Mine's compromised!!! And in a big way, too!!!! This started before I was diagnosed and treated. A lot of people say that their meds have that effect of them, too.
I have a lot of trouble with reading comprehension. I have a hard time reading the posts on here, a lot of the time. I used to love to read books. Now, that's out of the question. If I read something four or five times over, I might get the gist of it, but then I won't be able to retain it for any length of time.
I've had trouble remembering my own name sometimes, when asked, which is rather embarrassing.
I'm sorry that you're suffering from it, too!! (((((Hugs)))))

i had a similar problem with compromised memory, inability to retain, etc. and it's gotten better with meds and stability. i'm remembering more and more all the time which is a double edged sword. there are things i'd forgotten that i wish had stayed that way. it's been painful sometimes. but in general i'm doing much better. i think it's a combination of meds and keeping my brain active with school and reading more. i have some trouble with complex concepts, but that's everyone i think. you're certainly NOT dumb, but this illness does a number on our cognitive abilities. it takes time and training to get better at working around the limitations and blocks BP throws our way. hang in there and stay positive.

I think its a combination of the anxiety from the BP and the meds we take. I have the same thing happen to me. It is what it is I say. be well

I know my brain is compromised .....

It's the meds, I guarantee. Aging can also contribute. I know that using the brain is the only way to get it back. School and all these tests have brought me back to about 95% of what I was when I was younger. I am holding A's in Greek and it is getting easier. 5 years ago when I started Seminary, I thought I would quit when I got to Greek, because I could never remember. Now it is easy.

I think regular exercise also helps. We were watching a show on PBS about the brain, esp. with reference to Alzheimer's. Brains deteriorate for various reasons. But you can improve if you exercise vigorously daily to get the blood flowing to the brain. Also eating a healthy diet, plus attempting new and difficult challenges force the brain to create new neurons and stave off dementia. (This is new science, I had never heard this before)

So there is hope, but I think if you are anxious, the last thing you want to do is try something new. I also know I played the same songs on my flute for 20 years and never made any progress. About 5 years ago I took some flute lessons, and since then I challenge myself with harder and harder stuff. I wonder how I got so badly stuck for so many years.

I'm saying, don't get stuck - fight back.

reading im terrible have to read 5 or 6 times before it goes in i prefer spoken books for that reason or my fantasie is so rich i go of on a little day dream as my eyes go over the words below and i have to go back and read it again
i prefer books that teach me a skill
i was better at spanish than english in school for that reason

I definitely had focus problems for a long, long time. Couldn't remember anything...nothing would hold in my brain. I visited my pdoc and told him about this (oh, something like a year ago). He started me on ritalin and it has made a WORLD of a difference!

I had an abnormal psych class last semester and we were each supposed to present on a different topic. One young man did a presentation on ADD and meds for ADD and how he was absolutely against it. I stood up to him; I told him "you know what, ritalin helps me focus on school work. I'm back in school because my first bachelors degree couldn't land me a job and I NEED to take care of my kid. And when I mean single mom, I mean SINGLE mom...there is no alternating weekend crap. It's JUST ME. So if a little drug is going to help me focus and have a better academic record and land me a better job, one that contributes to the system rather than me leeching off the system, I'm gonna go for it, no matter what you and people like you say."
I was applaused and a few people stopped me after class to let me know what I said meant a lot to them because they have friends/relatives or are themselves ADD.

I do too. I've been blaming it on getting older but I'm not sure if that's really it. It's embarrassing having a conversation and I forget what I was talking about. Or someone says remember when we went to Maine for a week? Um...no, I don't remember.
I suspect it's the meds actually. They have to be doing something to us.

Believe me, you're not dumb. In my experience, medication affects us in ways that make us feel dumb. I think that the BP illness affects us, too. Try to keep your head up. You'll get it down soon enough. I'm having to put post-it notes all over everything now-a-days.

Yep, memory and general sharpness goes.

YUP.....I've gone from remember EVERYTHING.....to fuck all. I have a major gig coming up next weekend and I am struggling to remember words to songs that I have been singing for 5 yrs and frankly it scares the fuck out of me.
I'm afraid I am gonna let down the rest of the blokes.
I can't think of simple simple words when trying to have a conversation.....it severely sucks

I hate it when your mouth refuses to spit out words that are right there on your mind. Make me feel like such a retard.

same here....i would say meds but i started having problems before meds, which made it worse....i think it is a combo of both the meds and the stress our brains are under.

I have a book called "Break the Bipolar Cycle" it says people with BP show significant problems with attention, concentration, and working memory. It also says that some of these problems are the reason that BP can be misdiagnosed as ADD.

It's a great book. I recommend it. It shed light on a lot of things for me.

I heard about some research that says that if you had an experience in one mental state, you remembered it better in the same state. So I guess it's possible our memory is full of holes. Big upheavals also seem to do things to memory and cognition, we call it "widow brain" over on that board.

I'm sure some of our meds also have an effect, lithium did for me, lamotrogine largely hasn't, but I am on a small dose.

Plus we are all getting older. Sorry.