Have just returned from my Dr, My results showed very low iron in my blood so I have been sent for more blood test. One thing I have to say is it is nice that my Dr will not instantly atribute the problems I am having to crps and is looking into other reasons before saying it is the crps. I have a feeling it is but I have been used to Drs who when I say something is wrong will instantly say it is because of the crps. So it is refreshing to find a Dr who actually looks past the condition to other factors. I also had a wonderful nurse who was so careful and caring when taking my blood. Will post back with any new developments

An update
My Dr does not believe the low iron is the cause of my memory loss and confusion. I do have to have another blood test for coeliac disease as my son has it and I may too as although I am mainly on a gluten free diet for health reasons and to support my son I do still have toast in the morning using normal bread, again though my dr does not think this is related. The most shocking thing of all is that my Dr pulled out a stack of paper he had researched and printed off the internet and told me himself and a colleage had spent a few hours looking into the cognitive effects of crps on my behalf and wanted to send me to a neurologist and he was going to contact ones in my area who were educated in the effects of crps. Bere in mind this is a general physician and not a specialist. I did the most rediculous thing by bursting into tears, i think it was just relief of finally finding a Dr who believes me and will go above and beyond to help me. He told me he was on my side and would support me anyway he could. It was a wonderful feeling. I am going back next week to see him so he can send me to a neurologist. I have never seen one so dont really know what to expect so if anyone can give me advise on what may happen in the appointment i would appreciate it

I have been experiencing some memory issues as well. Sometimes messing up words,etc. I am not sure if the problems are RSD related or from the Tegretol my pain management doctor started me on a few months ago.

You will never understand how you blessed my life by sharing yours! CRPS/RSD is crippling in and of itself, much less what it can do to your brain/mind. You are literally describing ME on a daily basis! I know sharing these difficulties is just as painful as the disability of CRPS/RSD itself, but I must thank you for being so very honest. I used to be as sharp as a tack, in fact, I was an office manager and lead Medical Transcriptionist at a local hospital. Now, I can't remember how to tie my shoes. I'm always getting lost (even in my own town) such that I now use a GPS for navigating. Names, numbers, directions, simple words, phrases, & forgetting what you're in the "middle of" are so exasperating that you just want to cry. I tried to sign a check at a grocery store and forgot how to spell my own name (good thing it's printed at the top of the check) Nonetheless, even writing it seemed "foreign". I should invest in sticky notes as I use them constantly, only to forget where I placed them. Nothing seems to actually sink in anymore. Found a spoon w/peanut butter in my purse last week - talk about feeling like an imbecile! I've also become number dyslexic - who'd a thunk? I'm extremely grateful for your post as I no longer feel so very alone! I stay home most of the time as these symptoms, along with all the pain of the CRPS/RSD (started in my right wrist, currently it's spread to both arms incl. shoulders, and both legs and feet). I find it simply easier to not deal with the "world". The more pressure I place on myself to finish ANY task or speak the correct words, the less I can actually think, much less recall. God bless you Vrae. I'm so very happy that your husband is a support. Most of my family, incl. my husband, have turned a blind eye to me as a CRPS/RSD sufferer. They think I'm doing it for "attention" - talk about dysfunctional family!!! So, it's me, myself, & I with the Lord beside me to make it through another day. God has blessed me with MANY amazing friends who are happy to help out and actually DO understand who I am and why I do what I do. Are we having fun yet??? Please excuse my spelling as I cannot find a Spell Checker on here anywhere!

On a side note, Katiek seems to be in the same boat we are and I also want to thank her for sharing. There's some type of kinship among those who suffer with CRPS/RSD not only in the physical realm, but, as I can now see, the mental also!

God Bless All who read this - May Jesus remain at your side and may the Holy Spirit heal you and make less painful your disease!

