How's YOUR brain?

if i keep it busy it is fine. let it rest for a couple of days and it goes to mush. i can understand why some people say they will never be able to retire. i think if i didn't have a couple of problems to solve everyday my time here would not be long.

Last week we were stuck behind a lady in the checkout lane who realized after things were rung up that she needed to swipe her club card for a discount, so in her purse she goes, and eventually fishes it out. Then she realized she would have to pay, so in the purse again for a checkbook. Then she needed a pen, so in she goes again, but this time it was at the bottom of her purse, attached to her shoulder by a strap. Every time she leaned over to dig deeper, the purse also moved down. Finally, out comes the pen. Then she had to put everything back in said purse while we waited.

Several days later I was standing in line at the checkout, daydreaming, and realized I hadn't entered my code. Then I realized I had to pay, which meant swiping my debit card, still in my wallet. Sound familiar? Geez I hate getting old. My brain is going, no doubt about it.

That's very true.

Why would the brain not be subject to being imperfect, as are the other organs?

True. It may only be this long, but, it's THAT big around.

My brain problem seems to be that I'm doing things that would be reasonable at some level but not quite right, and the part of my brain that used to watch over me and say "No, Stupid" isn't there any more. I'm plugging something into a jack it fits in, but it's the wrong one. Or I'm doing algebra and use X instead of Y where it should be obvious.

That and forgetting what I said 2 minutes ago I was going to do, and what I was going to take with me when I got in the car.

Don, as long as one is aware there's something a little wrong with their brain they'll usually be alright. It's when the person has no insight as to their problem that things get bad.

If you're really curious about how bad things can go wrong do a little research into Frontotemporal Degenerative Disease (FTD). Alzheimer disease ain't just old people forgetting things.

Here's a link to a forum I'm registered with; http://ftdsupportforum.com/

I'm there for help dealing with how to live with my poor wife who suffers from FTD. You'll have to register just to read the forum, but it's super well maintained with no problems. There are over 4000 of us there and more joining all the time. The stories and support shared there are mostly heartbreaking. But by reading around there just a little you'll gain some very valuable knowledge about what can happen when one's brain REALLY 'goes south'.

Take care,
Ed

> Several days later I was standing in line at the checkout, daydreaming, and realized I hadn't entered my code. Then I realized I had to pay, which meant swiping my debit card, still in my wallet. Sound familiar? Geez I hate getting old. My brain is going, no doubt about it.

I am in the same boat, been there done that, you have not lived until you have brain freeze in front of an audience.

Luckily one of my wifes characteristics is that she is amazingly adept at spotting my deficiency then quickly notifying me of said deficiency, then repeatedly reminding me of the deficiency over the years, you know friendly reminders.

Shoot Don, My brain is perfect as obviously evidenced by my posts!;-)

Have a great week!

My SWMBO is one of those OCD list maker types. Her thrill of the day is "...just crossed off another one..."

My early christmas present was a small notebook, so I could start making a list of things I need to do. She thinks I keep forgetting things. Unfortunately, I lost the notebook, so I'll have to go back to just using sticky notes. Sticky #1 says "go buy the same notebook" 😛

Sorry to hear about your wife Ed.

Ed

Thank you, Ed

I thought of your situation after I posted this subject and I really hoped that you wouldn’t be offended. I apologize for taking it in a humorous direction. I shouldn’t have done that because it’s a serious concept. It fascinated me when I read it; the idea that we can acknowledge physical shortcomings, but not be aware that our brain is less than perfect.
I’m not just talking about forgetfulness either, but perception and responses; things like that. Differences in perception may not be imperfections, though, and of course, that leads to questions of who we really are…
Not going in that direction now.

A question for you, Ed, because I really want to know and I have little understanding of your burden. If this is inappropriate, please tell me to STFU and go away. Is your wife unhappy?

Don

Lists:
There once was a couple who were having trouble remembering things, and a friend told them they should make lists. It seemed to help. They would use the list and remember to go to the post office on the way home from the grocery store, and so forth.

One evening they were watching TV and the man said, "I think I'll have ice cream. Do you want some?"

