Hi everyone hope you are well, just wondered if anyone is suffering from short term memory loss, i seem to be forgetting alot of things and people think im beimg ignorant. I remember long term memories and things like that but anything new seems to be getting erased from my mind
Cognitive problems with learning, remembering, and processing information — are common in MS, but some practical solutions can help.
Practical Tips for Forgetfulness and Other Cognitive Issues
Feeling Mental Fatigue
This MS symptom occurs when you're concentrating or thinking very hard and hit a wall, Dr. Grysiewicz explains, noting that "it's different than physical fatigue.”
What to do: Heat can make MS symptoms worse, so always have a strategy to keep cool, especially in the summertime. Drinking a cold glass of water can stave off heat-exacerbated cognitive fatigue.
A “safe” person can also help, this can be a spouse, child, parent, or friend who understands all of this and will help out if you need a moment or a break.
Keeping New Memories
Memory problems related to MS seem to mainly affect remembering recent events. Along the same lines, you may put an item down and then forget where it is.
What to do: Write things down or record them if you no longer have functioning of your hands. And make keeping track of easily misplaced items a family affair: Designate a space for easy-to-misplace items and make sure everyone knows about it. This can include the TV remote, important files, keys, and reading glasses
Cognitive rehabilitation that's designed to improve visual functioning may help. Computer-based cognitive rehab improved attention, processing speed, and visual and verbal memory performances in people with MS, according to a study in the January 2015 issue of the Journal of Neurology. Ask your neurologist whether you might be a candidate for cognitive rehab.
@A MyMSTeam Member I too have short-term memory loss which I can explain, at least for me. When someone verbally tells me something it goes into the temporary holding area in my brain, but never transfers into permanent memory area. If I don’t write something down when I first hear or think about it. When I was still working, I always asked people to send me emails instead of just talking to me; they didn’t mind doing it.
Has your neurologist ever sent you to a neuropsychologist for cognitive testing to see what skills levels you have? If not, I think it would be a good idea to do so because 1) you’ll have a written report showing where you are as far as cognitive skills go; 2) be able to share report with people you wish and 3) include report as backup proof for using Worsening cognitive skills as one of your reasons to qualify for Social Security Disability on your application like I did.
I included in My Pinboards link a sample test you could possibly take called the “Stroop Test” where you have to say what color each word is on a page, which of course is not the same color as the word says. Short-term memory is tested by being shown a list of words for a specified number of seconds, then you have to repeat back as many words on list as you can. These are just two samples.
My kids know there twins 8 years ive had to tell them so they understand when im poorly but there good with it. Its very hard dealing with this my memory is getting worse i cant multi task anymore and also conversations dont register anymore. My boyfriend thinks im ignorant but ive said its like i zone out and cant take the info into my brain x
I too have short term memory issues. What I do is write things down. Makes things a little easier. Also play some brain games to help me.
What is working for me is exercising & using my brain. I do research & studying new things as well as memorizing exercises daily. It has worked tremendously!