Saturday, October 27, 2012 angie asks

Q: anyone else havin cognitive impairments pretty often n regular?

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Answers (5)

V, Health Guide

10/29/12 10:49am

Yes, Angie. And it is scary. I find that I get nervous about it in public, and that just makes it worse. Yesterday, we had a spaghetti dinner after church. All I had to do was sit there in a chair and take money for the dinner which was 8.00 per dinner and 4.00 per child's dinner. I had 3 adults and two kids, and I had trouble telling them how much. It took me longer than it should have. I was SO embarassed! You are not alone, sweetie.

angie

10/29/12 12:04pm

I am the same way. Like I told Leslie, it started before the meds..... I hafta write everything down on a calender, actually a big one n my room n one n my purse.... I have my computer desk organized with paid bills n the ones need payin along with to do things. I have a drawer n my dresser for puttin important stuff..... Icant remember a conversation sometimes well, alot of times right after it..... Yes, it is embarrassin. I just got to where I tell people its my meds for my RA.... EXCUSE!!!!! At 42 its alot to take in. Alzheimers is pretty bad on my dads side of the family. He is actually showin slight signs and has for several yrs now. He just turned 65.... Also, cancer of all types too!!!!both sides of my family. I am callin my RD n askin questions... Also, callin eye doc n tellin him i want the mri behind my eyes done. I am still having dble vision and blurred too. cant read w/o closin my left eye..... UGH!!! I am just lost. Im glad u understand n Im not alone n this either... XOXO

V, Health Guide

10/29/12 4:59pm

Oh, no! What is up with the double vision? I really do not like the sound of that.

angie

10/31/12 2:01pm

apparently, its dry eye accordin to the eye doc......but the ointment he gave me for night time, it makes my eyes worse n the mornins!!!!! go figure, when i called em yesterday they told me to keep usin it til i come back on the 19th!!!! ugh

Brad, Health Guide

11/ 8/12 11:59pm

Angie,

Just noticed your post about having double vision. An Eye Doc is a good idea, I was having the same issue. I have RA and Sjogrens, both of which have affected my eyes, my eyes are extremely dry from the Sjogrens and the RA has caused muscle in flammation around my eyes. This caused my eyes to not "track" quite right together and made my eyes very sore since I was always trying to correct it by using the inflammed muscles. I have worn bifocals for many years, but now am back to two pairs of glasses, one for close up and one for distance. Both have "prisms" in the lenses, much more so in the close up pair, that correct the fact that my eyes are not tracking together. I was SO shocked when I got the glasses, everything is LASER sharp, and no more double vision! Hope they can do something like this for you as well. You do not realize how much your vision is affected until you can see clearly again!

angie

11/13/12 8:38am

I have seen 2 eye docs! 1 says graves the other says not!!! He says its dry eye!!! I have to disagree. The second eye doc was some kinda specialist and said my vision was 20/20. I think I was having a good day that day.When I saw the first one I was in a flare and my eyes were swollen really bad.... I dunno! just frustrated. My eye muscles at times, I've been told don't track together... So, I go back to eye doc 2 on the 19th. Keep ya posted, thanks for the help.

Leslie

10/29/12 8:09am

Angie, not sure I understand your question entirely but if you mean memory issues, the answer is yes. I chalk it up to the multitude of meds I am now on. Since at least half of them suggest that you shoudn't drive or opperate machinery I can see how that might happen. I understand that MTX does have that effect - fogginess - sometimes. Add fatigue to that and I think forgetfulness might be understandable. There are days when I feel like I have early onset Alzhiemers, lol!

angie

10/29/12 11:55am

my problems started brfore the meds. So, im lost!!! thank u for ur comment!

Crystal

10/29/12 3:13pm

I have the same issues. I don't know if it is from the meds or the Bipolar getting worse as the years go by or both. All I know is that it sure would be nice to have the functioning brain back that I had before.

Crystal

10/29/12 3:15pm

Carrie Beth Brown, Health Guide

10/31/12 12:09pm

Very much so.. to the point where I was scared something else might be going on with me medically. I don't remember things very well, I have more problems with concentrating and get anxiety and panic attacks freuqently.

The good news is that my doctor says its very common with RA and other chronic illnesses or chronic pain conditions. Apparently inflammation in the body can affect the brain and make it harder to think and concetrate. In addition, our brains are so overloaded with stimuli from pain signals that it has a hard time processing it's normal load - so that's usually when ADD, anxiety and concentration problems come into play. Then when you add in medications, particularly pain meds, you have even more loss of function.

I was so relieved when I got brave enough to talk to my doctor about my concerns and she told me how common it was and to not worry about it so much. I have to take medications now to help with anxiety and panic attacks, but at least now I know I'm not going crazy, nor do I have something else seriously wrong with me causing the problems.

The good news is that if you are able to get your health issues in control and get your pain levels down, the cognitive impairments should decrease as well.

angie

10/31/12 1:59pm

Well, also the cognitive stuff started before the RA and other stuff came into the picture. But, it is definitely getting worse. I truly believe thats why I got my disability. I work hard at it everyday, like brain exercises,etc. I'm just lost, lol. But thank you for lettin me know Im not alone.... Thats awesome to have other people open up and tell others they have the same or similar issues! Thank you ALL!!!!! cyber hugz

Lene Andersen, Health Guide

11/ 8/12 10:50am

all the time, angie - check out my new post about cognitive issues and RA.

angie

11/13/12 8:32am

I did and it was very helpful. Thank you Lene,

wonderwoman

11/13/12 2:42am

So do have this, quite badly in fact. like total dropouts of things I have to do, names, and lots of other stuff. I keep lots of notes put lots of reminders in my phone, but still find myself anxious that I will forget something important.

angie

11/13/12 8:43am

I get so tired of my family tesing me about it too... I have told them to stop, I can't help it. They say it's my fruit loop meds. I tell 'em I'd rather be fruity than the other way. UGH!!!!!

wonderwoman

11/13/12 1:20pm

Hi Ang

I am 61 so get teased about dementia, I have worried a bit about wether it is, but glad to hear others are in the same boat. I also have fibro which gives brain fog

Q: anyone else havin cognitive impairments pretty often n regular?

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