Multiple Sclerosis - Does MS affect your memory, both short and long term?

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

YES I THINK IT DOES ,I CANT REMEMBER A LOT OF THINGS ANYTHINGS ANYMORE.AND MY FAMILY TELLS ME I REPEAT MY SELF OFTEN

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re: Does MS affect your memory, both short and long term?
david weichbrodt
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 11:20 PM

Yes I do repeat myself and ask things more than once. Long term seems ok but it seems to be the short term that bothers me. I guess after having this since 1978 it has taken it's toll on that portion of my brain.

Right hand is somewhat slower than the left and the sensation of touch has given me issues since 1978 learned to adapt to the right hand. Balance is also an issue when you try to do the heel to toe walk. Yes I get mad at this stuff also, I try to keep on keeping on

Thursday, November 12, 2009

djax59

when i found out that ms could cause cognitive problems i was very happy. i really wasn't losing my mind. i forget from one moment to the next what i am doing and why. i forget the topic of conversation mid-sentence. my favorite cuss word sometimes triggers a memory-but not always. i figure if it was important it'll come up again. something else to laugh at. djax59

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re: Does MS affect your memory, both short and long term?
JOHN HARE
Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 11:59 AM

Djax,

I was just going to post a comment to the cognitive thread when I saw yours. I Immediately associated with your post. Seeing that it was what was in my head at the time and I better comment before I lost it. I have forgotten what I was going to lose; the comment I was going to write or the reply to you. So I’ll go with a reply, I think. I do a lot of peer support here in Colorado Springs and will be on a real roll answering a question; right in the middle of it I say to myself what the **** am I talking about. My shot it takes at least 4 to 5 trips to get it, thank God for munchies so I don’t fell foolish coming back from frig without shot. Then there is the ‘been there before’ thing like this message, seeming like I have written it to you before. I’m a 33+ year MS’er with the same humor streak as you. If you ever remember what memory that cuss word is flashing back to e-mail me so I can remember also.

re: re: Does MS affect your memory, both short and long term?
djax59
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 06:25 PM

it is what ever i'm trying to remember--a lot of times just a word--it will come out--ba bla bla(i'm not any good at spelling sound effects) then a great big oh ****. sometimes that will do it--sometimes not--i just figure if it was imp. it'll come back to me---or not. i come back from the fridge--the other room--or wherever empty handed all the time--you are not alone. chin up-keep laughing--djax59

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Alison P

Yes, I too agree that MS affecs your memory. I am 46 and was dx with RR/MS in 2004. I am waiting to see my Neuro and I am hoping he will explain if the demylination that is evident on my my MRI scan is anything to do with cognitive problems.

My problem is short term memory. I know family have noticed it. I see it in their face's when I stumble with words...yet again...They don't mention anything though!!

Alison

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Aspina27

I believe it definetly affects your memory both short and long term. there are games and exercises to help with this and I do them constantly.

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

tweener8292

Short term. So far that's been the #1 problem. My wife and son had been noticing for months that I wasn't remember conversations that we had. Since my final diagnosis of MS (primary-progressive), I've become the King of Post-it Notes and notebooks to write things down immediately to refer to later. That's helped.

No long-term problems yet.

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sheila

Yes. Definitely. It was hard dealing with it at first. The long term memory problems are not as acute as the short term. I take care of something and someone will ask me ten minutes later, did you take care of it and I have to seriously think about whether I did or not. Taking notes and writing everything down helps.

Thank you for your input
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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sheila

Definitely. Short term is worse than long term. I can't remember fifteen minutes ago but I can remember when I was a young girl. Exacerbations come and go and the memory gets worse and better at will. They have cut down my responsibilities at work - no one trusts me to remember anything properly.

Thank you for your input
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Thursday, November 19, 2009

KYBlu

My memory is most definitely affected. Some days are worse than others. I make a lot of lists. Mostly my short term memory seems to be affected.

Thank you for your input
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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Donna

MS affects my cognitive and short term memory, I am 41. I am a Medical Technologist and it is especially embarrassing and frustrating when I am trying to talk to a doctor/co-worker and I don't remember the words I want to say. Did I say, my short term memory sucks? My long term is just fine though!! Before I found out about my cognitive dysfunction, I thought I was going crazy. I was on copaxone for a few years, my body had gotten used to it, therefore not working anymore. They put me on Tysabri and did another MRI. I now have secondary progressive MS.

Donna

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

happyJQ

It sure does. It's worse when the fatigue is worse - they go hand in hand. But I've learned to use coping strategies - notes, reminders on my email calendar & my phone calendar and a calendar on the fridge. I use the alarm on my phone to help me remember appointments & stuff. I make a personalized calendar every year with everyone's birthdays & anniversarys on it - and the website I order it from even saves the info from year to year to make it even easier. The last two years, I've given these out (complete with photos I've taken throughout the year) for Christmas & they are a BIG hit! Everyone loves them and it's an easy way to manage Christmas shopping. One stop - delivered right to my door.

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

vldnyc

Most definitely! Mostly my short-term memory is affected. For example, if I watched a movie a couple of days ago, I am not able to remember what the movie was about or even its name. Sometimes I watch a movie I have already seen with no recognition. I easily get confused which affects memory.

I have a lot of cognitive issues, memory being an important one.