Memory loss….am I still ok?

Do you find yourself forgetting things? I bought an iron from Amazon 2 months ago. It arrived and I was (sadly) thrilled! I ironed everything in sight….do you think I can find that thing? I have hunted high and low and have had to revert back to my old one…wth? 

On Friday morning I got into my truck to take Tank to school…he loves school…a mom can just tell!  I was using my spare key as I  couldn’t find my usual one that has my house key on it. I got into my truck and my glove compartment was open and a few things were scattered about. I quickly realized someone had broken into my truck over night.

I was immediately concerned that I had left my usual keys in the truck and they were stolen.

 I dropped Tank off at school, came back home and  I scrambled looking all over the house…upstairs, downstairs, in drawers, pockets, purses, washer and dryer….they were nowhere! Holy sh** I got on the phone right away and called a locksmith. Thankfully a super nice guy came over and changed the locks on the house for us. I then took my truck to my sons for a sleepover so nobody could take it from my driveway as I could not get the Fob changed until Monday.

Let me tell you….first of all, I felt like a complete idiot…Second of all, Steve was definitely not happy with me…thankfully Tank couldn’t care less and just followed me around the house while I was looking for the keys.  He is a great little helper even though he did manage to steal a sock while I was preoccupied with searching.

At 3:00 AM this morning I woke up and thought….’hmm, I wonder if the keys are in the backpack I use when hiking’. I hopped out of bed, went downstairs to the garage and retrieved my backpack. I reached into the front pocket and pulled out the keys AND my driver’s license that I didn’t even know was missing!!

Is this normal? Do I have a memory problem?

There have been other things lately…I forgot to take Tanks leash to school. I set the alarm on my phone to ring at 2:30 PM the other day and still cannot remember why. I asked Steve to pick up some milk for me because I had forgotten to get some at the grocery store that day. When he brought it home and I put it in the fridge only to realize I had milk the entire time! I completely forgot that I invited a couple to join us for dinner on Canada Day. Don’t even get me started on the number of times I have left the stove on. Thankfully, once the pot has been removed from the element it shuts itself off. Who knew I needed that safety feature?

I take Lyrica for some nerve issues that I deal with…it can cause confusion and drowsiness. Maybe that is the problem.

I enjoy a CC & Ginger almost every night…maybe it is too much. Maybe that is the problem.

Perhaps I am just super forgetful or I have a more serious issue. Maybe that is the problem.

I turned to the Alzheimer’s site for some information…this is what they say on normal vs dementia. 

Normal – I am 5 for 5. Although I think Steve might be worried about my memory issues! ?

Dementia – I am pretty good remembering details and conversations, so far I am able to recognize everyone in my family, I did forget Canada Day, guilty of number 4…Number 5? I think maybe my family and I are both worried about my bloody memory!

However, according to the above chart, I am happy to say I am in the normal range…tra la la. ?

The Alzheimer’s Society of Canada suggests the following for coping with normal age-related memory issues

• Keep a routine
• Organize information (keep details in a calendar or day planner)
• Put items in the same spot (always put your keys in the same place by the door) hahahahha I should have read this before!!!
• Repeat information (repeat names when you meet people)
• Run through the alphabet in your head to help you remember a word
• Make associations (relate new information to things you already know)
• Involve your senses (if you are a visual learner, visualize an item)
• Teach others or tell them stories
• Get a full night’s sleep
• Learn more about what you can do to maintain your brain health and strengthen your memory

Obviously, if you are really concerned about memory loss you should see your Dr. Forgetting someone’s name, or where you put the iron or even forgetting to turn off the stove does not necessarily mean that you are getting dementia. Maybe we just do too much….all this multi-tasking…we need to remember to slow down. Now that we are of a savvier age we need to remember that it is not a necessity to be superwoman! How often have you preached to your kids to slow down, stop and smell the roses….we are the guiltiest of not practising what we preach!

Drop me a line BELOW and let me know what you’ve forgotten that has you wondering if you are off your savvy rocker!!