Sudden Memory Loss of Typing Skills....

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  1. _cheryl_ profile image77
    _cheryl_posted 10 years ago

    Just curious if any fellow hubbers have dealt with or know of anyone who's had a sudden loss of memory specifically to typing. My Mom, (who's been typing 8hrs. a day for the past 20yrs.) had gone on vacation and returned to work completely unable to type how she use to, having to now look at the keyboard when she types. We're in the process of handling this through her Dr., but just starting. In the meantime, wanted to hear from anyone who might be dealing with a similar situation.

    1. Fluffymetal profile image76
      Fluffymetalposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Is she on Lyric?  It caused unusual but similar symptoms for me.

      1. _cheryl_ profile image77
        _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

        No, she's not on that....

  2. profile image0
    Ghost32posted 10 years ago

    My wife's many disabilities have at least made us aware of a lot of medical possibilities.  First thought is that your Mom may have had a mini-stroke--not the huge kind that wipes out one whole side of the body, but a much smaller sort. 

    Pam (wife) has had a number of those over the years.  One time it drastically degraded her driving skills to the point that she was not safe behind the wheel, kept veering out of her lane, and even hit two vehicles in the parking lot before we could get an auto transport trailer and tow the car (we were moving from Colorado to Arizona at the time).  And Pam, not all that many years back, was a skilled race driver who could handle any stick shift like she owned it the first time she drove it.

    None of us realized that was the problem until a couple of hours AFTER she'd driven nearly 250 miles in that condition....

    1. _cheryl_ profile image77
      _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      We're wondering about that, maybe a mini stroke. Coincidentally, I'm worried myself about my Mom driving as well. Her next follow up, I'm expecting that the Dr. will order some kind of diagnostic test; Brain MRI, CT, or something. if not I'll have to go to someone else who'll be more aggressive in treating her. Thanks for sharing about your wife, and giving me some insight and things to look out for Ghost32.

  3. wyanjen profile image80
    wyanjenposted 10 years ago

    I can't speak to memory, but a couple years ago I crawled into my bed one night and turned out the light. The instant that the light went out, I lost sight in my right eye. I spent a couple minutes turning the switch back on and off, it was just strange. Painless though. I wasn't able to get to a doctor for a few days. They referred me to get an MRI but I have not done that. To expensive.
    My vision came back by the time I woke up the next AM but it took several weeks to get right. I failed a color test at the eye dr. which is bad because my job is calibrating color. Now when my head gets warm, my eye hurts quite a bit.

    I wondered if I had a mini stroke or something, but my eye only stopped working that night at the exact moment I shut off the light. Freaky stuff happens inside these brains!

    1. profile image0
      Ghost32posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Now, THAT one really is mysterious! 

      I once noticed the long range vision in my right eye was "fuzzing out"...but then figured out that I'd done the damage myself.  It was when we lived in the survival cabin in Montana.  I'd rigged a reading lamp that was actually to my right front instead of being behind my left shoulder as we were always told it needed to be.  Turned out I was letting in too much light over light and literally burning out the rods and cones in the eye on that side. 

      Better now, ten years later, but still not quite back to where it was. 

      No mystery involved, though--unless you count a mystery why our parents told us the way to do it (reading light) but not the why....

      1. _cheryl_ profile image77
        _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

        Interesting, I've never heard of letting too much light over light. Good to know....

    2. profile image0
      Pani Midnyte Odinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      That has actually happened to me a few times too. Not with the light, but vision in one of my eyes will disappear completely and painlessly for brief periods of time, then return slightly flawed but improve gradually. It actually happens more frequently with my hearing. I'm not sure why and the doctor told me everything was fine, but still scary when it happens.

      As for memory, I've never had a stroke of any kind. However, I have had problems with memory similar to this. I hope everything will turn out okay for your mother. She'll be in my thoughts.

