Forgetting.

F

Falcon

DV8
Location
So. California
AS we grow older we begin to forget things. I got to thinking about this and I got scared.

Some of the worst things I could think of would be forgetting how to recite the alphabet and/or my times tables or my
phone number, passwords, bank code numbers etc.

What would YOU be afraid of forgetting ?
 

Probably getting lost and not being able to find my house. My husband and I both have cell phones so we can call each other in a store if we get lost and then we have a rule we never leave a store without the other one. A couple years ago we were coming home and my husband pulled over and sat there for a few seconds looking around so I said "Why did you stop?" and he said "I'm trying to figure out where we are." That was scary but it's 20 miles to a decent size town from our house and there are at lest 30 (probably more) ways we can get back home because there are orange and lemon groves all over with roads going every which way. The hills and mts help us with our navigation too. I am not as worried about passwords and bank accounts as our kids are pretty nosy and I know they would step in and help us if we needed it. I also hope I never forget how to do my personal hygiene. My mother-in-law died when she was in her 60s (she started getting confused in her late 40s) and she was so forgetful and fearful about it that she had little pieces of paper hidden around her room saying "My name is --- with her name on it." :(
 
Getting lost would scare me as well! Or forgetting how to do something that I do all the time - like putting in my pin number when I shop.
 
Falcon said:
AS we grow older we begin to forget things. I got to thinking about this and I got scared.

Some of the worst things I could think of would be forgetting how to recite the alphabet and/or my times tables or my
phone number, passwords, bank code numbers etc.

What would YOU be afraid of forgetting ?
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My memories of my wife.
 
I think the important thing is trying to stay organized. I take after my Dad, the original absent minded professor. He would leave for work or a meeting and you could count how long before he came back for something...his briefcase, his umbrella, his wallet...which was in his briefcase...possibly his jacket but he forgot that too.

I do the same thing but give myself enough time to try to put everything by the door. Passwords and log ins fugedaboutit. Everything is in multiple phone books. As far as memories of people...I can still remember people's voices, my Mom, my grandfather, two favorite aunts, every detail of my grandfather's house that was important when I was a kid. Always want those memories.
 
Linda said:
Probably getting lost and not being able to find my house. My husband and I both have cell phones so we can call each other in a store if we get lost and then we have a rule we never leave a store without the other one. A couple years ago we were coming home and my husband pulled over and sat there for a few seconds looking around so I said "Why did you stop?" and he said "I'm trying to figure out where we are." That was scary but it's 20 miles to a decent size town from our house and there are at lest 30 (probably more) ways we can get back home because there are orange and lemon groves all over with roads going every which way. The hills and mts help us with our navigation too. I am not as worried about passwords and bank accounts as our kids are pretty nosy and I know they would step in and help us if we needed it. I also hope I never forget how to do my personal hygiene. My mother-in-law died when she was in her 60s (she started getting confused in her late 40s) and she was so forgetful and fearful about it that she had little pieces of paper hidden around her room saying "My name is --- with her name on it." :(
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Very sad Linda, my aunt died from Alzheimer's, couldn't find her way home from a walk one day, and spiraled downward after that in a nursing home. I fear the most forgetting who I am, or who my husband is...super scary for sure. I actually take a spoonful of coconut oil daily to ward off dementia.
 
Underock1 said:
Also very worrisome.
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Did you see the movie The Notebook, with I think, James Garner? Its on that subject but it would probably make you cry in places. My husband is so worried about losing his mind he won't watch any of the shows about people with Alzheimer's. He's done a lot to keep it at bay though, like learning new things, he's usually working on a car or fixing something around here, and he won't eat or use anything with aluminum in it. He keeps up on all the latest news on it. We were both happy to hear that coffee is suppose to help. :)
 
I probably fear dementia more than a heart attack or cancer. We see so many our age unable to function as they have seen their mind deteriorate long before the body. As "maturity" has set in, so has forgetfulness. Played golf this morning. Just was going to tell the daughter who was in the group when I suddenly realized I could not recall one of their names. Took me three or four minutes before it finally sailed back through the fog and I was able to pick up the conversation. I disguised it well, but these are the things that worry me.

I'm on the road a lot. Sometimes I am not my own best company. Scary thoughts go through the mind such as not being able to find my hotel or my way back home or which side of my truck the fuel cap is on or .......... I spend many hours with crossword puzzles and Sudoku puzzles in an attempt to keep the mind exercised.

