Memory Problems

[Plant Woman]

Feeling a bit disconcerted after a day of memory problems.

Last night I looked at my calendar and saw I had an appointment for physical therapy today. I usually walk first thing, take a shower and head off to my appointments. We didn't walk today because of the wind and rain, so I got up and worked instead. At the time of my appointment they called. I had completely forgotten the appointment. Fortunately they were able to take me in the afternoon

Ok I've had some memory problems here and there before, usually not with appointments though. It is why I have a calendar to help me, only I forgot to check it this morning.

After the PT, I went to my favorite cafe to write. I like to go there sometimes to work. It helps so I am not so isolated working from home. I ordered a latte and sandwich. When I left to come home I walked out without paying. I realized what I did this evening. Fortunately, they know me and I will return tomorrow and pay what I owe. I feel terrible for doing that.

It is a bit worrisome. Today was strange, like my brain was not functioning well at all. It was bad enough to stand up my physical therapist this morning, but I can't imagine what might have happened if I had walked out of a cafe where they didn't know me? Should I be worried, or does this happen to you?

[seebs]

Everyone forgets stuff sometimes. I have walked out of a place without paying and then caught it at the last minute.

It just seems bad when, by coincidence, it happens twice in one day -- but it might be because of other stresses or something.

Don't worry about it until you aren't sure whether you forgot something. :p

[livius drusus]

I've definitely forgotten doctor's appointments and such, usually because I was wrapped up in what I was doing, I forgot what day it was, or I forgot which day my appointment was on. I think seebs may be on to something when he says you're noticing it more because you forgot two biggish things in one day.

[godfry n. glad]

I suspect it is standing out in your mind because you had two forgetful events in the same day. It is thus "out of the norm" and distinctive.

I worried about it when I was in my twenties. But, now, in my fifties, it's not really any worse, or any better. I've taken to calling it "Sometimer's" or "elderly moments". I used to be much worse at keeping track of small things I need in everyday life....like keys. I was forever locking myself out of my own house. So...I got myself a secret key rock. I use it less these days, largely because since then, I've figured out a means to keep them with me most of the time.

Then there's names. I am so bad a remembering names. I've always been that way. Numbers, though, I'm pretty good at. Faces I do okay with.

I wouldn't worry much about it....

What were we talking about?

[godfry n. glad]

Plus, it's so much fun to make new friends every day.

[ChuckF]

Aw heck, PW, that happens to me. Last Sunday I forgot to show up for something that had been scheduled weeks in advance, with regular reminders. It was the second time in a month that I forgot to go. I just completely, totally forgot. I think it also may have something to do with routine; since it was on a Sunday, I was in "weekend" mode where I wasn't thinking about stuff I had to do. Maybe not walking in the morning disrupted your usual routine; I dunno about you, but at least half of everything I do is pretty much routine. (Several times I've found myself walking towards home as usual when I meant to be walking to the library, etc.)

[Watser?]

I have forgotten dentist appointments and other things. Also what Chuck says about the routine: I take a train to work and if I take a train elsewhere I have to pay close attention or I will be in the wrong train or at the wrong platform. I always pay for drinks when they bring them so I don't forget to pay for them. It happens when I am on autopilot and get distracted, I had that all my life. What you have sounds like the same thing.

[biochemgirl]

Oh I have moments like that too. I think it can just depend on what's going on in your life at the time. I'm usually a very together person, very organized and I have a great memory, but my last semester of college I actually forgot one of my finals because I was so stressed. I didn't realize it till it was half done and thankfully I had a very understanding professor!

[quiet bear]

Plant Woman, I wouldn't sweat it too much. Everyone forgets things, you know? Like everyone is saying, it probably concerns you because it was twice in one day.

I'd forget it.

[Shelli]

:giggle:

[quiet bear]

No, seriously. I really don't think you should get yourself in a twist over it, Pdub. The thought process is multi layered, and I'm sure you've heard, and used, the expression, "my mind was somewhere else".


I mean, you said yourself, when you went to the cafe, you'd just been to PT, an appointment you'd forgotten earlier, and you also said you were writing, which entails a good deal of thought.

Combine the facts that you were probably a little flustered about not remembering your PT, along with the fact that your mind was on your writing, it's not so strange that you could forget to pay your tab, something that requires no thought at all, and something you've done seceral times at that place.

It's really quite possible, that in your mind, you had paid the bill. You'd done it so many times, your mind has that action stored away already. You may have thought you paid it, when in reality, your mind reprocessed the act of paying the tab from last time you were there. If that makes any sense.

[viscousmemories]

I think my brain filled up a couple years ago, so now every time I get some sensory input I lose some memory. To use an example from yesterday morning: when I start reading a long thread, I forget there are eggs cooking.

