Memory Loss
I have, for more than a decade now, been plagued w material memory loss - or so I thought.
Over the period I did two deep dives into neuropsychiatry. What’s wrong w my brain?
Yes, I LCW gad four little strokes (TIAs?) and one big one. Now strokes are a worry because Achtar jacks up my BP - this morning Systolic, again, broke 200.
After a recent round of cognit in Fe evaluations…I was, again told “nothing is wrong. You’re fine.” Never mind I had no memory of doing a four cognition test previously.
One day, on the phone w a colleague, he mentioned, after a conference call, that it seemed I hadn’t been listening well. I replied quickly (no filter)…”Let’s say someone hit you in the back w a baseball bat. How well would you be listening?” That is an accurate description of the disease being in my upper back and severe something or other w C4 and C5.
It took a bit, I’m slow…but I realized that I do not face memory problems. Much of the time someone is talking to me and…
1. I am in screaming and not listening af all…just waiting until I can get out of the conversation .
2. I have taken a load of pain meds and, likewise, can’t really listen.
So, if you think you have cognitive deficits - it might just be that you can’t stand any input…exhausted from pain…drowsy from meds.
Just a thought.
I am 70…so, yes, I am in the kitchen and have no idea why…have to separate the two. 😂
I am glad you took the time to share this epiphany,
! I think when you live with chronic pain, it can be kind of easy to kind of ignore (for lack of a better term) how it might be impacting your day-to-day functioning. I mean, I know you know the pain is there and heaven knows people with RA have ridiculously high pain threshholds, but, still. Imagine delivering small (or not-so-small) electrical shocks to people randomly or continuously through out their day and then think about how well they would be able to focus.
Heck. It's no wonder you struggle to focus and listen well.
Best, Erin, Team Member.
Hi
. Not only does what you say make logical sense, there is also research backing up the effect pain has on cognition. This article reviews the studies of how chronic pain adversely affects working memory, recall, and recognition memory: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.673962/full. Clearly you are not alone. Best, Richard (Team Member) 
I absolutely love your sense of humor! The way you describe everything is both hilarious and so real! You’ve really captured how pain, meds, and brain fog can all pile up and feel like memory loss, when it’s really just our brains trying to survive the madness. Thanks for the laugh and the honesty! -Latoya (Team Member) IS having anxiety and depression part of my RA SYMPTOMS.
Hi
. The mental aspects of chronic conditions like RA often take a backseat to the physical, but they are very real and it is all interconnected. You definitely are not alone. Kat wrote a two part article about anxiety and RA here: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/broken-hip-recovery and here: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/anxiety-physiological-response. Concerning depression, Rick wrote here about what he calls "the link that cannot be ignored:" https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/depression-treatment-outcome. The fact that you recognize these issues is a good start. No one things twice about saying see an orthopedist for a bad knee, so don't hesitate to see a specialist, if need be, for your mental well being. This community is here for you. Best, Richard (Team Member)
