Memory Issues Options

[tdf770]

Hi ladies,

Is anyone or has anyone experienced a lot of memory issues during peri? I have become so forgetful that it makes me worry about alzheimer's. I recently had a panic attack in the parking lot of a mall because I couldn't remember where I had parked, thought the car had been stolen and after finding it, I could not remember how it had gotten in that particular spot...thought that I had parked closer to another store. Last night, I couldn't remember what I had done on Monday, again, sending me into fright. Yesterday I had to stop and really think in order to recall my mother's telephone number...yikes. Yet I can remember other things just fine...is this normal?

Tracey

[madhouse]

hi tracey im the same dont no what day it is what i had for my tea if i had a shower the list goes on its all part of the menopause hpoe this helps take care denise

[ladybugs]

I'm getting to the point if I do not make a daily list I am pretty much lost. I forget doctor appts, what day it is, what time it is and yes...where I've parked my car! How long until I can't find my way home?

[XIII]

Hi ladies,

Yet I can remember other things just fine...is this normal?

Tracey

Unfortunately this is very normal. It is as a result of lowered oestrogen levels and probably a thyroid gland that is not up to speed during the shut down process. I studied advanced digital photography during the "fog" and did very well yet could never remember the simplest short term memory things. Lost my glasses and keys multiple times per day and just could not recall what I had done the day before. I could forget the daftest things like whether I had cleaned my teeth or had vacuumed the floor in a particular room. My ability to recall all the words in my volcabulary has gone down badly. Sometimes I search and search but cannot find the appropriate word. I find that I can no longer navigate my way around in the car efficiently. I forget great chunks of the road system that I once knew like the back of my hand. And yes, if I do not commit where I have left my car to memory strongly and carefully as I leave it, I could quite easily loose it. How embarrassing is that? Oestrogen is the lubricant that oils the cogs of the brain and without it we struggle. I am just glad that I am not employed as an air traffic controller or a university lecturer these days. I just do not know how women manage to carry on in their careers with this sort of problem.

Cheers,

XIII

[menosick]

I JUST REMEMBER WHEN ONE DAY I WAS LOOKING FOR MY CARR AT THE MALL UNDER SEVERE RAIN. YES I FOUND IT, AFTER GETTING SOAK AND WET FROM THE RAIN NXT DAY GOT SICK . I'M HAVING ALSO A PROBLEM CAUSE I ALSO SPEAK SPANISH AND SOMETIMES WHEN SPEAKING ENGLISH THE WORDS COMES IN SPANIS WELCOME TO THE CLUB ANOTHER TIME WHEN I WAS SCHOOL BUS DRIVER, THE KIDS GOT MAD AT ME CAUSE I DID NOT MADE THE RIGHT STOPS, NOT DRIVING ANY LONGER THANKS GOD. LEAVING MY LUNCH BEHIND ON TOP OF MY CARR. I WILL SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY TELLING YOU ABOUT HOW MY MEMORY HAD BEEN PLAYING MIND GAME AT ME. DOING MUCH BETTER, PROBABLY FOR THE SUPLEMENTS I TAKE. PLEASE DON'T WORRY.


MENOSICK

[stitchnanny]

Yeah this memory thing is the pits. What scares me alot is when trying to talk and cannot remember the words I want to say. It is almost like I dont know them but I know I do. My memory is so bad that when my kids or hubby ask if I remember something. My permanent comeback is..."Remember?! I cant remember what I had for breakfast this morning and I have the same thing everyday."

[tdf770]

Thanks girls!

I too suffer from the loss of words...lately I cannot speak...constantly feel like the word I'm looking for is on the tip of my tongue, it makes me feel so stupid when I cannot convey my thoughts to someone or appear to have a decent vocabulary...I just cannot put complete thoughts together at times.

Tracey

[Shebee]

Thanks girls!

I too suffer from the loss of words...lately I cannot speak...constantly feel like the word I'm looking for is on the tip of my tongue, it makes me feel so stupid when I cannot convey my thoughts to someone or appear to have a decent vocabulary...I just cannot put complete thoughts together at times.

Tracey

Before starting bios, I was having real problems. I would walk aimlessly from room to room. I could not remember why I was in that room. My short-term memory was shot.


Then of course, word searching. I would want to use a certain word, but could not draw it out from my brain. My family was very patient and often helped me out. Many times an hour later, I would yell out the word to everyone! LOL!

