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Memory and focus issues
I'm not sure if this is a question or just a place to express my feelings. I just got laid off my job yesterday due to the bad economy, or so I was told. I have a hard time learning new things, retaining the information and focusing on tasks at hand. It just gets worse as I get older, every time I start a new job I'm so nervous because it takes me so long to "catch on" to things. I dont need a job, my husband provides for us very well, I just like to keep busy since my kids are grown and live in diffrent states than I do. I miss them a lot and it helps me to have a job to fill my time, well now I'm back at home (which I love) but when I stay home for to long without a job to go to I start getting agoraphobia type symptoms. I use to have this problem when I was a teenager and through my twenties, and now with my memory issues and focus problems I just feel sad, and scared to try and find another job. I have always just done receptionist jobs, and they have worked out fine for me; I always find a way to adapt. But now I dont know who would hire me since I have a hard time remembering things. Is this a peri menapausal thing? I'll be 41 in October, I have hot flashes every now and then, not to often, my memory stinks and to focus on a task at hand is very hard for me. Their was one other receptionist where I worked, but she got to keep her job, and I wonder if it was because she was much faster and is a quick learner, not to mention a brown noser. So I kind of feel like she was just better, but everyone their told me all the time they loved me, loved the wat I related to the patients, liked my friendly personality. bla bla bla, I'm a kind person with a tender heart, and I just care for people, In the end though I guess that wasnt enough. I made mistakes here and their but I was told several times I was doing a good job. I'm just afraid with my para menapausal issues just getting worse I'm not going to be able to get a job and keep one. So I suppose what I'm asking is....Is memory and focus, along with not retaining information symptoms of being pre menapausal? I've always had this problem my entire life but its worse now, can some one give me some advice please?
Yes, to both of your earlier post. I now have extreme breast tenderness mid cycle... wow - feel like they are huge and soooo tender.
Never had this before- I thought maybe it was from the bioidentical progesterone I started taking. But dr said it may be the surge of estrogen that happens midcycle... who knows.
And I laughed when I read your last post. I wear socks to bed, (cold feet) , have the AC blasting and my husband under lots of covers. Middle of night.... all covers are off and I can not stand the heat of his body next to meet... I sweat terribly, but I keep those socks on ( my feet are still cold- but thats the only part on me).
What a px it is....!!!
Never had this before- I thought maybe it was from the bioidentical progesterone I started taking. But dr said it may be the surge of estrogen that happens midcycle... who knows.
And I laughed when I read your last post. I wear socks to bed, (cold feet) , have the AC blasting and my husband under lots of covers. Middle of night.... all covers are off and I can not stand the heat of his body next to meet... I sweat terribly, but I keep those socks on ( my feet are still cold- but thats the only part on me).
What a px it is....!!!
Ok, here's a weird one, lol. Several times I've noticed when I'm sitting down, like at the computer, etc. I got this flush of heat on my ankle! I swear! Several times I would glance down and look because it almost felt like a heat vent was fixed right on that area! Is that weird or what? LOL
Leave it to me to have a hot flash on my ankle! Ha ha ha!!!
Leave it to me to have a hot flash on my ankle! Ha ha ha!!!
I about froze my husband out of the house last night because I turned the AC on, lol. It's so weird because I'll go to bed just fine, maybe even a little cool. My feet were like ice so I put socks on. I only had a thin sheet and thin blanket on the bed along with a think nightgown. A couple of hours later I was throwing off the socks, throwing off the sheet and blanket thinking I was about to die I was so hot! I turned on the AC while my husband burrowed under the blankets, lol. I hate this!
I am so glad I found this thread. Blondie, you are not alone with your memory issues. My whole life, I too, have had a hard time learning new things and retaining new information. Once I learn it, I'm great, but in the meantime, I cope by making a zillion notes in order to remember. I used to DREAD learning a new job. I worked for a few banks in the 80's and when I left I was always told to leave my notebooks behind for security reasons, they were that detailed. Now my co-workers Loved my notes 'cause any question possible...I had the answer LOL. I have several friends who go to the market without a list and NEVER keep a daily calender on their wall. I don't know how they live that way!?!
