Hiya CloudDog,
I have a few suggestions based on our experiences with dementia...
Firstly, get yourself an A4 page a day diary. This is going to become your central point of reference for all things. If you need to make a note of appointments then they go in the diary. If you need someone to drive you there, put in the diary who it is, what time they are picking you up. Put your appointment letter in there and write down phone numbers that you might need in a hurry eg your driver, the hospital that kind of thing. At the bottom of the page write a few notes each day about how you have been that day, things like...we're you relaxed, anxious, under pressure..did anything happen that highlighted to you that you had forgotten about something, what other challenges did you have that day. Also include feedback from others...X told me I had forgotten a conversation we had yesterday, Y told me they were noticing I was struggling to remember details like ABC.
At the back of the diary write down all your contacts and their addresses and phone numbers.
Also write down useful information that you can't always remember quickly any more. Stupid things even, like, say, Bin Collection Day is a Friday. It might be a list of bills you have to pay each month that are not on direct debit..then you can check if you have paid them.
List of birthdays of family and friends.
You might be thinking 'Geez, Im not that bad' I don't need to do this. Part of the reason to do this is so that it becomes part of your routine. So when you really do start to struggle, all the important information is in one place. You will be less anxious than if you can't find things quickly, or you can't remember where to find XY or Z.
For the same reason as the diary, invest in a wipe board for the kitchen where you can leave reminders for yourself or others can leave messages too. Might be to note what items you need to remember to get when you go shopping for example. Might need to jog your memory to do a security check before going to bed.
If you start things now, it could mean that all these things in years to come allow you to continue to function independently.
As to your GP and your concern that you may not be listened to etc. why not make an appointment for a couple of weeks time (i would ask for one of those longer evening appointments so you have time to discuss things without feeling rushed) and in the next few days write a letter to your GP so they have read it before you get there. I think you might find that it is easier for you to write things down rather than have to talk about them. So your letter might say something like...
Dear GP,
I have just made an appointment to see you on xxx (date) at YYY time. I am anxious about this appointment because it is to do with problems I am encountering due to, what feels to me, a rapidly decreasing ability to remember things on a day to day basis. I know that I am only. Xx years old but this has become a serious issue for me and other people are also noticing how I have changed and how I am now struggling. I have made a list below of what has been happening over the past xx months which I thought might help you to understand why I need your help to find out what is going on.
Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx
I hope writing to you up front gives you sufficient background so we can have a meaningful discussion when we meet next week and helps you understand how anxious I am. I will also bring my diary with me so you can see the challenges I am having to resolve on a daily basis and how these seem to be progressing quickly/slowly at the moment.
Your faithfully,
XXX
Hope this helps but if you need more information etc then just let us know,
Fiona
