Does prednisone affect thinking and memory?

[Paperroses]

I've gone from 20 mg to 4 mg over the past three years. During that time, I have experienced fuzzy thinking, to remembering little detailed situations that happened years and years ago to my surprise. I also can't remember people's names or what day I did such and such. Sometimes when I'm speaking to people, I stumble all over my words or stutter. I'm only getting around 5 hours of sleep every night and I feel very fatigued possibly do to covid or adrenals but then I'm also still grieving the loss of my husband 9 months ago. Perhaps it's just all the above. I keep fairly active during the day with walking the dog and taking care of the yard and gardens. I have the responsibility of doing things my husband would have been doing. Ive never been a sit still person. Also, another thing I've noticed lately is my attention span is like a butterfly. I have to tell myself to complete a task before moving on. I just don't have that concentration like I used to. Is this because of prednisone, pmr, or fatigue ? Anyone else feel this?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

“Is this because of prednisone, pmr, or fatigue”..

Tbh probably all three, plus add in covid and bereavement and it’s almost a perfect storm….

Not sure what the answer is, you are obviously keeping busy, perhaps too busy - but if that’s how you are it’s probably not going to change much. Although trying to relax and rest in the afternoon might help with fatigue - not necessarily sleep, but just switch off - listen to music, radio, audio book whatever floats your boat.

Make sure you are well hydrated, especially at the moment with the hot weather (if you have it)…

Sure others will be along with tips shortly.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

All of the above I suspect.

Pred is known to cause cognitive problems - and so does fatigue/poor sleeping patterns. For most people 9 months post bereavement is still early days. I have rationalised what I do - I don't HAVE to do the things OH did, though to be fair I'd done most physical things for 3 or 4 years anyway. Where I struggle is the bureaucracy to do with his death and financial stuff like the tax returns which i never had anything to do with. Bills here are easy - nearly all done by the bank and I have a branch in the village with real people who are always ready to help. But sorting the pensions in three countries has had its moments! Had another one a couple of weeks ago - a German demand for some form I hadn't sent them. Shouldn't have been sent to me anyway and the ofice who should deal with it here couldn't work it out either. The cherry on top was that when they asked the German office - they didn't know either! They eventually decided what it was, that step is sorted - for this week ...

I knew years ago that whaever I wanted in retirement it wasn't a garden to go with a big house - 3 rooms and a balcony and watching other people's gardens does me - and I treasure the views of the mountains with all those trees ...

I agree with DL - maybe you are trying to do too much, you need some down time to relax without feeling there is something you must do - the things that upset me most are the ones I must do and can't leave - like the official stuff. I think I have got to the end - and weeks later another query arrives! But because i have eliminated many "I must" items, I have plenty of time for me and me alone if I want. I have the choice.

I think you need to speak to your doctor and get some help with the sleeping - when I have had a good night's sleep I can do anything, After a bad night where I didn't get to sleep to start with or woke repeatedly I'm useless. Maybe something like Nytol sleeping stuff is enough, I find taking a magnesium supplement before bed helps. HeronNS found calcium before bed helped - grandma's hot milk. Were you offered bereavement counselling? That has been very helpful for me.

[FRnina in reply to PMRpro]

I sympathise: bureaucracy is Kafkaesque if you've had the audacity to go live in another country. The audacity to become a widow. One good thing about PMR/GCA it slows down the runaway train: let the authorities wait I say. Sometimes I think: is it me going gaga or is it them? The most important thing is prioritise ourselves, our well-being.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to FRnina]

I will hand it to the Italian side - very smooth if long-drawn out!

My daughter tried to get an appointment with a solicitor in the UK to ask questions for me. She had to wait weeks for a telephone appointment - the woman couldn't answer the questions and then announced she couldn't take on the job anyway as her diary was too full!!! So why not say that at the start?

[FRnina in reply to PMRpro]

Crazy!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to FRnina]

Oh - and the oh-so-efficient Germans? It is now 9 months since he died and as I say, they still haven't sorted out the widow's pension due to his German pension! Must be the lack of Mutti in charge ...

