Author Topic: memory  (Read 6036 times)

goinbatty

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memory
« on: August 23, 2007, 05:56:25 am »
This week I've experienced way too many life stressors which I won't go into.  But all of that coupled with dealing with this AN and possible treatment in the near future, it's as if my brain has ceased to function.  I'm being sarcastic but just curious if anyone else experiences memory issues although I suspect it's partly my age and the recent events that are the culprit.  By the way, I'm 46. 
The only other time I've experienced this was after the birth of my second child. 
1/2007 - 6 x 4.5 mm AN
8/2007 - 9 x 6 mm
CK at Georgetown 1/7/08-1/11/08; Dr. Gagnon
3/2008 - 10 x 7 mm
7/2008 - 9 x 10 x 6 mm (NECROTIC CENTER!!!!!)
5/2009 - no change/stable
4/2010 - 10 x 7 x 6 mm; stable/no change
5/2011 - 10 x 7; stable/no change
6/2012 - 8.1 x 7 mm
4/2014 - stable/no change

aardvark

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Re: memory
« Reply #1 on: August 23, 2007, 10:55:19 am »
I'm slowly (slowly is the operative word here) coming to terms with the fact that retrieving info from my storage system tends to be a little iffy.  Names of people that I should recognize.  Words that I'm sure are rattling around in there, but which play hide & seek as I try to coax them out. (okaaay....I think it begins with...."B"....maybe 3 syllables long.  It's like my own private game of Charades.)

I've had to adopt workarounds to learn new tasks, especially sequential processes.  Now I write down things that I used to retain easily.  God bless Post-It notes.

Stress absolutely cranks those symptoms big time.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2007, 04:04:47 pm by aardvark »
1.5cm X 1.0cm Left Side AN  Dx 8/05
CK at Stanford 9/05   Drs. Chang & Gibbs

Sue

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Re: memory
« Reply #2 on: August 23, 2007, 12:54:08 pm »
Must be time to post this poem that I've had for a few years. This was written by Billy Collins, no relation that I know of to my husband, also a Bill Collins!  Billy was the Poet Laureate (the real one...) of the US a few years ago.  Of course he is writing about the usual forgetfullness that comes to all of us...still I love this poem.  My fishing village is getting to be quite populated!  ;D


Sue in Vancouver


Forgetfulness

The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title,
the plot,the heartbreaking conclusion,
 the entire novel which suddenly becomes one you have never read,
never even heard of, as if, one by one, the memories you used to harbor
decided to retire to the southern hemisphere of the brain,
to a little fishing village where there are no phones.

Long ago you kissed the names of the nine Muses goodbye
and watched the quadratic equation pack its bag,
and even now as you memorize the order of the planets,
something else is slipping away, a state flower perhaps,
the address of an uncle, the capital of Paraguay.

Whatever it is you are struggling to remember,
it is not poised on the tip of your tongue,
not even lurking in some obscure corner of your spleen.
It has floated away down a dark mythological river
whose name begins with an L as far as you can recall,
well on your own way to oblivion where you will join those
who have even forgotten how to swim and how to ride a bicycle.

No wonder you rise in the middle of the night
to look up the date of a famous battle in a book on war.
No wonder the moon in the window seems to have drifted
out of a love poem that you used to know by heart.

Billy Collins   2001-2003 Poet Laureate
(1941- ) Collins was born in New York City. He is one of America’s best-selling poets. His books include “Sailing Alone Around the Room: New and Selected Poems� in 2001, “Picnic, Lightning� in 1998, and “The Art of Drowning� in 1995. In October 2004, Collins was the inaugural recipient of the Poetry Foundation’s Mark Twain Award for humorous poetry. He has served as a Literary Lion of the New York Public Library and he is a distinguished professor of English at Lehman College, City University of New York.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2007, 12:56:58 pm by Sue »
Sue in Vancouver, USA
 2 cm Left side
Diagnosed 3/13/06 GK 4-18-06
Gamma Knife Center of Oregon
My Blog, where you can read my story.


http://suecollins-blog.blogspot.com/2010/02/hello.html


The only good tumor be a dead tumor. Which it's becoming. Necrosis!
Poet Lorry-ate of Goode

nancyann

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Re: memory
« Reply #3 on: August 23, 2007, 01:03:38 pm »
Thanks for posting this beautiful poem Sue. 
2.2cm length x 1.7cm width x 1.3cm  depth
retrosigmoid 6/19/06
Gold weight 7/19/06, removed 3/07
lateral tarsel strip X3
T3 procedure 11/20/07
1.6 Gm platinum weight 7/10/08
lateral canthal sling 11/14/08
Jones tube insert right inner eye 2/27/09
2.4 Gm. Platinum chain 2017
right facial paralysis

Sue

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Re: memory
« Reply #4 on: August 23, 2007, 06:08:01 pm »
Your Welcome!! :)
Sue in Vancouver, USA
 2 cm Left side
Diagnosed 3/13/06 GK 4-18-06
Gamma Knife Center of Oregon
My Blog, where you can read my story.


http://suecollins-blog.blogspot.com/2010/02/hello.html


The only good tumor be a dead tumor. Which it's becoming. Necrosis!
Poet Lorry-ate of Goode

goinbatty

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Re: memory
« Reply #5 on: August 24, 2007, 08:09:18 pm »
Thank you all for responding.  I've had problems with remembering names and such for seveal years now.  When this occurs, I usually can remember the first letter and it takes awhile for the rest to come to me.  I asked a friend who is a speech therapist and she said this was quite common.  Nice to know I'm not completely nuts.  It can be frustrating but most of the time, I just try to find humor in it.  And thank you for posting the poem.  It says it all.  I printed that off to save. 
I've saved quotes over the years.  One of my favorites - Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength (Charles Spurgeon). 
Now that things are hopefully calming down a bit, back to the focus of treatment.  I've contacted the CK center in Jacksonville, FL and hope to travel there for consults soon.  I'll post what I find out. 
Thank you all again for your support. 
1/2007 - 6 x 4.5 mm AN
8/2007 - 9 x 6 mm
CK at Georgetown 1/7/08-1/11/08; Dr. Gagnon
3/2008 - 10 x 7 mm
7/2008 - 9 x 10 x 6 mm (NECROTIC CENTER!!!!!)
5/2009 - no change/stable
4/2010 - 10 x 7 x 6 mm; stable/no change
5/2011 - 10 x 7; stable/no change
6/2012 - 8.1 x 7 mm
4/2014 - stable/no change