Seeler, I think things like that happen to all of us.  I've been to the correct classes in the morning and somehow skipped a day and showed up for the next day's class in the afternoon.  That was BEFORE a bunch of health issues were bothering me.

It's worthwhile noting, and if there's a trend of such things I would see a doctor.  If it's just a one time thing, it's not something to worry about.

Yes Seeler, you're losing your mind.................happens to me all the time. Hope you had a chuckle and it's good to know I'm not the only one.   :)

I recently showed up a week early for my hair appointment - fully convinced I had the right date!!  

I work part time at two locations - so I'm often waking up the morning, thinking to myself, OK - what day is this?  am I working?  which site?  ... 

No - you're not losing your mind!  Laugh and move on!

You've been busy . . . a lot on your mind . . . an easy mistake to make.

Could it mean something more . . . I don't know.  But I wouldn't worry too much unless you find it is happening more often and all the time - then it would be important to go see your doctor.

No Seeler you didn't lose your mind.  It went on a well deserved mini vacation and joined mine at the lakeside cottage for an hour or so.  

These things happen to everyone but when we are young we tend to laugh and carry on.  Aging seems to make us start fretting about Altzheimers etc.  Chances are it was just a little blip - if you are really 'losing it' your family and friends will tell you!!

Thanks friends for your reassuring posts.

I remember about thirty years ago, I showed up at the medical building for an appointment and found the door locked.  None of the many doctors who shared the building, their office staff, or any patients were about.  The parking lot was empty.  It took me a moment to realize that I was there on a civic holiday and my appointment was actually the following Monday.

Other people have told me about similar things.  Not long ago Seelerman mentioned getting ready to go bowling and I reminded him that bowling wasn't until the next day.

I guess it happens to us all.  Younger people can say "I was rushed (worried, distracted, tired)"   As we get older we wonder "I'm I losing it."

speaking of losing it-I ordered new cheques as I was running out. I remeber them arriving and thinking  "this is a good place for them" Today I ran out of cheques and can't remeber where "the good place" is. I've been tidying my bedroom.

If I hadn't moved they would be in the bottom drawe of my bookcase or in my desk drawer.

But not in this house.

One doctor explained the difference between old-age forgetfulness and senile dementia as follows:

When you forget where you put your jacket, this is forgetfulness. When you don't recognise it when you see it, this is dementia.

Here's a reasurring bit of news a colleague sent me this week  ... 

Read more

Thanks for finding the article carolla. I had just read that, but couldn't remember where 

I always suspected that we know so much when we get older, it just takes longer to go through all the data. 

I'm losing my mind too. Hardly a day goes by that I don't enter a room and forget why. 

I don't think you're losing your mind. I had so much to do one week I forgot about an important meeting that I had just confirmed a couple of days before. I got a call "are you on your way?"- and I was nowhere near on my way and had to apologize profusely, because by the time I could get there, the time would be up. I really felt bad. On Fridays I start work an hour earlier and work a shorter shift. One Friday I was an hour late. Also, have many times forgotten to get the laundry from the dryer at night- usually if I'm caught up on WC- if it's too late when I remember, I go down to get it in the morning

I am constantly forgetting where I put my phone down- when I just had it! Constantly.

Now that sounds so much better.......

"No, I'm not losing my memory - my hard-drive is just full up" - I'll use that one!

(I just attempted a Facebook wink, instead of a Wondercafe wink, oops!)

I find I am having a harder time remembering names. I recognize faces but forget names as I get older . Especially when I run into someone outside of the context that I know them from. I used to be better with names. It's embarrassing, and I don't want to insult the person. Especially if they say my name. More embarrassing if I'm with my husband or a friend, and I recognize the person- and they seem happy to run into me- but I don't know how to introduce them to the person I'm with!

Some of the forgetfulness that I have experienced and seen seems to come from basic lack of attention.  If I am rushing around trying to do several things at once, I am more likely to have a 'Senior moment'.  Thing is it also happens to my adult kids, so I expect it isn't totally an age problem.  I have seen a 16 year old 'forget' to turn into his driveway and walk into a parked truck (walking and texting).  I don't 'forget' where my phone/book/shippong list/wallet/keys are very often - unless I am 'not thinking' when I set them down.  Didn't someone start thinking of the tasks of the day at the office - and forget to drop the baby off at Daycare leaving her in the car?

