My Memory is shot

[cantthink11]

I've only really noticed after I had a minor car accident in Jan and stared blankly at my phone not knowing who to call, but thinking about it I've noticed that my short term memory has deteriorated.

Feels like brain fog similar to after I had DS 7 years ago. Things I have forgotten and done this week alone:

Opened the window and not remembered that I had opened it and only realised when it was getting cold

Put the carrots on to boil a minute earlier, and then frantically looking for them on the counter top but they were already in the pot

Driving the wrong way to holiday camp (last week), drive in the direction of school

I walk out to the kitchen to get something and then forget what i am getting

Can't remember names of TV characters I have been watching

Had to give a presentation to DS's class and couldn't recall the word volleyball.

I had put on the last pancake to fry and forgot about it two minutes later and burning it as I sat eating the earlier pancakes!

There was steam coming out of the kettle but I couldn't work out where it was coming from and started screaming at DS "Where's the fire!"

Forgot my passcode on the iPhone.. the same number i have been using numerous times in a day over six months!

I am 36. I have a demanding job but have never needed to write do lists or diaries to remind me of meetings and deadlines, and I sometimes can have 15 in a day.

This morning I woke up totally disorientated after the alarm went off, and went searching for my mobile in the other side of the bed.

I had insomnia last year but that seems to have improved, but have been waking up over the last week with a headache at the back of my head, and ringing in the ears, but not sure they are related.

I have been googling dementia and alzheimers, but has anyone else experienced the same and what have you done?

[FrozenPonds]

If it wasn't for the car accident you mention, I'd have said those were all pretty normal.

I have left a saucepan of water boil dry (many times.. It takes skill to burn water!), put milk in the cupboard, got on the bus to an entirely wrong part of London just because it arrived first.

I have woken up in a panic, convinced it was an entirely different day, and that I had missed a very important appointment.

I have women up and been convinced my children were dead/ missing!

None of these things bother me, though they happen often. I am not anxious about them, and I have no reason to think they are sinister symptoms.

Are you particularly anxious? Was your previous head injury expected to cause lasting damage?

[cantthink11]

Thanks, for your reply FrozenPonds. I wasn't injured in the car accident just shaken and it wasn't even that big of a crash; someone drove into the car when I was parked and getting out.

I guess I've never had issues with my memory so this concerns me. I can be quite intense, but life is so much more quieter than usual and I shouldn't be so absent minded. Maybe because I don't have much going on that I am noticing, whereas normally I wouldn't even notice that I had forgotten!

[tobee]

It might be worth getting a blood test done. About the time I was diagnosed with under active thyroid and before my meds were at optimum level I had memory issues. I called it brain fog which is what jumped out at me in your post. I particularly remember often saying a random word when I couldn't think of the right one, which weirded out my children. I've been on correct meds for several years and the fog is noticeably better for me.

I think memory issues like this can also make you panicky which exacerbates the problem. Good luck.

[Leveret]

I had the same symptoms and went to GP. She took it seriously and sent me for an MRI scan just to check for any problems.
It can be caused by stress, depression, menopause or quite a few other things other things. Over time mine has improved significantly and I agree with the previous poster that stressing about it makes it worse. However, I do think you should go to the GP just to get it checked out, and mention all the other symptoms just to make sure.

[cantthink11]

Thank you for your replies. I went to the supermarket today and put an unpaid loaf of bread into my bag... I realised less than a minute later but yes, I will be heading to the doctor.

[Elibean]

Did you feel shocked after the car crash? Even if it was 'minor' in terms of injury to you (or the car!), shock and mild form of ptsd can certainly affect memory. I only ask because you say you felt that way after ds was born, and that too is a shock/change :)

But GP and blood test are both good ideas anyway, especially if you've had a headache and tinnitus. Hormone levels also good to check, because of when it happened last time.

If its any consolation, I had an unexpected bereavement recently and have been in similar state!

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

I am glad you didn't suffer obvious injury last month. I agree, good idea to pop in and see your GP soon.

I know armchair diagnoses are of no real use but I wonder if the stress of what was potentially a traumatic event is temporarily interfering with your ability to process short term memories?

Sorry for your recent loss Elibean.

[QueenJuggler]

The steam coming out of the kettle one is worrying - based on that alone, I'd go to the doctor.

[cantthink11]

Sorry for your loss Eilbean.

Leveret - did you get a diagnosis?

I am not pretty worried about it. Hopefully can get a doctor's appointment next week.

[cantthink11]

I meant now not not!

[OddBoots]

I know it all sounds worrying but it could be something as simple as low iron levels, you do need to see your GP but try not to think the worst.

[grimbletart]

Low folic acid levels can turn your brain to fog and mush.It's rarely tested for either as GPs seem to concentrate more on B12. EVeryone knows about folic acid and pregnancy. Precious little about low folic acid in adults.

[cantthink11]

I have a docs appointment for Wed. This morning I put a bowl of cereal in the microwave, but realised just before I pressed the start button. I don't ordinarily eat cereal though.

[NanaNina]

I think if you had some kind of dementia you wouldn't remember all the things you have listed - and you are far too young even for early onset dementia. I think you've done a few things out of the ordinary and this has caused you to be anxious and you're doing other things that are unusual. I am sure the GP will put your mind at rest.

[tallulahturtle]

The car accident...did you come to a sudden stop? You may not have hit your head but any sudden stop can cause your brain to essentially bang against your skull. Reason I ask is that you may have post concussion syndrome. I have it atter a fall from my horse last April, brain fog, forgetfullness, its driving me mad.
Anyway just putting it out there as a possibility.

[NanaNina]

How did you get on at the GP can't think - I'm interested because my DH is doing some strange things but refuses to see the GP. I'm worried about his driving at the moment.

[building2016]

I'm also interested in how you are, OP.

My memory and general cognitive function are terrible, but ME does interfere with your brain, sadly. I've had terrible sort of 'gaps' where I just have to wait for the (perfectly normal) word to swim up to the front of my mind or remember what I was doing.

[applecart09]

Just wanted to update. My memory has now returned to normal. My doc kind of laughed and said that if i forgot to turn up to my next appointment then I should be worried?! She said that I had a lot on my plate and that it was fine. She did take some bloods and everyone thing was normal, although hormone levels were a bit out - so perhaps it was that? Perimenopausal?

Anyway - my memory is now back to normal. I upped my Vitamin D and started to take Omega 3/6. I haven't had any other incidents since then - but it was very scary.

[QueenJuggler]

That's good to hear, OP