Recently I literally can’t find the word for something when I need it. Obvious day to day objects, people’s names, places.
I’ve come across brain fog and memory gaps in some symptoms, but I feel really clear headed when it happens.
Is this normal?
Yes and I think this is why I feel comfortable at home because I have trouble spitting my words out. And it's much worse when I don't sleep well the night before.. : (
I'm wondering the same thing. I have been experiencing the same thing. So frustrating!
Hi Marion, happens all the time to me! I live in a small town and have seen neighbors in the grocery store...totally forget their names...I have to think of their last name, then I piece it together. 😁
If it makes you feel better, since my forced hysterectomy 3 years ago my favourite words are thingy, whats-his-name, what’s-her-name and simply pointing and grunting. I used to have an amazing vocabulary!
Im a PA and if I don’t do something immediately I forget.
I leave things all over the house and can’t find it for love nor money.
If if I didn’t have ‘find my iPhone/ipad’ I wouldn’t have a clue where they were. Even if they are right next to me. I just wish I could have that function for my hair brushes, coffee, glass of wine or pretty much anything else.
My my being nice radar also seems to have gone. If someone smells I tell them. If a child is screaming it’s head off I tell it to be quiet. If someone is driving like a knob. I tell them. I think it’s only time before someone punches me. I’m just hoping not!
So so to answer your question, yes! Unfortunately it is very! Very normal! Embrace it. Grow older in a mad way!!
Oh yes, very familiar! Lots of 'thingies' in our house...such a good word when you can't remember the correct name! Also, lots of whatshisnames and whatshernames! It's not as if I forget all this stuff for any length of time, but it's frustrating when it does happen. I also find an issue when I'm driving - I'm totally aware yet end up going the wrong way! My daughter asked me to go by a particular route recently but within a couple of minutes I went the other way. Why? I just momentarily forgot 
and I was thinking of other things. I'm definitely post menopausal now so goodness knows how long this lasts!
It’s dreadful isn’t it! When it first started I was so worried. I’ve realised that if you just go with it it makes it a lot easier!
Im just hoping it gets better in the long run. Although I’m not counting on it!!
We we really should have a ‘mad menopausal group’!!
Good of luck one and all! Xx
Oh this is so me too! I feel for you as sometimes I literally cannot find the word i want in my head... simple words just evade me! I'm worrying to death I've got Alzheimer's or something...
it's the same kind of feeling when I walk upstairs and get to the top step thinking 'Seriously? What the heck did I come up for?' and I stand there for ages and possibly even go back down before it comes to me. I'm always asking my husband for the word I mean and he usually tells me straight away - so - it's not just you. Hang in there, we obviously all go a bit mad for a while... just as long as it gets better we'll be ok but my worry is - what if it doesn't?! 😪
AJ. xx
Louise,
Your life sounds so similar to mine!! My children wanted to go somewhere the other day, I agreed but suddenly realised my mind had wandered (as it so frequently does) and I ended up going totally the wrong way and heading for another location that wasn't the correct one! Why? I have no idea but my mind was totally off route! 😖
Hey-ho... 💕
Hi , yes I'm the same I forget ppls names, go into a room and forget why I went in there but the strangest thing I have had was 2 weeks ago I was on my cycle (not sure if this was to do with it) but was chatting to my partner(thank God it was just him) and my words came out all jumbled up for a few days on and off my friend said I should mention it to doc.
Happens to me so often now! The simplest word will slip my mind. It is very frustrating!! Hoping it's just a peri symptom and I'm not actually having early dementia at 48!
Thanks all so much. I do now (depressingly) feel very ‘normal’ and will stop worrying that I have early on-set dementia! I am only 50 and really have very few of the obvious symptoms that people always talk about. Just a lot of weird little things that just mean I don’t feel like me anymore.
I’m trying to relax & go with it. It’s a phase and it will pass. But I do need to be able to function & do my job!!
Thanks again. So glad I found this forum!
I'm 55, had a pretty easy menopause apart from a bit of spotting (which ended up being nothing), and it's now almost 3 years since my last period. Has the forgetfulness eased off at all? Actually...no. Not yet anyway. It hasn't got any worse though, so I guess I just need to put up with it. A large A4 lined notebook with tear-out pages has become my best friend, it's used every single day to jot down everything (phone calls, details, phone numbers, arrangements, schedules, shopping lists,appointments, notes, to-do lists) and I go through it now and again to get rid of the stuff I no longer need. If I need details of something I know I will find it somewhere in my notebook.
I also suffer from anxiety a lot, which definitely became much worse approaching menopause. I find that just looking through my notebook really helps, it seems to calm me a bit, although I have no idea why!
I love the idea of a 'mad menopausal group'! 
WElcome to blooody Men O paws its f......ked
This started with me mid-40s. Now, mid 50s,it's not any better but not any worse so I don't think it's dementia! Having said that, I doubt my other half would agree, he's often to be heard referring to me as The Crazy Lady
That's a menopausal comment if I ever heard one!
I've had to take a deep breath and sort my words out sometimes, weird 
Hey there,
Yes I seem to be more worrisome & anxious too, I always have heartburn and I think that's a kind of anxiety related thing for me.
I may try the notebook method to help me but, knowing my track evie's, I'll forget where I've put it!!! 😖😂
Hope you have a good day.
AJ. xx