Is it normal to have memory loss 9 months post stroke?

My husband suffered an ICH - haemorrhagic stroke on 24-10-16. After intensive rehabilitation, he has been left with left side deficit. He can walk very short distances and always with a 1x assist. His memory was affected directly after the stroke. He remembers phoning 000 but after the paramedics arrived until about 3 days later he has no memory. He was still patchy but his memory improved until it was pretty good when he was discharged. I've noticed in the last 5 weeks or so, his memory has become patchy again. The main issue is medications. In hospital he could tell the nurses exactly what he had and when but then when he got home, he couldn't remember. He has become really lax at remembering things I've asked him to do when his carers are visiting (usually will have only said about an hour before they arrive). When I ask why he didn't do something, he'll say he forgot. He repeatedly asks me questions and I get frustrated because I've answered them before. It's really come to ahead now because he is forgetting to take his medication. He'll either double up on a dose or leave a couple in the container. When I ask him he'll say that there were too many or he didn't take them or something. I brought him a weekly pill container and do all his pills on a Saturday morning and take photos so I know exactly whats there. It's causing some large disagreements. Is it normal, this far from the stroke, for memory to start declining?

Hi Lizzie,

I'm sorry to hear about your husband's stroke and his memory difficulties.

As you've described, memory loss can be particularly challenging and frustrating for all parties involved. Some people are not aware of their memory difficulties at all, while other are embarrassed and try to 'cover up' any signs.

Finding out the cause of your husband's memory difficulties is the first step in finding a treatment, or in finding strategies to help him manage these difficulties better.

The initial memory loss that you described in the first hours and days after the stroke is not uncommon.

The new memory difficulties that you describe now are unlikely to be caused by the stroke. We expect to see a person's difficulties continue to improve or plateau following their stroke. Any new difficulties should be investigated first by the person's GP, and then by their neurologist.

There are many different reasons for memory loss or forgetfulness - fatigue, an underlying infection, medication side-effects, another neurological event such as a stroke, or the start of a condition such as dementia.

My first recommendation would be to speak to your husband about your concerns, you might like to ask a close friend or family member to join you in that conversation. I would then book an appointment with your husband's GP where you can both attend and share the sorts of things that have been happening, in particular your concerns around medication. It's important that your husband takes all of his medications exactly as prescribed to help prevent another stroke from occurring. While the cause of his memory difficulties are being investigated, I would speak to the GP/pharmacist about where a Webster-pak would help him know which medications to taken when. The other option would be to see if your husband's carers can supervise him while he takes his medication.

If your husband is still under the care of a neurologist, I would get in touch and ask for an appointment. If he has already been discharged from this service, speak to his GP about whether another referral is required.

If we can be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact StrokeLine on 1800 787 653 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm EST)

Best wishes,

Alana - StrokeLine

Hi Lizzie,

Here are some more answers fro you from the Facebook Community.

Sorry Lizzie,

Here they are:

Desney King Almost 6 years after my first Stroke, memory is still dodgy. I live alone and have a system that’s close to foolproof: alarms on my mobile for each medication; all meds arranged on the kitchen bench with a notebook with detailed grid so that I can tick off each med at each time as I take it. I also put the next meds due on top of the notebook as an additional check.

So - alarm goes off, telling me which meds to take; I go to the kitchen, take the right meds and put them back in their spot on the bench; tick the right square in my notebook, and then put the next due meds on top of the notebook.

Angela Peppiatt I check that my husband has had his medication morning and night. I think he probably gets annoyed but tablets have been forgotten along with a few other things. Some days his memory is better than others. He had 2 strokes last February 2016. If he is really tired his memory is worse.

Glenys McLaughlin I'm 9 months post a stroke that *severely* affected my memory functioning. Neuropsych testing revealed "severe impairment of verbal and non-verbal memory". In the 1st percentile - you can't get any worse. I have noticed that if I severely 'overdo it', my memory, general cognitive performance, and fatigue get *much* worse - to the point my daughter told my neurologist I was getting noticeably worse. The deterioration stopped when I stopped severely overdoing it.

Michelle Taylor Hi everyone my husband had second stroke in may this year......not sure when he had his first we only found that he had had one earlier this time round as the mri flagged it. His short term memory affected to the point he needs reminding of things.......i also leave notes for him whilst i am at work to remind him to do things...otherwise he is ok

Nicky Bradley I'm twelve months out from my stroke. I have no short term memory. It's gotten slightly better. But it's as good as it's going to get. So I have reminders all around the house and hubby and the kids ask me about medication and if I done certain things I needed to do. Just take one day at a time.

Grace Sussmilch-Leitch It's very common to have issues with memory following a stroke, but if you have noticed a NEW change in memory recently since the stroke, please get your doctor or neurologist to check things out.

There are often fluctuations that happen on a day to day basis (and symptoms will be worse with fatigue/multitasking/ times of high emotion), but if there are NEW symptoms appearing, it is best to get them checked.

Sharron Goodey I am seven months post stroke and the memory of taking medication is tricky ! My husband is asked frequently if he has seen me take it as I honestly can't remember perhaps half of the time ! Have taken up little strategies to sort myself out

Al Falders Yes. I did for 18 months.
So I made a list and kept track of my meds that way.
I’m almost ok with that aspect of memory now.
I’d take a tablet and one minute later didn’t recall having done so.

Helen Young Yes....memory is still an issue 2 1/2 years after my stroke. I have my medication made up into Webster packs at the pharmacy. That way I don't forget what to take

Vanessa Ferriman I find taking my tablet as soon as l wake up makes it easier . sometimes l have to double check but thank god they have the days on them.. If yours doesn't have days use a permanent marker to write the day on. 12 mths after mine l forget heaps of basic things its frustrating

Paul Hangan Hi lizzie. Has he had a recent change in medication? This can cause it. Whats the doc saying?. Im 5 months post stroke and still have it gets better every day. I do work on it though. Use daily training app/games. To help. .get the neuron pathways happening. 😁. Take care and wish u and hubby well.

Di Shorland My dad over 12 months after stroke, short term memory dodgy but then so is my mums without a stroke lol. I have had to set up phone alarm 8am and 8pm for medication reminders.

Hi Lizzie,

I'm sorry to hear about your husband's stroke and his memory difficulties.

Finding out the cause of your husband's memory difficulties is the first step in finding a treatment, or in finding strategies to help him manage these difficulties better.

The initial memory loss that you described in the first hours and days after the stroke is not uncommon.

If we can be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact StrokeLine on 1800 787 653 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm EST)

Best wishes,

Alana - StrokeLine

Hi Lizzie,

Here are some more answers fro you from the Facebook Community.

Sorry Lizzie,

Here they are:

Helen Young Yes....memory is still an issue 2 1/2 years after my stroke. I have my medication made up into Webster packs at the pharmacy. That way I don't forget what to take

Di Shorland My dad over 12 months after stroke, short term memory dodgy but then so is my mums without a stroke lol. I have had to set up phone alarm 8am and 8pm for medication reminders.

Is it normal to have memory loss 9 months post stroke?

Is it normal to have memory loss 9 months post stroke?

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