It has only been the last few years that "focusing" has become an issue as well. My entire life, I was an avid reader and now, I thought it was due to the pain I'm in, but I cannot focus to read or even watch a movie and I'm starting to wonder what is wrong with me? Just trying to respond to post on the forum I have to scroll up continually to reread in order to respond. Responding to a "note" here is especially difficult because it doesn't stay right in front of you and by the time I start to type, I've forgotten what it said. Yesterday, I had a thought, but by the time I took 10 steps outside to tell my husband, I forgot! This is scary to say the least. People think I have a good memory, but what they don't know is all the notes on my monthly calender about everything under the sun. If I'm going out to purchase more than one thing, I start a list.
I am hoping "focusing" problem is just menopause which would not be out of the question since I'll be 50 next month. I've been having hot flashes on and off for a few years. I have a gynocologist appt on Oct 5th to have my hormones checked. I'm hoping it's just a hormonal thing. Blondie, your issues very well may be peri-menopausal. My periods started acting up when I was only 37.
I'm so sorry you lost your job. If you like to work, then I would encourage you to look. You don't mention if your are a "note taker" like me, but if you're not, try not to be embarrased to have a notepad with you and write everything down. I also used to keep one of those daily calender thingys on my desk...it was invaluable to me. I couldn't get by without it.
You are not alone and I am so happy to see I am not alone in this either.
It has only been the last few years that "focusing" has become an issue as well. My entire life, I was an avid reader and now, I thought it was due to the pain I'm in, but I cannot focus to read or even watch a movie and I'm starting to wonder what is wrong with me? Just trying to respond to post on the forum I have to scroll up continually to reread in order to respond. Responding to a "note" here is especially difficult because it doesn't stay right in front of you and by the time I start to type, I've forgotten what it said. Yesterday, I had a thought, but by the time I took 10 steps outside to tell my husband, I forgot! This is scary to say the least. People think I have a good memory, but what they don't know is all the notes on my monthly calender about everything under the sun. If I'm going out to purchase more than one thing, I start a list.
I am hoping "focusing" problem is just menopause which would not be out of the question since I'll be 50 next month. I've been having hot flashes on and off for a few years. I have a gynocologist appt on Oct 5th to have my hormones checked. I'm hoping it's just a hormonal thing. Blondie, your issues very well may be peri-menopausal. My periods started acting up when I was only 37.
I'm so sorry you lost your job. If you like to work, then I would encourage you to look. You don't mention if your are a "note taker" like me, but if you're not, try not to be embarrased to have a notepad with you and write everything down. I also used to keep one of those daily calender thingys on my desk...it was invaluable to me. I couldn't get by without it.
You are not alone and I am so happy to see I am not alone in this either.
Yes, I had that symptom too, a while back. I had it off and on for a few months then went away. Maybe had it a couple times after. I just waited for a while, I thought it was hormonal.
Hi ladies! Just checking back to see how everybody's doing.
Blondie, how did your vacation go? Feel any better? I hope so. :)
Question for you all. Does anyone else get extremely sore breasts/nipples? It's been happening to me these last several months about once a month, I'm assuming around the time I would ovulate or in the middle of the month. I never had it to this extreme before so I guess my hormones are higher or something. I don't know. But it gets so bad that I can't stand anything touching the nipples, not even the shower! I have to turn away from the water. I've tried mentioning this on here before and no one responded to it. Am I the only one this is happening to?! I'm just wondering what might work to feel better or to not have it so bad. If anyone knows I'd love to hear it!
