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Mark Schweickart

Mike -- quite a while ago, back on the 18th, you posted about scheduling an appointment with a specialist to address your forgetfulness concerns. I meant to make a comment back them, but... you know how it goes, I got distracted and then I forgot! Ooops.

I have been definitely plagued with increasing forgetfulness for a few years now. I was referred to a specialist who spent several hours with me doing all sorts of memory tests, and then a year later, we did it all again. She seemed to think that I wasn't all that bad off, which gave a modicum of relief, but not much really. I know I have problems. My wife and I watch a lot of TV, and when it involve serial dramas, I invariably have to interrupt with comments like, "Wait a minute, who is this guy, again?"  and "What's the issue here?"  And of course she can just rattle off the answers, "You remember. He's the creep who is pretending to be... etc."  And then it generally comes back to me. Or I can pick up a book I had been previously reading a day or two before, but by now I have completely forgetten what was going on it until I start reading again, and then things tend to come back to me. But only for awhile. By the next day I will have forgotten again, until I pick it up and start reading some more. I haven't gotten to the point of getting lost while driving, but I fear this may be on the horizon. At least we all have GPS navigation these days to save us from that ignominony.

Anyway, enough of this. I just wanted to let you know that you are definitely not alone.

Let us know if you learn anything useful from your visit to a specialist.

Michael McLeod

As I mentioned a while back I have been seeing a specialist re: memory issues and the experience - which is ongoing - is so fascinating I will likely write a story about it.

Will post here in dribs and drabs as I learn more.

What is crazy and hilarious in spite of the seriousness of the situation - and though it is serious, it is absolutely not uncommon for individuals our age - is that I forgot much of what transpired during my treatment, including testing I had undergone, and wouldn't be able to tell the story were it not for Denise, the love of my life, who was in contact with the specialist when I was not- meaning when I had forgotten my meetings with him. Oh, kept my appointments. I just promptly forgot them. That includes all the diagnostic test I apparently took and didn't do so great at. In memory class I'm lucky to come home with a c plus on my papers - or so I am told since I remember neither taking or discussing them, like a grade schooler whose homework escapes from his backpack and flutters down east north broadway on his way home from i.c. So she has been functioning as kind of a double agent - keeping both the doctor and myself apprraised of information and testing and appointments that I could not track given my sporadically working memory. It feels like I've been driving around in a junk car and she's there to help when it breaks down. I'm utterly lucid. I just have a patchwork memory. There's nothing special about my case other than my good fortune in having a fabulous girlfriend and a great specialist whose office is ten minutes away.

But he had the results of his testing, and as I sat in his office yesterday with Denise - acting as more or less his assistant and go-between given my lapses - he explained in great detail what was going on in terms of my particular case - and when it comes to this matter I think our individual memoery issues are as unique and complex as our individual personalties. What I remember most vividly is this: He was talking about a particular processing center of my brain as if he couldsee it, as if he was describing something tactile - the way I would describe, say, a complex freeway interchange, only one designed to direct information and memories to the right place rather than motor vehicles. It seemed almost tactile for him, as ifI were to describe my backyard to you, mentioning the shed, the sky blue color I painted it, the more varied colors of th bougainvillia bushes along the back of  the yard, and the color of the pool deck and the garden that surrounds it. To go back to my motor vehicle metaphor it was as if the microscopic byways and interchanges on my brain, specifically the area that controls memory, was as tactile to him as, say, a crummy carburator in need of replacement. Honestly I could have been in a sweaty garage talking to a grizzled mechanic with my grimy clogged up carburator in hands darkened by the day's grease and grime. It was that specific and that commonplace for a dude who deals with clueless old dudes like me with backfiring cerebrums such as mine. 

Anyway I am in good hands but would be lost without my sweetheart and this team of doctors that had emerged to help me. I don't think my case is unusual or particularly severe. I just think I'm lucky to  have the support that I do. Interested in what Dr. Jim might have to say on the subject.

Oh: and the next step for me is to see my gp, who will get the info from the specialist and will, Iassume, write me up a scrip that show help.

I know this is quite the outburst but I would not have shared it with the group at large were it not for the relevance of the information for our age group and the possibility that I'll write this up for a magazine at some point. Plus this gang represents my target audience ifI wind up doing that. Which makes this one part personal yarn -- as you can see I was prompted to post this by one of you - and and one part public service announcement. Don't be afraid to get help if you suspect you need it.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike McL.,

I am far from a psychiatrist, psychologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, neuroscientist, neuropathologist, neurochemist, etc. Not too many parts of the human body have spawned so many specialties as the human brain. That points to the complexity of this unique organ. 

