This is a real good topic! I too suffer the mental anguish of losing my mind.

Back in the days of working I was a dynamo, never needing to write anything down. I could remember every detail of everything I heard or seen. I even had 3 assistants, one was my personal marketing assistant, the other was the Food and beverage assistant, and lastly was my IT personal assistant.

They had nothing to do because of my uncanny ability to remember dates, numbers, names, everything. So I was always trying to find little jobs for these people to justify keeping them LOL. Plus if I deleted their job it would make it hard for the next directors to rehire an assistant.

The meds DO cause problems with the memory because I was on all the meds that have been mentioned in this thread for a few years. When I lost my insurance and was not able to get anymore the withdrawals were terrible, but as my mind cleared...well it was a whole new world!

I noticed that I could think clearly, and remember some things. My wife, family, friends all welcomed me back to their world as they realized I was mentally back with them. I had no idea I was gone, but they assured me that I was LOL!

Because of this I take the least amount of meds possible, because once I was a bit more clear minded I realized the meds werent really doing the job anyways. I was only hurting a bit more taking only a norco instead of all the long acting morphine, neurotten, and the likes. I learned I have to pace myself, and try not to let the pain get out of hand.

Easier said than done most of the time, but if I watch it I can keep the pain to a 5 or 6 which is bearable to me after almost 10 years of this RSD stuff.

I do dream of having the mental capabilities I used to, but at least am glad that I can enjoy talking with my wife, playing with the grandkids, and building/fixing computers. Things that were almost impossible, or completely out of the question on meds.

Lately I have been thinking about retaking the Ca real estate exam. I took it about 3 years ago and passed even on all the drugs! In fact I finished a 3 and a half hour test in just under 20 minutes LOL!!! The proctor was freaking out when I told her I was done, she told me I should look it over to make sure. I told her I checked it over twice and wouldnt change anything. So it should be a breeze now that im almost on zero pain meds!

I guess the best advice I can give...that is if I was going to give any LOL! Would be to not beat yourself up, just live everyday to the fullest. Dont worry about tomorrow until it arrives, and if you need to take meds to have any kind of a life, then take them and dont let others mentalities about pain meds faze you.