[Javaman]

I usually forget to put a nice bottle of white in the fridge for my wife (I'm a red-only kind of guy). I end up putting it in the freezer for 20 minutes and always set the timer on the stove so I remember to take it out. Exploding glass containers in the freezer is way crappy. Last night, my wife got up to take the bottle out of the freezer but turned the timer off first. She then completely forgot to take the wine out and sat back down on the couch. When I went to pour her a glass an hour and a half later, I found it in the freezer still. No 'splosions, though.

[Plant Woman]

Thanks everyone, for the input. You all are probably right, it stood out because it was two things I forgot. QB, that makes sense about being absorbed with my writing. Also, I thought further about leaving and realize the owner forgot too, because we had about a five minute conversation as I was packing up my books and laptop.

Don't worry about it until you aren't sure whether you forgot something.
I've had those moments too, but not yesterday. :)

I've definitely forgotten doctor's appointments and such
I've always tried to not forget and depend on my calendar a lot; especially since I worked for years by appointments and when someone didn't show up I lost business or if they were late it threw my whole day off, if it was a full day. But yeah I know how that can go, even writing down the appointment on the wrong day was a mistake I made.

So...I got myself a secret key rock.
I had to do that with my vehicle because I was locking my keys inside frequently. However, once I put a key in a magnetic box and hid it on the outside of the vehicle, I never locked my keys in the car again. Funny how that happens!

(Several times I've found myself walking towards home as usual when I meant to be walking to the library, etc.)
Oh yes the habits! After I went back to work after having my kid, I had moved while on maternity leave. I left work drove back to my old place across the island from my new place. When I arrived not only was I in the wrong place, but I forgot to pick up my child. I blamed that on hormones, though.

It happens when I am on autopilot and get distracted, I had that all my life.
Yes, I may have to start doing that too. A wrong train? Have you done that?

but my last semester of college I actually forgot one of my finals because I was so stressed.
Wow, that was a lot of stress, to forget an exam. I remember those days and the stress during finals, perhaps it is strange not to forget to take one.

I'd forget it.
I have to giggle with Shelli too, at what appears to be your unintended (?) pun.

It's really quite possible, that in your mind, you had paid the bill. You'd done it so many times, your mind has that action stored away already.
Most likely the scenario. I'll tell you my mind seemed gone yesterday. I am going to go over everything I wrote yesterday to make sure it isn't gibberish!

I think my brain filled up a couple years ago, so now every time I get some sensory input I lose some memory.
The burnt eggs are a reminder though! Just don't walk out and leave them!

When I went to pour her a glass an hour and a half later, I found it in the freezer still. No 'splosions, though.
Wow, good save though!

I always think that I have this overflowing file cabinet for my memory, and a little guy in my head that retrieves the memory file. Now that it is overflowing, I tell myself to be patient when I am having trouble remembering something, the little guy has a lot to go through. Instead of saying I can't remember, I always say, "It will come to me." It seems to work, otherwise if I say, "I can't remember, the little guy gives up." ;)

I guess I need to give them all a raise! :giggles:

[godfry n. glad]

A friend of mine has an approrpriate teeshirt:

"Lost in thought. Send rescue team."

[Plant Woman]

Mine would be, "Buried in thought, never mind."

I stopped in and paid my bill this afternoon and apologized. They were very gracious to me.

[quiet bear]

Of course they were. Who's going to jump a senile old woman?

/me debated a looooong time before posting that.

[Plant Woman]

:yeahthat:

Oh wait! :glare: You bad. Weren't you complaining about YOUR wrinkles in another thread?

I may be old, but I'm not young!

Yeah that's dangerous territory, to say that to a woman, qb, but hey I am not a spring chicken. I call the gray hair my highlights. Shoot some people pay lots of money for this kind of streaking.

Now that the cat is out of the bag, be kind to your elders.:oldlady:

[Dingfod]

I've forgotten to mail income tax returns that already had a check attached because I intended to wait until the April 15th deadline to send them. It's happened twice, once on a state return, once on a federal, different years, actually, different decades.

[cappuccino]

I do that too, sometimes I'm so wrapped up in something I forget important appointments. I've forgotten a final due to stress too, much to my horror and embarassment, fortunately my professor was very accomodating and understanding like biochemgirl's.

I've had days where my mind simply wasn't functioning at all and seemed to have lost it utterly. I'm known as the absent-minded one among my friends. Distrupting my daily routine does tend to throw my memory off too sometimes. One stressful day after finishing my classes at the university, I rode the bus back to my apartment which usually takes about half-hour(waiting time, plus ride time and walking time) It was only till I got to my apartment when I noticed that my car was missing from its parking space... then I remembered that I had drove to campus that day. Normally I take the bus to the campus but that day was crazy so my regular routines were all thrown off. It was another nearly a hour of bus ride back to campus, walking to the parking garage and picking up my car.

Oy...I was irritated at myself but I had a good laugh though.

[livius drusus]

I messed up a final once by writing only 2 out of 4 essays instead of 3 out of 4. It wasn't a memory lapse so much as a reading-what-you-expect-instead-what's-there lapse.