So much to learn, such good company to learn from!

[baskingoutinthesun]

Apologies one more question (two if you will allow).

As I have mentioned my cognitive functions were fairly decimated. One of the thing I have been most intrigued by is that as my cognitive functions recovered and my memory is much better now than it was, I was suprised by some of the gaps.

. I used to be quite an expert on Visual Basic (programming language). Though that wasnt my job I could always build software if I needed to short term. I cant remember it at all. Nothing. I look at my previous work and I just dont comprehend it at all.

. Whilst now I can retain both short and long term memory I cannot retain Films and TV. I can remember the really high level plot points and can remember for short term more detail but give it a week, I forget the detail and have to rewatch previous episodes.

. There are all sorts of strange things where I cant remember for example, historically the taste of any meal I ate before 2015. Overall my memory is now quite good but I wondered is the above sort of thing common and is it common to have "slices" of things that you dont remember.

Sorry if this is cheeky but the second question. I have discovered lots of little quirks in how I have changed. For example after being a lifetime, too many cups a days coffee drinker, I can now only drink tea (which I had never really done before). That one has stayed. I had a period where good friends of mine told me my sense of humour had changed, quite significantly (though that faded).

I just wondered if these are unusual or whether others have experienced similar things. I know these are both quirky but I find it very interesting.

[Paula-38]

Hi baskinginthesun ,

I'I'm glad to hear that your memory has improved since you had encephalitis - that's a positive!

They are not quirky because I have known other people struggle with their short-term memory although I never had that problem because I had encephalitis the day after my first birthday when apparently our memories just start forming at that age as the brain hasn'hasn't yet developed.

However watching television if there is storyline/plot to follow I remember bits but other things earlier in the programme I would forget so I have to rematch them several times to "follow the plot" and try to only follow the main characters rather than the whole cast

[Paula-38 in reply to Paula-38]

I was still typing and the dam phone sent it before I finished. So I have what is called "delayed memory" meaning it'it's been a long time ago since I seen people I know but have changed their appearance so recognising new and unfamiliar faces/ places if there are landmarks or a familiar route I'm OK but unfamiliar street names no. I recognise people by their voices better than faces (unless I see them regularly). My memory on the whole is excellent really. My processing speed is last like my attention span, and my vocabulary is last according to a neuropsychologist 2 years ago. My main problem I struggle with the most is profound Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - OCD .

[HSE_Survivor]

Your experience is definitely not unusual. The distant past is much clearer to me. I am much more comfortable recognising colleagues I worked with in the '90s than the colleagues I worked with more recently in the decade prior to 2013. My memory of the years just before being diagnosed with encephalitis is much less reliable; I have even offended one ex-colleague by ignoring her when I didn't recognise her.

Thankfully my memory in the years post having encephalitis has improved a lot. But despite having been an English teacher, I no longer read much fiction, as recalling a plot is do-able but it takes a lot of effort. I used to be a gregarious chatterbox, but these days I only like socialising with my close friends, family and fellow encephalitis survivors .

One positive outcome is that I love music much more now , especially songs from the 80s and 90s. My 15 year old daughter has to say, "Mum, will you turn the music down, please!" as I annoy her playing it when she's trying to concentrate. I'm looking forward to seeing a Queen tribute band on Valentines Day this year. 😊

[Wygella]

like you I’ve been fascinated by the brain quirks that have happened post E. My taste buds also changed. I always did have a good sense of taste but now it’s heightened to the point where I can literally taste and identify different ingredients. With the result I can actually strangely eat more spices but can’t abide anything with vinegar in for example. I realise a lot of post E people lose their sense of taste so I’m very grateful I can taste. Oh and I used to like white and rose wine (probably a bit too much). Now if I do have wine it has to be red. Can’t abide anything else.

Memory is a strange one. Depends on my concentration level at the time. I used to be really good at concentrating on anything. People, tasks etc. That’s sort of wandered off. So I can focus on a book and remember the plot. But tv is a different matter! Words are still a big thing with me Not writing them but remembering them when talking and I use the wrong words a lot so that even my husband will give me a blank stare

Keep asking questions because it’s so interesting what effect E has had on us. Some common to us all some different. We are a unique bunch!!

[Gandalf2]

Hi Basking, I can relate to your account of your memory problems and puzzles. My memories that remain are jumbled and I can't understand some things that used to be everyday information. On the other hand I can remember the spelling and meaning of random words like 'antagonistic' though I rarely used them. What did I eat for tea last night? I can't remember.

A recent issue is finding it hard to separate dreams from memories of events or things that are happening in reality. It can take a few hours to come around and even then I can become quite distressed at the struggle that it entails. Even then, how do I know I perceive things correctly .....?

Enc is not very nice.

The words of this song seem relevant ; youtu.be/vGgPd0YA3sU(Not working as expected?)

Click twice I think