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Forgetting words while speaking

63 replies

buddybean · 11/12/2023 09:45

I keep forgetting names of things while speaking. I just observed it keeps getting worse. DH keeps making fun of me. I feel very conscious speaking to people now lest I look like a fool saying "that thing over there that thing over there". I'm otherwise healthy and active. But I do have to say I get less sleep than I should be getting because I have a 1yr old who keeps waking up. Can anyone relate with me regarding this word retrieval problem?. Today when DH was asking for DD1s hat I kept saying "it's on that behind that" what I wanted to say was "the hat is on the desk behind the door". I did visit the GP and she said it happens to her quite often and just didn't seem much concerned. Any advice or similar experiences for reassurance?

OP posts:
amusedbush · 11/12/2023 15:43

TheBirdintheCave · 11/12/2023 09:53

I'm autistic (not suggesting you are though!) and have this when stressed or tired. It's called anomic aphasia and is really annoying.

Yep, I'm autistic and my aphasia gets so much worse when I'm tired or have any sort of audience. Just this morning I was trying to relay a project plan to a senior manager and I blanked on a word for what felt like an eternity.

It could be worse, though: last night DH blanked and referred to my feet as "floor hands" 😂

Mrsjayy · 11/12/2023 15:46

buddybean · 11/12/2023 09:49

@Headband I'm 33. I don't think in my case it's menopause Confused. Dr.Google keeps giving really scary diagnosis.

it's more than likely sleep.deprivation especially if your baby is 1 and hardly sleeps your cognitive function Is in a guddle ! speak to your Gp stop googiling

this happens to me but its my age/menopause

TheBirdintheCave · 11/12/2023 15:46

amusedbush · 11/12/2023 15:43

Yep, I'm autistic and my aphasia gets so much worse when I'm tired or have any sort of audience. Just this morning I was trying to relay a project plan to a senior manager and I blanked on a word for what felt like an eternity.

It could be worse, though: last night DH blanked and referred to my feet as "floor hands" 😂

My poor husband often has to decipher such gems as. 'I need the thingy. Could you pass me the thingy, it's in the whatsit.' 😂

Mrsjayy · 11/12/2023 15:47

oh you have been to the Gp sorry.

CroccyWoccy · 11/12/2023 15:50

amusedbush · 11/12/2023 15:43

Yep, I'm autistic and my aphasia gets so much worse when I'm tired or have any sort of audience. Just this morning I was trying to relay a project plan to a senior manager and I blanked on a word for what felt like an eternity.

It could be worse, though: last night DH blanked and referred to my feet as "floor hands" 😂

Floor hands is brilliant!

We often have conversations at home which are like some kind of parlour game

“can you pass me a…erm….it’s metal, has pointy bits, you use it stab food”

”A fork?”

“Yes!”

LaChatte · 11/12/2023 15:52

One of my main signs of long covid.

MagpiePi · 11/12/2023 15:53

It could be worse, though: last night DH blanked and referred to my feet as "floor hands" 😂

That's brilliant! Like when Mark Kermode referred to an airport as an aeroplane station.

I forget words or get things mixed up, eg "Can you put the cheese back in the dish washer please?" when i meant fridge. I am absolutely rubbish at names and can easily forget who is who in books if I haven't read the book for a couple of days. On the other hand, I can complete the cryptic crossword most days.

MollyRover · 11/12/2023 16:15

Are you breastfeeding? Breastfeeding Dementia is definitely a thing. Also sounds like COVID brain fog.

Nochoiceleft · 11/12/2023 16:49

This happens to me. The more I stress about it the worse it gets. Lack of sleep doesn’t help either. I am post menopause but I also remember it happening when my children were small.

Jackfrostnippingatmynose · 11/12/2023 16:56

Sleep deprivation for sure if you have a 1yo

buddybean · 11/12/2023 16:57

@MollyRover Not breastfeeding now but did breastfeed her until she was 9 months old.

OP posts:
TheSuggestedAmendment · 11/12/2023 17:00

I came round from Covid to this. I haven’t been the same since, tho I think it is compounded by hormones and other stressors. I take magnesium and omega 3 to try to ease it.

Waynesplanet · 11/12/2023 17:08

I’ve had it after babies too @buddybean I personally think baby brain is a thing. Also yes to perimenopause.

buddybean · 11/12/2023 17:16

@RealBigBarbie You have my sympathy. I couldn't remember the name paracetamol in front of the GP and kept saying "Can I give fever reduction medication every 4 hours to my baby". It was so embarrassing.

OP posts:
whysohardtogetusername · 11/12/2023 17:55

You're tired. Can you get a night away somewhere in a nearby hotel, just on your own, so you can sleep a full eight hours? Then see if you can remember words again. Leave kids with your partner. I don't think there's anything wrong except exhaustion. You have my sympathy!

buddybean · 11/12/2023 18:01

@whysohardtogetusername seriously I have thought of getting away from DH and DC and spending a couple of nights in peace and solitude. Uninterrupted sleep is now a luxury in my life. I last had a whole night's sleep 4 yrs ago, the night before I went into labor with DD1. Good old days. Not that I love my DC or DH any less but I feel every mother deserves a break!Sad

OP posts:
MollyRover · 11/12/2023 19:02

buddybean · 11/12/2023 18:01

@whysohardtogetusername seriously I have thought of getting away from DH and DC and spending a couple of nights in peace and solitude. Uninterrupted sleep is now a luxury in my life. I last had a whole night's sleep 4 yrs ago, the night before I went into labor with DD1. Good old days. Not that I love my DC or DH any less but I feel every mother deserves a break!Sad

If you need that do it. You're burning out.

Iateallllllthepies · 11/12/2023 19:28

I’ve had 3 children over the space of 21 years and they have all been shit sleepers. The youngest who is 3 is the worst.

And the stress over the years.

I don’t think I’ve managed to say an entire sentence correctly since I was age 22 in 2002 and I last had a full nights sleep before the birth of my first born.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 11/12/2023 19:32

Because mine started out of nowhere when I started taking carbamazepine (for TN), which I had lots of other side effects on, and then eased a little when I was swapped to a different med I can def say mine is caused by the tablets. It's reduced over time along with other side effects too.

Mrsjayy · 11/12/2023 19:32

buddybean · 11/12/2023 18:01

@whysohardtogetusername seriously I have thought of getting away from DH and DC and spending a couple of nights in peace and solitude. Uninterrupted sleep is now a luxury in my life. I last had a whole night's sleep 4 yrs ago, the night before I went into labor with DD1. Good old days. Not that I love my DC or DH any less but I feel every mother deserves a break!Sad

do that does her dad not get up some nights to give you a sleep?

buddybean · 11/12/2023 20:31

@Mrsjayy DH helps at night but DD2 is a clingy baby and wants only me. If she doesn't find me by her side at night she starts crying and is unstoppable.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 11/12/2023 20:33

buddybean · 11/12/2023 20:31

@Mrsjayy DH helps at night but DD2 is a clingy baby and wants only me. If she doesn't find me by her side at night she starts crying and is unstoppable.

aww bless her do you co sleep ?

buddybean · 11/12/2023 20:35

@Iateallllllthepies I can completely relate.

OP posts:
NeverDropYourMooncup · 11/12/2023 20:38

You're tired. So very tired. You're being woken up multiple times in the night whilst then having to function with your attention always being distracted by the baby during the day.

stayathomer · 11/12/2023 20:40

I get it sometimes but I’m literally always running and ‘switched on’ and it doesn’t happen when I get to properly chill so I think people know when it’s an issue and when it’s not, sounds like a sleep thing though