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Suffering From Memory Loss. How To Treat This Problem?

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Posted on Mon, 5 Nov 2012
Question: May be genetically i don't have good short term memory because eve when I was a kid I often forgot a lot of things. But I manage to be able to speak English now after studying in an English Course and i majored in English teaching at University. But I have a big problem now as I don't seem to be able to remember what I've just read especially information from a text book. How can I be helped ?? I think my short term memory is really bad that it is noeven better than a person who only graduates fro XXXXXXX high school. I finished my master degree in 2008.Well now I realize that I even find it difficult to remember information I have just read from news paper. I think my uncontrollable anger is probably caused by this short term memory problem. For your additional information as far as I am concerned I did not use to drink milk when I was kid after breastfeeding time. And I believe my Mom did not drink milk to support her nutrition during breastfeeding me.
Was I lack of nutrition during my infancy and that cause me to have this very lousy shirt term memory problem ?? Honestly, I am now studying for a doctoral degree majoring in Vocational education. Does my problem have solution in order to stand a chance to complete my study and my dissertation ? I badly need help.Oh Ya, sorry I forgot to tell you that some of my friends and I secretly smoked cigarette ends when I was about 5 or 6 years then stopped. But I restarted smoking when I was 16 in the first year of my XXXXXXX high school and continued until the age of 23. But I gave up smoking in 1990 and I haven't since then smoked.
tks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (1 hour later)
Hello,
Thanks for your query.

I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress.

Important aspects of your query are:
•     44 year old male
•     Known case of memory problem
•     History of poor milk intake in childhood
•     Complaints of: short term memory loss and .

Lack of concentration and memory difficulty for several years can be because of one of reasons in your case (in order of preference):
•     Vitamin deficiency
•     Dysthymia: in presence of low mood
•     Anxiety disorder: In presence of anxiety, excessive worry, tremors, sleep difficulty and palpitations.
•     Specific learning disability (specially English)
•     Adult ADHD: need in person detail assessment
•     Low intelligence: least likely as you already finished master degree.


In psychological issues diagnosis is made on cluster of symptoms. Diagnosis helps in planning treatment and predict prognosis of case.

Let me know if you have other problems like: Anxiety, low mood, nervousness, restlessness, mild irritability, excessive worry regarding own health, tremor, muscle spasm, heaviness in body, easy fatigability, headache, sleep disturbance, palpitation and dry mouth.

In my opinion if you do not have other symptoms and your socio occupational functioning is not affected much then you no need to worry. But give importance to manage your life with current level of concentration and memory which you are doing for several years years.

Apart from that following measures will help you:
-Decrease worrying about memory problem as it will decrease it further.
-Healthy diet: Milk and fruits in diet.
-Daily morning walk.

I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. In case of any doubt, I will be available for follow ups.

Wish you good health.
Regards,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ashish Mittal (9 hours later)
Well I do appreciate your replies but now I think I need to ask u if there is a special medical tool or equipment that can actually detect my short term memory problem right in my brain. Can the machine measure my brain capacity in short term memory.
I am afraid my problem is a real one as I am unable to memorize anything by imagining the visual figure. I always use my audio memory but after a few minutes I dont remember whether it was 27 or 26.
Doctor, please I am in a big problem, this short term memory problem is really killing me. I need more than just comforting words like
'dont think too much about your decreased short term memory as it will really decrease. '
I also have problems like : easy fatigability, headache, dry mouth.
I also had a very bad experience in my childhood. Could it be the reason ? What is meant by ADHD and where can I be checked for it ? Tks
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (12 hours later)
Hello again,
Thanks for follow up.

Que: I think I need to ask u if there is a special medical tool or equipment that can actually detect my short term memory problem right in my brain. Can the machine measure my brain capacity in short term memory.

Answer: Your case is not simple. It need investigation to rule out cause and then specific management according to cause. Yes, you need testings to rule out conditions mentioned above. Following test will help:
• Imaging study like Functional MRI (f-MRI) of brain. Apart from that neuropsychological testing by neuropsychologist will help in identifying problem in brain functioning.
• Vitamin deficiency: Complete blood count and serum B12 level
Dysthymia and Anxiety disorder: Examination by psychiatrist.
• Specific learning disability (SLD) (specially English): SLD assessment by psychologist.
• Adult ADHD: need in person detail assessment by psychologist through standard scales for it.


Que: Doctor, please I am in a big problem, this short term memory problem is really killing me. I need more than just comforting words like
'dont think too much about your decreased short term memory as it will really decrease. '

Answer: I know comforting words and these measures will not help in alone, but will help, if combined with management of specific problem after identification with above testings. If you can follow them, then it will help surely.
Apart from that following measures will help you:
-Decrease worrying about memory problem as, worry will decrease it further: will decrease anxiety.
-Healthy diet: Milk and fruits in diet: will solve vitamin deficiency
-Daily morning walk: It increase blood circulation in brain and decreases anxiety.


