Neel, the other ladies have already suggested a lot of good ideas to check out. One thing I can offer to help you in the meantime is perhaps to use a kitchen timer for things. I have a lot of forgetfulness due to a brain injury, and I use a kitchen timer all the time! If you're going to put something on the stove to boil, you can set the timer for when you think it will be ready, and then you can go do something else and not worry that you'll forget about it. I use a kitchen timer for nonkitchen things too, like if I have to leave for an appointment in half an hour and I don't want to forget.

Thank you for your very helpful inputs (and hugs ^_^) everyone and again you all have proved that I can rely on this community for anything! A biiiiiiig hug to everyone!

Janet/Diane/LBD/Megsy - Thank you for chiming in! Sleep deprivation could be a major issue with me. I get anxious at nights ... because of two things that happened in the past and have enormously affected my sleep. Once we had a fire right under our apartment in the middle of the night. I could smell the smoke in my dream state! And the fire alarms woke me up (DH was still fast asleep). We had to rush out of the apartment with two sleeping kids and it was scary. Then, another night (more like 4 am), DH had a hypoglycemia induced blackout and fell down unconscious while using the bathroom. The huge thud I heard sent me racing to the bathroom like a mad woman. He was motionless first and then showed stroke like symptoms after he regained some consciousness .... which thankfully later turned to be nothing enormously serious, but he could have died that night and it was the scariest night ever!

Now any minor noise at night wakes me up with a jolt and I cant get back to sleep. After these episodes I have run to the bathroom twice screaming DH's name when I heard any noise from there (for eg he just moved a bucket) Argh! He always breaks out laughing .... nothing funny here dude o_O I mostly curse him and get back to bed!

LBD - I had subscribed to flylady ... but the information was overwhelming! I gave up! I think I should try again.

Jackiec - Funny how our handling of similar things is also similar! I repeat to myself too! Really does help!

Suz - That example does strike a cord in my head! I have forgotten at times for what I have come to a certain place (never how!)! Or why did I call the grocery store. Did I need anything? Of course I did .... but what?! Frustrating!

mtgirl - Thank you for the lead on magnesium deficiency. I would keep that in mind when I go in for my check up. I am a vegeterian, and bone broth may not be an option for me .... but I am sure I could do something with my diet.

Laurinda - I have started doing this too. But I never needed to do this ... why now? That's my worry! Until I find that out, I will follow your strategy and always always keep things in its place and post reminders. Thank you!

abc - Sure I would keep you all known about the outcome. I am sure I would need help with that too!

elpgal - Thank you for commiserating

texstyle - I do eat a lot of dairy products. Hmm .... something to think about. Thank you!

Peri - Another friend recommended B-Complex tablets too. I should check it out. Thanks!

AG - I constantly hear my doorbell ringing in my sleep! More than twice I have come out of the bed and checked if there was really someone at the door! I have to get exercise into my routine again. With kids' school, I have had little time in the mornings for myself. But I could do it later in the morning for sure. Thank you for your input! I absolutely, completely relate! And it stinks!

AviaMariah - I just checked up on the gluten intolerance. I don't fit the symptoms. So guess that's not it. But hoping something will help! Thank you for chiming in!

Rachylou - You crack me up! I wonder if I am just *careless* LOL!

Alasse/Caro - Thank you for chiming in!

Lyn D - Great coping tip! Thank you!

Jeanie - I have started putting reminders on my phone for every little thing so I don't forget! DH has taken over the tea department because of my morning rush scenario! I have started checking my gas stove before I step out of the house just to make sure nothing is on it! I am going to pray for my watch to show up too Ack!

Adelfa - Hugs to you and thanks for chiming in!

Shevia - Common is the word! The feeling of *I am not alone* is so relieving in itself! Thank you!

Gigi - A timer .... that's a great tip! Thank you!

This thread has been really useful to me. Until this year, I could remember so many tiny details about everything. I used "what was I wearing that day?" as a sort of index into everything else that had happened, sometimes even years back. Now, I can hardly remember what I wore yesterday. (Everything else seems fine.) It started exactly when I started taking different antidepressant meds, so I'm blaming that - but I did actually learn I have very low ferritin, last week. (Iron and red blood cell levels are fine.) I wonder if it's related to a few months of eating really badly. Anyway, I was just thinking today that I might stop my meds to see if that's the cause, but maybe I should try some iron supplements first.

Best of luck, Neel!

Oh greyscale! Wish you luck too! I had a few months of horrible eating too. But that was 3 years back. The memory does seem to have gone downhill since then. Hmmm .. So a regular iron chk is not going to help at all. I better get cracking this issue!

I was just going to say, "Welcome to Parenthood." Parents juggle so much so being forgetful is not astonishing. Of course, if you are concerned do rule out anything medical. That is always wise to do.

