Forgetfulness: I am starting to be very... - Fibromyalgia Acti...

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Forgetfulness

Maisie1 profile image
23 Replies

I am starting to be very forgetful. I sometimes struggle with remembering simple words. Someone asked me my phone number the other day and I said "I haven't got a clue". Does anyone else get this. Thanks for listening

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Maisie1 profile image
Maisie1
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23 Replies
pip_r profile image
pip_r

Hi Maisie,

I absolutely get this and sadly quite frequently. I know it's part of the condition (and/or medications) so I try not to get too worried or frustrated about it. That won't change anything and will just make me feel worse. I never have anyone make me feel bad about it (they wouldn't dare). In fact my partner and I usually take a few minutes to try and guess what the word I'm struggling for is. I can usually describe what the word I want means. We usually get there eventually.

All I would say is don't give yourself a hard time and use reminders if that helps. I have audio reminders on my iPod to remind me to take tablets, go to appointments, birthdays, etc. It has really helped me :)

Take care :)

Pip xx

Ginsing profile image
Ginsing

Hi Maise,

I am afraid I have to put my hand up to forgetfulness it seems to come in phases, usually at the most awkward of times. , Peoples names is a specialty, hotly followed by words I get great blanks , really very blank, feel uch a fool.. I am afraid it is something you have to accept and bot worry about.

zgins

Hi Maise I once stood in the chemist talking to another lady. who I knew that I should know her.But not for the life of me could I remember who she was. The next day I remembered that she was my best friend when our girls were growing up and still lives in the same street that I live in. This sort of thing happens all the time. Though not usually that bad, over the years I have learnt how to use laughter. If you can get people laughing with you it stops embarasing moments dead in their tracks. hugs sue xx

fenbadger profile image
fenbadger

Likewise. It seems to be part, but not all, of the Fog. I use all sorts of aide memoires, and even then they sometimes don't work. I chuck away loads of pills I forgot to take and must not double up with. I try to do something when I think of it but it's not always appropriate for some reason, or I don't have the energy. I mostly muddle by. I wonder if your various practices have text alerts. I get them for hospital, dentist and I've just registered for email alerts from doc. Saves us both time and money. It can pay dividends to someone else. I was with the dentist last month and she said I need to do some work and the next patient is unreliable so it might just be worth making a start. I said it's your call, do as you think fit. So I got a filling done in one go :)

I hope as time goes by you and your circle will get used to it and not worry about it. I had loads of practice at this phenomenon with my cancer friend. It's one of the sadder side effects of chemo too. It takes getting used to forgetting things like phone number but realistically, how often do you call yourself, and doesn't your phone do the remembering for you? Normals (whatever they are) do it too. :P

Frequently Maisie :)

At lunchtime I asked my OH to put the milk in that thing that keeps stuff cold :D

:) xxxsianxxx :)

Hi Maisie :o

I forgot to say that I write all my appointments down in huge letters on paper and stick them on the wall by my bedroom door so that as well as myself but my OH too have constant reminder of them :)

:) xxxsianxxx :)

Lucyhobbit profile image
Lucyhobbit

I'm the same - words, phrases, places all have a tendancy to play hide and seek on me (I know they're there just can't find the silly things!). One day I was out and about and got in a real panic because I couldn't remember where I park the car at my house (it came back to me as I automatically turned into my driveway) and also get peculiar worries that I can't remember then name of an area near me that begins with b - I get in a real tizz not remembering and go through all the 'b' places I know (its bellingham) it's really not an important thing to remember, and I almost never need to go there, but it stresses me when I know I can't remember its name.

I used to get seriously stressed about it, especially if talking to someone not in my family but since I've relaxed more it's made a huge positive difference to my self esteem. I know that I haven't totally lost my marbles (they're in a box by the tv;) ) and I don't care what other people think of it (ok, maybe I try not to care too much - that would be more honest).

It's one of the harsher realities of fibro (for me anyway) but you are really not alone - sadly I think everyone has those moments.

