Odd memory lapses - is this a problem?

[h0rsewithn0name]

I'll give the context first. I'm mid sixties and in good health. I walk a lot for exercise and eat healthily. My DH has a life limiting illness and is waiting for surgery, so I could be stressed - but I don't feel it. I retired two years ago from a full-on job. I have a good relationship with my DH and adult children. I take meds for blood pressure and underactive thyroid, as well as HRT.

Twice in the last two months I've had very odd memory lapses. The first one, I washed the kitchen floor (using a cloth). I did another quick job, then got down to wash the floor again. Except the floor was wet. I had no memory at all of washing the floor - even though it was probably just ten minutes previously.

Then this week, I attended a Carol service, where a close friend was doing a reading, along with several others. I took part in the service, but do not remember this person doing their reading. Afterwards I asked them why she didn't read and I was shocked to hear that she had. I have no memory at all of this!

So, are these normal events for a middle-aged, lightly stressed woman? Or do I need to be concerned?

I would say they warrant further investigations. These are the ones you know about - there are likely to be others that you haven't spotted because the follow up events haven't highlighted that you have failed to remember them.

I'm 59 and this is happening to me. This week has been the worst. I'm hoping it's a bit of stress causing it, as I'd been feeling a little anxious about the weekend away I'm currently on, having to meet up with people, etc.

Maybe you're more stressed than you realise regarding your DH?

Can't hurt to pop in for a brief memory screening and some updated bloodwork, but from what you describe it sounds more like a failure of attention, which would not be surprising given the situation with DH, even though you don't subjectively experience stress. (ETA I'm not a doc.)

Thank you for your replies, they have given me food for thought. I'm now thinking that this is a classic case of not caring for the carer. My DH has been very ill for two years now with several different conditions. He is predicted to have his surgery by Christmas, but this obviously will not be happening now as we haven't had a date.

I need to start looking after myself a bit better. I will get through the next few weeks, and make a GP appointment in the new year when we're at the other side of surgery. In the meantime I'll keep a log of any episodes.

Please don't put this on hold. You need to get the appointment as soon as possible. You matter just as much as your husband. Look after yourself.

I think this is a bit worse than say, walking into a room and forgetting why you went in there.

It’s worth mentioning to your GP.

I think this happens regularly to people of all ages and isn't necessarily a cause for concern as easily explained by inattention, stress, anxiety, tiredness etc.

Just keep an eye on it.

I tend to forget things I've done if they are routine, you do them on autopilot and then think did I lock the door or whatever it was and have no memory of doing it or of not doing it. Washing the floor could be one of those. The Carol service it's possible you totally zoned out not really listening with your mind chewing over your problems. But by all means get it checked out.

I'm older than you OP and yes I am concerned about my memory a little. Mainly forgetting general knowledge facts I used to know, and not automatically recalling something like a word I'm, searching for, though it usually comes to me.

I know though my memory is hugely affected by lack of sleep and stress. And also, because I live a very solitary life, if I go through spells of being alone more than usual it affects my memory.

I also recognise the incident of not remembering washing the floor that you describe. Sometimes when I'm doing boring, repetitive tasks that I can do on auto pilot I can momentarily forget that I've done them.

If you want a memory test please book one asap as there is a long waiting list for them, they don't happen overnight unless your GP is willing to assess you which takes more than the 10mins they usually allot for an appointment.

It might be worth getting your calcium levels checked as I unbeknown to me I had very high levels and the only symptom was shocking memory issues, vagueness and confusion.

I always read at night before sleep, but the next night when I picked up my book where I left off, I actually couldn’t remember what I’d read the night before and would get stuck reading the same chapters again and again. I would forget what my DC had told me and would ask them often several times the same question. I would walk to the shops in the morning and struggle to remember that I had been by the afternoon, go out to do the washing up, only to find I’d done it earlier, the list was endless!

Have you had your thyroid checked recently ? Could it be that plus stress?