Post by helenahhandbasket on Mar 2, 2017 16:58:16 GMT -5
Am I the only one who feels like their short term memory is really shot?
I can't remember anything lately - I have to put reminders in my phone for everything- special school days, the kid's school calendar, work reminders, where I put something...
I ordered checks 3 times in the past 2 months because I kept forgetting where I put them once they arrived. I finally found 2 of the 3 so now I have 3 million checks, but that's another story.
Anyone else? What is wrong with me and how do I fix it?
They said once I turned 40 it would get worse. Since I turned 40, I am seriously starting to worry about my mental cognition. I have just emailed myself at work 3 times from home because if I dont, it will not happen and it will hit the fan.
Well...I left my wallet in the car at the grocery store tonight. I went with both kids after work because DH had a meeting and I needed to get supplies to go to the beach for the weekend. But I actually thought I had left it at daycare. So I got both kids out of the cart, they took my cart to the cooler, and I got to the car only to find it there and truck back in with both kids. So yeah....
Post by supertrooper1 on Mar 2, 2017 20:28:24 GMT -5
Sleep plays a huge part in our short term memory and probably most of us on this board don't get enough.
Distractions are also part of the problem. How many times have we all walked into a room and forgotten why we went in there because on the way there we saw something that needed cleaning and remembered something that needed to go on the grocery list.
My suggestions are for more sleep, more downtime and reduce multitasking and distractions .
They said once I turned 40 it would get worse. Since I turned 40, I am seriously starting to worry about my mental cognition. I have just emailed myself at work 3 times from home because if I dont, it will not happen and it will hit the fan.
I am right there with you. I'm 43 and sometimes I think I have brain damage. I used to have an excellent short term memory but it's gotten to the point where I sometimes forget what I'm saying as I'm saying it. My calendar is also full of reminders.
I really think the issue is on the supply side, if that makes sense. There is just WAY more to remember when you are managing not only your own life, but other people's lives too.
I was supposed to go to the opera with my book club two weeks ago. One of our members is on the opera board and got comp tickets and I've never been to an opera and was really looking forward to it. On my calendar and everything. I had a work trip that day and both sets of grandparents were also visiting, so there was a lot going on. At 8 pm as I'm putting the kids to bed it occurred to me that I was supposed to be at the opera and totally forgot. I felt like a complete idiot.
Have you read Still Alice? Early onset Alzheimer's freaks the heck out of me. But I think the early onset kind is mostly genetic and given that my parents have made it to nearly 70 without it makes me feel a little better.
I think I am mostly okay with my short term memory just because I write a lot of stuff down. My long term memory on the other hand is pretty much nonexistent.
I really think the issue is on the supply side, if that makes sense. There is just WAY more to remember when you are managing not only your own life, but other people's lives too.
This is my issue. Between work and managing 2 kids and a husband, there's just not enough space in my brain. Writing things down is how I "delegate" things away from my brain, to free it up for other things.
That is the reason I explored the whole hormone thing. I almost wasn't functional. In addition to remembering nothing, my overall focus was way off. Testosterone and thyroid meds to calibrate my levels were magic. Everything came back to 20s level -- focus, energy, sex drive, memory. I am relieved pretty much every day.
Omg, yes. It has gotten so bad lately that I told DH that I'm starting to wonder if it's normal or not. I went to the grocery store and walked all over, back and forth, because I kept forgetting to pick up certain things. Then something would pop in my head so I'd head to where it is and I'd forget what I was going to get on the way!
Plus throughout the day, I think of certain things I need to tell DH and then when I see him, I'm blank. I've started writing down key words on a sticky note and then telling him everything at the end of the day.
I feel you. I haven't recovered from the "pregnancy brain" yet. I think part of it is sleep, but part of it is literally just the amount stuff to remember now. Between me, my kid, my job, my guard unit, and my husband plus his guard unit stuff I just can't remember anything.
I've started doing cross word puzzles and sudoku and brain teasers to "exercise" my brain. It seems to help, but time gets in the way.
My memory has always sucked. I had to endure an amazing number of dumb blond jokes as a teen because not only did I regularly lose my keys, I regularly lost my car. Plus no sense of direction and I can easily get lost going places I've been going since I was 8.
If I have some sort of dementia, no one will notice until I can't remember how to brush my teeth. My poor kids.
That is the reason I explored the whole hormone thing. I almost wasn't functional. In addition to remembering nothing, my overall focus was way off. Testosterone and thyroid meds to calibrate my levels were magic. Everything came back to 20s level -- focus, energy, sex drive, memory. I am relieved pretty much every day.
Were your thyroid levels off? Mine are always come back within a normal range but I've also read that sometimes that's not the whole story. Did you have to request a testosterone test?