The wife agreed, and added, "With chocolate syrup, please." Then as he started up the stairs she said, "and I think there are some nuts in the cupboard. That'd be good, too. That's three things. Do you think you should make a list?"

"No, I'll remember."

He was gone for a long time and there was some rattling of things in the kitchen. Eventually he came downstairs with two plates of scrambled eggs.

The wife looked at him in disgust and said, "I told you you should make a list. You forgot the bacon."

Don...

> Thank you, Ed
>
> I thought of your situation after I posted this subject and I really hoped that you wouldn’t be offended. I apologize for taking it in a humorous direction. I shouldn’t have done that because it’s a serious concept. It fascinated me when I read it; the idea that we can acknowledge physical shortcomings, but not be aware that our brain is less than perfect.
> I’m not just talking about forgetfulness either, but perception and responses; things like that. Differences in perception may not be imperfections, though, and of course, that leads to questions of who we really are…
> Not going in that direction now.
>
> A question for you, Ed, because I really want to know and I have little understanding of your burden. If this is inappropriate, please tell me to STFU and go away. Is your wife unhappy?
>
> Don

I wasn't at all offended by your post, fella. Considering the average age of surveyors I think it was a good subject to bring up. FTD usually strikes people in the prime of their life and is noted for how hard it is to diagnose. Many divorces have happened only for a spouse to later discover their mate actually was suffering from a brain disease. So, in a way I'm lucky to know.

As to your question, one of the first things that is noticed in the person with FTD is changes in their personalities and behavior. Losing empathy, emotional blunting, apathy, that kind of thing. My poor wife is not unhappy, nor is she happy. She no longer looks at life in such terms. Living with someone who suffers in this way is quite challenging to say the least. You have to adapt, you can't cure these kinds of brain problems and you can't will, or reason, them away. Hell, finding humor in them is sometimes the only way to cope with them.

Thanks again for bringing up this subject of the brain. It doesn't hurt for us to take as much notice of it as we do of our weight.

Take care,
Ed

> To paraphrase from a book I’m reading:
>
> Everyone understands that their body isn’t perfect - too skinny, fat, short, big ears or nose, stuff like that - but at the same time we mostly all believe that our brains work perfectly. It’s an illogical assumption given that the brain is hugely more complex than the body.
>
> I mean, I know that mine’s O.K., but I thought the rest of you guys should think about it.
>
> Don

That is quite Curious!

We thought you should be checking yours.....

at the door when you come in. It seems to be making funny noises and disturbing others. You know those noises. Snorting, Coughing, Wheezing, etc., like it is about to die on you.;-)

While mine is not perfect, I am perfectly comfortable with it as is.

I have never been accused of being totally civilized nor totally sane. Nor would I want to be accused of either condition.:good:

Ed ...

I'll preface this by saying, I'm all too familiar with how when you or a loved one is ill, people make all sorts of well-meaning suggestions about treatments or palliatives or whatnot.

On the other hand, I am fighting a possibly related disease, which I have not mentioned here before. Most of the time I don't say anything, for the above reasons, but I would feel guilty not sharing what we have learned if it could help someone. If you (or anyone else interested) will drop me an email (see profile), I can pass along some details.

-hb

PS Don't worry, I'm still kickin!

> > To paraphrase from a book I’m reading:
> >
> > Everyone understands that their body isn’t perfect - too skinny, fat, short, big ears or nose, stuff like that - but at the same time we mostly all believe that our brains work perfectly. It’s an illogical assumption given that the brain is hugely more complex than the body.
> >
> > I mean, I know that mine’s O.K., but I thought the rest of you guys should think about it.
> >
> > Don
>
> That is quite Curious!
>
> We thought you should be checking yours.....
>
> at the door when you come in. It seems to be making funny noises and disturbing others. You know those noises. Snorting, Coughing, Wheezing, etc., like it is about to die on you.;-)
>
>
> While mine is not perfect, I am perfectly comfortable with it as is.
>
> I have never been accused of being totally civilized nor totally sane. Nor would I want to be accused of either condition.:good:

Thank you for the 😉 at least. Even if you really meant it:-)

Don