Memory Loss

[Travelingdueo]

Hi my husband suffers from long and short term memory loss from a rupture aneurysm back in Janurary and wanted to know if there is anything we can share that you do to help with this...
At times he forgets who I am and he wants to go to his other house (which we don't have) and is bond determine to leave... He sees people and always asking where did they go... and if I said I don't know he may say something like they were just here...
I have used work books for K- grade 1 which have helped he had problems at first using them but we have out grown some of them and need more challenging but not over challenge... before his aneurysim he used to do crosswords but can't do them yet I need to use children's but he is finally able to do some on his own once you prompt him to get started.

can anyone share more that may help.... thanks Becky

[linniec]

I'm not one to talk, since I have problems of my own, but has he tried simple Sudokus ?

Linnie
Atlanta, Georgia

"Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself"

[linniec]

I just thought of something else!
Have you and he tried the exercises at http://www.sitandbefit.org ?
It's a series of exercises, designed for both people who have physical problems and for older people. It's out of Spokane,Washington, and is seen on P.B.S. stations throughout the U.S. It is run by a Registered Nurse, backed up by Physical Therapists and doctors. I know that an aneurysm is not a stroke, but unfortunately,it's close.

They recommend the following videos for people for people who have had strokes.
You can buy them at the "store" of their site. The Stroke Specialty Tape (a good start) is around $16.95.


Stroke Specialty Tape
All-Sitting Video (good with cane and ball exercises)
Tone & Stretch II
Caregiver's Guide to Exercise Video
Kids' Workout

Linnie
"Concentrate on what you can do, not on what you can't do."

[Travelingdueo]

for the info I will check into it
I'm always trying anything new.

[empathy]

Hi my husband suffers from long and short term memory loss from a rupture aneurysm back in Janurary and wanted to know if there is anything we can share that you do to help with this...
At times he forgets who I am and he wants to go to his other house (which we don't have) and is bond determine to leave... He sees people and always asking where did they go... and if I said I don't know he may say something like they were just here...
I have used work books for K- grade 1 which have helped he had problems at first using them but we have out grown some of them and need more challenging but not over challenge... before his aneurysim he used to do crosswords but can't do them yet I need to use children's but he is finally able to do some on his own once you prompt him to get started.

can anyone share more that may help.... thanks Becky
Becky,

I've been the family caregiver for both my parents, who suffered from short term memory syndrome (along with other ailments), this past decade.

a) LABELS -- you can't have too many of them. Forget about 'training' to remember stuff, you'll either remember things or you won't, not much point trying to remember something, that you could write down and carry a note about (my Dad was gung ho on 3x5 cards, which helped quite a bit, my Mom, finds labels about the 'basics' (such as the route to the room labelled "toilet/bathroom").

b) it's harmless, but just might help: try some methyl-B12 (comes packaged with B6) under the tongue (= sub-lingual, as stomach acids destroy B12). Mom's been on this 3x 1000mcg/day for several years. The first week, her REM increased considerably during naps, after a month, small bits of long forgotten things returned

c) the brain "re-wires" itself after injuries, so, never give up

d) set the TV to full closed caption mode (reading while watching is stimulating)

e) good health (diet, exercise) helps, too

empathy

[Travelingdueo]

Thanks for the suggestions
I have used the labels where certain things are
In outpatient they just started a memory book - it's a little large like 5x7 size will give it a try ... tried once before but at that time he was in the ripping stage and tore it up...
I will have to try the TV idea - he finally is getting into more of watching and getting into the shows... but just a few minutes ago he was watching a baseball game said it was over but didn't remember who won.
He has progressed some as its only been since Jan.

[empathy]

Oh, and minimize stress, by anticipating needs, and reducing expectations. Stress can greatly reduce an already limited ability to remember things. I know it's hard for a normally functioning person to put themselves in the other's shoes, but just existing/living pretty well moment to moment, is usually challenging enough, without someone imposing any expectations. Growth and improvement is likely to be the fastest with minimal stress, yet a stimulating, environment.

If people's names are challenging, like I say, don't bother trying to train him, just wear name tags (silly as it may seem) -- eventually they won't be needed, but, will be a great help in the meantime [perhaps something descriptive, like: Joan, Jim's Wife for X years, etc.].

empathy

ps. As well as crosswords, try 'Find-A-Word' style puzzles. Easy and cheap, yet they're very different from Crossword puzzles, and you're on the lookout for 'different' forms of mental stimulation. Similarly, jigsaw puzzles (start simple, maybe a 50 piece puzzle, and work up to more complex ones). Both of those activities, if they're not too challenging, can also be restful -- struggling with memory issues can be very stressful, and some form of structured relaxation is useful.