It is amazing the stuff I do remember and the other stuff I do not. So I make lists, write on my calender, and try to put stuff exactly back where I found them. I do have to laugh at myself though. A few months ago after taking the dog for a walk I could not locate my housekey. I went back out and retraced my 2+ mile walk and scoured people's lawns. They must have thought I was crazy. Came back home and sobbed and worried that someone now had my housekeys and could enter my home. Of course, my address was not on the key fob. I reached into my handbag to retrieve a tissue to wipe my tears and there were the keys. I never put those keys in my handbag.

I am 58 and no this is not because of age. I have been like this even before my DD was born. Has not gotten worse. Just too much stuff for the brain to keep track of.

Neel sending hugs... and advice is all of above. Thyroid issues also slow thinking compounding sleep deprivation xx

Some medications can cause that, also.... great suggestions from everyone. Hope you feel better soon

Thank you Laura, jenanded and biscuitsmom for chiming in!

Laura - Oh the dreaded keys! And the phone and the wallet! I always have those scary *Did I lose it?* moments too! I completely relate and empathize! Thank you for telling me I am not alone!

Neel, we are similar in age, if not in circumstance, and I found my formerly excellent memory got really dodgy when my iron levels were low. I know vegetarians sometimes struggle to get enough protein and iron into their diets, so perhaps that's another avenue to explore during your checkup? I'm glad you're willing to overcome your antipathy towards doctors and give that a try. Best of luck. The supports are out there, you're not alone and you'll be ok.
Your reply

I can only offer empathetic hugs to you, Neel! I hope you're able to get a handle on it soon, sounds like the gals have given you loads of good advice and leads to look into. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my mid 20s; it's been under control for many years now, but since that time have never been able to concentrate nor focus nearly as well as I could before. It's frustrating at times, but for the most part I just have to roll with it and do what I can to combat it without stressing too much. Stress loops are never helpful

Neel, if I had to place a bet, based on your age, your backstory and your symptoms, my money would be on sleep deprivation as the culprit. No sleep, or poor sleep, will mess with your head. I had major sleep difficulties that didn't go away for several years after the birth of my second child, and I was a zombie. A forgetful, mindless zombie. My sleep (and consequently memory) troubles were partially solved in the short term by medication, but then completely went away after I had a gigantic fibroid tumour removed from my uterus. That was four years postpartum. Shortly after the surgery, I magically started sleeping again -- deeply and refreshingly -- just as I had before kids. I think the fibroid was somehow messing up my hormone regulation! So keep in mind hormones can mess with your sleep patterns, especially if you've had past trauma and/or current stress.

Definitely see a doctor. They'll get you sorted out. Sounds like everyone here has some experience/advice/sympathy. I wish you all the best!

Thank you Michelle, Aida and Aziraphale for chiming in.

Sleep I see could be a definite culprit in my case. If I get 2 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night, I would consider myself lucky! Kids wake me up to use the toilet or to pour them a drink of water every single night. Plays havoc with my sleep

Good grief. No wonder you're having memory trouble. Sleep interruptions every two hours every night is not sustainable!

OK, so I don't know how old your kids are -- I'm guessing toddlers? -- but I should think it will get better as they get older. For one thing, they stop waking you up if they need the toilet.

Kids can also be trained to sleep through the night, even if they're not babies. I had a friend who did it when she remarried and they merged families. Her stepdaughter was a sweet but anxious little girl who had night waking issues. They came up with solutions together on how to 'not wake up mommy and daddy at night', and the whole family was better for it. I wish I could remember what her strategies were. If you like, I could ask.

Thank you for chiming back in Aziraphale. My kids are 6 and 4. But they co sleep in our bedroom. On a separate bed thankfully! Our older one had (and still has) attachment and anxiety issues. He has been refusing to move out We are working on it. But what can I say ... I just left it too long and it's completely my fault Now it is harder than it would have been if they were smaller. Plus I have sleep anxiety issues of my own. The past few days have been great with me hitting the bed earlier than always. Hopefully things will get better soon!

I wonder what would happen if you stopped all drinks for the kids after 8 pm (or at least one hour before bed time)? And maybe even wake THEM up one hour into sleep to see if they need to go. But NO drinks then. Are they drinking enough water during the regular part of the day? Do you use a humidifier (maybe you need one in the bedroom?)

I know I'd be trying some options like that immediately if it were me!

Sleep is way too important to not have rules to make sure it happens.

Neel, I'm late to your thread. But wanted you to know that I went to my doctor last year with some of the same symptoms, combined with exhaustion and a solid case of the blahs.

We did tests and the only thing that came up was really low vitamin D levels. So my doctor officially diagnosed me as "a woman in my 30s with kids". He says he sees people like us all the time - we do so much every day and our brains are so full, there just isn't room for everything.