A couple of days ago, I was talking with my psych and told her I had been feeling fuzzy headed and unfocused and doing goofy things. I told her about my problems with Math, but also that I thought I might have ADD in addition to dyscalculia and Bipolar Disorder. She prescribed Adderal for the attention deficit and it seems to have helped. However, when I asked her if it was true that Bipolar patients have coginitive deficits and shrunken hippocampi (a part of the brain that regulates memory, emotion and spatial relationships) she confirmed that it was true. In other words, I have brain damage. She said that my damaged neurons could not be regenerated, but that as long as I continue to take antidepressants, then we can prevent any further damage from occurring. My husband, who has a wholesale distrust of psychiatrists in general, is skeptical. "Have they actually sliced open your brain?"
The concentration problems could be due to the stress and depression I've had over the past few months, or it could be menopause, or it could be ADD, or it could be a combination of all of these. What I sincerely hope that it is not, in fact, brain damage. The thought of ending up with Alzheimer's or dementia is truly horrifying. Now everytime I read or do anything complex and have difficulties, I am thinking that it is because my IQ has dropped a couple of points. Perhaps not: I have been absent minded all my life. Well, my doctor encouraged me to be positive, not to freak out, and to practice Cognitive Behavorial Therapy. Nevertheless, it's pretty damned hard to be positive when I've just had a bombshell like that dropped on me. I suppose if you don't want to know then you shouldn't ask. But as many of you know, it's hard as hell to go through life feeling like there's something wrong with you. Maybe one day I'll be able to figure out what exactly is wrong with me. Quite a lot, it would seem.
Location: Texas USA Posts: 6102 Joined: 2008-05-25
1/20/11
Hi fuegos8,
Nice to see you again! Wondered where you've been. I avoid aluminum, floride, mercury, artificial colors, and solvents,... yes, and extreme stress, which I think did damage to my hippocampus and short term memory. I take Alpha Lipoic Acid, a 'health food store' item. You'll know how to research this, I'm sure, so I don't have to say more here. ;) - jus'
Never heard that about Bipolar Disorder causing some form of brain damage...is it very mild or a bit more extensive, do you know?
And if it makes you feel any better, my hearing is acting up. I'm due in for my yearly check up, and I'm really hoping I don't have Meniere's Disease. I'm always terrified one day I'm going to go deaf, so I feel your pain somewhat.
