Short-term Memory Loss
Don’t be embarrassed by short-term memory loss. Here are ways to help.
Are you frustrated by short-term memory loss? Do you start to speak only to realize you have forgotten what you were going to say? Do you make your way up a couple of flights of stairs only to forget what you went up there for? Where did you leave those keys? You know, the ones hanging off your belt loop. Or perhaps the glasses you’ve been searching for are on top of your head.
I do find it frustrating when my elderly mother cannot remember who she spoke to earlier in the day, or that she neglected to share some family information with me because she forgot who she told. She always forgets things I tell her about my life. But hey, she’s 83. These things happen when you get old.
But what’s my excuse? I’m only 45. I have fibromyalgia. Short-term memory loss, decreased cognitive skills, and the inability to concentrate are just a few of the many symptoms of this illness. If I were to venture a guess as to why, I would say fatigue caused by the lack of restorative Stage IV sleep is to blame. Not only do our bodies not heal, our brains are tired and not functioning at full capacity.
There are ways to lessen the severity of these symptoms. Just like your muscles need to be exercised in order to keep them from stiffening up, so too must your brain (also a muscle) be exercised. Working on puzzles such as crosswords, word search, Sudoku or Jumble are a few ways to do this for yourself. When you get together with family and friends card games and certain board games like Scrabble, Boggle, Balderdash or even a simple game of Checkers will help you exercise your brain while having fun at the same time.
For those more techno-adventurous, Brain Age by Nintendo DS is an excellent tool for working your brain. All of these activities are said to help prevent the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.
I love word puzzles. I do the weekend crossword and Sudoku games. I play games on my computer and am particularly hooked on Bookworm, Text Twist and Word Drop – games that make you think and think quickly.
But these brain exercises do not completely free me from short-term memory loss. I still forget why I entered a room, my own home phone number, and where I am actually going when I drive around town because here, all roads lead to everywhere.
I know some people who become quite embarrassed by their forgetfulness. I am not embarrassed – frustrated maybe, but not embarrassed. The way I see it, I still have my long-term memory. I remember the day I met my husband, our first kiss, our wedding day, the births of our children and every birthday, Christmas and Halloween. Those are the memories that matter the most. And that also includes playing Scrabble with my kids.
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MaddysMommy | Jan 4, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for sharing your article with us Pat. I don’t know anything about Fibromyalgia except the article you posted on mylot sometime ago and an advert I occasionally see on tv. I often play some of the games you’ve mentioned and my hubby and I were thinking of getting the Brain Age game for ourselves since my son has a nintendo ds. I think these are great ways to keep our brain exercised and help us to improve on our short term memory. I have some of those moments and I am only 36 (well soon to be 37) LOL.
JudyB | Jan 4, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for a great article, Pat! You’ve helped me get my priorities in order.
Yes, I often head off to the kitchen or my office or the bedroom only to forget why before I even get there. Can’t use my age as an excuse for that one. It’s been happening since I was in my 20s. (My theory is that the idea falls out that hole you’re accused of having in your head and once you go back to where you dropped it, the idea pops back in your head. It usually works!)
You know as well as anyone that I need a new computer in the worst way. I know you need one just as much or maybe more. Since Santa didn’t know what I wanted, he didn’t get me one. My birthday happens to be during the back-to-school sales, a good time to find a deal. So the deal is – a new laptop for my birthday and a Nintendo DS and Brain Age for Christmas. (Santa’s making out on that deal.)
I’ll be 62 when both gifts help keep my brain exercised – and I still have a nearly photographic memory. (I can remember nearly anything that’s near a photograph. LOL!)
Oh, don’t forget to snack healthy while you get carried away with those games. The brain is the most easily assimilated part of your body. If you don’t get enough to eat, that’s where your body looks for a good meal. And you thought it was just those gouls in horror parody movies, did you?
Thanks again for the article, Pat. I’m off to have some lunch and work a crossword puzzle. (You know how I love words! [That might be why I use so many.
])
Donna | Jan 4, 2008 | Reply
Great article, and some good advice. As someone who suffers with fibromyalgia, I can certainly understand what you are saying and the frustration that goes along with it. I would tend to agree with that part about the lack of restorative sleep. I know on the many days when I don’t get the sleep I need, I am usually worse, not only with the pain, but also with my concentration and failing memory. I’ve always prided myself in the fact that my memory has always been good, so I really do find it frustrating when those simple little memories fail me.
Sooo true! | Jan 9, 2008 | Reply
Sheesh Pat your articled was talking about me the whole time.. stop that!! LOL
I have always had a terrible long term memory but since Meniere’s it has become sooo much worse. It scares me sometimes.
I’ll be saying something and the next second I’ll have no idea what I’m talking about. I hate that!! I like to write so making lists helps… if I remember where I left them
Nice work.
Nina “:c)
Vera | Jul 1, 2008 | Reply
Thank you for the article. I think the thing that scares us most when we have those moments of forgetfulness is the worry about alzheimers. I have always had an excellent memory, BUT I have also had my forgetful moments since I was very young. When I don’t get enough sleep, they do occur more often.
Another trigger for my forgetful moments is tackling too many things at the same time. I think my brain goes into overload, and I will forget why I entered a room, where I placed that shopping list I started an hour ago, or what I intended to do with whatever it is I’m holding something in my hand. When I am on overload, I am easily distracted and will sometimes lose my train of thought. It’s extremely frustrating to be in the middle of a paragraph and suddenly forget what you are writing about.
When temporary moments of forgetfulness occur, it isn’t always related to illness. I believe they can also be caused by a release mechanism that allows a brain that has been running at full speed to relax for a moment. However, this is not a proven scientific fact, at least not yet.
Angel | Jul 3, 2008 | Reply
Nice article. I know all about the memory problems with fibromyalgia. As you can see it’s really late and I’m still up. That’s because I hardly ever sleep anymore!
I hope this comment works!
Mary | Mar 27, 2009 | Reply
Your frustrated by your Mothers memory??? YOU or someone with a better adittude and memory need to find someone who can help her with this situation. Your very lucky to have a Mom at your age SHAME ON you!!!!!!
Mary Patricia Bird | Mar 27, 2009 | Reply
Mary, I’m not quite as frustrated as I used to be. I can see her own frustration, and feel it because I get frustrated with myself. And, in turn, my children get frustrated with me.
dONNA | Apr 20, 2009 | Reply
fibromyalgia is driving me nuts. I had some one ask for my spouses phone number last month and I could not tell them. Today I went to the pharmacy to pick up meds to find out I could not get my home address out of my mouth to tell the pharmacist! I have lived here 40 years..