As I sat at the computer thinking about what I wanted to write about today, I had a brain fog moment. A moment when I couldn’t remember what I had been writing about the past few days let alone the past few weeks or months. As I scrolled through the published posts and the scheduled ones, I couldn’t remember writing some of them.
So, why am I telling you all of this? It has been awhile since I shared about my MS journey. For some, you may tune out. For others, they are curious. While still others have been on this journey with me so they totally get it.
How often have you said “I don’t remember”? Maybe you walk into another room and forget what you went in the room for? Go to the store and forget to get things unless they are on a list. Imagine if every day was like that – every hour even. Welcome to my life with MS. I don’t say it for sympathy, it is more about me starting to accept the impact it has on my life and others.
Most days, I just let things slide. Family and close friends try to adjust to the fact I don’t remember things or even times spent together. The hardest are the missing memories of childhood – mine, my daughter growing up, my wedding, high school and so much more. Not to mention the frustration as I try to work my business remembering customers and hostesses or even the names of products or prints.
Those who meet me just think it is a “senior moment” when the reality is I honestly don’t remember. I remember faces (most of the time) but names I’m not very good at. I may know I “should know you” but don’t know how or why.
Today is Thursday and I can barely remember what I did on Saturday or Sunday even though I lived through them. I think hard about the weekend but the only thing I remember is I can’t remember. Thankful for my planner where I write down scheduled plans and even note things I have done in case I forget and try to do them again – like pay bills, make calls to customers, etc.
There are so many things which could have filled my time. It’s possible I might have buried a dead body in the back yard (nope, hubby is still here with me – LOL), I could have won a years supply of chocolate (now I’m stalking the UPS driver), or I maybe I robbed a bank and am now a multi-millionaire so I should have moved to a tropical island escaping the cold weather. Who knows? I sure don’t.
The one thing I am blessed with I’m still breathing, I’m alive alive, and ready for a new day, It’s weird how my brain works. You have heard about selective hearing where people can tune out things which annoy them? Well I think I have selective thinking. No, really at a talk last week, the doctor said “the most common symptom of MS is cognitive issues and memory loss”. HELLOOOO!!! I have been saying it for years. It honestly was nice to hear a medical doctor confirm it and say it out loud – or did I dream it?
What truly amazes me (and everyone around me) is I have no problem remembering the words to songs but easily forget Sunday is trash day or Wednesday is recycling. If I didn’t have reminders on my phone or it written in my planner I’d probably not get anything done.
I forget to call people back, answer text messages and respond to emails. It’s not intentional. It just is what it is. If I haven’t responded to you…I’m sorry. If I forgot your birthday or anniversary…again, sorry. If I can’t remember your favorite color, miss an appointment because I didn’t have it written down or forgot your name, trust me, it’s not on purpose.
Multiple sclerosis just has this way of scrambling my thoughts and at times turning them into mush. Sometimes I wonder how I get anything done at all.
Time to get some things done – now where did I put the list?
Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!
Hope Wissel 