Your recent post certainly solidifies what I have mentioned in the past that recent memory is lost much more quickly than things we experienced years ago. 

As much as we (medical science) have learned about the brain in recent decades, I feel the surface has barely been scratched.

It seems well established that various segments of the brain communicate with others segments by way of several neurochemicals. Science has defined some of these but there are probably many others. Certain medications that replenish or deplete these neurotransmitters are often used to treat disorders that are believed to be caused by, or moderated by, deficiencies or excesses of these chemicals. One of the big problems in developing such therapeutic drugs is the "blood-brain barrier" which is impenetrable to many chemicals so that they do not reach the targeted tissue.

There are many parts of the brain and all have different functions. Learning, memory storage, recognition, reasoning, speech, etc. Again, these "talk"  to each other via those neurotransmitter chemicals.

Some neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, Frontal Temporal Dementia and others are thought to be due to other factors besides neurochemical imbalances and much more research is needed to find better approaches to treating them.

Again, I am no expert in this area of medicine. Research is ongoing and diagnosing them is far ahead of discovering treatments. Imaging Technology is getting more sophisticated and has already advanced beyond CT and MRI. 

Jim

Joseph D. McCarthy

Who are you people and what am I doing here?

The mail just arrived and included the statement concerning my wife's pension being deposited in HER bank account.  Which brought to mind a simple question.  Do all of you, those who still have a memory, recall that there are TWO types of pension plans, excluding things like 401 and stock options.

The first one is the oldest, "Defined Benefit Plans."  This means your employer guarantees that you will receive a SPECIFIC monthly paymen after retiring and for your life.

The second one, "Defined Contribution Plan."  This means the employee makes contributions, which may be matched to some extent by the employer.  The final benefit to the employee (retiree depends on the investment performance of the plan.

Which brings me back to the important point.  For Over twenty (20) years my wife has received monthly payments from her Defined BENEFIT plan of $110.00.  And you wonder why I haven't been to Hawaii or Alaska,

Now please resume searching for your memory.

David Mitchell

Did somebody say something about Memory?

I can't remember what I did yesterday, but I can remember this song.

(Andrew Llloyd Webber seems to be singing along with them)

Michael McLeod

Jim: What fascinated me was a written memory exercise that the specialist had me take - one that presented me with multifaceted descriptions and scenarios followed by a series of questions about that material . I could not go back and re-read the materials - and had to go strictly by short term memory in answering those questions. So my responses represented a fairly detailed map, of sorts, charting my strenghts and weaknesses in recollecting data and situations. It felt tactile as he went over those results with me after I took the test.-- it was as if he was literally privy to a visual diagram, a portrait as opposed to a photo, if you will - as if the gaps in my memory could be visually represented and the two of use were standing there looking at a projected slide show, a symbolic portrait,if you will, of the strengths and weakesses of tiny, microscopic processes deep inside my cerebral cortex -- and not one meant to flatter with mood lighting but crisply detailed and true to life, with the gaps and threadbare places on full display. 

I know the progress of mri and such is breathtaking. But this respresentation of the workings of a particular brain's capacity to store and retrieve information,based entirely on my answers to a finely detailed set of questions, was in its own way just as fascinating to me. It reminded me of those connect-the-dots coloring books we had as kids - you'd draw lines between what appeared to be random looking points on a page and a picture would emerge.

So now I'll see my gp and I will assume he'll recommend meds based on the results of that test - and that's a whole other ballgame I'm interested in exploring.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike,

I am unfamiliar with some of the tests/methods that are used to assess neural connections by these neuropsych professionals but it sounds like you had a really detailed evaluation of the workings of your brain.

That reading method test you described is somewhat reminiscent (here's my long term memory at work 🤔) of those "placement" exams we used to take in high school in preparation for college (SAT, ACT) to see what reading and retention skills we had developed at that age. 

Jim

Michael McLeod

Jim:

Ha. Good comparison.It's like a paint-by-numbers self-portrait of your brain. Although sitting there in the doctor's office and hearing him talk about my memory gaps was maybe more like sitting next to my mechanic while he tells me why I need a new carburator.

James Hamilton, M. D.

Mike, 

Painting by numbers - hmmm.. my guess is you were probably one who always wanted to paint outside of the lines. Me, I was more OCD to stay within them 😕.

Jim

Michael McLeod

Good one, Jim. 

Bonus points for brevity.

That's the virtue of a good metaphor. 

The best ones say a lot with a little.

On another front - ok I think this makes brevity the theme of the day - I just ran into a crazy name belonging to a friend of a friend on facebook:

"Zack Zeck."

I kid you not.

