How concerned should I be about my forgetfulness?

[PurpleCloak]

The last year or so I have noticed a big decline in my memory and I’m starting to get concerned. I will frequently say stuff to DH and he tells me I have already told him, yet I have no recollection of the conversation. Every day, I can be talking to someone and I have to stop for a few seconds because I can’t remember a word. I keep forgetting what objects are called and it takes me a while to have to stop and think. I lose things a lot. I used to be a brilliant speller but now I’m finding I have to google words a lot to check the spelling.
Should I go to GP? I don’t want to waste their time. Im 38, full time job and two young children so not sure if it is just being really busy causing this. My maternal grandmother had early onset Alzheimer’s so it is in the family, which also plays on my mind.

I would get checked out

Stress / becoming burnt out can definitely cause this. I'd go to your GP, as they can put your mind at ease about AD and check out your cortisol levels and other bloods to see if it is chronic stress / anything else.

I know you've probably heard it before - if it is stress, mindfulness sessions can really help. To simplify: stress means you are too focused on everything but the present, so it doesn't bother recording that information. If you firmly focus yourself on the present and train it like a muscle, you should be able to lower your stress and ground yourself back in the present.

Get b12 levels checked

And your vitamine D and your thyroid levels - all of them (personal experience).

Thyroid, B12, Vitamin D, Iron

deficiency of any or all - plus stress. Definitely worth getting a gp appointment. I would go through a check list for each of the above and make a note of any of the symptoms that you have been aware of so that you don't forget to tell the dr.

In addition to the useful stuff posted already, my menopausal brain is a bit mushy. I'm hoping it will improve over time.

I know you are on the young side for menopause, but might be peri-menopause. You are withing the range for it i believe, albeit at the younger end.

Do you drink alcohol? It affects memory for quite some time and could be a factor (not accusing you of being a heavy or problem drinker!!)

Go to your gp. There are several possibilities but you will not be wasting their time.

Absolutely get your vit b12 levels checked. This was me a few years ago before my vit b12 injections!!!

I once stood in front of a shelf at Tesco. I couldn’t remember the word on my list by the time I looked at the shelf. Turns out my b12 was dangerously low and I now have injections. My memory is still not good. But it is slighter better. Make sure u get it checked out

Get your b12 checked... I was exactly the same.

Thank you - I will definitely make an appointment with my GP