Frightened About Severe Sudden Memory Loss

[Smowball]

I don’t know what’s happening to me and I’m scared. Monday I delivered lots of orders to customers locally. Lastnight I’m going through my order book and checking what orders I’m waiting for and I see a customers name. I’d ticked I’d delivered to her. I had no memory of it. Checked the list and I had absolutely NO memory of seeing any of those customers the day before. Another one txt me last night. I vaguely recognised her name but couldnt place her visually. . So I scrolled through the whole conversation and realised I’d only been at her house last week and that I’d been there many times.
This morning I wanted to check something on my mobile so I thought I’d call the house phone. Went to dial it and I had absolutely no idea what it was. Sat there and just could not remember. You’re all just going to say go to the doctor but I’m sat here really scared and upset and don’t know what to do or think right now.
This has only been the past week, not even that.

[Mamyalynne]

If you are juggling lots of things at once sometimes you go on auto-pilot and may forget - however you are right.

Go to the GP and get checked.

[Smowball]

I suffer from severe insomnia and yes I’m doing a million things but you all know what I’m worrying that it is and I’m literally terrified to be told that. What are the odds at my age??

[woofgang]

Mamya is right, first thing to spring to mind is stress. Go and see your GP and get some reassurance.

[Mamyalynne]

I doubt anyone on here can give you the odds Smow, get checked out for peace of mind.

[Smowball]

And how do they test for something like that?

[woofgang]

Smow, I know yoiu are terrified but.....honestly.....how will NOT going to the doctor help?

[rowanwitch]

Smow, it's not the right pattern for Alzheimer's, it doesn't normally happen that quickly see I've said it. But it does need checking out properly. Don't panic if you get sent for loads of tests. You will make yourself worse by worrying and not knowing

[Smowball]

I’ll ring him now

[Sqad]

You are a very anxious, tense and dare i say this hypochondriacal woman.

We have been through psychosomatic episodes before on AB..

I agree with the above that it is due to stress and i am not convinced that going through "loads of tests" is going to help or even suggested.

monitor the situation for a few weeks.

[rowanwitch]

Imagine we are all with you, might be a bit crowded though

[Smowball]

Cheers Sqad......

[Gromit]

// Question Author I suffer from severe insomnia //

The brain does not work well under extreme fatigue. Driving when suffering from tiredness results in many accidents, which is why lorry drivers are capped on their hours of working.

It sounds like you are over tired, and the memory loss is your brain not functioning well through lack of energy

You need to take a break and recharge your energy levels.

[moggymay]

Stress affects memory due to high cortisol levels

Cortisol is important when it comes to keeping you alive. Your adrenal glands secrete cortisol when your blood sugar is low and when you're stressed. That's ok if stress comes in short bursts, but when it's an ongoing state, those high levels of cortisol can be corrosive (metaphorically) to the brain.

When someone is stressed, cortisol is released to help them get through that event as a chemical boost for survival.The problem is when you stay at high levels of stress, you get an over influx of cortisol. Research has shown this leads to short-term memory loss.

High cortisol levels makes synapses , the places where neurons connect and transmit chemical bits of information known as neurotransmitters, shrink and disappear. When a person is stressed, two things happen, first, they're often affected by lack of sleep and/or poor nutrition, both of which are necessary for the brain to work optimally. and second, the brain is preoccupied by whatever is causing the stress, taking up precious mental energy that would normally be used toward needed memory storage.

You need to address what is causing your stress and learn coping strategies such as mindfulness and yoga.

[Patsy33]

It sounds to me like stress. You're not sleeping either. You had the nasty shock of son's friend's fatal accident too. Like has been mentioned, you're on auto pilot. Please have a word with doctor. x

[Smowball]

Thanks guys. Am hoping you’re all right.... but I will have a word with the doctor x

[DTCwordfan]

yes and mention your stress as it sound like that, not Alzheimer's which is progressive and not like stepping off 'a brain cliff'....which Vascular and Parkinson's Dementia can be.....

[woofgang]

and don't tell the doctor that you are fine and coping.......

[pastafreak]

Was it you who said recently you might be peri-menopausal?

[gness]

Smow.... exactly the same happened to me in my thirties. I would have no memory at all of certain things ..... things I had done or said I would do.
It was the start of the menopause..... and it was really frightening. X

[Smowball]

No Pasta is wasn’t me. And oh I didn’t know that Gness..... it’s bizarre isn’t it.