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Long term memory

Wed, 08/17/2005 - 22:57
Hi,

I recently read an article on memoryloss in a dutch epilepsy-magazine. It said that surgery and VNS can help a lot of epileptics with memoryproblems.

My story...

28 years back I started noticing sudden longterm memoryloss, but as a kid of 12 years old I didn't know it was abnormal. 13 years later I started having grandmals and 3 years later a petit mal also showed on EEG, all seizures have been nocturna sofar.  I've had several kinds of medicin in different doses for 15 years now. I do have less seizures as 15 years back, but my memory is still worthless. To be honest, I wouldn't mind having 5 times as much seizures as long as they would have no or far less influence on my longterm memory.

So... I'm interested in having a brainsurgery or VNS-implant. I do understand that a lot of tests have to be done, the chance that I can't have a surgery is big and that the side-effects can be immense. I'd nevertheless want to try every possibility to get rid of these memoryproblems and I'm going to ask my neurologist next visit.

So, I'd very much like to hear about the experiences from people who had longterm memoryproblems before surgery.

Best wishes,

Bart Derks, the Netherlands.

Comments

RE: Long term memory

Submitted by txrhb1 on Wed, 2005-08-17 - 22:57

Hi Bart-

I will be anxious to see the responses you get.  I also have both long term and short term memory problems.  My MRI found mesial temporal sclerosis on the right side, which the epileptologist said explains the short term memory problem.  The radiologist felt that I had some on the left side, but the epi did not agree with him, and can't figure out why my long term memory has always been so bad.  I always tought it was normal - always blamed it on stress, I guess.  We are now considering surgery of the RTL, so would like to hear stories from others and what it has done for their memory problems.

Good luck to you,

Barb

Hi Bart-

I will be anxious to see the responses you get.  I also have both long term and short term memory problems.  My MRI found mesial temporal sclerosis on the right side, which the epileptologist said explains the short term memory problem.  The radiologist felt that I had some on the left side, but the epi did not agree with him, and can't figure out why my long term memory has always been so bad.  I always tought it was normal - always blamed it on stress, I guess.  We are now considering surgery of the RTL, so would like to hear stories from others and what it has done for their memory problems.

Good luck to you,

Barb

RE: RE: Long term memory

Submitted by Simpson_Jr on Thu, 2005-08-18 - 17:12


Hi Jackie and Barb,

Thank you for your responses. I'm glad to hear your life improved
Jackie !

By the way, I don't need/expect "lost" memory to return, maybe i'd
even get scared of myself :-)

I just would like to read half a book and 2-7 days later, when I
continue, still know the story. Or being able to talk about the
holidays with friends without saying "What... ? Have we been
sailing this year ?".

Best wishes,

Bart
the Netherlands.


Hi Jackie and Barb,

Thank you for your responses. I'm glad to hear your life improved
Jackie !

By the way, I don't need/expect "lost" memory to return, maybe i'd
even get scared of myself :-)

I just would like to read half a book and 2-7 days later, when I
continue, still know the story. Or being able to talk about the
holidays with friends without saying "What... ? Have we been
sailing this year ?".

Best wishes,

Bart
the Netherlands.

RE: Long term memory

Submitted by jac_tx on Thu, 2005-08-18 - 11:21
I started having sz when I was in 1st grade, but memory problems didn't develop until my early 20s, when my petit mal (called such back then) sz got out of control and grand mals hit in full force.  Short-term memory problems developed and seemed to increase yearly.  But my long-term seemed to be working pretty well.  When I was 36, I had brain surgery to remove my RTL.  The docs told me they were in hopes of improving my sz (at least getting them under control again).  But I was informed they could not repair my memory..."the damage has been done.  It can't be undone".   It is now 13 years after my surgery.  I haven't had a sz since then (thank the Lord), but my short-term memory was not improved one bit by the surgery (my situation involved short-term memory problems).  I've learned how to live with it and can move things from my short-term to long-term memory.  I don't want to dampen your hopes of surgery.  My memory was not further damaged with surgery, but it sure wan't improved one bit.  I'd still do it over in a heart-beat.  It was the best decision of my life, for my life took a 180% turn for the better.  Good luck on your decisions.   Jackie

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