This Ol'computer keeps freezing, and every time they add on updates it gets worse.
Eventually the computer will just stop functioning, even w/ cleaning and so on.
I have tried to learn a new laptop,after being on this old 'puter since early 2001. And it gets really frustrating trying to learn a different system.
I guess I need a printed our set of instruction book for all the 'newfangled' stuff.
So,I am wondering, is there a way w/o bringing on a migraine to learn this new stuff.
Part of it is from the LD and co-infections,I am sure, as I cannot retain info' in my memory very long and it gets discouraging.
Any ideas for easily retraining my brain so I can figure out the laptop??? Or for that matter, being able to keep new info' catalogued in my brain ???
I'd appreciate input greatly? What do y'all do when you must learn something new to you?
Sometimes I get almost panicky, even trying to find my keys [and usually I've put them in a different pocket in my purse]...AARRgghhh.
Jus' Silverwolfi askin' quetions
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I am of no help, Silver! Got a teenager near you to help out??
Moving this to General Support..
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
Hey <<<<< Lymetoo >>>>>,
No 'safe teens' near us, that could help,and our Foster Granddaughter is waiting on her passport to leave country [ the passport place messed up something on it so she is waiting...frustratedly].
Sometimes I'm not sure where to post things... It's a brain question[Medical?] and a computer question too [General/ and/or Off topic]??
Hopefully someone else who has experienced this type of issue has some ideas.
I love to brush up on my German and try a bit of Spanish Language study too, but my brain retainer seems to have gone missing. Things just don't retain in my memory...
I would think fish oils which I take might help supplement wise...but other than that I am at a loss. I've tried writing things down too,and manage to lose my notebooks.
Anyway, anyone w/ tho'ts or ideas?? thanks in advance!!!
Jus' Silverwolfi here
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I think "just" trying to get well will "fix" the problem. Nothing short of that will do.
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
Hi <<<<< Lymetoo >>>>>,
I feel like there has to be something we can do for brain retraining.Thanks for the hugs too, I'm sorta frustrated w/ my brain.
Essentially when the Lyme gets in our brains it's causing injury to the brain,as well as the body... there must be some way,while we are working on getting well,to help our brains.
Well I'm gonna look up techniques to help Traumatic Brain Injury folk. I just cannot believe there is nothing, we can do.
I do my best w/ what supplements and such I have or can get toward getting well.
I am not understanding the quotes "just" and "fix" ??? Maybe more of the Lyme disease and co-infections causing me confusion.
I am not good at editing, I obviously get confused very easily,especially right now.
I'll look up and search out what I am able too, but was really hoping some of our Lyme family has had at least some success in this area of learning new things w/ a brain that doesn't function the best.
If any one has any ideas,and is willing to share I'd be very very grateful... if I find out info' from searching,I'll post some ideas.
For instance when my grandfather had a stroke years ago,he lost the use of one side of his body.
He got where he could walk with a cane,but never could do much w/ the hand on the paralyzed side.
Grandpa learned to carve w/ the other hand and made a few small figurines. He couldn't say very many words after his stroke.
Now a days,if the situation is caught in time, many folks can retrain,and some can reroute pathways in the brain as it were.
So this is what I am trying to figure out. I doubt using a whole different computer and format,is going to be the only challenge to my brain and learning.
Jus' Silverwolfi struggling and searching.
Posted by TxCoord (Member # 9204) on :
The issue for my poor Silver is retention. I cannot count the number of times she asks what keys to push to get the "word" finder (Ctl - F), or how many times I explain Ctl-C for copy and Ctl-V for paste.
Even when she writes things down she gets them confused reading her own writing. We have lived here in our little trailer over 3 1/2 years yet she still has difficulty remembering our zip code and though we have had it since 2006 she forgets our phone number.
That is the difficulty with this hideous disease, it takes, it steals, it robs us of joy, peace, health, and relationships.
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
I just started a thread on how thyroid supplementation (Armour thyroid - I test low-normal) is giving me a clearer head, then someone else said estrogen and progesterone supplementation was helping.
So I as wondering whether it's still a matter of finding out what we respond to re treating, so our brains work better.
Posted by AuntyLynn (Member # 35938) on :
First, my dear Wolfi, turn the Automatic updates OFF!
I have an old handmedown laptop, with XP 2003, and those darned "updates" from Bill Gates & Co., (grrr) kept overloading my drive!
I have had this turned off for at least 8 months, and it helps a LOT!
If you don't have an antivirus program, (as I don't) you need to check for "bugs" every once in a while. My girlfriend turned me on to
where they have a free anti virus download that instead of teasing you with a scan, and then asking you for $ to clean up the mess, it cleans the mess for free!
