Memory lost. If found, return for reward.
August 28, 2010 10:24 AM   Subscribe

I had surgery involving general anesthesia a week ago (relating to this post, for your reference) and I am now missing seemingly random chunks of my memory.

My surgeon is away this weekend, and I'm debating whether to go to the ER. Since I don't currently have insurance and have not figured out yet how to print money in my basement, I'm looking for some guidance from those who may have experienced something like this. I've done some googling and all I can really find on this topic is related to either the elderly, or cardiac surgery, neither of which apply in this case. I'm also wondering if it is related to the painkillers, though I've had no trouble with them in the past.

Reassurance: I realize that you are probably not a doctor, and if you are, you are not MY doctor.

About me:

32 years old, normal body type. No smoking ever, non drinker, no recreational drug use. I am on Hydrocodone (750mg every 6 to 8 hours) at the moment for pain relating to the surgery.

What has been happening:

I'm missing memory from a few hours before the surgery to the night after. Since then, I have had memory blanks about each day of my life ranging from 4 to 12 hours. For example, I healed an entire World of Warcraft heroic raid and do not remember being there. That event lasted 5 hours. (If you do not play WoW and have no frame of reference for that anecdote, understand that healing a raid is something I'd have to be lucid to participate in successfully.) I went food shopping with my partner yesterday and do not remember it. However, I remember conversations with my friends that occurred a few hours after that raid I don't remember, and I recall a conversation I had with my mother on the phone WHILE I was in the grocery store, but I swear I don't remember being there. Yesterday, I was filling out a form and I could not remember the address I have lived at for 2 years. Basically the last 5 days are filled with spots I just don't recall.

This is scary. I've had general anesthesia 4 times with no problems, and have taken the painkillers that were prescribed to me before with no issues even remotely like this.

Should I get thyself to the ER immediately, or is this just one of those things that happens after surgery that I've thankfully skipped out on before? Any help or experiences would be much appreciated.
posted by Emperor Yamamoto's Eggs to Health & Fitness (17 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Just because two events are correlated doesn't mean one causes the other.

There could be any number of reasons to explain your memory loss and it doesn't necessarily follow that having been anesthetized is the cause. Don't fall for that fallacy.
posted by dfriedman at 10:34 AM on August 28, 2010


I'd go, regardless of suspected cause. Forgetting things can be dangerous. What if you leave the stove on? etc.
posted by jayCampbell at 10:37 AM on August 28, 2010


There is, apparently, something called "postoperative cognitive dysfunction", but there has been little research done about it.

So, rather than assume that the anesthesia has anything to do with your memory problems, why not just treat it as a medical problem and seek a doctor's examination?
posted by dfriedman at 10:39 AM on August 28, 2010


You had general anesthesia and you're on narcotic painkillers now? I recently went through something similar (appendectomy and heavy meds for the pain before and after) and I found that I forgot things more easily, too.

I'd suspect the surgery (exhausting, stressful), the anesthesia, and the painkillers, plus the stress of recovery, could easily cause you to have a few of those slow-brain moments.

If it's really interfering with your life, then go to the ER or a clinic, but I think being medicated and stressed plays tricks with the mind.
posted by xingcat at 10:40 AM on August 28, 2010


I assume the phone call referred to in the previous post was not a cause for excessive concern since it was months ago. I have no special knowledge of the complications of general anesthesia--but having grown up, worked with and been married to health professionals. I have never heard of this except in cases of emergency or protracted surgery. I would put my money on the Hydrocodone and routine post operative recovery. In the absence of other neurological symptoms you might wait until Monday. From what you say it would appear there is not structural impairment to the brain as it is still recording memories and your lack of recall is episodic. Since you are a week post op you might try reducing the hydrocodone and substitute ibuprofen ( I assume you are healed/no bleeding) or acetaminophen. Finally, surgeons almost always have some one on call for phone consultation when they are gone--have you tried?
posted by rmhsinc at 10:46 AM on August 28, 2010


Why would you be blaming the anesthesia instead of the drugs you're currently on? Hydrocodone is pretty potent stuff, and can cause all sorts of loopiness. That said, it's probably rare to have long blackout episodes unless you're either taking too much or having some sort of adverse reaction. Are you sure you're not taking any other drugs? No alcohol, antidepressants, even antihistamines?

Call your doctor - they should have an emergency line that'll put you in touch with at least a registered nurse who will either tell you that it's nothing to worry about, or will tell you to get to the ER. Follow that advice.
posted by chrisamiller at 10:49 AM on August 28, 2010 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Hydrocodone.

