How to know the difference between normal memory loss and severe memory loss?
My mom is almost 59. She's quite forgetful but it doesn't really interfere with her everyday life, as far as I know. She is happily married, volunteers, has friends, cleans the house, shops, and cooks. She's on antidepressants because of chronic depression. Occasionally she takes anti anxiety meds, but not too often anymore.
How do I know if she has a memory problem or just normal "getting older"/on antidepressants memory loss?
Should I continue taking Provera? Should I take Accutane?
So, heres the deal. I have many symptoms, and no answers. I dont believe the doctors. I know something is wrong with me. I feel like I should be on that Mystery Diagnosis Show!!
Ill try not to get to the basic outline of my problem. Ill start by saying that I am 27 years old NOW, so you can get an idea of when everything happened:
Ive had cyctic acne since I started my period at age 14. At age 15 my mother put me on Accutane and I was acne free for a year or so.
I was a 'horrible' child. Always depressed, suicidal, lots of mental health issues. Very cyclical problems.. meaning I was great and then horrible and then back to great again.
I was diagnosed a million different things throughout the years and choose to believe none of them, but for the sake of this post I shall tell you anyway. Ive been told I am Bipolar, Borderline Personality, Have PTSD, Chronic Depression etc...
I could go on about the mental health issues all day, but the thing is I dont think they are important, because I know I have an underlying problem. These issues are just a SYMPTOM of something else. Now, no doctor will take me seriously because I am "seriously mentally ill', of course.
So I live on disability.... WAITING FOR AN ANSWER!
About 5 years ago I realized my Moods and mental problems completely coincided with hormonal symptoms. Ive gone years now without periods, or just spotting, maybe one period a year... But I do get cramps and bloating and this is when I have the mental health issues. Every time Ive acctually had a real period, Ive ended up in the mental hospital for a suicide attempt ( No the physical pain in not that bad, its just that my depression is so severe during that time).
So, about 6 months ago, after overdosing and ending up in a hospital I was fed up (On my period again, only this time my period lasted 3 weeks.) I refused to enter the psych hospital, as I knew that when my period was over, Id be perfectly fine again... I had no 'issues' with life.
I ended up going to an endocrinologist because my period would not stop. He put me on 10mg of provera (medroxyprogesterone) the fist 10 days of every month. He decided that I had Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. (ONE MORE DIAGNOSIS THAT IS INCORRECT!!) I have some of the symptoms of this syndrome, but mainly, I am NOT overweight, in fact I am underweight and my hormone and blood testing all came back Perfect. (Maybe I need to get it done more than once??) I feel the doctor came to this conclusion as a last resort. It was an easy diagnosis.
So Today I still have horrible cystic acne and the first 10 days of the month I take provera which makes my period start somewhere around the 15th every month. So Basically I feel awful from the 1st to the 23rd of every single month.
What is the point of having my period every month if I am not feeling any better?? None of my symptoms have improved? I dont care about my period, I care about my mood and my ability to hold a job.
So here I am on my last day of provera this month telling myself Im never taking this shit again. But then what?? Im just back to being 'crazy" sporatically, rather than crazy at a specific time every month... Which is worse?
Secondly.. I am fed up with the acne and have tried EVERYTHING. Accutane is the only thing that has ever worked. I dont even wear makeup.... So should I try to get back on it? I know you cant be on it if you have mental problems, but I dont particularly care.... I feel like shit no matter what, why not feel shitty with a clear face?? Also, you have to be on birth control for accutane, I know the drill.... I also know I cant have babies, as Im not on birth control and have quite the sex life. I believe birth control will just mess with my hormones even more. Ive been on it in the past....
So heres the questions:
Should I stop the Provera?
Do you have any idea what hormonal problem I may have?? Or know what has been going on with me all my life??
Also, what do you think about Accutane? And if I do it, should I take the birth control or just vow to be abstinent?
PLEASE HELP! Serious answers only!