Yep, me too. My husband points it out a lot. Like you I'll forget the word I need to finish the sentence. I forget the pin number for my cash card and every word my husband just said and what I went to the supermarket for. I forget we had that conversation yesterday / last week / an hour ago, forget my keys, forget my purse, forget where I left my book / bag. The greater the pain, the greater the forgetfulness. Such fun! :)

sophie22 profile image
sophie22

Hi Maisie

seemingly the other night after making a lovely meal I forgot to turn the cooker off, my daughter was not amused in the morning, she said she is having me put down!

in reply to sophie22

My son keeps on that he is putting in for care allowance for me and hubby. Hes almost as bad as me. but he has always been like it

Iampain profile image
Iampain

I'm the same but I'm fighting back (on words) by playing digital scrabble every day. With vocabulary, its use it or lose it. I have difficulty reading books now, too, if someone speaks to me I forget what I've just read, it definitely seems to affect short term memory in a big way! I can't count the times when making a cuppa not being sure if I've put the sugar in or not :-\

in reply to Iampain

I don` have any probs making the coffee. I forget to drink it, :P

Maisie1 profile image
Maisie1 in reply to

I normally remember the word in the middle of the night

in reply to

hehehe I just had to check my cup there sue LOL

My OH gives me weird looks for wasting coffee by forgetting about it

I curse myself for forgetting my green tea too :o

:P :P :P

judgejudy44 profile image
judgejudy44 in reply to

I got up this morning, made coffee, and so far I have found 4 cups of cold coffee throughout the house. Good thing I like cold coffee.

TheAuthor profile image
TheAuthor

Hi Maisie1

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? This happens to me quite a lot, and it really does appear to be a Fibro fog problem.

Mind you, if I were you I would discuss the issue with my GP just to ensure that it is Fibro and rule other things out.

All my hopes and dreams for you

Ken x

operatic profile image
operatic

What is an OH?

in reply to operatic

Morning. I am glad I am not the only one who had problems with this. It means other half or as I use Hubby sue

Ginsing profile image
Ginsing in reply to operatic

HI Operatic OH means Other Half we have always abbreviated I don't know wh y xxgins

Samfa1984 profile image
Samfa1984

I get the dreaded fog too! It was one of my first symptoms and I honestly thought I had something terrible happening to me like early onset Alzeimer's or a brain tumour. I felt far too young to be getting so forgetful and found it really embarrassing at times. I'm only 30 now and have learnt to make a joke of it and just accept it. My husband torments me and helps me laugh about it when I have a 'moment. My fave from this week was taking some food out of the oven, and then trying to put he oven tray back in the fridge! I also spent a good ten minutes yesterday trying to take out my contact lenses...to then remember I had worn my glasses all day! Xx

Durham-Lass profile image
Durham-Lass

You just have to laugh about it and make a joke of it but it does get frustrating when you have describe the word or thing or sentences come out jumbled up and words seem made up. I work with children with learning needs and behaviour issues and it can be embarrassing but the kids just make a joke and it can break the ice, especially when they say 'Did you mean to say ......... Miss? I usually say I need to get my brain in gear or put the right teeth in. LoL

tiggerfan profile image
tiggerfan

I have had this for a very long time and can see the funny side of it now,I use charade like actions when I cant remember the word for things(this either helps me remember the word myself or the person I'm speaking to can guess it)...or descriptions of the item I cant find the word for.

The square thing you watch rogrammes on = tv, the coat you wear on top of your nightdress = housecoat/dressing gown :-) and as was said before That thing that keeps stuff cold =fridge

I have also been known to put a bizzarre word in the middle of a sentence.(for example (tomorrow I'm going to the cat shops)

I also sometimes find it hard to find the 'adult' word for something and have child words stuck in my head that I cant get past.

The funniest thing with this one recently was sitting at report at the end of the shift and trying to write a report and interupting to ask in front of all my collegues and manager 'what's the word we use for 'poo' cause I cant write THAT in my report!' haha!.. the manager calmly told me then we all got a fit of the giggles

I work in a care home for the elderly and myself my collegues and the residents have had some great fun from it .The residents are usually well chuffed when they can help me out and we have great fun guessing the word!

I tend to be upfront about it with new people before it happens so they are prepared and also let them know they are allowed to laugh :-)

lifes cetainely never dull with fibro xx

sue32 profile image
sue32

Ho ho!! Yes! I certainly do get this!! I forget even the simplest words.....if I'm reading I have to go back a page or 2 cos I can't remember what I've just read!! Same with the TV. I record most programmes cos I can't remember what someone said a sentence ago!!!! I can get half way through a sentence and forget what I was going to say!!!!

Now....where was I???? LOL!! Only joking, but it isn't a joke at all. It's damn frustrating and annoying but you're not alone maisie1....not at all!! XXX :)

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