Short term memory problems are just one of the many symptoms of Fibromyalgia. When it happens it can be frightening. The inability to think clearly, lack of concentration and sometimes speech difficulties are also included in the long list of Fibromyalgia symptoms.
Having to live with these symptoms (Fibro-fog) every day can be very frustrating. Missing appointments, forgetting to hang out the washing, make a phone call, forgetting a friends name, or the inability to remember a word for something. Sometimes, prescribed medication can add to these symptoms.
Learning to live with the memory problem is difficult. Writing things down in a diary or daily journal would be very helpful, if you can remember to write in it or pick it up and read it! Sticky notes all over the house would also be helpful if you carry a list to remind you where you stuck them.
My 9 year experience with this illness has taught me how to try and live my life around the short term memory problem. I never write reminders down on paper, I end up losing the paper or forgetting about it altogether; and besides that, paper can't jump up and hit you in the face to remind you about an appointment. I also ask friends and family to help me out too, so, thanks for the memory folks.
I use every piece of modern technology that I can to help get me through the day. My laptop, a tablet, and mobile phone, all play a huge part in being my memory back up system. Here are some of the applications I use to enhance my memory. Extra gigabytes for my brain..
Google Calendar I use this on all of my devices and it syncs with my emails in outlook and other programs I use. I set reminders for everything, and no matter which device I am on I will get a reminder.
Outlook Calendar: Outlook calendar is excellent and it will sync with my Google calendar.
Wunderlist; This is good for making lists of things to do, shopping lists or those must do items.
Evernote: I love this program, as it syncs with a lot of other programs and really helps me to keep track. It's easy to use too.
You may know of other programs to help with memory loss, please feel free to share them here.
I get a lot of popups during the day, but I don't mind them anymore. They do a lot to help me remember and concentrate on things I have to do. Most of the time it works and I rely on these programs in my day to day living. However, I recently missed a dentist appointment!! I forgot to set up an alarm. So that cost me £10 for a missed appointment fee. It was the first appointment I had missed in over a year so that isn't bad going.
As I always say, what works for some doesn't always work for everyone. But as sufferers of Fibromyalgia we can, discover a new ideas for living our lives in the best way we can despite this horrible syndrome.
If you have some ideas for living your life with Fibromyalgia please share them, they could help a lot of people with Fibromyalgia live their daily lives a little easier.
