Short term memory loss

[Compostella]

My Mum, who is 59, is suffering from progressively worse short term memory loss.

It started about 2 years ago in the run up to my Sisters wedding. She would have these little 5 minute episodes where she appeared to have really lost the plot and couldnt remember what shoud be happeneing. For instance, we were all talking about something and she got in a panic because she though she had to go and buy a present for my Sisters birthday (which was actually the week before)

On one occasion she wet herself a little too.

We put it down to the stress of the wedding at the time but we took her to have brain scans just to make sure. All was fine and the doctor said there was nothing wrong with her

Since then she cannot remember things we haveall done together and we are at a loss as what it could be?

[Dollie]

Hi - it could well be that her brain was 'scrambled' due to the pressure of organising the wedding as this often happens. I work as a psychotherapist so see lots of clients who present this problem and often it is down to stress, tiredness and anxiety. However, if this is still happening two years on, and you mum is not currently going through any 'trauma' or anxiety, then I would advise you to go back to doctors with your mum and ask for a referral to the hospital. Many hospitals have a memory clinic or a consultant specialising in memory loss, and they will run more tests to ascertain whether your mum is starting with some cognitive disfunction such as Alzheimers or other type of dementia. Please don't panic at the mention of these words as your mum may not be suffering from either - but it is best to get a formal diagnosis. Also, if it were that your mum was starting with such an illness, the sooner its diagnosed the better. My dear old dad suffers from A. Disease so I can truly empathise with you. Remember - it may not be either ! I wish you luck Compostella.

[Compostella]

Thanks Dollie

I wanted to say more in my question but felt that it was long enough already.

My Dad has been quite forceful with the doctors and she did indeed go to a memory clinic but they also said that she was okay. She did some memory tests and took some home with her and had no problem.

She can remember most things its just that she can't remember situations that we have recently been in i.e. holidays, weekends activities.

She is now keeping a diary of things but when she reads it back, she can't remember it, then she gets upset.

Its like catch 22. The more she gets upset, the more she forgets and gets even more upset etc etc.

She used to be a vibrant confidant person but this has knocked her back and she is now very much a background figure. Trouble is that when you try to make a point of including her, she doesnt want the attention.

[Dollie]

Hi - you don't say how long ago she went to memory clinic. If its recent then it may be that you have to go with what they say, but if it was two years ago, things could have changed now. Typical of a dementia type problem is the ability to remember what happened years ago but you can't remember what happened this weekend, and it does sound as though that is what is happening to you mum. If you're not happy, then go back to docs and ask for another referral. They may decide to do a brain scan (it sounds awful but its not really -its just a really efficient way to check what is happening with the brain cells which can give them more insight into the problem.) You can press for them to do a scan, - we had to press for them to do dads and it showed the signs of early stage A. Disease. Without us pushing for it, dad wouldn't have been offered one. Again - it its any consolation - dad was put on Aricept (drug) straight away and its certainly helped level out his illness - I don't think he's got any worse during the last twelve months which I attribute to Aricept. Keep pushing Compostella - good luck.

[Dollie]

Have a look on this website Compostella - it may give you some answers or at least help to point you in the right direction. Again - I'm not saying that mum has A.Disease or Dementia - but if you look at all possibilities then you are doing your homework.

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/