Worried I’ve got dementia

[Elasticatedwaist]

I’m 46 and although I’ve always been anxious things have got worse the past year or so. Ive not been sleeping like I used to , I wake up too early feeling worried and scared, I’ve got terrible pms rages and crying fits , I’m really tired and I have pressure in my head and headache everyday along with weird vision. Mouth is dry all the time. Although I’m sick of feeling crap I don’t think I feel depressed, I still want to go out with dh and do my hobby etc I’ve been putting it down to perimenopause and finally decided that I’ll phone the doctor on Friday.
Thing is though, I’m scared it’s neither of those things now. I’m terrified I’ve got dementia.
I keep forgetting things. Like yesterday I’d been out for lunch with dh. Later in bed it took me AGES to bring to mind where we had had our lunch and what id eaten.
I couldn’t remember if I was 45 or 46 the other day, had to count up.
I keep losing words. I know what I’m trying to say but can’t remember the word for it.
Each month after the pms i feel like I’ve just woken up from a dream and unfortunately I keep falling out with people.
Am I losing my mind ? Is this dementia rather than anxiety?

I had a colleague with similar symptoms to nearly everything you had written. It was a physical and cognitive reaction to stress.

Is whatever it is that is making you anxious also causing you significant stress?

My mum had this many years ago around the same age and it was the menopause. Talk to your GP as soon as you can.

It does sound like stress. The GP is the best place to go now but don’t be brushed off with perimenopause. My mother was for YEARS and it was something quite different and treatable (or would have been if the GP had paid attention to her).

Dementia is vanishingly unlikely. It does sound a lot like stress, to be honest.

I am 45 nearly 46. I generally have anxiety but did notice it getting a lot worse in the past couple of years and once my sleeping started getting worse and worse and night sweats kept happening I decided to get in touch with the doctor.
I’ve been on HRT for the past few months, sleep is generally a lot better and my anxiety not as bad. I do sometimes worry about things like dementia but since the HRT i have found the “brain fog” has been getting better as well.

It could be perimenopause.

This happened with me as I hit menopause.

I have very similar symptoms and was initially diagnosed as perimenopausal, though I haven't been able to get any treatment. Stress is undoubtedly making it worse. It is a very ODD feeling, isn't it?

Perimenopause? Doesn’t sound like dementia/Alzheimer’s (not that everyone has the same symptoms). It’s just getting to ‘that age’.

Speak to your doctor.

I agree it sounds like perimenopause or menopause

Sucks to be us, eh?

Start with your NHS GP, and if they're unhelpful, see another doctor in the practice or a private GP. It's very, very unlikely to be dementia - there are loads of other things that affect cognitive function and that are far more probable in your age group. You need a proper evaluation so that you can get it sorted. I know cognitive stuff can be really scary, but the most important thing is to force yourself past that initial fear of meeting with a doctor and admitting to it. There's a strong likelihood this is completely treatable as it could be stress, could be hormonal, etc. Don't suffer in silence because you're so afraid of the rarest, most terrifying things.

My doctor actually refused to even consider peri menopause when I went! I was 52 for the love of god!

Thanks for the replies. The anxiety is awful, 4am every morning it’s really bad, I feel absolutely panic stricken for about 3 hours and then I can feel ok again weirdly.

Sounds like the start of menopause.

I had some bloods tests about 6 months ago which came back ok. The doctor had said beforehand that if they came back normal then she thought it would be psychological.
Didn’t seem interested in my perimenopause suggestion . It’s got worse since then , now my memory has gone !

It's quite common for menopausal women to think they've got dementia. It's a toxic combination of brain fog and anxiety which becomes unmanageable. Speak to your gp and try to keep an open mind about your symptoms.

Could well be menopause symptoms, but if possible I would try and get your Vit B12 levels tested (not sure how easy that will be at the moment, but I would certainly be asking the GP to arrange it). The combination of mouth issues, disturbed vision and cognitive impairment are all classic symptoms and should be investigated before assuming menopause, good luck, and make sure you push for blood tests

Too many doctors don't know enough about menopause. That's a ridiculous response.

Definitely peri or menopause. I suffered extreme anxiety before being prescribed HRT. A lot of the symptons you describe (memory loss a classic one) are due to menopause. I would go to a private hormone clinic if the DR is no help

OP I could have written this post a few years ago. I had a constant pressure band headache, would wake up in the night absolutely terrified for no reason, always forgetting things and panicking when I couldn't remember things. I also had intrusive thoughts and health anxiety as well. Turned out after various tests that it was all down to anxiety. I don't know what specially triggered it but it was horrendous!

I have been anxiety free for quite a few years now and can't remember the last time I had a pressure headache (after having them daily for years). I no longer drink alcohol as it was my main trigger I learned, even a few glasses of wine can send me into an episode of anxiety. I make sure I spend time doing things I enjoy which is mostly going for walks with my family or sister etc. And I try to eat a balanced diet.

In my case alcohol was the main culprit and I never actually drank to be drunk I just used to unwind with a few glasses in the evening but as soon as I went sober the anxiety dwindled out and eventually disappeared.

I also believe that just having a doctor sit down with me an tell me it was anxiety causing everything helped me understand I didn't actually have a terminal illness or MS or any other illness, and it helped me accept it and begin working on treating anxiety rather than googling all these other illnesses.

OP if you are like me and Google everything I suggest you Google anxiety symptoms instead and you might see that most of your symptoms are all caused by anxiety and not dementia etc.

Goodluck OP it's a horrible place to be but you can beat this!

I just don’t feel like me anymore but my periods are regular except a few days closer together than they used to be.
Gone from a 30 day cycle to between 24 and 28.

I’m really tired and I have pressure in my head and headache everyday along with weird vision. Mouth is dry all the time.

None of those are symptoms of dementia, but they do warrant further investigation by GP.

Write down ALL your symptoms before you go, so you don't leave any out. when telling GP

Al;so, go and get your eyes tested at opticians.

Have you had a thyroid test, op?

It’s extremely likely to be stress and possibly perimenopause. See your doctor for help with the stress. It’s supercommon for women your age to think they are getting dementia.