I really thought I was ready for the nut house.

When I went in to my doc, I confessed all. LOL! He said that this was quite common. The day I started bios, the brain fog lifted.

It is wonderful to walk into a room and know why you are there.


I no longer have to write on my calendar every movement. I no longer have to make myself notes (which I would forget.) I also used my bathroom mirror as a note pad. (Lip liner pencils work great.) Now my lip liner pencils are lasting longer!

shebee

[JZZ]

Yep, the memory stuff/probs is normal during peri/meno. Mine has improved quite a bit with hrt (i'm still in peri). Have you read the book called Menopause and the Mind by Warga? She does a pretty good job explaining the brain "glitches" and helps to make it less scarey. Regards, JZZ

[girlsmom]

[I have episodes when I can't even remember my neighbours name and actually have to look on the mailbox...it is not logical.
I also mess up all the time ie when I tell my children to take out the *garage* instead of the garbage.
I don't know what is happening. It makes me very uneasy to see wrong words coming out of my mouth, or nothing at all because of these mental blocks.

[semac]

Do these memory issues go away eventually? I am 46 and starting perimenopause, I've have noticed issues with remembering words, starting to feel quite stupid actually. I can't seem to string a coherent sentence together. Is it peri or is it alzheimer's?

[Webalina]

Oh Yes. Very normal. My memory is worthless these days, anthough I have more trouble pulling up words I need out of my head rather than losing things. And yeah, I worried that I was speeding towards dementia until I read here on PS how many other women are going through the same thing.

[janet c]

XIII
[/quote]
"Oestrogen is the lubricant that oils the cogs of the brain and without it we struggle".

Isn't it the case that it is not the loss of oestrogen but the DROP in it that causes the forgetfulness?
I am sure I have read that it is just temporary and that once our bodies get used to lower levels our brains cease to be like scrambled eggs? I can definitely feel my cognition returning now that the worst of my surgical menopause is over. I could hardly string a sentence together, remember where I put anything, why I went into a room etc. etc. three years ago whereas now I am getting my brainpower back.
My Mum is 80 and her short term memory is just great and she is as sharp as a tack! So surely there is hope for us?
janet c

[adriataras]

Menopausal women 'suffer from temporary loss of memory', study finds

Women going through the menopause suffer from a loss of memory and learning ability but only for a short period of time, new research has found.

Article here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/women_sh...tudy-finds.html

[janet c]

Thanks for that-it's very encouraging and I find this bit interesting-

Quote "The study also found that taking oestrogen or progesterone hormones before menopause helped verbal memory and processing speed.
But taking these hormones after the menopause had a negative effect."

I wonder why that is? Not that it bothers me personally because I take neither!

It seems its best to let nature take its course and I'm pleased about that

janet c

[didgens]

Thanks for that-it's very encouraging and I find this bit interesting-

Quote "The study also found that taking oestrogen or progesterone hormones before menopause helped verbal memory and processing speed.
But taking these hormones after the menopause had a negative effect."

I wonder why that is? Not that it bothers me personally because I take neither!

It seems its best to let nature take its course and I'm pleased about that

janet c

nature is evil

[adriataras]

I just do not know how women manage to carry on in their careers with this sort of problem.

Cheers,

XIII

Yes, remains a problem. How women manage to carry on in their careers with this sort of problem?


That is, and I happen to focus hard sometimes, but I had the fatigue, or even a hot summer day. I happen to not find common words so fast or even synonymous. Can not say I did not exercise the memory and words that work with words and read a lot. After 1-2 years I was going to have minor problems like this and I made Spirulina supplements. Immediately I felt a refresh memory, a fast connection.

[Fried]

More so each day I too wonder about losing it all someday...I was the one in my household that used to remember EVERYTHING.
I don't want to lose my cherished memories

[semac]

Well I guess it's good to know that these brain f**ts are temporary. The idea of having to struggle with memory issue until I come out the otherside, not so great.

[Medium at Large]

My morning went like this:

Telling my mum about an incident with a squirrel on our patio this morning. Half way into the story......"the squirrel had run up the.....................uhhhhhhhhh........................ummmmm......has a pole on it........COMPLETE BLANK". My mum laughs and says..............UMBRELLA? Yep............that would be it. lol.