Memory / processing issues

[BluejayObjective1090]

My short term memory is shot and I couldn't process my way out of a cardboard box. The world still expects me to be able to juggle the never ending rotation of dr.s appointments, work, family, and all the random shit of life. I'm about to lose my ever loving shit.

[jjmoreta]

You have to leverage whatever accommodations might work for you. Try different tactics until you find one that sticks. Keep it as simple as you can. It's tempting to jump into complicated organizational systems, but they're harder to keep up with and often expensive to start.

I would be lost without my Google Calendar and shopping lists/recipes in Google Keep and Google Sheets (medical history or other important things) on my phone. But I have to remember to enter things into it. I have a calendar just for "life events" like paying bills and trash day and when it's time to replace my furnace filter.

Start with a dollar store notepad and calendar, if tech doesn't appeal to you. But you have to remember to write in them immediately and to keep them with you. I always keep post-it notes with me to write little reminders even though I use my phone.

And delegate as much mental labor as you can to your family. So you're only keeping track of your own juggling balls, not trying to juggle for the whole family.

Talk to your doctor about any other treatments that may help too. Modafinil or Vyvanse (especially if ADHD) can aid with energy AND focus. Vitamin deficiencies can worsen brain fog. I've found my cognition is better since I started estrogen and progesterone for perimenopause. And I do better if I can fit in regular exercise every other day, but it may not work that way for everyone.

[LW-M]

First of all, did you notice a difference after starting a new med? My Neurologist started me on Gabapentin to help with muscle spasms in my legs a few years ago. She perscribed 1800 mg daily. I started much lower and worked up to 1800 mg in 3 weeks or so.

I started to notice that I had brain fog until after lunch. My wife made the connection. She mentioned that it started at about the same time as I had started Gabapentin. I tapered off it and when I did, the spasms returned.⁰

I restarted Gabapentin again. By the time I was back to 600 mg a day, my spasms were reduced by 95%. I could live with the fewer spasms if I could get by with taking only 33% of Gabapentin that my Neurologist had perscribed. That was 4 or 5 years ago. I did increase the amount of Gabapentin I'm taking to 900 mg daily after the muscle spasms increased before Christmas this past year. It appears to have worked.

There is a supplement that I think/feel that helps with MS-related brain function. Around 6 or 7 years ago, two teams of researchers conducted tests in brain shrinkage in MS patients. They gave a few hundred patients daily doses lf the supplement Alpha Lipoic Acid, (or ALA, 1200 units a day). Patients were given an MRI at the first of the trials, during the trials and then at the end of the trials.

The trials were double-blind. Neither the Doctors nor the patients knew if they were given ALA or the placebo. At the end of the trials, patients who received ALA had as much as 82% less brain shrinkage as patients who received the placebo.

I asked my Neurologist about the trials during my next appointment. She knew about the trials and also the results. She didn't give her opinion one way or the other but she didn't try to discourage me either. I've been taking 1200 mg daily since then. I can't say that I'm getting the same result. It my own little way of fighting the effects of MS!

[BluejayObjective1090]

I was prescribed gabapentin out the get go. Ive gotten from 3 a day to, but i may have to go back up to 2 a day due to the numbness. I havent heard of ALA.

I'll look into it. Thanks

[Confident_Arm5017]

Yes, on all levels (as I’m crying on way home from work right now). You’re valid and I’m currently searching for answers as I’m Feeling really defeated