Blondie, how did your vacation go? Feel any better? I hope so. :)
Question for you all. Does anyone else get extremely sore breasts/nipples? It's been happening to me these last several months about once a month, I'm assuming around the time I would ovulate or in the middle of the month. I never had it to this extreme before so I guess my hormones are higher or something. I don't know. But it gets so bad that I can't stand anything touching the nipples, not even the shower! I have to turn away from the water. I've tried mentioning this on here before and no one responded to it. Am I the only one this is happening to?! I'm just wondering what might work to feel better or to not have it so bad. If anyone knows I'd love to hear it!
Have all your hormones checked by a hormones specialist if possible. i am older than you all- 49!! Never had any problems ,but last 3 years have anxiety, sadness, hot flashes ( cup of soy milk daily helps lessen them), heart palps... the works.
You are not alone!! I ask God to turn this into a blessing, help someone else and I know he will.
I have found by hormonal testing when my progesterone is really low ( took me off of it for testing) my symptoms DRAMATICALLY increased! I got retested, dr said it was very low and now back on bioidentical progesterone and starting to feel some better. AS you said I am now able to leave the house without some anxiety. Dr said it will take 2-3 months to get levels much higher, but I should start slowly feeling better.\
Read Suzanne Sommers book- Ageless. It tells alot about hormones and symptoms.... we are not crazy, just perimenopausal!!Lets pray this passes quickly and more easily every passing day!! God bless all perimenopausal/menopausal women!! Darn the Eve in the Garden!!!
You are not alone!! I ask God to turn this into a blessing, help someone else and I know he will.
I have found by hormonal testing when my progesterone is really low ( took me off of it for testing) my symptoms DRAMATICALLY increased! I got retested, dr said it was very low and now back on bioidentical progesterone and starting to feel some better. AS you said I am now able to leave the house without some anxiety. Dr said it will take 2-3 months to get levels much higher, but I should start slowly feeling better.\
Read Suzanne Sommers book- Ageless. It tells alot about hormones and symptoms.... we are not crazy, just perimenopausal!!Lets pray this passes quickly and more easily every passing day!! God bless all perimenopausal/menopausal women!! Darn the Eve in the Garden!!!
Sounds like you have a very nice, considerate husband! :) I hope you have a nice visit and get some rest. Stay in touch.
Well~
I just thought I would let you ladies know that my husband bought me a plane ticket to go see my family in Alabama. Like I stated in my earlier post traveling by mysef is upsetting to me, but being able to spend time with my folks, and my daughter will be worth it. My husband thinks I need the rest, and to get away for a couple of weeks will do me some good. I'm leaving on the 16th and will stay until October 2nd, it's out in the country, actualy I call it the "boondocks", very quiet, and peaceful. I just wish my husband could go with me. I'm still reeling over being let go from my job, I just did not see it coming. My so called friends from work have not contacted me once since I left Monday to see how I'm doing, and that is bothering me as well. My old habits of being afraid to go out alone are really creeping up on me...I tried again today to go to town and I couldn't do it. I read some of the posts on the agoraphobia community and those sweet ladies have much deeper symptoms than I do...I feel bad for even complaining about it, mine are mild compared to so many of them. Anyway, I'm doing okay today still kind of sad but with God's help I'll get threw this. Thanks again for yall's encouragment...have a blessed day!
Blondie
I just thought I would let you ladies know that my husband bought me a plane ticket to go see my family in Alabama. Like I stated in my earlier post traveling by mysef is upsetting to me, but being able to spend time with my folks, and my daughter will be worth it. My husband thinks I need the rest, and to get away for a couple of weeks will do me some good. I'm leaving on the 16th and will stay until October 2nd, it's out in the country, actualy I call it the "boondocks", very quiet, and peaceful. I just wish my husband could go with me. I'm still reeling over being let go from my job, I just did not see it coming. My so called friends from work have not contacted me once since I left Monday to see how I'm doing, and that is bothering me as well. My old habits of being afraid to go out alone are really creeping up on me...I tried again today to go to town and I couldn't do it. I read some of the posts on the agoraphobia community and those sweet ladies have much deeper symptoms than I do...I feel bad for even complaining about it, mine are mild compared to so many of them. Anyway, I'm doing okay today still kind of sad but with God's help I'll get threw this. Thanks again for yall's encouragment...have a blessed day!
