Having memory issues?

Hi,

Yes. Memory issues are common. I could even forget I had seizures. And I needed reminders I actually said such things previously, and to people who I didn’t remember I met. I scrolled through past WhatsApp messages I had with a friend one night. And I realized I actually had dinner with her in Barcelona while she’s still working for the foreign service. I couldn’t remember a thing of me having been to Spain.

Yup, so please don’t be too hard on your bf if he forgot and may forget anniversary dates.

Cheers,
Louis

Take him to a neurologist

Memory issues can be tricky, because there are so many reasons for it. Personally I can remember the day I was born and what direction I was facing, what was said in the room and why I finally cried, yet, did I remember to close the gate of the bunny habitat five minutes ago? Having ten security cameras and a monitor with all of the cameras 4' away from me is a HUGE help, watching the animals, people visiting the 24/7 food pantry, and keeping an eye on way too many deliveries. Truely, the average person can be overwhelmed and a bit confused. So the environment we are in, how overwhelming, over stimulating, can factor into it. I dont take drugs. Just vegan C and B12 to keep my energy from imploding. I dont know anything about epilepsy, but a doctor could tell you if that messes with memory, or google it?

@msmarymac
Good afternoon. It is very common with epilepsy to have issues with memory, especially after having a seizure. @santosha Can you share your experience with memory loss? Thanks!
I would also say talk to his neurologist about the issue of memory loss, just to be on the safe side. It could also be a side effect from seizure medication.
Kerry

@ehdog
Like others have already mentioned memory issues are a very common problem in epilepsy? Not only the seizures themselves that can cause problems, but seizure medicine as well. Many epilepsy people also have aphasia which is a language disorder. It can cause people to lose track of words, sentences, and phrases.
I've had epilepsy for 60 years and after I was woken up from an eight month long induced coma I had lost every memory I ever had and to this day none of those memories have ever returned.
Repeated or uncontrolled seizures can lead to cumulative damage.
Newer generation drugs like Lamictal and Keppra are much less likely to effect memory.
What medications is he taking for seizure control. Are his seizures controlled?
Take care,
Jake

Good Morning @ehdog
What a caring thing it is to be seeking answers for and helping your boyfriend.💜
As many have already mentioned, memory difficulties are quite common in people with epilepsy. They can stem from several factors: the type of epilepsy, the frequency of seizures, and the medications involved.
I can share from personal experience: I have temporal lobe epilepsy with mild mesial sclerosis (scarring) on my left hippocampus. The hippocampus is the brain's primary center for forming and storing new memories, so this type of epilepsy tends to affect memory significantly. I sometimes struggle to recall words, names, films I've already watched, and even experiences I've lived through.
How do I cope? Working together with my neuropsychologist, I've developed compensatory strategies — memory aids, organizational techniques, and external reminders — that help me manage day-to-day life. Now that my seizures are better controlled, my memory's also improved. I'm currently on Keppra, which tends to have a lighter impact on cognition than some other medications I've already taken.
One thing I'd gently encourage: be patient and kind when your boyfriend doesn't remember something. It can be quite painful to hear "don't you remember that?" from someone close — it adds a layer of embarrassment to an already frustrating experience.
Do you know what type of epilepsy your boyfriend has? And has he ever had a neuropsychological assessment to evaluate his cognitive and executive functions more fully?
Since you're already part of Connect, I warmly invite both of you to join us in the Epilepsy & Seizures Group on Connect, where you'll find plenty of support and people who truly understand epilepsy.
Chris

Im 67. My mom had Alzheimers so Im terrified. Finally went to neurologist who says my memory is ok.
First, I discovered my 38 year old son does this too. He has a busy high pressure job, it actually relieved my fears somewhat.
Get a good " brain book" that has fun puzzles and identifies what part of the brain that puzzle is using ie long term, short term, executing functioning, retrieval etc.

Stress obviously affects memory and of course so do the 4 sleep stages. Repetition helps, I drop my car keys right inside my hallway in a bowl, etc things like that help. Try a few things, examine your sleep, your stress level, your diet etc. If it doesn't improve your short term, go to your doctor or a neurologist. You might find you're in a normal category in this busy crazy stressful times.

I’m soooo lost in my own mind and can’t find the way out into the living.
I need help and the ability to feel alive once more.
Please help

I am 57 and have had memory issues for several years now and it scares me because my maternal aunt had Alzheimer’s and my mother passed from dementia. I have been working with a psychologist, a psychiatrist and my family doctor to try and figure out what is causing this. At first, I wasn’t being heard by my psychiatrist or Family doctor, but finally my psychiatrist referred me to a neuropsychologist fur an assessment, as I have had one from another source, which I can’t remember, and they said I had mild cognitive impairment memory. I won’t be able to see the neuropsychologist for several months and my memory is slowly getting worse where I can’t remember words, names, events experiences, and at first I thought it was caused by my having ECT treatments.(numerous.) 15 years back. How does one know if they are having seizures? I am running out of ideas as too much may be causing the memory loss and it is affecting my depression and anxiety to the point that I don’t wanna live with it anymore. Please advise as to what I could do or methods of treatment to seek out.

@saskatchewanlady i’m not sure if this will be helpful but a doctor told me if you’re concerned about your memory you don’t have dementia. I try to keep that in mind for myself. I also just try to reassure myself that everybody gets forgetful at times. Stress aggravates everything so I pray that you will not worry so much.