Pred head or spacing out

[Darcy2000]

How to word this title …not sure

Doing Math , financial stuff ..feeling quite with it that way

5 years Prednisone currently 10 mg …also Methyltrexate 25 mgs.

Memory issues or forgetfulness probably typical for 77 years old but concerned about these weird lapses

Not sure how to describe these lapses e.g not forgetting names or appointments or things like that but walking out without my purse from a restaurant and putting phone in purse and then looking for phone 1 minute later …this happens a lot… my friends say it happens to them but not to this degree

Its like not focusing or attending to what I am doing …at that moment

Hoping it is brain fog attributed to long term prednisone use .

Feeling very well but this issue is unnerving .

Not TIA ‘ s …healthy in every other way ….my friends say I am more on the ball than most of them and they mean it

Any thoughts on this ?

Thanks

[SnazzyD]

I certainly had Pred head but it improved with lowering dose. Poor adrenal function then didn’t help but it improved with increasing function. I also find that any powerful drugs make my head go while I’m on them. Covid has been the worst for foggy brain and also prior to my GCA diagnosis was particularly bad.

However, no matter what my experience is of my brain, you are worried about yours and have noticed a difference and that’s all that matters. It is a difficult thing to pin down but I would try to get medical opinion.

[Darcy2000 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks Snazzy

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If you are concerned, the place to go is your GP who can do assessments of what you can, and can't, do/remember.

[Angelsmummy]

You certainly are not alone Darcy!As the WISE ONES said on here,if you are really worried,go and see your doc,even if it is just to put your mind at rest.I call my lapses PRED HEAD( poor drug gets blamed for so many things with me!).I was shocking on really high doses,felt that my memory had been replaced with a toddlers,now I am on 51/2 tapering to 5 it ain’t much better!OH with Dementia asks me things regarding appointments etc and I have to go and check my white board as unless I write things down ,they are gone from my brain.Never used to be like this before Pred,brain as sharp as my tongue🤣 So take comfort ,you have joined the Club!!Good luck ,xx🌼😜

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

This article albeit about another illness might be useful to look at. It certainly covers some of the things you mention, but as others have said if you are concerned you need medical attention

lupus.org/resources/lupus-a...

[Charlie1boy]

Hi, I let my wife read your post and she said " just like me"! Try not to stress about it, as that won't help To be honest, I think a lot of us forget names on a regular basis - I certainly do. My excuse is that it's old age!!!

[Body_bonkers]

Know how you feel but do see the doctor to get checked out. Our brains are affected by the condition and medication regardless of age

[ubaoz]

I can really sympathise with having a perfectly good brain decide to occasionally go on holidays without me thing. I used to be really sharp but find that these days I do occasional "ditzy" or scatty things that I never used to do previously. Ever.

So it's definitely scary when they do start to happen, especially with a really strong history of dementia in my family. I'm also well aware that, in my case, if I'm tired and haven't paced myself sufficiently that these little episodes are much more likely to occur.

I agree with others that getting it checked out by your GP is a great idea. If for no other reason than to reduce the stress of being concerned about it all, which ironically perhaps adds to the forgetfulness!

Good luck!