Concentraion & Memory Problems

Thanks Tom,

I will definitely check into the Americans with Disabilities Act. My doctor did complete the FMLA paperwork as I missed all last week because my asthma was so out of control & the doctor said I needed time to have tests asnd adjust to the new medication.

Liz

Liz;

Have read your story and have a friend with a similar story. We have tracked her memory problem to an asthma or COPD (often mistaken as asthma) drug. Please post your medications so that I can see if what is happening to your memory and mistakes at work are the same as what she is going through. We are sure that it is from her medication and this is varified by her doctor. She works for the State also, but works in the Local Court System in Washington State. All of her co-workers can varify that this drug has changed a normally responsible accurate person into a person that can hardly be left alone in her own home (serious short term memory problems). Please reply with your medication list and note if any medication corrisponds to your onset of memory loss.

Thank You,

Sherry

Sherry,

I had more problems with memory before I started the Serevent and Flovent. These were prescribed for me after I was correctly diagnosed with asthma. My problem now is that my supervisor that targeted me and has been bullying me and retaliating against me since last June and no matter what I do, it is ALWAYS wrong. The other day she wrote me up for saying that I had missed completing a few case narratives because the client had been wearing an "overpowering perfume". She said I had been disresprectful towards the client. I never said she smelled bad, just that her perfume was overpowering.

Liz

Thanks Jan. I'm in Washington state and 23 years with Dept of Social & Health Services (which kinda makes it worse when our agency is *supposed* to help the public but my office doesn't seem to care about my health).  I appreciate your advice. I have requested Reasonable Accomodations but they still don't seem to get what I am saying. I guess I need to be more assertive. I did get my blood work back today and my CO2 level is a bit high. The drs office told me that is due to reduced oxygen in my blood to move the carbon dioxide out but they feel that will improve once my new asthma medication has fully kicked in.

Liz

PS - I was *hoping* that the memory lapses were due to the asthma and NOT my age (LOL). On a serious note, I think it has a lot to do with the stress my employer is putting me through.

WOW - thanks for all the valuable information. The smoke is from people coming in that smoke HEAVILY so it just seems to billow off them - just like heavy perfumes do. I had a Reasonable Accomodations meeting last week and their idea of accomodating me is to put a fan in my cubicle and if that doesn't work, then an air filter. I determine eligibility for public assistance in a very small cubicle. I had asked for a separate, well ventilated space for the smokers, heavy perfume wearers or people who smelled like gasoline (you'd be surprised how many people smell like they just poured 5 gallons of gas over their heads). They also said we could not put a sign on our front door asking people to be considerate with heavy scents. There are two of us with asthma in the building. Is this true? My doctor is aware of what is going on and is very supportive. I will definitely go to the links you provided.

Liz

Sally, thank you SO much for this information. I will definitely check it out. I am now on Flovent & Serevent and they seem to be helping quite a bit. My biggest issue now is the stress my employer has me under. She REFUSES to accept that my asthma is causing problems for me at work and acts like it is just a cold or the flu. Her comment the other day was that "I believed that my asthma was causing me problems at work" - like she thought it was all in my head. I have even offered to bring her information on asthma so she can see how serious asthma can be but she is not interested. And the office has not provided the air purifier that the agreed to over two weeks ago in a Reasonable Accomodations meeting. It is so frustrating to learn how to live with my asthma AND struggle with an insensitive employer.

Liz

Liz

What medications were you on when you noted short term memory loss? And has your memory loss cleared up after you no longer took the medication? I suspect that the memory loss is/was due to the medication you were/are on and not the "asthma". Please advise.

A friend of mine who works for the courts in Spokane WA. has faced "diciplanary" proceedings at work too, from the same type of memory problems at work. We know now that it is related to her medication, although "short term memory loss; confusion" are not listed on the label under "side effects", nor noted to physicians who prescribe it.

(She is very fortunate that she has a great doctor that caught it before she lost her job, or possiably her life).

Sherry

I am 52 year old woman with multiple chemical sensitivity to all chemicals even the additives in Tylenol.  I discovered that the spleen is the organ that filters the chemicals out and if it is not able to do so, there are symptoms as serious as uremia(a kidney failure disease) to lysol and chills and fever from exposure to clorine, ammonia, petroleum based products including lotions, air pollution and nervous conditions from fumes or gases of any perfume and cleaners in stores.

I have studied for  a long time to find a solution to building or recovering the spleen to be able to withstand this problem with little results.  The only thing I found is "abnormal hair growth and chemical sensitivity" with explanation of spleen problems.

Please help me find the right information to treat the spleen and rebuild the organ as is done for liver conditions and kidney conditions.

laila1255@yahoo.com