[FRnina in reply to PMRpro]

We miss her! Bureaucrats snail slow unless of course we owe THEM money.

[SnazzyD]

Nowadays if I don’t get a solid 8 hours sleep my word recall is hopeless. I noticed a step down in cognitive function after Covid in 2020 but poor adrenal function at low doses also mucked about with mental acuity. I agree that you should get something to re-establish your sleep and strictly give yourself rest time in the day. If that still doesn’t help, then perhaps go back to your GP.

[SheffieldJane]

My heart goes out to you! You are striving to keep everything going and your mind is whizzing, on top of this you are dealing with heartbreak and loss.You have had kind advice from people who know exactly,from experience, how you feel. I would just like to add that those little reels of film from past memories are a gift. I love them. There is nothing abnormal in what you are going through, just take it a bit easier. It will all wait. 🌼🌹🌼

[Sharitone]

I have been a Predhead since the very beginning of pred. I watch detective stories most nights on TV and drive my husband mad by asking 'Have we seen him/her before?' because my attention has wanderedMy current GP gave me sleeping tablets (Zopiclone) a couple of years ago, and it was a blessed relief to get at least 6 hours. I have been able to reduce the does gradually with the help of a tablet splitter, so I'm not worried about being dependent. I hope you can get some relief❤️❤️

[Poshdog in reply to Sharitone]

I watch Lewis. Never know who did what to whom but love the photography.

[Broseley]

Yes I'm sure pred or PMR/GCA has affected my memory. I have to put everything I need to do on my phone calendar and I still forget things. I go into a room and forget why. I have to have a strict daily routine including for my meds and get very discumbobulated if anything upsets it. This includes my alendronic acid day, which affects the order I take my meds leading me to frequently forget some of them. And I find that if I can't sort something out straight away e.g. if no one answers my call, I get quite stressed. I used to be a teacher and should be used to stress, but now I find I really can't cope with even minor stress.

[Floridafan]

Yes, is the answer to your question. I’m so bad at remembering things and get easily distracted. I’ve taken to asking my Amazon Alexa to remind me to do things if I’m not able to do them at that exact moment eg remind me to get washing out of tumble dryer in 1 hour, feed the plants every Wednesday at 10:00am, turn oven on at 4:45pm today. Mind you, she doesn’t always hear exactly what I’ve said and when she reminds me it’s something completely different so I’m left scratching my head wondering what it was I originally told her! 🤣

[Appledore6]

Brain fog...the most horrid thing to suffer but really can be helped very quickly or was in my case in only a few weeks. As others here are always saying it is seldom one thing but several at the same time. Chronic stress which can increase blood pressure and weaken the immune system and can trigger depression. Lack of sleep, hormonal changes, diet and medications. For myself I started self care which was something that I was always to busy to do. But eventually I had no choice as I was so debilitated with brain fog. I went to extremes to get into a good sleep pattern you can find help on you tube with Dr John Bergman if it is still on site for me it worked a treat. I also took supplements for the first time in my life as medications deplete us of many. For 6 -8 weeks I took Vit C. B complex. Magnesium. L-theanine. Vit D. And Omega 3 fatty acids. I also stopped all processed food not that I though I ate much but it sneaks in here and there. The change in me was amazing and fast the brain fog lifted within a couple of weeks. Please be kind to yourself x

[whitefishbay]

Sorry to hear it. It could be that you are grieving plus everything else. Hang in there.

[Noosat]

Muc sympathy. I am surely much older than you, 94, ,and have to cope with that which comes from old age. Upsets and fading vision makes it worse. My daughter , who is coping with a divorce is movinfg in with ne, which in many ways is a blessing, but also a life changing event for someone who has always valued her independence and solitude. I am thankful for the littlr thig. I can no longer see well enough to put my poems down on paper, but I can lie in bed at night and early morning and still "write" them I have found over the yeaes life is always changing and we do need to have flexibility. It is dreadful to lose a loved one and that loss is always wih us. I try to remember all the wonderful memories I have stored away.