Maybe child's erector-style sets, legos and such. Providing sketching/artist's supplies, even finger painting and modelling clay, are things to consider. Were there any former hobbies / crafts, that might be re-awakened?

[gafey]

Hi Becky,

I too suffered from a ruptured aneurism in jan 2006. I had to go through months of physical therapy, and cognitive therapy. My short term memory was very poor. One of the things that helped me and still does is I keep a journal of everything i do throughout the day. I think writing it down reinforces the memory. My long term memory was ok, but for months I had problems with short term (and still do). Once the memory goes into long term, my recall was better, the problem is sometimes the memory just stays in short term and then I had recall problems. Writing down everything was the best way for me to improve my short term especially since I spent too much energy and frustrations just trying to recall everything.

My therapists also said doing word search games helps. I still do those whenever I can.

If I go for one day without writing in my journal, it feels like a take 2 steps back.

Maria (gafey)

[golu]

it's possible as stroke survivors usually have focal gliotic areas in the brain.These are areas where the brain cells are damaged, which may lead to memory loss.

There are brain stimulating exercises like doing simple hand tasks, recalling phone numbers, simple math etc. There are also drugs like Piracitam which are prescribed,so you may consult a Neurologist for it.

An interesting resource for getting answers to your questions by professional qualified experts fast would be www.simplyanswer.com

[wickedwings]

is it too late when you didn't get the correct diagnosis until many months after a stroke and the brain damage has been set in? i know some, particularly young individuals end up with a stroke, won't get diagnosed until later, especially if docs can't find anything in their bodies that would have contributed to a stroke. i'm one of them, and i'm just curious. time lost is brain lost is ridiculous if you do everything right and docs get stumped over what's up with the symptoms. docs thought i had ms or lupus. it wasn't until after my 5th mri scan that the stroke was confirmed.

[UNIBORG]

What's the symtoms of a stroke? I mean short term (when it just happened), and long term (long after the stroke) ?

[tic chick]

Signs you are having a stroke:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1020

After effects of a stroke:

Stroke can affect people in different ways. It depends on the type of stroke, the area of the brain affected and the extent of the brain injury. Brain injury from a stroke can affect the senses, motor activity, speech and the ability to understand speech. It can also affect behavioral and thought patterns, memory and emotions. Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body is common.

Most of these problems can improve over time. In some patients they will go away completely.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4761

[SicilyAK]

The Wall Street Journal recently did an insightful article into the field of brain fitness: http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB117010794633391594.html I work for one of the companies mentioned, Posit Science, and I am very passionate about my work because we are working on ways to improve situations like yours, by non-invasive means. The program recently passed a independent clinical review that showed that it can improve cognitive functions among people that use these exercises.

[UNIBORG]

Signs you are having a stroke:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause

http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1020

After effects of a stroke:

Stroke can affect people in different ways. It depends on the type of stroke, the area of the brain affected and the extent of the brain injury. Brain injury from a stroke can affect the senses, motor activity, speech and the ability to understand speech. It can also affect behavioral and thought patterns, memory and emotions. Paralysis or weakness on one side of the body is common.

Most of these problems can improve over time. In some patients they will go away completely.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4761


Thank you very much for your reply, it's very helpful. Thanks again!

[lewisl]

Hi my husband suffers from long and short term memory loss from a rupture aneurysm back in Janurary and wanted to know if there is anything we can share that you do to help with this...
At times he forgets who I am and he wants to go to his other house (which we don't have) and is bond determine to leave... He sees people and always asking where did they go... and if I said I don't know he may say something like they were just here...
I have used work books for K- grade 1 which have helped he had problems at first using them but we have out grown some of them and need more challenging but not over challenge... before his aneurysim he used to do crosswords but can't do them yet I need to use children's but he is finally able to do some on his own once you prompt him to get started.

can anyone share more that may help.... thanks Becky

You can't go wrong with a good healthy diet with plenty of vegetables and adequate protein. Most of us can usually do better with more of the good stuff.

Helping children with puzzles and games and homework if this is possible is another positive way to stimulate the mind.

[Bill[uk]]

that list of symptoms for stoke are identical to what i expeienced for a colloid cyst so be careful not to self diagnose.

my advice -leave that for the experts.