!

>

> ,

> I suffered short term memory loss after revision surgery while on meds

> AND for about 3 or 4 months after I stopped taking meds. My symptoms

> were forgetfulness, searching for the right word when speaking,

> going to redo the same chore for the second time. I know it was

> the medication, it diminished greatly after I stopped but I continued

> with symptoms for a long time. I am fine now but I did have to take

> some online memory exercises to fine tune my " word searching " that

> drove me crazy like, " I was just at the store across the street, you

know,

> the ????? " It has only been across the street for 10 years. I was

quite

> concerned for a long time but I am fine now.

>

[Guest guest]

Oh, yes, that's all part of the pain meds business. I had a lot of trouble remembering hospital staff, especially anyone who worked with me immediately after surgery. I know I said a lot of weird things while I was having drug-induced delerium, and my dreams were invading conversations, but I can't remember a single example!

It definitely gets better.

Sharon

[ ] post-op meds and short-term memory

I have a question about how you guys feel your short-term memory has been while you were on meds. I basically feel like I have almost no short-term memory right now. I know I'm on high-dose stuff right now, and that it's affecting it, but it is so FRUSTRATING. For instance, I mostly work with the same PT and OT people, but occasionally have someone different (especially on weekends). A PT or OT will walk in and say hi and start talking to me like they obviously know me. I will glance at their nametag and that will not ring any bells either. I just have absolutely no memory or meeting them, working with them, etc. And the same goes with phone conversations. I can't remember who I talked to on certain days, or who I've told what things to. I find myself starting a story with someone and they'll say "Yeah, you were telling me about that yesterday." And I don't even remember CALLING that particular person yesterday, much less telling that specific story.I've also ended up asking someone a question only 2 minutes after already asking it (reminding me of my grandma at the beginning of her Alzheimer's battle).I assume this is fairly common, or at least I hope so! Otherwise I am really losing it If this is common, I hope I can assume that the short-term memory stuff will improve after I cut down on the pain meds....? Any input would really be appreciated! It has definately felt worse in the past several days though, but maybe I am imagining it...

[Guest guest]

,

Chiming in to tell you that my brain was a sieve for a while after

surgery....blame the

meds, the anaesthesia, the trauma your body has just been through. All I can say

is now is

the perfect time to say whatever is on your mind to whoever...then blame the

meds!!!!

(joke)

Seriously though, it will pass....guaranteed....how is your right leg doing? Any

progress?

Hugs,

Edie

>

> Oh, yes, that's all part of the pain meds business. I had a lot of trouble

remembering

hospital staff, especially anyone who worked with me immediately after surgery.

I know I

said a lot of weird things while I was having drug-induced delerium, and my

dreams were

invading conversations, but I can't remember a single example!

>

> It definitely gets better.

>

> Sharon

>

>

> [ ] post-op meds and short-term memory

>

>

> I have a question about how you guys feel your short-term memory has

> been while you were on meds. I basically feel like I have almost no

> short-term memory right now. I know I'm on high-dose stuff right now,

> and that it's affecting it, but it is so FRUSTRATING.

> For instance, I mostly work with the same PT and OT people, but

> occasionally have someone different (especially on weekends). A PT or

> OT will walk in and say hi and start talking to me like they obviously

> know me. I will glance at their nametag and that will not ring any

> bells either. I just have absolutely no memory or meeting them,

> working with them, etc.

> And the same goes with phone conversations. I can't remember who I

> talked to on certain days, or who I've told what things to. I find

> myself starting a story with someone and they'll say " Yeah, you were

> telling me about that yesterday. " And I don't even remember CALLING

> that particular person yesterday, much less telling that specific story.

> I've also ended up asking someone a question only 2 minutes after

> already asking it (reminding me of my grandma at the beginning of her

> Alzheimer's battle).

> I assume this is fairly common, or at least I hope so! Otherwise I am

> really losing it If this is common, I hope I can assume that the

> short-term memory stuff will improve after I cut down on the pain

> meds....? Any input would really be appreciated! It has definately

> felt worse in the past several days though, but maybe I am imagining

> it...

>

>

[Guest guest]

Edie,

No progress yet with the right leg. I only had 2 hours of therapy

yesterday and today, because they've been short staffed But when

I'm laying in bed, I try to do some of the exercises and stuff on my

own to make up for it.

On a good note, they are quite impressed with my upper body strength

and how well I am able to scoot for transfers, etc. Of course, this

is all fine and dandy, but IT DOESN'T HELP ME WALK!! Some of the

exercises though are good because they will help me get from a

sitting to a standing position once my leg strength returns. So

while I'm happy that my upper body is doing so well, I am still

anxious about the legs. They know this, and theoretically this

weekend I am " scheduled " for some more standing type exercises.

I hope you're still improving, feeling good, and having a wonderful

summer

>

> ,

>

> Chiming in to tell you that my brain was a sieve for a while after

surgery....blame the

> meds, the anaesthesia, the trauma your body has just been through.

All I can say is now is

> the perfect time to say whatever is on your mind to whoever...then

blame the meds!!!!

> (joke)

>

> Seriously though, it will pass....guaranteed....how is your right

leg doing? Any progress?

>

> Hugs,

>

> Edie

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sharon,

Heehee, and at some point I'll have to share with the group the

strange vivid dreams I told you about a week or two ago! I'd share

them now, but they're written in a notebook back in my room, and I'm

afraid I'd miss some of the humorous details

>

> Oh, yes, that's all part of the pain meds business. I had a lot of

trouble remembering hospital staff, especially anyone who worked with

me immediately after surgery. I know I said a lot of weird things

while I was having drug-induced delerium, and my dreams were invading

conversations, but I can't remember a single example!

>

> It definitely gets better.

>

> Sharon

>

>

> [ ] post-op meds and short-term memory

>

>

> I have a question about how you guys feel your short-term memory

has

> been while you were on meds. I basically feel like I have almost

no

> short-term memory right now. I know I'm on high-dose stuff right

now,

> and that it's affecting it, but it is so FRUSTRATING.

> For instance, I mostly work with the same PT and OT people, but

> occasionally have someone different (especially on weekends). A

PT or

> OT will walk in and say hi and start talking to me like they

obviously

> know me. I will glance at their nametag and that will not ring

any

> bells either. I just have absolutely no memory or meeting them,

> working with them, etc.

> And the same goes with phone conversations. I can't remember who

I

> talked to on certain days, or who I've told what things to. I

find

> myself starting a story with someone and they'll say " Yeah, you

were

> telling me about that yesterday. " And I don't even remember

CALLING

> that particular person yesterday, much less telling that specific

story.

> I've also ended up asking someone a question only 2 minutes after

> already asking it (reminding me of my grandma at the beginning of

her

> Alzheimer's battle).

> I assume this is fairly common, or at least I hope so! Otherwise

I am

> really losing it If this is common, I hope I can assume that

the

> short-term memory stuff will improve after I cut down on the pain

> meds....? Any input would really be appreciated! It has

definately

> felt worse in the past several days though, but maybe I am

imagining

> it...

>

>