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What Causes Forgetfulness And Losing The Thread Of Conversations After Surgery?

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Posted on Tue, 9 Jun 2015
Question: How long do the mental effects from anesthesia last? I had a 6hr surgery 6 weeks ago. I am still not 100%
mentally clear. I am terribly forgetful, I have taken my regular meds wrong 3 times in the last 2 weeks.
I ask the same questions in conversations, I don't remember doing things, I am unable to do my school work because things don't make sense ( this is not normal for me) my surgeon told me that it takes 1 week for every hour you are under surgery to be totally clear. But have you heard of cases where these affects last longer.
thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
detailed below.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.

Welcome to Healthcare Magic.

I can understand your concern about this problem and how it has affected your daily function.

Your symptoms are very typical of postoperative cognitive dysfunction.There are many hypothesis and factors that are thought to be responsible for this, including the anesthetic drugs used,the effects of the surgery etc.
Having symptoms of cognitive dysfunction after surgery is very common and usually these symptoms go away in few days or weeks after the surgery.
In a small number of patient these symptoms can last up to several months.
In this case usually a neurological evaluation with a CT scan and MRI of the brain are necessary.

To answer you question ,yes there are evidences that symptoms of cognitive dysfunction after an operation can last up to several moths or more but this can happen in a small number of patients.Usually the symptoms will clear up in few weeks.

Since you had a long operation ,you may just need to give it some more time.
In this case all you can do is wait and see if these symptoms will improve.

Hope it helps.
Please feel free to ask for any question that you might have.

Kind regards,
Dr.Rovena Murati
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rovena (2 hours later)
Thank you so much! that is pretty much what I thought but before I went to see my surgeon I wanted just to ask someone else. She is actually sending me to my family physician to get a head CT just to make sure there was nothing else. Thanks again
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Rovena (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
you are welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.

You are welcome.

I hope everything will be better soon.

I wish you all the best,

Take care.
Dr.Rovena
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

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

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2013

Answered : 1243 Questions

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What Causes Forgetfulness And Losing The Thread Of Conversations After Surgery?

Brief Answer: detailed below. Detailed Answer: Hello. Welcome to Healthcare Magic. I can understand your concern about this problem and how it has affected your daily function. Your symptoms are very typical of postoperative cognitive dysfunction.There are many hypothesis and factors that are thought to be responsible for this, including the anesthetic drugs used,the effects of the surgery etc. Having symptoms of cognitive dysfunction after surgery is very common and usually these symptoms go away in few days or weeks after the surgery. In a small number of patient these symptoms can last up to several months. In this case usually a neurological evaluation with a CT scan and MRI of the brain are necessary. To answer you question ,yes there are evidences that symptoms of cognitive dysfunction after an operation can last up to several moths or more but this can happen in a small number of patients.Usually the symptoms will clear up in few weeks. Since you had a long operation ,you may just need to give it some more time. In this case all you can do is wait and see if these symptoms will improve. Hope it helps. Please feel free to ask for any question that you might have. Kind regards, Dr.Rovena Murati