Crumbs YES! I think the brain is part of the whole 'use it or lose it' thing with CRPS - if I don't challenge my brain on a daily basis (games, reading non-fiction science stuff, watching programmes or films that make you think, etc) then the fog totally gets me. Even so, I still have a lot of what others have described...

The Date Fiasco - I book something for one day, and write in on the calendar. I then book something else for the same day that will clash. I talk about both things separately and quite confidently in conversation, without connecting the dots. The day comes near, i have that cold 'oh no' and have to let someone down. I come across as forgetful, disorganised and uncaring. Great. Ordinary folk don't forgive that kind of thing easily.

Word Fumbling - conversational hand-flapping combined with lots of "oh what's the word for that?!". I know what I mean, but the word just won't come. I hate it. I prefer typing lol, cos I can stop and think!

Name Shame - same as above, but names you know very well - family, friends, your doctor, that hunky actor from you-know-what, you know the one who was on that film about something with that girl from that thing on BBC2...

Top of the Stairs Confusion - you know, where you walk painfully upstairs for something, get to the top, and can't for the life of you remember what it was you came up for. Grr.

The Hallway Reluctance - going out, I often stand in the hall with my car keys, looking round because I'm convinced I've forgotten something I'm meant to take with me. Sometimes I have forgotten something, often I wasn't meant to take anything anyway. Omg the time I've spent just loitering...in pain...

Sudden Smack Self in Head Syndrome - when you are sat there quite happily watching TV, typing, on the phone etc.....and you suddenly think of something you should have done. Gets me every time. And I don't do rushing about very well now!

I make light of it, but it is very distressing sometimes. I used to be quite intelligent, but I can sort of feel my knowledge seeping out of my ears. It won't be long and I'll find the Teletubbies entertaining

Bram.

Oh Bram, I swear we're twins in some ways (don't panic, not being creepy lol). I have all those "symptoms" and have been seriously thinking I am getting early onset Alzheimer's! The most embarrassing incident was forgetting where I live when I picked up my prescription and was asked to confirm my address, but I had an argument with my sister the other day swearing down blind I saw RHCPs in March of this year. She said I was totally wrong and it was June of last year, at which point I lectured her about how I should know as it was me that went, and it definitely was more recently than that. I am not sure what was more embarrassing - her being right about it being last June (!) or me forgetting she was there too.

My memory is totally rubbish - I have to keep two diaries, one on paper one on my phone. If I was on my own I think I'd have been put in a home by now lol. 36 years old and not capable of remembering where I live!!

Well, it's good to laugh about it - gotta wring something good out of this! I loved the "Top of the Stairs Confusion" and the "The Hallway Reluctance" I like to say that my brain cells are just heading up to heaven ahead of the rest of my body!

My daughter and I were talking about this last night. She's a straight-A student; had pi memorized to 30 digits pre-RSD. This year was the hell year; onset of RSD from a stress fracture in her foot, and she missed 70 - that's SEVENTY days of school this year from a series of 8 surgical treatments and an out-of-state trip for an experimental treatment - and she still got straight A's (barely). She is very frustrated with the brain/memory thing, especially the word fumbling bit. My RSD is in remission, but I have CFS and fibro, and CFS people are famous for brain fog. I remember my college days when I never bothered with an appointment book, and wondered why people would even carry them *sigh* Now I have to write EVERYTHING down - that is, if I remember to write it down ...

Maybe we should be more pro-active and do memory exercises?

Bram, I thought you were describing me there for a minute . I was having this exact conversation with my mom this afternoon. Last year a co-worker said I had a mind like a steel trap. I had always been quite sharp and would remember the smallest of details...not so much anymore I just read what you said to my husband and he laughed out loud and said "did you write that? That is you!!" Especially the Word Fumbling and Name Shame!

I thought it definitely had to do with my RSD since my mind has gotten so much worse lately, along with the RSD...glad I am not alone!

Nanc

Thanks chaps, it's so nice to realise that it's not just me!!

If I raised a smile then I am chuffed

Bram