      1. _cheryl_ profile image77
        _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

        Thanks Pani smile

    3. profile image0
      JeanMeriamposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I would get the MRI if I were you. Not to be alarming or anything, but my sil is going through the same thing and was told it may be pre-sign of MS. It might not be the same thing in your case, but it sounds the same as what she went though.
      What she has is called Optic Neuritis. Google it and see if it is the same.

      1. _cheryl_ profile image77
        _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

        Yes, I'm gonna push for the MRI definitely if he doesn't mention it next appt. So far he's got her trying a sleep apnea machine and taking a memory medication- galantamine. Interesting, I didn't think of MS. I'll look into that for sure too. Thank you JeanMeriam.

  4. _cheryl_ profile image77
    _cheryl_posted 10 years ago

    Wow wyanjen! I had an incident myself 5yrs. ago. While driving, all of a sudden I noticed my peripheal vision in my right eye was gone. I had to literally turn my head to the right to see anything else that wasn't directly in front of me. Not 20 min. later I had the worst migraine (which mind you I've never suffered before at all, just headaches.) In the same week my left eye wacked out on me, and there was a black spot right in the middle of my left eye, but blurry around it. That lasted about 5 minutes. Ended up getting a brain MRI but only found a benign tumor- nothing that could answer my vision experience. Nothing since then, Yes- our brains are capable of plenty! smile

  5. Glenn Stok profile image98
    Glenn Stokposted 10 years ago

    I always typed fast and accurately since I was typing most my life. I've been typing since I was in my teens. At that time writing newsletters for a club I was running. Then in my 20's I typed to program computers. Then later continued typing to write articles for computer magazines in the 80's. Since then for everything related to business.

    As I got older, I developed "typing dyslexia." I found I was transposing letters. I learned to check my work carefully so you, the reader, don't see the errors. I just attribute it to getting older. It happened slowly over time.

    But in your Mom's case, since she experienced a change suddenly, it would be important to see her doctor to rule out anything medical problems.

    1. _cheryl_ profile image77
      _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for sharing Glenn, she too has been typing since her teens. I swear she must type about 100 wpm...we have gone to her Dr. but it's only been a couple of weeks, next follow up is in another couple of weeks. Yeah, it's definitely more than just "typing dyslexia". She's not even able to to her Sudoku games at all since the past few months. I'm thinking that sleep apnea may not be the source either.

  6. timorous profile image82
    timorousposted 10 years ago

    I'm wondering if your mom had some traumatic, stressful event occur while on vacation.  It could also have been a mini-stroke as you say.

    However, I believe continued stress is a major factor in any visual and mental problems people experience.  You need to find ways of relaxing, such as deep breathing, meditating etc.  Get back to a positive outlook and stop worrying about stuff.  I know...easier said than done, but these days it's becoming more necessary just to keep yourself sane.

    Certain foods can also trigger weird mental lapses under the right conditions.

    1. _cheryl_ profile image77
      _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You're right, I agree that stress is a huge underlying factor in many visual and mental problems. And I truly believe in the power of positive thinking! smile
      No mention on anything that might've occured while she was on vacation. But we'll see hopefully with further testing if she may have suffered from a mini-stroke. Interesting that certain foods can contribute to mental lapses, I'll have to look into that too. Thanks.

  7. kephrira profile image58
    kephriraposted 10 years ago

    The writer Terry Pratchett has said in interviews that forgetting how to type was one of the early symptoms of his Alzheimers, but in all honesty there are so many possibilities that I wouldn't pay too much attention to the suggestions people are posting here - noone can say why this might have happened except her doctor.

    1. _cheryl_ profile image77
      _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      True kephrira, he did mention that it's a possibility that this is early stage Alzheimers, but he's trying to rule out other things first. She's only 56....we'll see.

      1. Marisa Wright profile image96
        Marisa Wrightposted 10 years agoin reply to this

        I'm a one-time secretary and recently did a typing test just for the fun of it - I'm still typing 80 words a minute, and I'm 56 too.  To suddenly forget how to do it - that's more than just old age.