Blondie
Thank you both for your posts! It is reassuring to know that I'm not going crazy! I've been feeling like I'm the only one with these memory, focus, and agoraphobic issues. Also thank you both for your kind words about my job, I'm still in shock I just can't believe it.
April~ Thank you for your idea about volunteering @ church, but that is kind of hard for me because our church is 30 minutes away. You do seem to understand that I want to feel needed and have a purpose though.
Peggy~ Your sugestion about praying and quoting bible verses is something I really believe in. I also believe the good Lord allowed this to happen for a reason, maybe he has something much better for me....something that I'm more suited for. I'm sorry your husband is not supportive, that is hard. I do have a very supportive husband, he bought me flowers on his way home from work Monday, and yesterday he said he thinks he may have a job prospect for me. He also thinks I should go visit my parents and my oldest daughter for a couple of weeks and rest. They live in Alabama, and I love the south so I'm really considering it.
The only problem is, is that I hate being away from my husband; he is very good to me, takes care of me, and is very over protective of me....So I find when I travel alone I'm fearful of people around me. I'm very dependent on him, so being without him is scary to me.
Forgive me Peggy but what is a PM, is that a private message? I went in my profile and I changed all the security settings. I dont know what I should and should not allow "just anyone" to see. I want to just allow my friends to see my personal info but I dont have any "friends" yet so I'm not sure how all that works. You can send me a PM now if you want.
Peggy~ My hot flashes are spuratic, I have not had one in a few weeks, I had to by some short sleeved cotton pj's a few months ago because I was getting very hot and sweating just a few minutes after I would go to bed...Like you I'm normaly very cold so to start all of a sudden being very hot once I'm in bed for about 10 minutes is so weird, not to mention agravating. I need to get a couple of more of these pj's, they are the only pair I can sleep in without burning up. Every so often I'll have a hot flash in the day time, usualy close to the onset of my period.
I'm actualy on the last day of my period today, I dont know if your read my other post but I was very late on my period and I had to get a pill perscribed by my doc to make me have a bleed. I had my right ovary removed in June due to endometrioma cyts on it, and I think that kind of meesed up my cycle. So I have been on a roller coaster of emotons since June.
Thank you again both of you for your kind words, it is nice to know I'm not alone...The agoraphobia really concernd me because I did not think that it was part of the pre menapausal period of time before the onset of menapause. Apparently it happens to a lot of ladies so now I'm not so freaked out. I got dressed again today to go to town for a little while but I have talked myself out of it. I did the same thing yesterday, the thought of going out alone is really upsetting..I just wanted to go to JC Penneys for goodness sake!
Take care ladies and it is nice to have made new friends here who understand me and whom I can relate too. I hope I can help yall out when you need it.
God Bless you both,
Blondie
April~ Thank you for your idea about volunteering @ church, but that is kind of hard for me because our church is 30 minutes away. You do seem to understand that I want to feel needed and have a purpose though.
Peggy~ Your sugestion about praying and quoting bible verses is something I really believe in. I also believe the good Lord allowed this to happen for a reason, maybe he has something much better for me....something that I'm more suited for. I'm sorry your husband is not supportive, that is hard. I do have a very supportive husband, he bought me flowers on his way home from work Monday, and yesterday he said he thinks he may have a job prospect for me. He also thinks I should go visit my parents and my oldest daughter for a couple of weeks and rest. They live in Alabama, and I love the south so I'm really considering it.
The only problem is, is that I hate being away from my husband; he is very good to me, takes care of me, and is very over protective of me....So I find when I travel alone I'm fearful of people around me. I'm very dependent on him, so being without him is scary to me.
Forgive me Peggy but what is a PM, is that a private message? I went in my profile and I changed all the security settings. I dont know what I should and should not allow "just anyone" to see. I want to just allow my friends to see my personal info but I dont have any "friends" yet so I'm not sure how all that works. You can send me a PM now if you want.
