Forgetting things, is is serious?

[vivasunshine]

Hi. I'm 44 and quite sure I'm in perimenopause. For the past 2 years I've gone from periods like clockwork to very irregular ie 54 days without a period then suddenly 15 days, 18, 43 and so on. The problem I'm having and that is very concerning is my forgetfulness. It's not the kind of losing your keys forgetfully but more of names, words that I can't think of. I'm typing this now and know what I'm talking about but just forgetting how to put in into words. It's very weird and not sitting well with me. Today I visited an old friend who lives in sheltered accommodation, I visit him once a week and always remember the 2 digit code on the keypad so he can let me in. I have been visiting him for 3 years and today I couldn't remember the code, I had to ring him. Another example is we picked my sons friend up to go for some dinner and as I was talking to him I suddenly forgot his name. I'm getting so anxious about this as I'm scared this could be early Alzheimer's and that one day I will wake up forgetting everything. I have also heard it could be just your typical menopause brain fog and just hoping it's that. Does anyone have any similar experience? I'm looking for reassurance I suppose but for some reason when I forget something my gut instinct says it's more serious. So scared of not remembering my children's names

The same here! It was almost impossible to work and I had terrible brain fog and forgetfulness a year ago.
It is due to the effect of estrogen loss at the brain.
The only thing it helps me is hrt. It gave my life back and feel my old self again.

I'm 50 and really the only sign of my menopause is forgetfulness. I can't remember the names of things so, for example, i'll say 'put the milk in the ... white cold thing'. Kids are getting used to guessing now. I've had to have a ct and mri scans recently for an eye problem and kept mentioning this forgetfulness in case it was a symptom of something else, but at no point in seeing various and many healthcare professionals have any of them been remotely interested, so i am comforted that it is, most probably, just a menopause symptom.

I'm 59, and only stopped having periods last October. My memory is shocking! I have to write notes to myself about everything, and I set alarms on my mobile for various things. I forget certain words when I'm talking, and last week I did something so stupid, I was quite concerned - I couldn't work out how to get out of a carpark. Not a multi-storey one, but just a small one with space for perhaps 50 cars! I had to wait until someone drove out and then follow them! I've spoken to friends of the same kind of age, and they've said they are the same. Bloody menopause haha

Oh thank you for your replies, I feel so much better. I have heard about brain fog and menopause so many times but just started getting anxious (another symptom) as long as I'm not losing my mind. Your words have calmed me loads

Lynne that must of been awful not remembering how to get out of the car park and Timefor not remembering the word fridge is exactly what I'm talking about. Another thing I keep doing is missing words when I type like I'm doing now, I keep having to read my sentences because they don't make sense

47 here and I've been worried lately that when I'm talking I'll suddenly lose my thread. So, talking to dh the other night about something I'd read I suddenly realised I couldn't remember what point I was going to make about it. Same on the phone to a friend a week or so ago. Frustrating but worrying too - it hadn't occurred to me that it might be another sneaky menopause symptom. I'm finding other people's experiences reassuring.

What Emerald said ^^ It's a complete pain, but apparently it's temporary. Similar to Baby Brain (although I'm not convinced I ever fully recovered from that...)

Ahhhh the joys of menopause. I thank god for science twice a week when I change my HRT patches. Yes, memory problems are meno-related and are substantially relieved by HRT.

BTW if you are starting menopause early then you may want to consider taking HRT. It's not just for the blessed relief of symptoms, but to protect you against an extra 5-10 years of diminishing bone-density.

Absin Im also finding other people's experiences reassuring, I thought I was losing my mind .

Neveruse, not sure how long I will be peri but I will consider HRT.

Definitely a symptom. I have to write everything down and find using google on my phone to remember those elusive words. My search history in google is a selection of 'what is the word for .....'. I'm not struggling with other symptoms too bad and as yet haven't considered going on HRT.

Hi OP, I am 43 and also certain I am in peri menopause. My symptoms are anxiety (such a horrible thing to live with!) sleeplessness, and the brain fog you're talking about. I keep doing stupid things like driving to the shops and realising I haven't got my purse with me. I find it harder to follow film plots and remember character names etc. I have to put everything in my phone diary and check it otherwise I would forget things. I did mention it to my GP who didn't seem at all concerned. Its crap though

Sorry ladies but I'm so glad I'm not on my own. Feel so much better though for reading your posts and that I'm not going mad. Anxiety is definitely top of the list as well, it's horrendous along with palpitations. It really is crap

I'm in the ironic situation of not remembering anything, starting on HRT to help with this and then forgetting to take the tablets (I've actually just posted about this)

I feel your pain, OP. I think it helps to laugh about it, worrying just seems to make it worse.

Another here with the brain fog - my kids (aged 22, 20 and 18!) just laugh at me as I'm talking about the thingy that goes in the thingy over there!!!! I lose track of time very easily and often can't remember what I've done for the three or four hours earlier - even down to drinking a cup of coffee!!

I'm 52 and yes the memory thing is scary. I believe I've been peri for a couple of years but periods only stopped about 6 months ago. I'm 2 months into HRT patches and I feel normal again, aches and pains have disappeared and my hair is back to being shiny and bouncy instead a dried up bale of hay. I'll take HRT as long as they'll let me. I actually don't know if I could have coped with work much longer without the patches.

Oh goodness OP I could have written your post and I too have been worrying it's something more sinister. (I'm 51 and still having regular periods so no idea if I'm menopausal or not)

Personally i haven't found HRT to be helpful.
I'm postmenopausal. I'm 44 & I am really struggling due to memory loss.

Yes deffo a symptom, I take hrt daily & I also use the oestrogen cream a few times a week. I was also feeling pretty low so the gp put me on citalopram - I must admit the combination has made me feel human again

I'm 46 and have been on HRT (Femoston) for six months. It's really helped with my anxiety, rages, tearfulness, joint pain etc but not with my forgetfulness. In fact, the info slip that comes with them says that it won't help with memory loss. Am going to try a well-woman supplement to see if that help.

I had that and worried the same as you but it's now cleared and my memory is fine now and thats without taking anything. I didn't like the idea of taking HRT but everyones different. I likened it to being a bit forgetful if you have PMS.

I sat in the car last week and couldn't find the switch to turn on the external lights. I've had the car for 18 months. I was so disturbed I pulled over and made myself scan the (very rudimentary basic) car dashboard for five minutes. I even considered making a video of the car dashboard and sending it to my friend. IN the end I discovered that the switch was on a lever that stuck out of the side of the steering wheel. I guess it's always been there and I've always used it. It was a deeply disconcerting experience.
I've now started HRT.