Let's talk a little about fibro-fog, I know for some this can be one of the more distressing symptoms of fibromyalgia. Especially if you are still trying to work or take care of kids. For me it amounts to losing words, repeatedly going into a room for something, forgetting and then remembering only to forget again when your back to that room. Or occasionally finding random things like my phone or a hairbrush or keys in the refrigerator. Names are impossible and even solid memories come and go as they please. You feel like your brain is tied to your head by a string and is floating somewhere near by. You start talking only to realize you no longer know what you were saying. You have this constant feeling like your missing/forgetting something.
My worst experience with this was during a really awful flare up and several times I would leave the house to drive to an appointment. I'd get in the car and start heading in the right direction like autopilot, I would pass up the turn and not notice for a bit turn around and pass the turn again because in those spaces I couldn't even remember why I was in the car. I would have to pull over and ask my self why are you driving? Where are you going? Where are you at now? Finally I would remember but I'd feel anxious and a little scared about what happened. It's a small glimpse into what I imagine early Alzheimer's is like.
I almost always forget to turn the oven off (I know.) I have had many conversation with people where they would say I just told you this last night or even 5 minutes ago. It's like having selective memory only I'm not the one making the selections.
At work this can make you look like a bad listener, incompetent or lazy. It can look like intentional misconduct or in really bad scenarios even high. A real whopper that symptom. I'm still not sure how best to handle this symptom. It comes and goes. Sometimes it feels so obvious like a sleepy haze other times you don't even realize until you find evidence. Who knows how often it's happening really. This is one of those symptoms that might make it impossible not to inform your boss, coworkers or spouse about. It's funny but communication might be the only way to avoid problems. If you know you're spacey and it might affect others, maybe it's best to say so. It's complicated because you don't want it to seem like an excuse either. Tough.
A few things that might help:
Reminders for appointments or events
Everything in its place
Eating regularly to help with metabolism fatigue issues (keep snacks handy)
Nap if you can
Don't try to do more than one concentration task at a time
Take a moment
When I forget names or words I go through the alphabet phonetically -it really helps
Breathe
If you can't find something try to retrace your steps -it's kinda like the alphabet
Google it (this does not work for lost keys)
Move on you might remember later
It could also be a medication so keep notes on new meds to make sure
If its taking meds you can't remember it's extra important to have a tell. Like am/pm dose boxes. Or a place you put you bottle after you take a pill in the morning and a different place at night.
I do that with dog food, after morning feed scoop goes on top, after evening feed scoop goes inside. That way I don't forget to feed or double feed dog. It works unless I'm really bad and forget which way it goes! Hah. Well.