I, too, am experiencing some of the "forgetting" that many of you have mentioned above.  Forgetting names that a few years ago would have rolled off the tip of my tongue, forgetting where I have placed items, needing a list for shopping and errands, needing to write everything on the calendar (and then needing to remember to look at the calendar ).

Now I make lots of notes (for everything) and don't rely on my memory.

Although I remember all kinds of useless details, I have a hard time remembering names. This can lead to awkward social situations. I think it is best to confess to my weakness, and just ask for the person's name, but rarely do. Too embarrassed.

I seem to spend a great deal of time in the "hereafter".

I go to the basement for something and ponder "now what am I here after?"

Go to my bedroom to get something....same thing, can't remember..."what am I here after?"

My hard drive (brain) is full.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.  

One of the side affects of chemo is loss of memory. It goes away after the chemo is finished but is annoying.

I didn't know that crazyheart.

I'm in my early 40's. I don't think I'm having senior moments, but maybe something to do with hormones. A friend who's the same age says she doesn't seem to have as much room in her memory either- the hard drive isn't exactly full-it's like the old details we rarely think about get shoved aside (onto a seperate 'disk' that you misplaced? Takes a bit of time to find it and reinstall it! ;) ) to make room for the current ones! I will forget a person's name, for example- or "Oh! What was the name of that movie or actor?" then, all of a sudden, half a day later it spontaneously pops into my head while I am doing something totally unrelated- or I'll wake up in the middle of the night and it occurs to me- as if the brain subconsciously keeps going through the Rolodex! Lol! I find it quite fascinating that that happens. But now, if we forget the name of a movie, we can think of a few descriptive words and google it, and say, "of course! I knew that!"

I write post it notes, tell people to call me the day before to confirm certain events, write events on my calender (who will tell me to check?) and my daughter will remind me of relevent birthdays, anniversarys, etc. At work I write everything down. Things have definitely changed!

Phone numbers are another one. Many of us program them into our phones and have 'forgotten to remember" them. I remember my parents' and grandma's phone numbers, and strangely, my high school friends' parents' numbers. But others that I call all the time- I have no idea what their numbers are! I don't know if I have lost the skill of remembering them or I just take the phone memory for granted.

I agree with everyone else that memory glitches are a part of a busy life.

However
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Not always. It can be a sign of decreasing abilities.
.

My mom had Alzheimer's and was part of a study group for about 8 years. The average elderly person is sharp and doesn't forget things. The average person might have a glitch due to a busy schedule but it is infrequent.

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Cognitive abilities is something that can be tested. If you are concerned Seeler, you should see your GP and have a thorough check up. Not trying to scare you. Only you know if you are actually concerned

That's true lastpointe. I've seen the husbands and wives of people with Alzheimers overcompensate for their partners "forgetfulness" that unfortunately delays diagnosis until it's more advanced.

Crazyheart mentioned the memory loss that can accompany chemo treatment.  My partner suffered memory loss from major heart surgery.  Like a traumatic brain injury it slowly improved, but not to the level it was before the surgery. It has added quite a bit to my stress as I try to keep track of things but without causing upsets to my partner. Sometimes it feels a bit like walking a tightrope!  Sometimes it tries my patience too far.  Sometimes all there is to do is laugh - why on earth is the butter in the office and the phone in the fridge?

lastpointe - thank you for your concern. 

When I was first diagnosed with Parkinsons several people either told me outright that I had, or would soon have, dimentia.  Some even treated me differently.  I was concerned.  When my family doctor realized this was bothering me, she did do a cognitive test.  I only missed one question, and that was from not paying attention to a minor detail that I had dismissed as unimportant.  So I scored in the top category.  Since then when I've seen the neurologist, I realize that some of the questions she asks are to test my cognitive ability. 

When I ran into this bit of confusion yesterday, it did make me question myself.  But I've talked to others, including those here, and found that many people have occasions when they've forgotten something, or mixed up the days.  I'm quite certain it was an isolated incident.  

However, perhaps it is time to mention to my family doctor that maybe we should repeat the test.

(I recently found a similar, self-administered, test on facebook.  Again, one question wrong.  Actually not wrong but accidently skipped when I hit 'next' instead of 'enter'.  Even so, I was in the top range - 94% correct, no problem.)

