menopause and memory

[user1498911589]

Is it just me that can't remember things? We have 3 cats and collected them from a friend today after a short holiday, I was talking about them and couldn't remember one of their names! Before I worry about premature dementia can anybody tell me that they have this kind of problem during peri/menopause?

Not just you - stinks, doesn't it.

Yeah, it's horrible. My mum has dementia and so did my grandfather so it's easy to worry about 😟

Yes it's a problem for me, past few days I've been forgetting names and just random things I can't remember. I'm starting to panic about dementia too. I'm 43 x

I have a habit of running upstairs and then wondering what the hell I ran up so fast for. No idea what it is I wanted so urgently I don't usually run

@heratnumber7 I've done that for years, so do the DCs!
@Rosie7978 I'm sure it's normal given that 3 of us are like it, there must be more of us too.

Yep, same here. Constantly repeat myself too - I'm aware I've told a story, but not to whom.

Yeah, I struggle with word retrieval.

Yes, word retrieval here too. It's so frustrating.

Yes three things this week. I went to top up a travel card paid with cash card could not find the hole to put my card in to pay. I thought I was going mad I've done it s thousand times a passer by had to do it for me tbf it had been moved. A student asked me how to use an alarm at work and I just couldn't find the switch. Then I went to tescos with my jacket inside out. And I've lost count of the amount of times I've got to the shops and left my cash card in another bag. It scares the shit out of me.

Yes, me too re word retrieval. Today was trying to say a car rolled back out of the drive. Couldn't remember the right verb. Could only think of drift as in it drifted out of the drive. That's not even a word you ever use ffs, whereas rolled should be right up there at the front.
To my credit I knew it wasn't right.
My gran had dementia for almost 20yrs bless her, so I understand your fears OP. Grim.
My mum just had a minor stroke which is also fucking with her word retrieval, though I found out she's having trouble with 'otter' and 'ferret' which, yk, her vocab can probably function without unless she takes up an unusual second career.

I was trying to think of the word for 'going up' earlier today. It took me a full ten minutes to remember it was 'ascending'. I used to be so sharp with words and now I'm just not. I hate it & find it so frustrating. I only hope my mental sharpness comes back eventually.

EachandEveryone oh god I laughed at 'Then I went to tescos with my jacket inside out.' I mean I'm 49 but I do feel like a gormless old dear sometimes.
I am forever faffing in my pockets and leaving things behind. I don't like to carry a handbag because I worry about forgetting it.
If I have three things to get upstairs I only remember the other two when I've hit the bottom stair with the first one. But then I have to come downstairs with the second thing before I remember there was a third. I am perpetually up and down the stairs like a windup toy.

MidLifeCrisis2017 I do that too.

I also forget who I've told things. I've started to preface anecdotes I tell DH & my adult DC with 'have I told you this already?' and usually get 'Yes mum' and rolled eyes in reply

Word retrieval is a big one for me - especially in a class of 30 teenagers!

word retrieval is a nightmare.
I've always been forgetful but since the start of the menopause it has got so much worse and the word retrieval is a new level of forgetfulness.

for me it was more the mental load of multiple responsibilities all at the same time.

I don't have word retrieval problems (yet), but my concentration is shot to hell. My mum had dementia so it's worrying. I can't decide if its stress or middle age. Being a lonely single parent w constant worries and a stressful and boring job doesnt help.

Forgetting words mid sentence is awful. I was doing it often at work. For the past few months I have been using HRT testosterone cream which has definately helped. The fog has lifted & I feel sharper. Still get blank moments but not as much. Agree with you Outtopasture about the mental load of life at this age. There's a lot on our shoulders/minds. Let's all have a cheering

Totally.
On a separate note did you see the BBC truth about menopause programme?
Very informative.
Catch it on iplayer

It is irritating but I've come to the conclusion that my memory has never been that great and I think I tend to deal with what's going on at the time. Plus I have spent ages worrying about it as Mum had dementia but a now think that has just been feeding a vicious circle. I take part a dementia study so a least feel that if it is hereditary I am contributing to research that my kids might benefit from.

I hate i used to have such good musical knowledge i would whizz through pop master on the Ken Bruce show now i bately get started. Iv stopped having hot flushes but i did get a period this month after six months so i dont know what that means.