Forgetfulness, getting worse - I was late for work because I forgot about it.

[BlackNoSugar]

I've got an awful memory - all my friends know that if I borrow something, they need to ask for it back because I'll forget about it, and I have to write down every single appointment in a diary or I'll forget. If I'm chatting with friends and we say, oh, let's meet for coffee on Friday, if I don't write it down I'll forget. I scramble to find 'the right word', and I seem to constantly have the nagging feeling that I'm supposed to be doing something but can't remember what.

Today I was due to work. I work the last Friday of every month, have done for a couple of years. I knew today was the last Friday, I know I work every last Friday, but I hadn't noted it in my diary so I didn't go. I got a phone call and turned up an hour late, and I have no explanation for them apart from "I forgot."

I'm starting to wonder if I really do just have a terrible memory or if there's actually something wrong. I can remember my friend's phone number from when we were both 15, I'm fab at trivia, I can remember a fair bit of a language I learned several years ago. I keep thinking of elderly people who remember their childhood but can't remember the day of the week. I'm 46.

[chocoluvva]

I'm the same and have been for about ten years. I'm 47. My memory is dreadful - poor word recall too. I spoke to an older woman who said that it if it isn't getting worse not to worry about it. Losing confidence in your ability to remember stuff will also make it worse.

I've heard that being menopausal can affect your memory.

Stress will make it worse too.

[TheSingingMonkey]

Have you been to see your GP? As I think you should. Thyroid issues can make your mind foggy.

[sanfairyanne]

have you had blood tests for thyroid yet? i would start there, as suggested

[BlackNoSugar]

choco mine is definitely getting worse. It may be menopause, I don't think it's stress but I'm definitely stressing about it.

I've just booked the GP, the receptionist said the GP will probably refer for a memory test, whatever that is. I'll ask him about thyroid too. If it turns out I've just got really crap memory, that's fine and I'll manage

[SqueezyCheeseWeasel]

The GP will probably do a short memory test during your appointment and may well refer you on to the memory clinic as an outpatient for further investigation.

[Marshy]

Hi op
there are lots of things which could be affecting your memory but if it's worrying you its sensible to speak to your Gp about It.

I'm surprised the receptionist offered an opinion about what the gp might do to be honest as I wouldn't have thought it was their place to do that or that a memory test would be the first option. More likely a general health check up to start with to look at some of the things already mentioned up thread I'd have thought.

But good that you have got the ball rolling. I'm in my 50s now and have noticed that my memory definitely isn't as reliable as it once was. I went to a gp appt recently and was 3 days late! I have had a lot on my plate recently though.

Hope you get some reassurance.

[RubySparks]

Ask for b12 to be tested too as a deficiency can show as 'brain fog'

[smilingthroughgrittedteeth]

I was also going to say thyroid, I had a virus that attacked my thyroid and meant I had an underactive thyroid for several months, the worst part of it was severe memory issues, I'd get halfway through a sentence and forget what I was saying, couldn't recall words, couldn't remember names/places/objects, it was terrifying.

[MoreBeta]

Blacknosugar - a few days ago I had blood tests partly because my short term memory is dramatically failing. I have other major symptoms of fibromyalgia but they want to rule out B12 and deficiency and thyroid issues first.

I am exhausted, sleep poorly and in a lot of pain and have regular 'brain fog' and have fallen on stairs a few times as I am dizzy sometimes.

Today my wife asked me to get milk and bread as I was going out. I cant even remember her asking me. Its not like I just forgot to get them. I cant even remember her asking. Its happening quite a lot. I am very vacant, lose the thread of conversations and it is impacting my life and I am only 51.

Does this sound familiar to you?

[QuietNinjaTardis]

My memory is shite. I blame years of insomnia. Dh will ask me to do something and as soon as I've left the room it's gone, I have to write everything in the diary or I forget and if something's not written down straight away it's gone. I annoy myself constantly trying to remember what I've forgotten. I'm 32.
Feel like I'm old before my time sometimes what with crap memory, co scantly tired and dodgy knees and dodgy wrists (carpal tunnel) everything's creaky already including my brain!