Be warned though, the scan will take about an hour. So just download it, start the scan, and go do some housework! lol
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
i wouldnt give up. i have been complaining about my cognitive issues for a long time. i had a few closed head injuries on top of the lyme. memory and organization are very difficult for me.
but 4 months ago i was thrown into this crazy situation of buying a house with mold and having no money to hire someone to fix it.
i started searching online for answers and i screwed up over and over...writing things down and losing them...but it was so impt to me i pushed and i do believe my cognition has improved some thru this. it exhausts me. im not sure if it is worth it if your survival doesnt depend on it like in my situation.
but i do think with much repitition and forced organization we can function higher by working at it.
eventually some things do get automaticfor me again
good luck...but i'd say...pick and choose your battles. dont push too hard.
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
Hi there <<<<< Lymetoo, TxC', Robin123, AuntyLynn, and lpkayak >>>>>,
Yesterday, was a hard one for me... nothing was making sense. ANd I felt like if I even saw a hint of more smoke...I was gonna go right over the edge, and like croak from smoke or something like that.
We still have a lot of smoke and haze but have hopes of some rain coming[ praying there is no lightening and/or high winds].
TxC' hubby , thanks for helping explain my predicament... brain fog soup makes me feel really really dumb at times. I know it is the Lyme and Co's tho'.
Robin, I am really wondering if my Thyroid has gone whack, it's been awhile since my last Blood test for that, I am wondering if estrogen progesterone is of too.
Sometimes my brain doesn't cooperate and I get discouraged.
AuntyLynn, thanks for the info' and links,I didn't realize the auto-updates could be shut off!!! I'm sorta tech challenged.TxC'is going to help with that!!!
'Kayak',your issues sound somewhat like us, I've had a few concussions ,the latest being Oct.2011, and we are also having some mold/mildew problems here., and financial issues.
I feel ,so scatter brained, TxC' and I are trying to get up the energy to sort thru some things,and pitch anything that we don't need,or that may have any mold damage.
Even a trip to do a bit of shopping finds us so tired we fall asleep if we try to sit down, after we get home.
I wish I didn't have to tax my brain,and some things I can wait on ,but learning the new Laptop is important. So I'll be struggling thru that first. It is my information line.
We are trying to save a bit to get this old computer, cleaned up and such,but I don't know what all they can do.
Lymetoo, I was so very down and confused yesterday, Sometimes I -just- want things ,like my brain -fix-ed, all better, and to be well... like ...poof..., instantaneously. I know it takes time.
I will keep working on,it,repetition and so on like 'Kayak mentioned. Yesterday I kept trying to figure out where I had said "just" and "fix". I think my brain was whisping away like all the smoke hanging in here.
The smoke is prolly part of my confusion,not that I needed any help to be confused...I believe it is robbing part of our oxygen.
Where my younger sibling is at, the fires are closer and worse. Well over fifty fires burning there.Spoke to sibling today, they were really tired as well,and curtailing weekend activities.
Thanks to each replier so much for tho'ts links, commiserations and hugs!!!
Here's hugs for y'all too!!!
I am looking for brain retraining info',I read something about Limbic retraining..but didn't understand it very well. I was told part of my brain lesions are in that area of the brain.
Thanks again for the info and help,I'll be continuing to research .
Jus' that Silverwolfi lookin' for my brain
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Peppermint essential oil can improve brain function (just breathing the scent...no need to actually put any on you or take internally).
Standing is a better position for brain function than sitting.
I play sudoku and other similar games and find doing these daily really helps me too.
Even if I get stuck and have to have the web page tell me the answers, it still helps to have a puzzle to try to figure out on my own first.
Buhner recommends the following for brain/cognitive issues:
Huperzine A, 50-100mcg 2x/day
Vincamine, 20mg 3x/day
L-acetyl-carnetine, 500mg 3x/day
Zinc, 40mg/day
Swedish massage weekly (lymphatic drainage)
This is from page 162 in Buhner's "Healing Lyme" book.
I think reading also helps keep my brain functioning.
I have had times when my brain was too muddled to think, and it is terribly frustrating.
But I had stopped doing my puzzles and so when I realized I needed to do the puzzles again and started doing them again, my brain started working better again.
Another trick I use to remember things is to put them to a simple tune, or write a short simple poem (rhyming works great), or try to link them to something I already know.
For example, when I was a little kid, my Mom taught me to sing our home phone number to a silly little tune.
I still remember that phone number and the tune 35 years later, even though I've had numerous other phone numbers in the interim!
Another trick is for remembering things in a sequence, I write the first letter of each step out in a column, draw a vertical line after the column of letters, then complete the word or phrase on the other side of the line.
Then, I read and quiz myself over and over on all the steps, trying to remember them based on seeing only the first letter of each word or phrase.
Sometimes, it works out that the first letter of each step can make a word, such as the FAST word associated with stroke symptoms (F = Face, A = Arms, S = Speech, T = Time -- See http://stroke.about.com/b/2008/05/27/know-stroke-fast.htm for more details).
