This is actually more about the Gabapentin (sp) that your son is on. Please do some research and talk to your sons Nuero about this drug. It can be very dangerous for myasthenics and can actually cause mg to become present where it had otherwise been dormant. I was on it for a few months to help control my pain, and quickly went into a downward spiral.

I also suffer from memory lapses and loss of communication.
Hope this finds you all strong and well
Jess

[QUOTE=jana;927026]Well............I was soooooooo worried about this that I got TESTED -- by a neuro-psychologist -- a couple of years ago. He said that my IQ was INTACT -- but, that I DID have some memory "issues". Couldn't explain WHY -- but, said I did NOT have Alzheimer's or any sort of "progressive" dementia. My neuro had already done extensive bloodwork (to rule out other causes) and had done an MRI. Soooooo, I'm left with memory problems and "no known cause" -- although IN MY HEART (notice I didn't say IN MY BRAIN ), I feel my memory issues are due to MG.


Hi Jana,

Wow, I too had a neuro-psych test done because I thought I was getting early-onset Alzheimer's. (Due to the intensity of the testing, I had this test done over a three-day period). And MRI's and lot of other tests......

My neuro-psychologist ALSO said that my IQ was pretty good, but, he did see some definite memory issues.

I can't remember the exact issues (LOL) not intended as a pun......

One of my memory issues was displayed while I was performing a problem solving task; e.g., I analyzed and figured out one model, and the next model was similar yet "different" - think: "same characters, new names". He said I had to figure out the issue all over again - and it took longer to figure out the problem. Doc said I "should have" remembered what I had just figured out.

I forget the other issues he found. (I have a copy of report filed, will look for it).

The neuro-psych doc says there are not many definitive medical articles regarding MG and memory issues - however the ones he found definitely had concluded that many MG patients report AND show some type of verified memory deficits.

I asked him if my fatigue from the long process of testing may have affected the test itself - and my memory?

He smiled at me. And said HE had done the testing and interpretation - but that he thought I really had part of the problem figured out.

On the other hand, my memory waxes and wanes, and can seem impaired even when I have been at rest.

I have problems reading; now if I read novel, for example, I make a cheat-sheet so I don't need to keep "reading back" to remember WHO that a particular character is.

I have problems hearing and retaining (and sometimes understanding) what I have just heard. Now I am a Very Extensive Note-Taker. And I ask questions.

I agree, Jana, in my heart I know MG affects (at least my own) memory. I just don't know why. The doctors and researchers don't know.

And - now, I try not to focus or worry too much about my memory problems.

Unless, of course, I am trying to remember something.

You just jogged my memory!! One of the tests I took involved numbers. The neuro-psych read out increasingly longer lists of single digit numbers -- and I was supposed to put them in order and repeat them back to him. (Cannot remember what this test was called.) I did HORRIBLE!! And I used to be a MATH TEACHER!! Also, he read stories and then asked me to repeat what I had heard, with as much detail as possible. Also, BOMBED this one. But, I had no problem with the pencil and paper tasks and the manipulation tasks (such as putting tiles in the same pattern as the pictures). Another test involved remembering words. He gave me increasingly greater lists of words. I was ok with the list of 4 or 5 -- it got worse with longer lists. Funny, though, I WAS able to count backwards by threes -- and to subtract two digit numbers in my head. So, my brain isn't total mush. If I hadn't done so well on the IQ portions, I have a feeling he would have told me I DID have Alzheimer's or some kind of progressive dementia.

I had done research on studies involving MG and memory before talking to my neuro about getting tested. It was about six of one, half dozen of another saying that there was a correlation. My MG guy leaned towards the meds (such as prednisone and immune suppressants) causing the memory problems. Since I don't take these, he was reluctant to blame my "stoopidity" on MG. He's still my favorite doc.

I wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed about 9 months ago with an autoimmune disease, at first they thought it was CIDP but then I went to USF Health in Tampa for a second opinion and my Dr refined the diagnosis as MG. She immediately placed me on Pyridostigmine, which helped immediately. But that said, I also have memory loss issues, reaching for a commonly used word, or the name of a person, place, or thing I have known for years. Its really frustrating, as my recall has always been spot on, to the point of being scary. I asked my neuro and she says that the problem has to do with my MG as it is an illness that deals with neurotransmitters and neuroreceptors and that we would have to see how things went with the treatments.

I am now on Pyridostigmine, Prednisone and Methotrexate. trying to get weaned off the Prednisone, it is apparent that I am not a good candidate for the prednisone. Lol, the Dr is sure my wife will be very displeased with her if she does not get me off it or at least to the minimal dose possible.

I hope this provides some help.