Peggy~ My hot flashes are spuratic, I have not had one in a few weeks, I had to by some short sleeved cotton pj's a few months ago because I was getting very hot and sweating just a few minutes after I would go to bed...Like you I'm normaly very cold so to start all of a sudden being very hot once I'm in bed for about 10 minutes is so weird, not to mention agravating. I need to get a couple of more of these pj's, they are the only pair I can sleep in without burning up. Every so often I'll have a hot flash in the day time, usualy close to the onset of my period.
I'm actualy on the last day of my period today, I dont know if your read my other post but I was very late on my period and I had to get a pill perscribed by my doc to make me have a bleed. I had my right ovary removed in June due to endometrioma cyts on it, and I think that kind of meesed up my cycle. So I have been on a roller coaster of emotons since June.
Thank you again both of you for your kind words, it is nice to know I'm not alone...The agoraphobia really concernd me because I did not think that it was part of the pre menapausal period of time before the onset of menapause. Apparently it happens to a lot of ladies so now I'm not so freaked out. I got dressed again today to go to town for a little while but I have talked myself out of it. I did the same thing yesterday, the thought of going out alone is really upsetting..I just wanted to go to JC Penneys for goodness sake!
Take care ladies and it is nice to have made new friends here who understand me and whom I can relate too. I hope I can help yall out when you need it.
God Bless you both,
Blondie
So sorry you are going through all this at once. It seems like when it rains it pours. There are so many out here that are going through the same as you. I have the thyroid, peri menopause, adrenal issue, which has caused the agorophobia, so I understand completely. Along with the feeling like I can't remember, or retain. I feel like I am looking through a fogged up window.
I have started BHRT's and along with supplements and thyroid medication it is getting better. So I recommend you talk to your dr about this. Don't be surprised if they don't believe you or even really understand or know what you are talking about. Just keep looking.
I have found that praying and quoting bible verses helps with the anxiety, along with deep breathing.
I hope your husband is supportive. Mine is totally oblivious by choice, to any kind of inconvenience, so there is no support there. I know that would have to be beneficial.
BTW, I tried to send you a PM but that is blocked.
I have started BHRT's and along with supplements and thyroid medication it is getting better. So I recommend you talk to your dr about this. Don't be surprised if they don't believe you or even really understand or know what you are talking about. Just keep looking.
I have found that praying and quoting bible verses helps with the anxiety, along with deep breathing.
I hope your husband is supportive. Mine is totally oblivious by choice, to any kind of inconvenience, so there is no support there. I know that would have to be beneficial.
BTW, I tried to send you a PM but that is blocked.
Ps. Sorry you lost your job. I understand that too. I recently lost my job so I totally understand!
I'm thinking about volunteering more with my church. Maybe you could look into something like that? It would help you feel needed, and people would probably be more appreciative of any help you could give. Just a thought! Take care!
I'm thinking about volunteering more with my church. Maybe you could look into something like that? It would help you feel needed, and people would probably be more appreciative of any help you could give. Just a thought! Take care!
Oh man, if this is peri menopause then I'm right there with you, sister! You sound so much like me. I'm trying to figure out what's going on with me, too. Do you get just hot at night? That's what's been happening with me. I've been freezing my family by messing with the air conditioner all night. Funny thing is, it's just at night. I don't know what is normal for menopause or not. I thought I'd be too young for that.
I'm going to ask the doctor to run some tests and see how my hormones are doing, and thyroid, blood sugar, etc. I've heard low blood sugar can make you forgetful and spacey too. I'm 44 so I'm close to your age too. I hope we both find out something soon!
I'm going to ask the doctor to run some tests and see how my hormones are doing, and thyroid, blood sugar, etc. I've heard low blood sugar can make you forgetful and spacey too. I'm 44 so I'm close to your age too. I hope we both find out something soon!
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