I have experienced some of the things mentioned in this thread. Names can be frustrating. The other day someone came up and said hello to me, using my name as well. She was so familiar with me that I was embarrassed to have no memory of her. I fessed up and said that context was wrong and that I'd forgotten her name. I remembered her as soon as she told me since I'd net her in a totally different context in Vancouver, even though she was from the town we were currently in. The fact that she was pregnant carrying her toddler also threw me off!

I prefer to think that I'm having troubles accessing my RAM some days.

Tabitha, I too have the problem of a cheque book in a safe place. I remember putting it somewhere and it is not in any of my usual places.........

My partner confessed the other day that there was no clue stored in memory about the place chosen to store our kayak!  Obviously not in the house or yard, we checked.  One kid says it isn't in his yard.  One kid is in a different province and hasn't even seen it yet.  One kid says she hasn't got it.  Must check with remaining kid to see if partner took it to his acreage with many outbuildings - very likely!  Bizarre really - a kayak isn't the sort of thing that gets tucked in a drawer and forgotten or not noticed.  Oh well - we don't need it right away and it will show up somehere before we do!

I have heard of people having memory loss after having an anethsetic for surgery.

What can happen is that you have minor memory loss and then have a general anesthetic. Afterwards your memory is worse.

It is a result of the general and doctors dealing with altzeimers recommend not having a general anesthetic

Significant confusion that may not be reversible

Ok after not finding my new cheques I orderd more today. I figure I can always use the hidden ones when they resurface. I did look most of the weekend in all the spots I could think of. I also decluttered my bedroom a fair bit.

Seeler -I think your mental capacityis probably quite fine. Rpeat the test with your doctor if it makes you feel better.

We all have thses moments.

LOL kay re the kayaks - my colleague got two in the late fall - she's so in love with them that she's kept them propped up in her front hall since then - can't quite move them to the garage!  They're a nice colourful addition to the decor!! 

True enough Seeler - SOME people with Parkinson's develop a related dementia - but not ALL and that's an important distinction to keep in mind (sorry - no pun intended!!)  Sometimes there can also be disruptions to cognition & perception when there are medication changes - so if there's any time correlation of events it's good to talk with your doc.   It's also true that many people with chronic conditions can become overly vigilent in watching for changes - things that may have slid by in the past can become a major focus of anxiety.  And then anxiety can have a negative effect on cognition ... becomes a bit of a snowball.  Periodic evaluation is important - but usually not tooo often.  Loss of 1 or 2 points on an assessment score is usually not significant, especially when a person is still otherwise functional. 

Yes, carolla, being anxious about forgetfulness can make one more forgetful and worsen the forgetfulness that one fears. On the other hand, it is important to recognise and counteract the early onset of Alzheimer's.

That's true, Arminius. Although we don't want to over-react or be anxious about our memory we also know that early intervention is key in health issues. I guess if a person is concerned they should have it looked into. That way they can find relief if everything is okay, or start early treatment if there is something.

There is also good way to lose one's sanity:

On the driest, whitest stretch

Of pain's infinite desert

I lost my sanity

And found this rose.

-Rumi

OK I'm curious-did you locate your kayak Kay?

LOL - he thinks it might be at the kid's acreage - somewhere.  Too snowy to get to the storage building so I decided to not worry about it until we KNOW it isn't there!  

I have long been interested in the process of aging. Special interest in the softening of surface memory. Seems to cause dismay and alarm.

What if it is nothing more, or less, than the way of nature at work in and through us? That is, what if the dissolution of surface memory is key to disclosing the deep mind close by the core of our being in the world?

We see the pattern working in and through indigenous persons and peoples of the diverse continents.

Elders slip out of concern for material prospects and into concern with the abiding spirit in and through which human being is formed and sustained. The elder mind slips from the realm of facts and into the realm of imagination.

Not a random wandering  or aimless drifting of the mind. The critically focused precept and purpose of  a mind directed by a heart aimed to locate and secure the seventh generation's good.

There is great delight in the softening of the conscious mind and the emergence of the unconscious mind.

It is in letting go of desire for control that we are liberated for the experience of life as it is freely available in and through the natural order.

George