Hello, and welcome to TP.

I feel you should go to your GP and discuss with him/her your fears.
I am not dimissing your concerns, but you need to have a through medical examination before thinking along the lines of dementia.

You could just print out your post and show this if you feel it would set the scene for you.

I do hope you receive some help soon, but whilst all on TP are supportive, non of us is able to diagnose. Yes you have similar symptons, but so do many other conditions, so please get yourself checked out.

Do let us know how you get on, Connie

 

Hi KStevenson
Connie has just given you some very good advice.
We are not qaulified to give medical opinions,you must go to your GP.
HE/She will be able to assist you and sort out your concerns.
Please come back and let us know how you get on
Best Wishes
Norman

 

If I can offer some reassurance. Your messages point to someone who is worrying excessively and has poor concentration. You mention that you are on anti-depressants - I wonder if you're a bit low in mood and anxious at the moment. See your GP and tell him everything that's on your mind.
In secondary Mental Health when an Elderly person with memory loss is referred depression and anxiety is always a consideration as the symptoms can be similar to early dementia.

 

My view is that, while it is not impossible for someone your age to start developing dementia, statistically it is so unusual that it is best to consider other things first.

You might check out the anti-depressant medication itself, perhaps try something different.

Being distracted or worried by something - work, family life, health, etc - can cause us to appear to lose short term memory. Memory doesn't just happen, it is a result of opening the cupboard of your brain and looking through the drawers on a regular basis. We stack the treasured things at the back and we always know where they are, but from day to day we stick this and that in there, waiting to sort it out, throw out the useless things, keep the useful ones.

If we are distracted, we put off sorting through the things and they all become a jumble, and we forget individual items that we may have thought important.

This was illustrated in Peter Pan, where Mrs Darling would go into her children'a room each night after they were asleep, and tidy up their thoughts of the day so their minds would be clear the next day. Oh for a Mrs Darling in my place!

I agree with the others, GP is your first stop. Don't worry overmuch if you can help it until you have checked out all the options.

Best wishes

 

While it is unusual, it is not impossible. There is anecdotal evidence of teenagers who have developed dementia.

Doctors work on the basis that they can allot every patient, on average, a set [small] number of minutes per visit. Where situations are more serious, they will give more time and consideration to what patients say. It is up to us to move ourselves into that category.

It helps us do that if we have some material evidence, rather than saying "might I have...?" Try keeping a diary of things that worry you with your memory, things you forget, anything else that happens.

Then present the doctor with your records. It might make some difference.

 

another thought

I agree with the opinions & advice already given to you above. In particular getting your hearing checked out (& remedied if necessary) should be followed up. You can't expect to understand things if you can't hear them properly!

Another thing for the doctor to check out (it only takes a blood test) is if you might have an under-active thyroid gland. Mine went pop about 10 years ago, and gave rise to symptoms of poor short-term memory, lack of ability to concentrate, unexplained tiredness, hair loss eek: ) and weight gainmad: ).

Writing down all your concerns & symptoms before you see the doctor is a good idea. It's so annoying to remember "Oh, I meant to ask ...." after you come out!!

Best wishes

 

Realistically, your chances of having dementia at age 24 are very slim. This is not to say that it doesn't happen - I've come across a number of people of that age and younger. But we're talking about a handful of people in the whole country, many of them with inherited conditions or a pre-existing learning disability.

As the people here have said, the cause of your memory trouble is more likely to be something other than dementia.

Memory problems should be taken seriously - they can be caused by a range of conditions, some of them quite serious, and many of them treatable. They can also be caused sometimes by medications, so it's wise to check whether your current meds aren't causing this for you. Finally, as I think Brucie said, anxiety and stress can cause memory problems, so worrying about your memory is likely to make your memory a while lot worse!

It's probably sensible not to go to the GP to talk about dementia, but do discuss your concerns about your memory generally. As someone suggested, a diary of events might be helpful to you, to explain how, when, and how frequently your memory lapses are occurring. It might also help you to see this - there may be things that are triggering reactions in you, and getting a sense of how and when they occur might put things into perspecitive.

I hope that helps, although there's nothing here that people haven't said already!

All the best,
Colin

 

Hiya Kstevenson

reading along the lines of 24 yrs old, you have probably more energy than you realise and maybe could look at an exercise programme, (if possible),
this may help you relax more, and keep the anxious bit to a minimum....
again there is, some already good advice given on TP so let us know how you go....

and try not to worry, I`m sure your fine

jakky

 

Hiya KStevenson,
You sound like a young man with an awful lot on your plate at the moment. You mention being on anti depressants; you have three young stepchildren, and another one on the way. This is a very stressful time for you, and stress can do funny things to your mind - in fact all the things you say: difficulties with memory, difficulties calculating, difficulty understanding things the first time someone says something, feeling your mind is blank and maybe a little detached.
I agree with what has been said previously, you need to go and talk to your GP. Make an appointment, don't keep thinking about whether you ought to or not. Write down a list of your concerns.
Take care
Amy

 

Hiya KStevenson,
Again, quite normal with someone who is feeling anxious. Get onto the phone and make an appointment to see the doctor; you are doing yourself and your family no good sitting and worrying. Do as others have suggested, make a list of the things that are frightening you at present, talk to your GP.
You have a new life to look forward to soon, and 3 stepchildren. (Are they boys or girls?) It must be difficult being "dad" to a ready made family, how do you do it? Take care. Try and have a good day.
Amy

 

Hi KS

Many of the symptoms you describe could be those of depression, stress and your general state of anxiety. That's not to say you shouldn't get them checked out - I suffer from depression myself, and know it's not just something you can shrug off, or 'pull yourself together'.
I would suggest you tell your doctor all your symptoms, just as you have told us, (and how long you have felt this way) and let him/her suggest possibilities and helpful measures.

Best wishes