Timothy Lavelle

The votes are in.

Mother Theresa is guilty on all counts! (sorta restores a little faith, doesn't it? All 12 couldn't have statistically been lovers of Joe)

The lottery to win the historical job of swinging the jail door shut is now open. Send ten dollars to me at "Put the Jerk in Jail" for entry but be warned...your close personal friend DeNiro already bought $10,000 in lottery tickets. Some of you get five free tickets..you know who you are. 

Old friends, I know I have pissed you off and likely pissed on your boots in the past, but this is the most "like it used to be" feeling about our country I have had in so very long a time. Gimme a pass on this one. 

Now back to the forum where someone will explain why being found guilty of 34 criminal counts "doesn't really matter at all because I live wholly and entirely in the kingdom of my mind".

Michael Boulware

Michael McLeod

Yo,Timmy:

I'm fairly certain you are the first to compare Trump to a canonized saint. 

Oh, wait. Trump beat you to it.

Either way there's gotta be a sacrilige-statute violation in there somewhere. 

David Mitchell

You gotta hand it to him. Heck of a way to raise more campaign funds. 

Monica Haban (Brown)

As many of you already know from Jeanne Baker's Facebook post, Bonnie Jonas Boggioni sp?  Died this morning.  No obituary posted yet.  She and Guido are resting in peace together.  ❤️❤️

James Hamilton, M. D.

RIP with God and Guido, Bonnie.

Jim

Donna Kelley (Velazquez)

May Bonnie rest in peace with her dear Guido.

Thanks for letting us know, Monica.

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)

Thank you Monica for sharing this sad news with us. I have not been as active in the past week on Facebook so missed Jeanne's posting. Eternal rest grant into her O Lord, and may the Perpetual Light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

David Mitchell

This is weird timing. I just found this old photo a few weeks ago and have been wondering how she was doing. Thank you Monica

This is how I remember her - Darcy and Miss Elizabeth. (Pride & Prejudice)

Does anybody recall if this was Junior or Senior year?

David Mitchell

I've told this story before, but I just feel like telling it again. Bonnie and I shared an ongoing memory of a funny incident that grew out of an incident at play practice. And we shared this laugh for years to come. 

We were rehearsing the scene where Darcy kisses Miss Lilian. Sister Constantious (the play director) was showing us a way to appear to kiss, but not actually do so - not permissable in a Catholic School in her mind. She was showing us how to sort of wrap our necks and shoulders around each other so the audience could not see weather it was an actual kiss or not. 

So Bonnie wore these huge plastic butterfly hair pins. As we carressed each other and tried to do Sister's way of "non-kissing", I got a nasty poke in the eye from one of Bonnie's butterflies and immedaitely doubled over, and groaning in pain

The entire cast - including Sister C. burst out into laughter. I think they had been holding back the tension that was in the   anticipation of such a "forbidden" act. I got over it and we completed that rehearsal. 

Meanwhile, Bonnie was a patient at my Dad's medical office, and I think Dad relayed the story to the nurses on his staff.  They got a big kick out of the story and started teasing me about "Madame Butterfly". That got back to Bonnie and she shared her laughter with me about it. We laughed about that for many years at our reunions.

P.s. Bonnie and I agreed to break the rules and actually kissed in that scene on the final night..   

Joseph Gentilini

Thanks for letting us know about Bonnie's passing, Monica.  Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon her.  May her soul and all the departed, through the Mercy of God, rest in peace.  joe

Janie Albright (Blank)

So very sad to read of Bonnie's passing. Some time ago Linda Baer was able to visit her in the nursing home then later at her home. She requested cards and letters and phone calls and I know many of you did this. She had a form of Leukemia and that and other health issues took their toll. I will post the obituary on the In Memory page when it is available and you will get a notification it is there. 

Bonnie loved Watterson, loved the Buckeyes and loved Guido. She had a very full life. Pray for the repose of her soul. 
 

Bill Reid

Bonnie was great! Not only does she leave a lot of memories with us as a classmate, but she made national news a few years ago. I remember talking with her about it, and what a celebrity she now was because of her love of Ohio State.

In case you have forgotten the story, or never heard it, here's a link:

https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/plano-buckeye-fan-pulled-over-for-bumper-sticker/#

Bonnie, may you rest in God's eternal peace!

Monica Haban (Brown)

Bonnie Jonas AKA the Marijuana Smuggler. 😂   Reminds me of our daughter, a student at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh looking forward to sharing Buckeyes (candy) with her friends.  They assumed, being Pennsylvania deer hunters, that she was referring to bucks eyes... 😬<>>

Mary Margaret Clark (Schultheis)