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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Memory Loss And Disorientation?

Could you please help diagnose what my mother might be experiencing? She has had episodes of not remembering things. For instance, the first episode, we were driving home from her work and I was blabbing on about something and I said the word kangaroo and she looked sharply at me and exclaimed What did you just say?! and she was completely shocked because it just didn t seem right in her head. The only way she can explain it is that it just doesn t sound right. I was continuing to say words and they just didn t seem right to her. We got home and she was fine after a while. The second episode, she was at a party and half of people faces seemed to be missing. She knew who they were it s just that their faces were distorted. About 10 mins later on that night she was looking at people and she knew who it was but it seemed like she had never seen them before, like she was looking at a stranger that she knew somehow. The third episode, she was going down to eat dinner and her food had no flavour. This may sound normal but before every single one of these episodes she has lights to the side of her head almost like lights are reflecting and she can see it. She has gone to the doctor and a test confirmed she had no brain tumours or such. The doctor said she was experiencing the symptoms of a migraine without actually having a migraine. He said it might be because she is under stress with work and family and he describes it as on a computer where there are too many tabs open and it starts not responding and you have to wait for it to work again. He simply said to just relax more, meditate and write things down in a diary more. I am asking today to see if you have any prior knowledge of anyone having anything like this and what it is and what they did. Many thanks.
Mon, 31 Dec 2018
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General Surgeon 's  Response
Hello,

Whatever you have mentioned, on basis of this, I would keep the possibility of dysthymic disorder.

It happens due to stress, social isolation, and lack of social support. Since childhood, you did not get much support and care, which lead to dysthymic disorder.

In dysthymia, patient has a number of typical characteristics: low energy and drive, low self-esteem, a low capacity for pleasure in everyday life, withdrawing from stress, avoiding opportunities for failure etc and such symptoms stay for years.

Most of symptoms are present in you. In that case, i would suggest you few antidepressant like paroxetine or escitalopram which you can get prescribed from a psychiatrist.

That would help you to control depressive symptoms. Only medication would not help in your case.

You should consult a psychologist for cognitive behavioral therapy and try to do life style modification like spending time with family member on weekend, morning or evening walk, outing during holidays etc. That would help you to keep happy.

In your case, result would not come immediately. Sometime, dysthymia become part of personality and that take time to improve.

So, be patience and follow the above treatment plan.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon
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What Causes Memory Loss And Disorientation?

Hello, Whatever you have mentioned, on basis of this, I would keep the possibility of dysthymic disorder. It happens due to stress, social isolation, and lack of social support. Since childhood, you did not get much support and care, which lead to dysthymic disorder. In dysthymia, patient has a number of typical characteristics: low energy and drive, low self-esteem, a low capacity for pleasure in everyday life, withdrawing from stress, avoiding opportunities for failure etc and such symptoms stay for years. Most of symptoms are present in you. In that case, i would suggest you few antidepressant like paroxetine or escitalopram which you can get prescribed from a psychiatrist. That would help you to control depressive symptoms. Only medication would not help in your case. You should consult a psychologist for cognitive behavioral therapy and try to do life style modification like spending time with family member on weekend, morning or evening walk, outing during holidays etc. That would help you to keep happy. In your case, result would not come immediately. Sometime, dysthymia become part of personality and that take time to improve. So, be patience and follow the above treatment plan. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Regards, Dr Ivan R. Rommstein, General Surgeon