        I have to admit, Alzheimers was the first thing I thought of. 56 is not too early for symptoms to show. I do hope it turns out to be something else that's more treatable.  (((((hugs))))) … -alzheimer

        1. _cheryl_ profile image77
          _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Those are my thoughts as well. Just doesn't seem right to loose the skill of typing (which is more of a muscle memory skill as well as learned) suddenly. Thanks for sharing that site, I will be updating on what we learn soon from the next appt. Your hugs are appreciated! smile

          1. _cheryl_ profile image77
            _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Marisa, I just read the article you sent me. So thankful for that! It's the only thing I've been able to find that can relate to her specific symptoms. I've never heard of that form of Alzeimers. It's a scary thought, but you've really helped me in becoming more informed of what's out there. Thanks.

  8. Rochelle Frank profile image92
    Rochelle Frankposted 10 years ago

    I would write down all of these possibilities that have been suggested (scary as they may be) and question the doctor specifically about each.
    Doctors don't always tell you all the possibilities (or don't even think of them) so you have to be proactive, eliminating one thing at a time until you find the answer.

    1. _cheryl_ profile image77
      _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I'll do that Rochelle, I'm just thankful that I'm home and able to accompany her to these appt.'s. Being proactive is a must, I'll definitely add a list to the notebook of the info that I'm keeping on her and bring it to her next appt. I'm gonna push for any kind of diagnostic test, it seems with his plan so far that this is his next step, if not we'll move on to another Dr. I think. Thanks for your suggestion!

  9. Lisa HW profile image59
    Lisa HWposted 10 years ago

    Cheryl, I saw this thread the other day and didn't comment because I didn't have anything that would be useful in terms of information/experience.  Checked back now to see if you'd learned anything new and how your mother is doing.  I was hoping  you'd found out it wasn't anything too serious.  Anyway, wish your mother and you well.  If it was, by any chance, something like a mini-stroke, at least action can now be taken to prevent something more serious.  Best wishes.

    1. _cheryl_ profile image77
      _cheryl_posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks so much for thinking of her. I'm getting kind of anxious myself. Her next appt. is with a phsycology counselor to determine memory loss vs. stress vs. both combined. That's next week, then her Dr. f/u the following week. I'm going to see today if I can possibly push those appt.'s sooner. I appreciate you thoughts, I'll be keeping things posted....

  10. _cheryl_ profile image77
    _cheryl_posted 10 years ago

    Followed up with Mom's Dr. today. He's ordered a Head CT Scan and increased her memory medication. We're to follow up in a couple of weeks. Hopefully we'll have had results of her scan by then. I had to push a bit for it to be ordered now as opposed to after she returned in 2 weeks with report of the increased med results. He's also mentioned referring her out to a Neurologist. No change in her status, other than we've noticed that she's having difficulty signing her signature and writing in cursive for that matter. Thank you all for your insight! I'll continue to be an active role in appointments, and hopefully finding answers soon.

  11. timorous profile image82
    timorousposted 10 years ago

    Sorry about your mom, cheryl.  I'm sure it's tough on you and your family.  I hope you can find a suitable solution soon without going through a bunch of crap, seeing as most doctors are just guessing anyway.  Be strong. smile

    1. _cheryl_ profile image77
      _cheryl_posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks timorous. We're anxious to get the CT scheduled and hopefully get some kind result as to informing us of what we're dealing with exactly. I appreciate your encouraging words, I'll be postin any new info and further results when we learn of them. smile

  12. _cheryl_ profile image77
    _cheryl_posted 9 years ago

    Update: Mom's CT came back normal, yet memory testing shows some concern. We have a neurology consult set soon and hoping to find out more then. Other than that, there's been a small incident that concerns us about her driving, but all in all she's doing well. Just wanted to say thanks for all your replies and concerns!


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