Que: I also have problems like : easy fatigability, headache, dry mouth.
Answer: These symptoms along with excessive distress, worry and memory problem indicate presence of anxiety. Anxiety reduces memory by causing attention and concentration difficulty. Assessment and management of anxiety will help you.


Que: what ismeant by ADHD and where can Ibe chcked ?
Answer: ADHD is attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Predominantly inattentive symptoms in your case.

Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.

Wish you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ashish Mittal (8 hours later)
Dr.Mittal tks for still attending to my problem. May I know if all information supplied by me to you is not to be shared to anybody else or in other words can I ask u to keep it off the record ? By the I haven't told you that I am Indonesian living in Medan- North Sumatra Province where I cannot easily find a good doctor who will help me professionally in terms of their availability. Can you recommend a psychiatric in Medan where I live ? And can you recommend a psychologist in Medan ?

As far as you are concerned can MRI detect and explain the short term memory problem in one's brain ? And which part of human brain works for short term memory ?
Tks a lot
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (14 hours later)
Hello again,
Thanks for follow up.

Yes. Your information is safe and we do not share it with anybody else.

F-MRI can detect function of hippocampus which is important in memory. You can go for this test after evaluation of other things explained by me.

You can visit Dr. Tuty Yeoh (Mon-Fri: 9am-12pm On Call) in columbia asia hospital, medan, indonesia.
Website: WWW.WWWW.WW
or

Syaiful Anwar Dr SpKJ Psikiater,
Kompl Tmn Setiabudi Indah II Bl V/47, Medan , Sumatera Utara, 0000, Indonesia
Phone: 0.61-.821.5580

Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.

Wish you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ashish Mittal (12 hours later)
Dr.Mittal please allow me to find more information from your expertise regarding my short term memory problem.


F-MRI can detect function of hippocampus which is important in memory. You can go for this test after evaluation of other things explained by me.

So what do you mean by evaluation of other things explained by you ? Are you still prepared to listen to more personal information regarding my life in the past ?

Honestly i don't really like to talk to Indonesian doctors as I have had quite a few reasons and experiences for distrusting most of them.

doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (10 hours later)
Hello again,
Thanks for follow up.

Question: F-MRI can detect function of hippocampus which is important in memory. You can go for this test after evaluation of other things explained by me.
So what do you mean by evaluation of other things explained by you ? Are you still prepared to listen to more personal information regarding my life in the past ?

Answer: Evaluation of other things means rest of the evaluation mentioned by me:
• Imaging study like Functional MRI (f-MRI) of brain. Apart from that neuropsychological testing by neuropsychologist will help in identifying problem in brain functioning.
• Vitamin deficiency: Complete blood count and serum B12 level
Dysthymia and Anxiety disorder: Examination by psychiatrist.
• Specific learning disability (SLD) (specially English): SLD assessment by psychologist.
• Adult ADHD: need in person detail assessment by psychologist through standard scales for it.


Question: Honestly i don't really like to talk to Indonesian doctors as I have had quite a few reasons and experiences for distrusting most of them.

Answer: I can understand your concern but every doctor may not be same. Try to visit doctor in columbia asia hospital. This hospital is good and professional in their services.


Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.

Wish you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Ashish Mittal (2 days later)
Tks Dr. Mittal.

So Would you please repeat or make step by step Evaluation or test I have to go through ?
1.
2.
3.
etc.

tks a lot Dr. Mittal
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (5 minutes later)
Hello again,
Thanks for follow up.

Sequence of testing and evaluation:
1 Vitamin deficiency: Complete blood count and serum B12 level
2 Dysthymia and Anxiety disorder: Examination by psychiatrist.
• Specific learning disability (SLD) (specially English): SLD assessment by psychologist.
• Adult ADHD: need in person detail assessment by psychologist through standard scales for it.
3 Imaging study like Functional MRI (f-MRI) of brain. Apart from that neuropsychological testing by neuropsychologist will help in identifying problem in brain functioning.


Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.

Wish you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Ashish Mittal (10 days later)
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX Mittal
Thanks a lot for your replies and I now undersdtand what to do.

However please allow me to ask you two more questions :

1. As I will have to accompany my wife to go to Lamwahe hospital i Penang, Would you please recommend the most suitable doctor to help me handle my problem.

2. May I know if there is a similar problem like mine that has been cured recently ? In other words, statistically,what chance do I stand for a memory improvement at the my age 45 years old.