[Marshy]

Isn't there something about forgetting things as you cross the threshold from one room to another? I'm sure I've heard that....but can't quite remember

[voluptuagoodshag]

You could be me. Spend ages looking for keys, purse, phone, walking into a room only to forget why I went there in the first place and totally forgetting words. It's like I'm in one of those games where I have to describe the thing without actually naming it. Recent examples:
The metal thing that boils water - kettle
The wooden bit between the floor and the wall - skirting
I had various other symptoms pointing to the menopause and had this confirmed recently. Am now on HRT though don't know that there has been that much memory improvement.

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Get your Vit D levels checked too, mine were appalingly low & I have been taking supplements for best part of a year to get them normal, all yr symtoms are like mine, I made an appt to talk to the GP & forgot about it even though it was in the diary!!

[MrsCosmopilite]

Watching this thread with interest. A friend of mine (male, 49) is having similar issues. He has some mental health problems for which he has medication, but nothing new pharmaceutically for a few years. In the past six months his memory has become very bad, and he's having more severe issues such as watching the kettle boil, thinking "That's boiling hot, I mustn't touch it" and then reaching out, picking it up and nearly pouring it over his hand.
His GP did a memory test, but from what he tells me of it, it was more like a MENSA intelligence test, not anything that explored why he's suddenly having problems.

[ginmakesitallok]

My mum once forgot about an appointment she had at the memory clinic, when she called them to rearrange they said it happens all the time. Not much help to you,but just wanted to share. This was years ago and her memory is still rubbish but not gotten any worse.

[IDismyname]

I have had brain fog for years. Luckily, it's not getting any worse... Or at least no one has said it has!

All my GP tests came back ok, so I was abandoned somewhat.

I've had insomnia for about 12 years, and IBS for about 25. I took myself off to a clinic in Austria as a last resort to try and see if I could improve my IBS symptoms, and have felt so, so much better since I got back.

They filled me with massive (safe!) doses of vitamins and extra B12, Omega 3 and 6 oils, they diagnosed me with leaky gut and intolerant to a fair few foods- gluten, dairy and soya being then main ones, but I'm on a low histamine diet as well. It's only for 2-3 months, then I can reintroduce.

In the space of about a month, the brain fog has lifted hugely and I sleep much better.

[BlackNoSugar]

Wow, so many of you with the same issues! Maybe it is just crap memory then

I have other health issues, including EDS which for some people is tied in with fibromyalgia and associated "brain fog" but I don't really think it's that.

ginmakesitallok that made me laugh, sorry

[MoreBeta]

ishouldcocoa - I have been on a gluten free diet for some years. IBS is known to be linked as a prominent symptom to fibromyalgia so sounds like you might be at risk. Worth exploring.

[IsJustMe]

My memory is completely shot. I forget basic words for things - I can look at the kettle, but just cannot remember what it is called; I can forget names of very good friends, and their children; and I have forgotten where I was driving to on a number of occasions, etc. I write lists for everything.

I have Hashimoto's (so basically have a duff thyroid) and, amongst other things, have to take prescribed supplements for B12, vitamin D and iron as I do not absorb nutrients properly. It is an ongoing journey getting the balance right. It can all, apparently, affect memory.

My GP finds it amusing that I arrive for appointments with the appointment actually written on the back of my hand.

I don't think my brain fog as a symptom has ever really been taken very seriously by the medical profession though, it is viewed as a bit "airy fairy" because we all "forget things" from time to time.

[Coyoacan]

I was born with a bad memory, but like you can remember really strange unimportant things.

[BlackNoSugar]

I've been taking a vit/min Hair/Skin/Nails supplement for the past month as I've noticed dry skin, brittle nails and my hair is getting thin, I'd assumed a vitamin deficiency but someone on MN mentioned thyroid there too.

I'm sort of hoping it is thyroid now, not that I want yet another health problem but at least it's treatable.

[wfrances]

i have this op
i can remember my bus fare to work 19 years ago , how much a packet of 10 regal kingsize was 19 years ago but cant remember anything day to day.
ive had all the tests including a brain mri .
im seeing a rheumatologist later today to see if he can shed light on it (i have other symptoms)
in the absence of any other diagnosis , my psychiatrist thinks my brain is too tired to retain what it sees as unimportant information so doesnt store it .
im only 39 .

[BlackNoSugar]

wfrances that's really hard for you , I hope you get some help from the rheumatologist.