Anecdotal: Here's a fellow with the same problem (scroll down the thread, he confirms that he takes hydrocodone 2-3/week)

More reliable: Hydrocodone could interact negatively with a number of other medications. For example, drug interactions may occur if the narcotic is taken together with barbiturates, antihistamines, benzodiazepines, or antipsychotic medicines. These drug interactions with hydrocodone can increase your risk for developing side effects, such as drowsiness, confusion, memory loss, or difficulty breathing.

If you're not on anything else, that's probably not it. If so, more likely: Post-operative Memory Loss..

Since your surgeon would probably send you on to a neurologist anyway, I'd suggest the ER route.
posted by beagle at 10:56 AM on August 28, 2010 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: @chrisamiller

I don't drink, don't do any drugs. Not even a little wine with dinner, nothing. I'm not sure how much more emphatic I can be about that. I'm a non drinker and have been for 10+ years. I've been taking only the recommended dosage of the painkillers as prescribed by my doctor, as I had said in the question. I am not taking any other drugs of any kind, be it OTC/whatever else. Lastly, I did mention in the question that I was wondering if the painkillers might be the problem, so we'll see if that ends up to be the case.
posted by Emperor Yamamoto's Eggs at 10:59 AM on August 28, 2010


Best answer: Call your anestheseologist immediately.
posted by Ironmouth at 10:59 AM on August 28, 2010


Why are you still here? Go to the ER!

I'm one of those people who don't go to the doctor unless I'm absolutely 100% sure that something is seriously wrong with me. I wouldn't pause for even a moment's hesitation to go to the ER if I started blacking out for 12 hours at a time.
posted by schmod at 11:03 AM on August 28, 2010


I'm definitely not going to say not to call your doctor, etc. I think that's the best thing to do in any case. I will, however, also note that I had to be on narcotic painkillers for a period of a few weeks at one point following oral surgery.

I didn't have memory problems. That I remember. (Bad joke, sorry.) I did spend the entire time having the most banal audio hallucinations in history.

Now, I've been on the same stuff at other times and not had any problems. That time? I would hear the phone ringing in the middle of the night, sometimes such that it actually woke me up. I'd hear the dog barking in the yard next door when it was inside. I'd hear the doorbell. Whatever. Sometimes, people have really weird reactions to medications, even medications that don't ordinarily bother them. When I was able to halve the dosage, they went away. I have never had the same reaction since.

So, yes, see a doctor. But in the meantime, if you can bear cutting back to half a tablet or whatever, you might try that and see if it improves.
posted by gracedissolved at 11:17 AM on August 28, 2010


Does your hospital have a nurse line you can call? That's what I'd do first.

They'll probably tell you to come in, but at least then you've had medical professionals advising you on what to do and not just AskMeFi. This is not the brain equivalent of "Should I Eat It?", this is something that could be a serious neurological issue.
posted by saveyoursanity at 11:26 AM on August 28, 2010


Your surgeon is not who you need for this anyway. I agree with Ironmouth: call your anestheseologist. This will be vastly cheaper than going to the ER, and more responsive to your history and the events of your surgery. Your hospital will be able to page her if you don't have a number for her service.

This is a better scenario because if sh'll be able to tell you if she wants you to come in, and you'll come into her hospital's ER.
posted by DarlingBri at 12:13 PM on August 28, 2010


Call your doctor, who will know if you need to talk to the anesthetist.
posted by theora55 at 12:23 PM on August 28, 2010


nthing "get help," - I've taken fairly small doses of hydrocodone and it'sa helluva drug.
posted by randomkeystrike at 12:52 PM on August 28, 2010


If it makes you feel better, I was on hydrocodone after surgery for a couple of weeks and read The Firm by John Grisham. Three weeks later, off the meds, I read the book again, having absolutely no recollection of the plot. But yes, you should call your doctor to be safe.
posted by Addlepated at 1:12 PM on August 28, 2010


FWIW, I experienced the same thing in my early 20's after oral surgery under a general, taking oxycodone or hydrocodone as needed for several days afterwards. I sat at home watching lots of movies, and was still taking such things for a few days after going back to work. I was fully functional, although a bit dopey. Most of the films I saw over those few days were wiped from my mind--I rented them (or suggested renting them) in the next few months unaware that I'd already seen them. I remember watching the Basketball Diaries thinking it felt like one long déjà vu, until someone reminded me the next day I watched it with them right after surgery.

Over a decade later, when prescribed the lesser (but also opiate-based) cocodamol, my memory became similarly spotty to a lesser degree while on it, even at small doses.

Speak to whichever professional you want, but if you can't reach them as soon as you'd like, you might want to speak to a pharmacist.
posted by K.P. at 3:38 PM on August 28, 2010


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