brain fog? Any coping mechanisms?

I know this is a normal reaction to being on the wrong levels of HRT, which is going to take time to get fixed but geesh! Some days it is so bad that I can't remember my own phone number.

I am trying to write everything down but that left side of my brain that handles logic is temporarily under construction. And I keep misplacing all the lists. Or I get so tired mid-project that I just give up and go take a nap! It isn't unusual for me to walk into the kitchen and totally forget why I went in there. Tried to sit down and take care of some desk work this morning and got so confused just sorting thru papers. ARGH!

I was hoping for better six-weeks post-op, really I was. Physically, my body is in shape to start resuming some of my normal chores around this house, limiting things based on weight, energy levels and avoiding stress on the ab muscles. DH has been a trooper and has been taking good care of things but he needs some relief from the extra work soon too. I would like to be able to take care of some basic stuff so he isn't putting in a second shift every night doing laundry, cleaning and cooking.

We had a long thread going on about this very problem a while back. I went and hunted the link to it for you. It is in the FWF forum. Enjoy the reading, but make sure you have your tummy pillow if laughing still bothers you. It is quite funny .
Enjoy!

http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/sho...ight=checkbook

You know, I didn't really have that sense at first. I was really congratulating myself at having avoided that trap! Until...

I was reading a story to DD's class -- and forgot which page I was on. I can no longer cook a meal start to finish by myself...and if anyone is talking to me, I can't do it at all. I work two different jobs, and take call at one of them. I keep forgetting my call nights until they page me (I just wear the beeper 24/7, now, otherwise, I'd forget!).

And I'm 7 months out! My DH thought that I should be getting better by now, not worse...I've got a testosterone prescription coming in the mail and I'm ing that it's the magic cure...I've always had an attention problem, but now I'm seriously considering Ritalin...

Audrey

P.S. Nancy, thanks for linking to that thread...it gave me a badly needed laugh this morning!

I had my own phone number on a post-it for *months* after my TAH. Kept the ovaries, so I can't blame it on HRT. A co-worker had knee surgery, and had the same problems. I think it can just be from the trauma and healing. It was easily a *year* before I was back to my normal, pre-op level of fogginess.

My coping mechanisms:

Post-it notes - mostly around my monitor

Lists - And a brightly colored clipboard to keep them on.

A Calendar. And a place where you always leave it.

Timers and alarms. (I don't leave anything cooking in the kitchen without setting an alarm, or I'm likely to get caught up in something else and forget about it.)

On a horsey list I'm on we were all just chatting about forgetting the water, when filling the water trough, and causing a flood. The solutions there were an auto-shut-off valve, or a stop-watch/timer (from the sporting good store) that hangs around your neck.

Outlook, and other software, has alarms you can set to remind you of meetings, phone calls to return, etc.

Places to leave things, so you can remember them - like a table by the door, where you can put stuff "to go out", so you don't forget to take the mail to the post office when you run out to do errands.

For names, ask your DH/SO to clue you in, like at a party - "Hey Greg! It's good to see you again."


Good luck!

Right now, I am having to ask dh to remind me what my name is!