I also write things down constantly...I go through a lot of post-it notes, LOL!
I hope this helps...take care,
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Not doing any one PART of a task longer than 20 minutes and then switch. Especially when LEARNING something. After 20 minutes, stop and move on to something that requires a different thought pattern or set of skills.
Then wait at least 20 minutes before going back to whatever you just learned to reinforce it.
Get up and move every 20 minutes. Shake things out, breathe fully, move eyes all about near, far, all around.
I learned this from a music teacher. When learning a new chord or any new pattern, only for 20 minutes, then we were told to set the instrument down, get up and do dishes or something other than the instrument for at least 20 minutes.
It's how the military taught typing (at one time when soldiers did not know by 1st grade). They could learn to type in just one weekend this way, 20 minutes at a time.
DO NOT MULTI TASK. It's not good for the brain and really does not accomplish more at one time at all, usually.
The brain can do amazing things if these kinds of things are done daily:
Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or Mediation,
. . . learning or playing a musical instrument (even singing) . . . and listening to classical music, especially MOZART and HAYDN for one hour a day.
Get some daylight into your bare eyes the first 20 minutes of your day - not through glass, eye glasses or contacts, though. Not direct sunlight, just easy DAY light.
Nutrients. I like Spirulina for my brain.
Rest when needed. Really. I know this one is the hardest to figure out but don't push when the steam has all run out. -
[ 09-23-2012, 02:22 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
razzle that was really helpful
and keeb i have found in life now...just daily living stuff...i can do one type of task successfully for a limited amt of time...not sure if it is 20 min...but sometimes it is
if i keep trying to do it after i get tired i really cant do it
but if i switch activities i often can be successful-not sure why but it seems to fit in with what you are saying
SILVER-they are telling us here that that smoke is very toxic...it is only ok for ppl to be in to 35 and it is in the 100s now.
fatigue is a problem with both that smoke and mold. i wish you could go visit someone for awhile
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
Hi there <<<<< Razzle, Keebler, and lpkayak >>>>>,
Thanks for the info' and the links and input!!!
Hopefully we'll be able to get away for a small break next week.
I posted about losing our dog, a few minutes ago, she is to be put to sleep Wednesday,so I am a bit of a mess at the moment.
I will be reading further on the info' here,and I appreciate y'alls input so very greatly!!!
Jus'SIlverwolfi here,
Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :
First, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog. I've had dogs all my life, and losing a dog (or cat) is wrenching. My heart and thougths are with you.
To your question: I've had a lot of success doing online brain exercises at Lumosity.
Unfortunately, there's an annual fee, but for me, it's turned out to be well worth it.
Posted by philly78 (Member # 31069) on :
For retention problems, you can make a "cheat sheet" to keep near the computer....CTL-C and what it means etc. This way, she can quickly reference and hopefully, by doing this over and over she will start to remember. It is also more likely that seeing the commands, then doing them on her own will help her to retain the info more so than hearing than doing. Maybe even have her actually write the commands out on paper as you tell her. Writing will help to retain info better than typing it will.
Crossword puzzles and sudoku are good exercises for the brain as well. You can start off easy and work your way up to the harder ones as time goes on.
You can check out the following website. It is free to use and if you like you can get a premium account. It is actually kinda fun imo.
Thanks all, we will check out the lumosity site.
Posted by SouthPaw (Member # 35229) on :
I just found out I have "coping mechanisms" to deal with these sort of thngs. That's what my doctor calls them anyway.
I never go anywhere without a pen and paper in my pocket. I'll give the Army credit for that. I've also taken to using 5 subject, divided notebooks with the plastic style covers, they take more abuse than the cardboard covers. I write everything down and try to make each section represent something specific i.e section one for Lyme research, section 2 to track monthly bills, section three to track medical expenses, etc.
The real trick is remembering not only what's in each section, but that I put something there in the first place. I've got a box with 13 of these notebooks filled from cover to cover so they seem to be working. Every so often I need to scroll through it to refresh my knowledge of what's in there, with any luck I'll be able to recall it.
I'm trying to consolidate all the info into a single app. Too many apps too buy though, don't know what'll work best.
Posted by Silverwolf (Member # 9196) on :
Hey there <<<<< Andie333, philly78, my TxC', Southpaw, and all the repliers >>>>>,
Thanks for the replies, ideas and input, and the link!
I'm feeling sorta numb,as today was the final goodbye for our precious companion dog.
I will check out the info,and ideas.
Hoping I can find a place for some notebooks, so I wont lose then so easily.
Both TxC'and I greatly appreciate,the input and ideas here... Thank You.
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![[group hug]](graemlins/grouphug.gif)
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, thanks for helping explain my predicament... brain fog soup makes me feel really really dumb at times. I know it is the Lyme and Co's tho'.