Post by billybumbler on Mar 3, 2017 11:07:42 GMT -5
Well I'm 3 weeks post partum so my brain is totally shot. But regular me is also very forgetful. I think it's kids + too much to remember. I Google Calendar everything, even work stuff I have to do every week.
rere26 , I'm not 40 yet, but I feel like this really started after DD was born. And has gotten worse every year after.
This. It is a HUGE issue for me and it started after DD was born and gets worse every year (I'm 3 years away from 40). I think for me a lot of it is related to the severe sleep deprivation I have experienced since becoming a mother. I carry a note book with me everywhere. I can't got to a meeting and not take notes and I use voice memo on my phone a lot.
Post by greenmonkey1 on Mar 3, 2017 11:32:01 GMT -5
I read somewhere it takes 2-years post-pregnancy for your brain to go back to how it was pre-pregnancy. Given that DS2 is two years younger than DS1 and Child #3 was conceived less than two years after DS2 was born my brain has yet to hit that 2-year mark over the past 6 years.
I live by my list and my calendar or else I do forget. The grocery store is the worst especially since I usually shop with both boys. Without a list I'd be all over the store forgetting items left and right.
My memory has never been great (I used to offend the heck out of my ex, since he'd be all "Remember that romantic time we did X?" and I'd be like, "Uh...no?"). Having a kid has definitely rearranged my brain in a not-great way, too.
I live by lists and planning everything. I used to use an actual weekly planner but now just use my phone. I know there are apps out there for improving memory through games or something, though I haven't tried them.
justcheckingin73 - they ran a full blood panel (and do every 2-3 months to recalibrate as needed). None of my levels were off - but all could be optimized. I'm on low doses to just bump me up a bit without exceeding normal range. It's AMAZING. I would give up a lot of things before I gave this up. I go every two weeks, and at first it was a giant pain but now it's just part of my life.
justcheckingin73 - they ran a full blood panel (and do every 2-3 months to recalibrate as needed). None of my levels were off - but all could be optimized. I'm on low doses to just bump me up a bit without exceeding normal range. It's AMAZING. I would give up a lot of things before I gave this up. I go every two weeks, and at first it was a giant pain but now it's just part of my life.
Good to know. I may need to ask about that next time I go in.
My OB/GYN has tested my thyroid levels and says they're OK (vitamin D was super low) but I'd love to have hormones checked, and get a second opinion on the others. I like your 'optimize' approach.
Post by indyrowergirl on Mar 3, 2017 12:48:44 GMT -5
As for me, I'm known for practically being a court stenographer at work. I type constant notes during all meetings. Something about "writing it down" not only helps me remember, but also helps for those times when I don't remember. I'd get nothing done without OneNote acting as my external brain. For personal stuff, like PP I carry a little notebook in my purse and write tasks down as they pop into my head throughout the day. I'm also the queen of lists. Even my 3yo says "Mommy - let's make a list!" when he thinks what he's asking for is important.
My OB/GYN has tested my thyroid levels and says they're OK (vitamin D was super low) but I'd love to have hormones checked, and get a second opinion on the others. I like your 'optimize' approach.
I go to a women's clinic called HerKare. This is all they do. There are a few other local clinics - search HRT and women's clinic. Some are full service OB/GYN but most are separate practices. My OB is on board with it but it's not his thing.
I would never have gone without a big convo about it at my sorority reunion in 2015. Knowing people who tried it and got good results for sure helped.
My Vitamin D was and Vitamin B were both low, too.
My very short term memory has never been great--like where are my keys and what did I come in here for kinds of things. But if you're noticing a big change, go to the doctor. And yes, sleep more, eat when you should, and take minor breaks--regular self care.
Post by CoverGirl82 on Mar 3, 2017 18:09:39 GMT -5
My short term memory is terrible since I had kids. There is so much to remember! I've bought the same clothes for the kids (think clothes a season ahead) because I forgot I had already bought the same thing when it was previously on sale.
I do put a lot of reminders in my phone and work calendar. This part of the reason I'm trying to declutter and get organized. Maybe with fewer things in the right places, it will help my memory.
Post by erinshelley21 on Mar 3, 2017 20:33:11 GMT -5
My memory used to be impressive. No one in my family would ever argue with me on how something happened because they knew I was right. Since my first pregnancy it has become less impressive. Mostly short term stuff. I can remember details about events, but I'm having a hard time remember conversations. Pregnancy/mom brain + no Adderall is really messing my life up.
My memory has always sucked. I had to endure an amazing number of dumb blond jokes as a teen because not only did I regularly lose my keys, I regularly lost my car. Plus no sense of direction and I can easily get lost going places I've been going since I was 8.
If I have some sort of dementia, no one will notice until I can't remember how to brush my teeth. My poor kids.
Wow! This is me too. I lose my car all of the time and I get lost while using navigation.
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