Can memory issues improve with treatment, or at least stop getting worse? Can word-finding ever get better?
This weekend I had an experience that's only happened one other time, but it's got me REALLY concerned about cognitive issues. I was trying to communicate something really simple to someone, but he just wasn't getting it. Finally he said "I understand the words you're saying, but they're not making any sense."
The problem both times has been that what I'm saying makes sense in my head and as I'm saying it, so I don't know how to say it differently so it will make sense to someone outside of my head.
Am I screwed here? Has permanent damage been done that my brain won't recover from? I know there are no guarantees, and each person is different, but I'm really worried.
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(breaking up the paragraph for easier reading for many here)
[ 06-01-2016, 09:15 AM: Message edited by: Robin123 ]
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
Nothing heals better than the brain.
But if you're really worried you might have to take the stance that you've lost a skill you need to relearn. There's speech therapy and even software. And really just in conversation, ask the person -- this is what I really want to say. How would you say that?
That's how kids learn;they listen to articulated thoughts and then copy the technique.
It's not brain *damage* -- it's more like a small section under repair. The brain makes new connections every day.
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- What you describe is VERY common for many with lyme. And, yes, with proper treatment, REST and good support modalities, it can get better.
Don't push it and be very kind to yourself around this. Rushing, pushing won't help. And trying to "retrain" without addressing the underlying cause can cause more frustration and exhaustion than success.
Treatment for lyme / TBD - and time are key. -
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Answer is yes, with the right treatment for you, everything improves in the body, including cognitive function.
One piece of the puzzle for me - I felt dissociated, and when we found that I bloodtested low thyroid, I went on Armour thyroid and felt mentally present again.
I had a very high prolactin level in the beginning - that's a pituitary hormone, and with continuous anti-inflam treatment, it is starting to approach a normal level.
I take turmeric everyday, and that's a great anti-inflam for Lyme and other things as well. I buy it in bulk at the health food store and dip empty 00-size capsules into it. Great for taking down pain in joints and muscles.
Other anti-inflams I take daily - mangosteen juice, noni juice, grapeseed extract capsules - a combo of all of this is treating my brain, as seen by the falling prolactin level.
For you, I'd say take it easy for now - you really haven't treated much - give it some time to find what's going to work for you -
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Gluten can also really mess up brain function. Consider a gluten free diet to see if that helps. -
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Moving to Medical Questions....
Posted by project (Member # 46200) on :
The brain fog definitely goes away with treatment. I've heard a number of reports of lesions on MRIs healing and going away as a person recovers too.
One thing that has been worrying me lately is this beta amyloid plaque that is found in Alzheimers brains. Now that the link between Alzheimers and infections is becoming more established, I'm wondering how much of this plaque is in my brain.
It doesn't seem like the plaque goes away very easily, at least based on all the treatments they've tried to devise to get rid of it in Alzheimers patients. Of course that could have been due to ongoing infection, but still. I'm wondering if it does imply some kind of permanent build up that will block new neuronal growth.
Posted by Jordana (Member # 45305) on :
I've thought about this too, project. Buhner recommends this powder called Gou Teng to break them up so I started taking it, but then I thought better of it because it seems like it would be better to kill the active infection first.
It's actually protecting the brain from borrelia, so it seems to me that if there are any getting caught up in the parenchyma it's better to wait til your treatment is stable.
That was my thought but I'm not sure.
Posted by bluelyme (Member # 47170) on :
Build the house while its still on fire...ya i thought amyloidosis was on the list of causes ...and i hope the brain can heal...
what amazes me is if i am only using 10% and its damaged and im 2x more informed and smarter than these ducs then they must have some real damage to believe cdc bs..
jordana and i have likely done more research than 10 id duc and 2 fuctional duc put together...and keebs ,tin and tutu are true veterans. ...
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
I had terrible problems with word finding and no short term memory. That all came back.
I did have to work on it though. I played "Words with Friends" to improve word recall.
I learned something new ... I became a Pilates instructor so I had to study things I had never learned before.
It took months for my facial recognition to come back ... I never learned some of the names of the people in the class. It was easy to learn the only guy's name ... and the curly redhead ... but all the women with medium length brown hair, I never could keep straight. We're talking about 8 people.
As I taught Pilates and worked on names with faces as I checked people in, that completely came back.
My memory came back, too.
You might have to work on it when you're better, but you can completely get it back.
Posted by tdtid (Member # 10276) on :
Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!!!!
I was a total mess. I got to the point that I couldn't even read a book or watch a movie any longer since I couldn't remember what had just happened or who the characters were.
I would try to communicate with people and I was a total space cadet with missing words and I know I had to sound pretty dumb to someone that was meeting me for the first time since I was so darn confused.
At the very worst point in my treatment, I am told I was confused about who my children were. I thought for sure I had Alzheimer's just around the corner.
But I'm here to say that with aggressive treatment (in my case for Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia), I have my life back from all angles.
And yes, the brain is back to where it once was before this nightmare of a disease. Hang in there and keep treating.
The other side of the tunnel is WONDERFUL. It takes a long time sadly. In my case, 5 1/2 years with 16 months of that being IV treatment, but I am back and life is good again. Keep fighting!
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Just today I read a study indicating NSAID use may be associated with a decreased risk of cognitive decline.
My thought is the NSAID's address the inflammation which is what Lyme patients are full of, and that reduces cognitive problems.
And I see it in my own life. When taking my ibuprofen I am a freaking genius. When I don't take it I am a total toad. HA!
![[lol]](graemlins/lol.gif)