I don't like this thread!!! You've put gloom on the end of a beautiful weekend!!! :>)
 
I don't fear dementia.

If I live long enough, based on family history, I will probably succumb to dementia caused by cardiovascular problems. I've watched and cared for some of my elderly relatives with this condition and because it comes on gradually it is not too distressing. I'm sure there are worse things to live with.

I am well medicated by my doctor and my approach is to live in the present as fully as I can. For the rest - Que sera, sera.
 
My mother lived in a fairly small community. She did suffer the early signs of Alzheimer's, but was still savvy enough to know when she was lost.

She would approach the local taxi rank and ask if the driver knew who she was. If they confirmed that they did know, she would ask them to take her home.

As far as I am aware, not one of them ripped her off regarding the fare either.

That was over 30 years ago now though. Not sure if it would still happen the same way now.
 
Falcon said:
AS we grow older we begin to forget things. I got to thinking about this and I got scared.

Some of the worst things I could think of would be forgetting how to recite the alphabet and/or my times tables or my
phone number, passwords, bank code numbers etc.

What would YOU be afraid of forgetting ?
Click to expand...

My wifes birthday & our anniversary
 
Grumpy Ol Man, you mentioned traveling and being in hotels a lot. That can be rough. That is why I talked my husband into taking early retirement (at 62) and now we are both sorry I did. He's been retired 8 or 9 years and is doing well but he doesn't have all the stress and pressure he had flying all over the country and sometimes getting into a city in the dark and have to be on a job site at 5 a.m. to supervise a truck of fixtures being unloaded at a store and then meet up with new workers and get them going. Now all he has to contend with is my brother and I and we are harder to handle than a whole herd of carpenters. :) Do you use a GPS? I had to take ours out of the car and I put it in my purse if I think we need it. The GPS just confuses him more and he argues with it. I've had some scary scary times on the highway with him. One involved a rainy night in Mississippi when we were going down the ON RAMP to a freeway. We realized something was wrong when all the headlights were coming towards us. Thankfully, lots of people honked at us and he was able to pull over and make a sharp right on to the freeway and get in with the traffic, instead of having a head on collision. You said this thread made you feel bad, it makes me feel good to know I am not alone and that others have the same concerns I do. It might be good if you either retire or get someone to travel with you though. Being alone in a hotel can be hell.
 
I've done that once myself, Linda. Have also gone through a few "Stop" signs. Those all happened more than a year or so ago. No mis-steps since, so its not necessarily the beginning of the end. I drove in the dark on snowy back roads as late as last year to get my wife to dialysis. No longer necessary now, so I am done with night driving. You have to force yourself to focus. I consciously think about every step I take. I kick my own butt all day long,
 
Underock1 said:
I've done that once myself, Linda. Have also gone through a few "Stop" signs. Those all happened more than a year or so ago. No mis-steps since, so its not necessarily the beginning of the end. I drove in the dark on snowy back roads as late as last year to get my wife to dialysis. No longer necessary now, so I am done with night driving. You have to force yourself to focus. I consciously think about every step I take. I kick my own butt all day long,
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That's interesting Underrock1, that it isn't the being of the end. I know that now, wish I had than. Stop kicking your own butt and find something else to do. There has got to be something for you to do. :sentimental: I think a lot of us enjoy your posts on here so that is one thing. :)
 
I mostly fear forgetting my bank pin and all my account numbers and passwords to my finances. I'm good with names, still but numbers begin to elude me. And I have way too many "Senior" moments where I'll walk into a room for something and forget what it was. As long as I can remember enough to always take care of myself the rest doesn't scare me much. A friend of my family's died of Alzheimer's and that was a truly miserable way to go.
 
Fortunately I don't have a gas stove as leaving it on used to be the sign to send you to a home...
 
fureverywhere said:
Something we can all still giggle about. How many times have you said out loud "I know I came in this room for a reason".
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Yes F, I have done that many a time.
I remember a few years ago I thought Dementia was on the way, so went to the Docs.
To try and make a rather long story short, it turned out that the Statin (Simvastatin) I was on was causing forgetfullness, and sore acky breaky joints.
I was changed to another Statin called Crestor (rosuvastatinum), and that made a big difference. I am now on 20mg a day of that particular medication to keep my cholesterol down below 4.

However, to this day I worry if I forget something or other that Dementia is going to get me.
I would want to be put down rather than be in a care home being spoon fed my morning cornflakes as I fall asleep for the umpteenth time!:(

Now then.
What was that I wanted to do today? :confused: :D
 

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