Need help! Short term memory going going gone - Bipolar Disorder Message Board

daystar91 · 10-09-2004, 09:31 PM

Hi,
Haven't been on the boards much do to alot going on.....I'm in desperate need of help, advice......I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 and PTSD about one and a half year ago....The problem is that i was taking Wellbutrin XL 450mg and Topamax 50mg daily....Now for the last two months i have not taken Wellbutrin but still taking the topamax....My question is for someone who can help me....Does anyone have a problem with their short term memory???My short term memory is getting so bad, this is embrassing but i need some answers...I showered this morning and about five minutes out of the shower i couldn't remember if i shaved my legs or not...The problem is that my routine is that i do this every day shaving never missing it...But of course when you go to feel the legs no way they felt shaved and i forgot to wash my face with facial cleaner...I've told the doctors before that i was having a problem similiar to this and they really don't say much of anything...Now the Wellbutrin was me taking me off not the doctors and i know that was a bad choice....The doctors only know that i messed up my meds not that i'm totally off the one...Could it be the meds that is causing this???Or something else...

Ruth6:11 · 10-09-2004, 09:42 PM

I'm Bipolar Type 1 and on lithium.
My favorite short term memory story is that for about 10 days straight I'd get dressed and realize an hour later that I'd forgotten to zip up my pants!

While lithiuim can cause memory problems I'm pretty sure my issues in the last year are more menopausal than Rx. Are you old enough for this particular cause????

daystar91 · 10-09-2004, 10:14 PM

Hi,
No i'm only 27 years old....I'm glad i'm not the only one to forget things...

weasel · 10-10-2004, 09:30 AM

i can totally relate. im on lamictal, and it has worked as far as keeping me stable fairly well, but i do have immediate short term memory issues. as far as stuff like what happened earlier in the day i can remember, but, like you said, when im in the shower, ill wash my face, then my hair, then forget if i washed my face or my hair.....when im at work someone will ask me a quaestion , ill answer it, then ill have to ask them what they asked me....i gets annoying, but its far better a sentence than the alternative.

Ruth6:11 · 10-10-2004, 09:46 AM

Man Weasel, are you sure we weren't separated at birth???!!!

Here's another favorite. I'll shampoo my hair and put conditioner on in the shower and it's only after the water is shut off that I'll realize that I forgot to rinse the conditioner out of my hair!
Not to mention using a totally wrong word, or forgetting what I was saying RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of a sentence!!

A sense of humor helps if you can dredge one up!!!