Can general anesthesia impair memory?
@Countess (17)
Philippines
March 2, 2017 2:14am CST
I have undergone thyroidectomy three years ago hence putting me in general anesthesia that time. Since then I have become forgetful. My father who had undergone nasal polyp surgery complains the same. Can general anesthesia impair patient's memory? What d'ya think?
5 people like this
8 responses
@amitkokiladitya (171927)
• Agra, India
2 Mar 17
Yes it can..it is one of the complications of GA.
Contact your doctor.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (6405)
• Philippines
2 Mar 17
I don't know and I don't believe so... I mean maybe it's all in the mind. I was undergone into a general anesthesia I guess twice. But what I'd do is always list everything that I need and Check those things if it is inside my bag. I guess always exercising your brain will not lead to forgetfulness. I tend to forget things when do an not really preparing things ahead because it crumbles my head.
I always read books and write I guess that helps.
1 person likes this
@Countess (17)
• Philippines
3 Mar 17
I do the same things too. I know that I’m very forgetful so I prepare things way way right ahead of time and list and list and list every now and then..so my being forgetful can’t hamper my daily life :D
@carexing25 (1822)
• Philippines
2 Mar 17
I've also heard that from some friend who had undergone general anesthesia.. also my husband.. he was 3 when he got into an accident, he said he cannot remember anything when he was younger and he forgets a lot of things..even flashes of memories of his childhood he had none..
1 person likes this
@reskyyandi (3608)
• Indonesia
4 Mar 17
Losing memory is not a disease. It's happen because age. Old people slow process their memory than young people
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
2 Mar 17
Apparently research indicates that there can be some long-term memory loss associated with general anaesthesia. The report below shows that a study from Toronto found this in 2014. I have had general anaesthesia several times and haven't noticed anything definite which I can't attribute to natural aging, though that is not to say that the anaesthetics I have had have not had some effect!
Researchers have shown why anesthetics can cause long-term memory loss, a discovery that can have serious implications for post-operative patients.
@pammooratan (4668)
• India
2 Mar 17
It is not true I think..This is illness as known as memory loss.You should treat it early stage but after some time it increases.
@pammooratan (4668)
• India
2 Mar 17
@MALUSE You are right but all old age people have not memory loss problem.When it increases at a high level then become a disease.But at nearly stage it is ignored by everyone.
