Memory loss on steroids

[middlejoel]

Hi, A quick summary, 83 years old, prostate cancer 16 years, also have A-fib and macular degeneration. My cancer has progressed over the years, and it has now spread to a few spots on the bones. I still have the prostate. During the past 6+ years I have been on ADT and now am treated with Avodart, and Lupron for the second time, previously I used Firmagon. Casodex, Xgeva and E-2 patches. My question is about the side effects of ADT. I have minor SE's related to hot flashes, fatigue, cold sweats, anxiety and other symptoms common to many here but boy, do I make up for that by the horrendous memory loss that I attribute to ADT. It was shortly after I started to use Lupron again early this year that my memory started to slip. Quickly, the loss of memory accelerated and remains today, at times totally. In recent past, I have forgotten how to go to many places where I have been to hundreds of times, have totally erased a meeting that I had just a few days earlier and so on. Anyone else experienced such horrific memory loss?

[ctarleton]

In the elderly there can be other, more common, reasons to have memory issues besides anything that might be associated with ADT. A referral to an experienced gerontologist who specializes in memory issues is an option to consider. Appropriate tests/exams could be run to see if something else may be happening besides any ADT side effects?

(I've been at this for about 6 years, and have had some Afib and macular degeneration, too, at age 71. On a lighter note, sometimes I suspect that I may be in the beginning stages of Wisenheimer's Disease, myself. )

[Kaliber]

Well I ...... er ...ah ............................uh ...............................

[Magnus1964 in reply to Kaliber]

Diddo. I think.

[Kaliber in reply to Magnus1964]

I just dress slightly upscale , project my pretend “ attitude “ .... and .... pin a largish note on my lapel ( upside down of course) ... or disguise the note as a suit pocket hanky ....

Then I can go sit in a local sidewalk coffee shop and act like I’m busy on my tablet .... and casually enjoy the ambience and beverage .

This exploit eliminates that pesky problem of having to talk to people and remember who they are ( your wife ? or those boorish hospital orderlies angry cuz you slipped away on them ) and the note plus the gps in your phone will get you back home safely ( usually .... you got to remember to bring your phone tho and got to remember the note in your pocket ) .

The cool cleansing.. refreshing effects of a little bit of Alzheimer’s shouldn’t be overlooked ... people pay healthcare industry thousands for a few sessions of refreshing Electroshock treatment ( ect ) .... us PCa guys get that free as a side benefit of our meds ..... how kewl is that !

It’s all good my brother ...

[JimVanHorn]

I had a problem with Vit D3 levels. So I no longer am using prostate therapy but they put me on high doses of Vit D on prescription. Whenever I take that pill I have memory lapses like you describe. The doctor said it is because it releases Calcium in the brain which interferes with my neurons firing. I also had a shortage of Vit B 12 and when I took supplements my brain worked better. Drinking plenty of water helps. Some drugs when you have taken them for years can cause these problems, like Zantac for stomach acid. There are computer programs that seniors use to improve short term memory, try programsforelderly.com

Ask your Oncologist about the drugs you are using and give yourself a break. It is OK to not remember everything. I wish you well in your recovery,

[middlejoel in reply to JimVanHorn]

Jim, interesting. It so happens that I have been supplementing with Vit D3 pretty much my whole life. Until about one year ago, I was taking 5,000 IU's daily then after reading an article I doubled it. Could that have been the cause??? Hope so, I did cut back to one 5,000 pill recently. I have not recently had my Vit B 12 check, hope to do so soon. Thanks for the heads up

[JimVanHorn in reply to middlejoel]

I am taking 14,000 units daily (50,000 U twice a week) and the effects of confusion happen the day after and are generally mild. Also, the article I read said when the Vit D level is close to normal, this condition gets better. Before I started Vit B 12 supplements

I was feeling old and tired like an old man (I'm 74 now). I put a tablet of B-12 under my tongue and took a nap. When I woke up I actually felt 10 years younger, no kidding. If you buy B-12 be sure it is Cobalmine HCl not Cyanocobalamine. It seems 60 years ago they attached external Cobalamine to a cyanide molecule so the stomach would not digest the Cobalamine part of the molecule. It didn't work and the stomach digested it anyway. So you had to go to a doctor to get shots! The HCl is the form used by the body anyway and is absorbed partly under the tongue and around the gums. So now you do not need the shots. I also snore with sleep apnea at night so I use a CPAP machine that keeps my oxygen level at 97% when I sleep or nap. This helps me feel alert and awake. Good luck with simple ideas to help your confusion.

[Hidden]

I am age 69 and have been off ADT for a while. My memory isn't great anymore. You might want to be tested for vit B12 deficiency. I take a B12 supplement for brain health. Too much of it isn't great for prostate cancer. Too much D3 isn't good for a-fib which I also deal with.

[Hidden]

Almost 40 per cent of people over the age of 65 experience some form of memory loss. When there is no underlying medical condition causing this memory loss, it is known as "age-associated memory impairment," which is considered a part of the normal aging process.

Cognitive impairment is an underlying medical condition. You might think about a Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) and the Mini-Cog test given by a health professional. Should you have early impairment, there are medications and therapy to slow down the process.

Gourd Dancer

[Grumpyswife]

Before asking any physician about it, I would suggest taking similar memory tests online.

If you get poor results then decide what's next. You could ask for related lab work to show any deficiencies as suggested in the other posts. You could get a baseline brain scan then see about prescribing donepazil and/or Namenda to prevent cognitive loss.

[middlejoel in reply to Grumpyswife]

Thanks guys, I am going to do as suggested and talk to my docs about the various possible tests.

[j-o-h-n]

I used to have a memory problem until I forgot all about it....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Sunday 10/06/2019 11:15 PM DST