Acromegaly Support Group
Acromegaly (from Greek akros "high" and megas "large" - extremities enlargement) is a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (hGH). Acromegaly most commonly affects middle-aged adults and can result in serious illness and premature death. Join the group to discuss symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments.
Over on the FB Acro site, there is a discussion going on about the memory and cognitive skill levels of those who have been diagnosed with Acro........I was just wondering if those here are facing the same issues. It was rather surprising the number of comments that included the thought they felt as if they were the only ones realizing this issue....
I have notice a discernible decline in memory level as well as cognitive skills........especially over the last couple of years. Things I've never had problems with suddenly have popped up. I've been an Architectural designer / project manager for 30+ years in the profession.......I've been using CADD for at least 20 years and now I'm finding I have problems recalling simply command strokes that I've used for 20 years. Though my physical condition has been a limiting factor in riding my motorcycle for years, meaning I ride on really good days and limit the time I'm riding to my stamina, now I'm finding that I'm having issues with cognitive levels of location, what I'm doing, where I'm headed, etc., etc......same for the car. I find that I'm baking for green lights and sitting at red lights after they've changed.........my wife has even noticed it. I forget directions or routes, miss turns that I see but don't recognize as the turn I'm looking for. A couple of weeks ago, I was driving across town to an art store I've been to a hundred times, before I knew it I was leaving the county and entering the adjacent county..........8 miles past the exit I should have taken.
In discussions I will forget what I'm saying at times or the topic all together. I'll know the word I'm trying to say, but can't seem to get it out. All the memory and cognitive skills test with the Neurologist I pass, but these are simple word retention and sight identification test.........it seems to be short term stuff, I can remember things from high school (people, places, things, events, etc.) but what I had for breakfast last Saturday or what I wore, or what I did........that's a problem. My Neurologist says there seems to be some correlation between early dementia and acro patients with surgery and especially those who have had a Gamma Knife procedure.but that thee isn't enough specific data to make any definitive associations.......meaning there hasn't been any real clinical studies to pin point it. He reminded me that GK came about in the late 80's and wasn't really widely accepted until the late 90's. Long term effects are still being realized............
So my question is........is anybody else experiencing problems with memory and cognitive levels after surgery or GK........I'm going on 10 years for the surgeries and 9 for the GK and am wondering if this is something else that will be rearing its ugly head up in my future along with all the other little surprises over the years..........
Acro.....the gift that keeps on giving.
I have notice a discernible decline in memory level as well as cognitive skills........especially over the last couple of years. Things I've never had problems with suddenly have popped up. I've been an Architectural designer / project manager for 30+ years in the profession.......I've been using CADD for at least 20 years and now I'm finding I have problems recalling simply command strokes that I've used for 20 years. Though my physical condition has been a limiting factor in riding my motorcycle for years, meaning I ride on really good days and limit the time I'm riding to my stamina, now I'm finding that I'm having issues with cognitive levels of location, what I'm doing, where I'm headed, etc., etc......same for the car. I find that I'm baking for green lights and sitting at red lights after they've changed.........my wife has even noticed it. I forget directions or routes, miss turns that I see but don't recognize as the turn I'm looking for. A couple of weeks ago, I was driving across town to an art store I've been to a hundred times, before I knew it I was leaving the county and entering the adjacent county..........8 miles past the exit I should have taken.
In discussions I will forget what I'm saying at times or the topic all together. I'll know the word I'm trying to say, but can't seem to get it out. All the memory and cognitive skills test with the Neurologist I pass, but these are simple word retention and sight identification test.........it seems to be short term stuff, I can remember things from high school (people, places, things, events, etc.) but what I had for breakfast last Saturday or what I wore, or what I did........that's a problem. My Neurologist says there seems to be some correlation between early dementia and acro patients with surgery and especially those who have had a Gamma Knife procedure.but that thee isn't enough specific data to make any definitive associations.......meaning there hasn't been any real clinical studies to pin point it. He reminded me that GK came about in the late 80's and wasn't really widely accepted until the late 90's. Long term effects are still being realized............
So my question is........is anybody else experiencing problems with memory and cognitive levels after surgery or GK........I'm going on 10 years for the surgeries and 9 for the GK and am wondering if this is something else that will be rearing its ugly head up in my future along with all the other little surprises over the years..........
Acro.....the gift that keeps on giving.
BTW, Papillion Rose Bleu and I had lunch together just over the Tennessee line in July. One of the things we talked about was asking Vanderbilt about hosting a seminar/conference/symposium on Acromegaly. I wasn't able to reach Rose Bleu before going yesterday, but I did bring it up with Dr. Utz. In fact, she has actually participated in this sort of thing when she was at Mass. General just a couple of years ago. She was very open to actually doing this, so we will see what develops!
Eileen
Eileen
My Therapist placed me on a mood stabilizer... Divalproex. She said that the Ritalin can become dependant with the body, and if I am going to be long term usage that would likely be the case. This is only her opinion, I see other Docs see the benefits! I wish she did!
Not to say she wont prescribe me it in the future, she wants to try all options first before the Methylphenandate. This Divalproex is causing me BAD nausea, second day... I'm feeling real weird, not sure if I like it. But I will try it longer, just want this nausea to go away.