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Memory problems

Posted by justint95 @justint95, Dec 9, 2018

I am a young adult who has been suffering from some memory problems lately. I did have an MRI and EEG done. The EEG reported normal results. The MRI was normal except "with a few small foci of T2 and FLAIR hyperintensity in the deep and subcortical white matter" that could not be explained. My neurologist couldn't point out what was wrong. Lately doing college school work has been bearable, but frustrating as I'm watching lecture videos with subtitles and have trouble writing what was said since I could only remember a couple of phrases in a sentence causing me to rewind and listen again. I was born a premie at less than 500 grams. Do you know anyone who has gone something similar?

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Ethan McConkey, Moderator | @ethanmcconkey | Dec 9, 2018

Hi @justint95 as you said yourself, these memory problems must be so frustrating especially while you try to accomplish school work.

Have you been suffering any additional symptoms with the memory problems? For example are you forgetful when you go to do something? Or have you had trouble focusing?

You mentioned that you went and saw a neurologist, did they offer any guidance as ways to help your memory, even though they couldn't point out what was wrong?

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kyoto | @kyoto | Dec 11, 2018

I had a subarachnoid tumor pressing on the fornix which was fenestrated in summer 2017.

I seemed to make a good recovery, and my badly impinged memory got better. Since then, I have had recurrent memory loss. The doctor things the surgery was successful, so has suggested that I may have a kind of silent epilepsy. He says it might have started from the effect of the tumor. I am going for brainwave scanning tomorrow. The doc also tells me that 1% of people have some form of epilepsy, so nothing too much to worry about.

Does anyone have experience with this kind of quiet epilepsy that mainly damages memory formation?

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1 reply
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Dec 13, 2018
In reply to @kyoto "I had a subarachnoid tumor pressing on the fornix which was fenestrated in summer 2017. I..." + (show)
@kyoto

I had a subarachnoid tumor pressing on the fornix which was fenestrated in summer 2017.

I seemed to make a good recovery, and my badly impinged memory got better. Since then, I have had recurrent memory loss. The doctor things the surgery was successful, so has suggested that I may have a kind of silent epilepsy. He says it might have started from the effect of the tumor. I am going for brainwave scanning tomorrow. The doc also tells me that 1% of people have some form of epilepsy, so nothing too much to worry about.

Does anyone have experience with this kind of quiet epilepsy that mainly damages memory formation?

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Hi, @kyoto - I'd suggest that there would likely be members in the Mayo Clinic Connect Epilepsy & Seizures group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/epilepsy-2bb359/ who have experienced the kind of epilepsy you describe. You might consider starting a new discussion about it there (see How to Start a New Discussion https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/).

How did things go with your scans?

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