Tks a lot doctor.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (6 hours later)
Hello again,
Thanks for follow up.

1. As I will have to accompany my wife to go to Lamwahe hospital i Penang, Would you please recommend the most suitable doctor to help me handle my problem.
Answer: Give preference to psychiatrist. As I am in India, I can not tell you doctor name.

2. May I know if there is a similar problem like mine that has been cured recently ? In other words, statistically,what chance do I stand for a memory improvement at the my age 45 years old.
Answer: Chances of improvement will depend on cause of problem. But from my gut feeling, I expect 80% chances of improvement, after adequate investigation and treatment.

Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.

Wish you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Ashish Mittal (36 hours later)
I feel relieved for that chance. I guess my problem is due to anxiety which I had from my childhood because I had a very embarrassing childhood. Doctor do you happen to believe in inner healing ? I once read a book written by XXXXXXX Adamson entitled healing damaged emotion. But I dont think I am able to bes confronted with the person I had the embarrassment. Can I still be cured without such an impossible confrontation meeting. I once saw a doctor and I was sent to Psychosomatic Specialist which I don't really understand the difference with psychologist and or Psychiatric.
Please help me. tks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (11 hours later)
Hello again,

I am too suspecting anxiety in your case. Because of that I kept it as second possibility. See sequence of testing and evaluation in above answers.

I do not aware about inner healing, so I will not guide you for it.

Psychiatrist are doctor who can deal with medical and psychological aspects of a problem. Psychologist are non medical person and deal more in counseling. I would advice you to visit psychiatrist first, and visit psychologist if psychiatrist advised you for same.


Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.

Wish you good health.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Ashish Mittal (4 days later)
Thank you very much indeed for your very kind and professional replies which i have found very helpful. If I want to consult with a psychologist, can you recommend one that I can contact on line like this too ? I am asking this because I might be able to go with a more efficient and lower cost way as I honestly, being a civil servant in my country, don't have insurances covering this kind of health problem expenses. I believe on line psychologist will be able to help reduce my memory problem before I can afford to go through all tests that you have recommended me to take. If it would be possible a christian psychologist would help much. Please don't take this as discrimination. it's just that some christian psychologists like christian people in other professions might commit some of their time and or expertise to help where money can be of second priorities.
I do apologize for making this such strange request because honestly at the moment I still don't have enough budget for all recommended tests. And believe I would be able to be economically better if I had a bit better memory
by which I will be able to afford all medical and psychological tests to reach the 80% chances of improved memory.
Thank you very much indeed for anticipating your kindest and most sincere reply.

Me (struggling for mentally improved health)
doctor
Answered by Dr. Ashish Mittal (7 hours later)
Hello again,

In my opinion you should seek psychiatrist help first. After in person examination, type of testing will depend on your psychiatrist and you may not require all the test, which can bring down treatment cost.

Treatment with psychologist is not cheaper as you have to visit them frequently.

So, do not think or worry much, take first step and XXXXXXX psychiatrist.

Please accept my answer in case there are no further queries and recommend our services to your friends too if you have found it helpful.

Wish you good health.
Regards.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Ashish Mittal

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 1859 Questions

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Suffering From Memory Loss. How To Treat This Problem?

Hello,
Thanks for your query.

I appreciate your efforts for medical consultation in so much distress.

Important aspects of your query are:
•     44 year old male
•     Known case of memory problem
•     History of poor milk intake in childhood
•     Complaints of: short term memory loss and .

Lack of concentration and memory difficulty for several years can be because of one of reasons in your case (in order of preference):
•     Vitamin deficiency
•     Dysthymia: in presence of low mood
•     Anxiety disorder: In presence of anxiety, excessive worry, tremors, sleep difficulty and palpitations.
•     Specific learning disability (specially English)
•     Adult ADHD: need in person detail assessment
•     Low intelligence: least likely as you already finished master degree.


In psychological issues diagnosis is made on cluster of symptoms. Diagnosis helps in planning treatment and predict prognosis of case.

Let me know if you have other problems like: Anxiety, low mood, nervousness, restlessness, mild irritability, excessive worry regarding own health, tremor, muscle spasm, heaviness in body, easy fatigability, headache, sleep disturbance, palpitation and dry mouth.

In my opinion if you do not have other symptoms and your socio occupational functioning is not affected much then you no need to worry. But give importance to manage your life with current level of concentration and memory which you are doing for several years years.

Apart from that following measures will help you:
-Decrease worrying about memory problem as it will decrease it further.
-Healthy diet: Milk and fruits in diet.
-Daily morning walk.

I hope this information has been both informative and helpful for you. In case of any doubt, I will be available for follow ups.

Wish you good health.
Regards,