Anyone have trouble remembering things?

[alice58]

I seem to have difficulty remembering things. I was curious if anyone else with PMR have this trouble too. I fear I may not be able to retain my job due to this issue. I have fatigue that I fight daily which I know goes along with PMR. I need to work to keep my health insurance active! So frustrating!!

[Rose54]

HI

Many of use have the same problem I have a language all my own as someday cant remember names of every day things. I was trying to tell my Mum I was making rice pudding but told her it was Raspberry ripple .It was due to my family always putting Raspberry jam in rice pudding .

We end up laughing as my son is able to finish most of my sentences when my brain goes foggy .

Rose

[Hidden in reply to Rose54]

I have similar problems, I keep forgetting , or use wrong words for things! My brain feels as though it is on a slow down or 'foggy'!

[Rose54]

Hi

Vitamin deficiency is often present with this have you had vitamin levels checked

Vit D andB12

[alice58 in reply to Rose54]

I take a prescription supplement for both. GP doesn't seem too concerned, but I know I am not what I used to be!

[CloudGazer6]

Hello alice58

Yours is the second memory question today - maybe it's the day we have all forgotten things!

I posted this reply to the other post but will put it here too, slightly edited, in case it's useful. You haven't mentioned whether you are taking steroid medication at the moment or at what dosage but it might be relevant here too.

A number of factors can contribute to difficulties with memory and cognitive function. These can include the effects of the underlying medical condition, fatigue, insomnia from various things including pain and steroids, pain as an entity on its own, and any low mood effects, which have their own impact on concentration and memory.

In terms of medication, there are several high-level studies that have looked at the effects of both short-term and long-term steroid medication on cognitive function. These have found that people demonstrate difficulties in particular with working memory, executive function (part of which helps us plan tasks and carry them out), sustained concentration and being able to focus on things for an amount of time. Information acquired in the past does not seem to be affected in the way that short-term memory does.

I'm reducing down from 60mg prednisolone and am now at 20mg. I had ridiculous difficulties retaining very simple information whilst on higher doses of prednisolone. I couldn't remember something I'd thought of picking up only a minute before, so kept finding myself in a room not knowing why I'd gone in there. I was forgetting things I'd thought of only seconds before. Making lots of notes and keeping lists definitely helped, as did deciding on only two or three things to do in a day - which I put on a list on the fridge. That helped me keep track of the most important tasks for the day and stopped me from trying to do too much, which just made the situation worse.

I also found that the working memory problems meant I couldn't multi-task even at a fairly basic level. My brain couldn't work out how to do two things at once. I'd have a phone conversation holding on to a bottle, for example, as my hand couldn't work out how to put it down. This was very strange at first but when I put it into a neuro-cognitive context it was less worrying and became more of an interesting observation.

These working memory and planning problems have definitely improved as I've reduced the steroids. If you're concerned, or would like to have your memory monitored, ask your GP or specialist if you can be referred to a memory clinic or neuro-psychologist for a baseline set of tests. These are non-intrusive working and other memory quiz-like tests that can establish a comparison point for later on. It's always useful to have a baseline report in case you remain concerned at a later stage. In addition, the neuro-psychologist may be able to suggest some strategies to help with the memory difficulties you've noticed at the moment.

[1Purplecrow in reply to CloudGazer6]

Thanks for the simple explanation of this complex problem. I am currently using 2-3 mg pred daily, and find I have regained most of my misplaced cognitive skills.

In my early months of higher dose pred, I was frightfully aware of loss of executive function. Even simple tasks like organizing my underwear drawer were Impossible. I found multi-tasking beyond my ability, and I had half-finished (make that half-started) projects laying where I dropped them, to answer the phone.

The experience was an exercise in developing new ways to track my daily tasks. I made notes for most everything I needed to do as I thought of them. I have a dry erase marker in the bathroom, and write notes on my mirror as I'm brushing my teeth!

My fancy phone has a note pad, and it was my lifeline when going out to shop. I had my shopping list there, and also noted where I was leaving my car. I organized my trips so I made the required stops in order of location, thereby allowing me to stop when I tired, and resume the tasks at a later point. Did I mention I also snapped photo of the location where I parked my car?😜

I am well into my PMR journey, and feel like I have returned to my life. Interesting to note, I have a good deal more patience than was my previous temperament. I like that about myself.

[alice58]

I have had PMR now for over 4 years and am on prednisone. Seems like I get weaned down to 5 mg and it flares up again. When it flares up, the GP puts me back to 20 mg. only to start weaning down again. I am suffering with fatigue also. I understand if the sugar level is high, this may cause the fatigue. I am a borderline diabetic also, so this may be the cause.

[1Purplecrow in reply to alice58]

Wow Alice! No wonder you are struggling! 20 mg pred is quite a blast from 5 mg.

I'm not the expert on this forum, but I wonder 2 things here... Is your flare being caused by reducing your dose too abruptly?? And, could you manage a flare by bumping your pred up 5 mg, rather than 15mg?

Prmpro and the others can certainly direct you to the slow and slower reduction plan for pred. Get it...use it...and trust it to work...!

My opinion here is that the dreaded "flare" is most often caused by rapid and abrupt drops in pred dosages. Bouncing dosages on prednisone keeps our systems in a state of turmoil, and that lends itself to even more distress, which chases the tail of increased prednisone, and subsequent attempts at reducing.

Again, my opinion is from experience and observation of other people's PMR journeys. That being said, I would encourage you to stop where you are....give your system time to level out...(a month, two months?), then start a mindful plan to reduce prednisone.

Keep in mind, some people remain on low dosages of pred for years. I am into year 3., others have used it much longer.

As long as you have PMR inflammation lurking, pred is your friend, not a loaded gun. The side effects of low dose pred are fairly benign, most certainly less disruptive and less damaging than the Prednisone Bounce.

Be mindful, do your research...starting with archived messages on this forum, and don't get trapped by the boogie- man fear of the dreaded "flare".

Regards, Jerri