Memory issues from MS
My wife has RRMS, diagnosed around 2 years ago. For a few years she has been having issues with her memory and recall. In addition to being forgetful, she has inaccurate memories about conversations that have taken place. For example, she will remember things that were not said and forget things that were said, so her version of conversations that have taken place is sometimes just very inaccurate. I looked it up online and this type of memory distortion is called "confabulation." Based on what I saw, there is not a strong established link between MS and confabulation. I don't know if it's because the symptom is very rare, or if it just hasn't been well studied and documented. Do other people with MS have this confabulation issue involving distorted memories? Is this a fairly common symptom?
Hi
, I'm sorry to hear what your wife has been through. I experience a bunch of different memory issues (and have for the past 10 years or so). I know I have had several experiences when I have experienced confabulation (distorted memories). It's frightening because it makes me wonder what is real anymore and if I am who I even think I am (if that makes any sense). They do say it is rare and while that may be true, I wonder if it's really a matter of it not being reported. If I remember something happening a certain way but never share the details and no one tells me that I'm wrong, then how do I or anyone else know it's incorrect or that there is an issue? My guess is that it happens with a lot more people and they don't even realize it. Like your wife, I have had incidents where people have explained that how I remember something is completely incorrect (and it's so hard to believe them because the way I remember it is SO real to me). It makes me question a lot of things about myself and my memory. So while it may not be very common, I think it's probably a bit more common than people realize. I have MS and now I’m wondering if you’re my husband! 😂 I think this happens to me sometimes. My husband will tell me about things we did that I don’t remember at all. And he’s said what you’re saying too. And like the other commenter I have distorted memories or forget what I’m doing or was about to do. I misplace things and walk out the door without my keys so often I have a spare hidden outside. The only advice I can suggest is give her a break. If it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, just let it go. Having your husband constantly point out everything you forget, lose, do wrong, gets depressing and causes resentment on both sides. Try and focus on the good things and help her remember the things you know she forgets. Help her by picking up the slack. Trust me, it sucks more for her than it does for you. Being a burden to your family just sucks.
yeah, this one is a fun one! Last year I reintroduced some friends. “Have you guys met?” and my friend burst out laughing because she thought I was joking. I have a very deadpan sense of humour, so she thought I was kidding. Turns out a month prior they had intimately worked on one of my art projects, spending the entire day together with me directing. It had completely slipped my mind. My partner experiences confabulation due to severe childhood trauma, and I used to be able to gently help him recount events as they happened, but now I’m the one whose remembering things wrong much of the time. It’s definitely a weird space to be in! I triple guess myself all the time, especially since we’re both unreliable and its our kids chiming in.
