Karl’s Story
Reversal in 6 Months
Sleep Apnea, Medication
Karl felt in his prime at 72 years old. He’d always been active, ate well, and never smoked.
That’s why he was so surprised when he noticed he was forgetting things. Or at least that’s what he thought he was doing.
He had a hard time keeping information in his head, even for a few minutes. He’d go to look for something in the fridge and forget what he was trying to find. He was also putting things back in the wrong places in the kitchen, like he was becoming more distracted or absent-minded.
His memory testing was 22/30 (low, at the level of pre-dementia).
We came up with the following plan:
Go for a sleep study to look for sleep apnea, which can cause the type of memory problems Karl was experiencing
Stop taking hydromorphone (a pain pill) before bed for back pain, and instead see a physiotherapist and take Tylenol 1000mg.
What Happened?
6 months later Karl had gone for a sleep study, which showed he had severe sleep apnea. He had been waking up (after not breathing for ~20 seconds) more than 30 times every night! No wonder his brain was tired and easily distracted.
He was now using his sleep machine every night, and his symptoms had improved significantly.
By switching his hydromorphone to tylenol he had also improved his level of alertness and focus.
His pain was also much better thanks to the help of short exercises and stretches given to him by his physiotherapist.
His memory testing was now 29/30 - basically perfect!
What does Karl’s story teach us?
Karl’s memory problems were caused by two things:
Sleep apnea
Medication (hydromorphone)
By treating his sleep apnea and switching to a pain medication without side-effects on the brain, Karl was able to completely reverse his memory problems.
Congratulations to Karl for using his sleep machine to restore his mind!
Disclaimer: The stories shared on this website are composites of several clinical cases, designed to protect individuals' privacy. They are intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or a reflection of any specific person. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or deceased, is purely coincidental.