memory problems and shopping

[Sailorsong]

One of the first cognitive problems I developed was short term memory problems (almost 18 years ago). At times it is quite severe (IMO) as I will get up to go to the bathroom, and no sooner get up and not know why I got up. I mean how can you forget that you have to go to the bathroom? LOL

As a result of this and my decision making problems I have had a terrible time with doing shopping. I could go to the store with only  3 items to get and return home with only 1 or 2 of the items. I would spend hours going up and down the aisles try to maybe spot the items I had forgotten. Most of the time I never would find them. Some times it would take me 2 or 3 months to finally pick up something I needed even though I would be going to the store every couple of days.

Ok I knew I needed to start making lists for going to the store. At first I tried just writing things down on a paper on the kitchen counter. This kind of worked some of the times. The main problem was that I would see the paper on the counter and think it was an old list and then throw it away.

Next came using my computer. Can't throw that away. LOL So when I thought of something I needed I would head for my computer in order to add it to my shopping list. But then I just ran into another problem. I would be in the kitchen making something for dinner and use the last of a spice for instance. By the time I walked to my computer and started up the shopping list program I would forget what it was that I needed to add to my list. I did a lot of walking between the kitchen and my bedroom (3-4 trips each time) in order to get things on my computer.

My next attempt to solve the problems as to pick up an IPod touch. Since I had the IPod with me in the Kitchen I could remember the items long enough to enter them. SO I finally thought I had things fixed for my shopping. But I so found out that this presented another problem. I kept forgetting to plug the IPod in to charge it up. You cna imagine how frustrating it was when ever I wanted to enter something n my shopping list only to find out the IPod would not turn on and it would take at least 2 hours of charging before it would power up. LOL.

So recently I went back to low tech thanks to my brother. I now use post-it notes for my shopping lists. I get several colors so that each store type has its own color (one of the problems I had with the just plain paper was all stores were on the same paper). I also don't remove the post-it from the pad until I am leaving for the store so I know it is the current list. At the store I just stick the post-it to the handle of the shopping cart so the list is in plain sight always. I have been using this since June and it seems to be working for remembering things I need to get.

Of course I still have problems when shopping. I still end up forgetting which aisle something is located in and just where an aisle is in the store.  I also still have trouble figuring out which way to head to get to the cashiers. I don't know how many times I ended up heading towards the back of a store when I was done shopping. LOL Oh, I also trouble remembering which store I was going to go to by the time I get out of my driveway. But that is taken care of by using the color of the post-it and the GPS in my car always. LOL

Well I hope some of this will help other that my be having these type of problems.

Dennis

[bbassel]

I am also dealing with these issues. I get up to get something across the room and sit back down only to remember I needed something. It is a vicious cycle lol.

I put everything in my phone and always have it with me for safety reasons. I have a little coach purse that goes across my body and is small and lightweight.

All my appts are in the calender, alarms are set for pills, lists of things needed and even my address for the times I forget it.

It works wonders for me but if I lose it I am up s**t creek lol.

All the best,
Barb

[jensequitur]

Hah! Me three. I had a lot of onions and a lot of butter at one point. At least it doesn't go bad, like milk.

[Sailorsong]

Poppy,

  I keep my food shopping post-it on the counter along with a pen right next to where I prepare food. When I am low or out of something I just pick up the pen real quick and add it to my list. I have a post-it in my bathroom/laundry for those type of things. And another next to my toolbox for those type of things. I have one additional post-it in my living room for the miscellaneous items around the house.

  Now if I could only figure out how to stop picking up things I already have picked up. I will have something on my list such as butter and pick it up, but then at some point before the next time I go shopping  I'll remember that I needed to pick up some butter and add it to my new list even though I had already picked it up. Last summer I ended up with 4 pounds of butter because of this. LOL

Dennis

[Poppy7402]

I have dreadful problems when it comes to remembering something long enough to write it on the shopping list.  Will be cooking something, either have run out of, or be getting low on something but often can't remember it long enough to either finish what I was doing or get to my shopping list to write it down.  

I know I drove my DH mad while we were overseas in June.  I'd (attempt) to work out where we were supposed to be going but then have to check the map every 30 seconds as I couldn't remember what I'd worked out.  DH eventually got really grumpy and took the map off me, thus relieving me of all navigating responsibilities.  We did see a few 'extra' places while I was navigating lol.

Poppy

[saucygrl]

I have used the same post-it method for a few years with great success.  I recently got an iphone 6 and it has a reminders app that organizes lists by colors as well.  I delete a list once I shop. Since I almost always have my phone with me it works out well.  I charge it every night whether it needs it or not.  The only issue I have with it is that I occasionally forget my phone.  

One of the women I work with used to get mad at me for always having post-its  along the bottom of my computer.  She kept telling me to put everything in my calendar, which I did, but still needed back up because I have a hard time remembering to check it.  If it's not right in front of me there's a 50/50 chance I'll remember it.  I think she finally understood when she came in and I had one lone note - CHECK YOUR CALENDAR.  LOL!

I'm thinking about investing in Post-it stock! Between all of us that use them, we could make a fortune!

Chris