So forgetful is dangerous

Hi!

I did it again. I left something on the stove and went outside. I have done this alot lately.

I know it's FibroFog but it is to the point that it is dangerous.

I would appreciate any suggestions you have to help keep my family safe.

Seriously, I feel like I should move out before I burn the house down.

I try to do just one thing at a time and even that doesn't seem to help.

Thanks!

 

Oh wow, that's JUST like me!  Shows how interested we are in cooking!   I try to touch things that are still hot, too.  I also put leftover food in the microwave while it cools off (to keep the cat from getting it while we're eating) - then end up having to throw it away the next day....or stick my hot egg pan in the oven in the morning for the same reason - then start the oven for supper and melt the spatula    I've done that 2 days in a row!  You'd think after suffering 3rd degree burns - FROM A STOVE - as a child, I'd have learned something.  But I guess fog is stronger than memories. 

I agree about the alarm, though I wouldn't know how to set a cell phone.  If I do think that far ahead, it's to set the oven timer.  Then, it's like, "What?  What's that?  Oh, yeah!"

Yeah, it is pretty scary to be so spacey. If I figure out the answer I'll let you know. If you remember, do the same for me, ok??

I am glad to see it's not just me. I wonder how much of it is insomnia related. I took the ambien and got at least 6 hrs sleep but I think I also had an "ambien hangover". When you think you are functioning and realize at the end of the day you really didn't do or even try to do anything all day. Well it's after midnight (my earliest possible bedtime)and I am yawning. I am ging to try to sleep without assistance tonight. Take care!

That is exactly what I have to do Sue, never leave the kitchen until I am done! With 5 kids in the house (well 2 teenagers and 3 younger ones 11, 9 and 7) I worry that they could get hurt on something cooking, as none of them pay much attention to where they are going...lol So I get 2 birds with one stone, the house doesn't burn down because I forgot I was cooking and my lovely monsters don't have a bad accident!

I live by myself most of the time.  My daughter sleeps here because I can't hear smoke alarms.  I have left the stove on several times.  Yes, it is disconcerting.  I'm 63 so it really gets to me. 

 

Since I've left things on before, I now concentrate on what I'm doing when cooking.  I have a timer that vibrates so when I put something in the oven, I set it and clip it to my blouse.  This way I don't forget...well, I forget but the timer keeps me from burning dinner to a crisp.   I've very careful to turn off the burners FIRST before I remove the pan from the stove.  I also go around the kitchen and double check the stove, oven, and toaster oven before I ever leave the house.  I have a dog and two cats and would never forgive myself if anything happened to them due to my forgetfulness.

I have a severe hearing problem and can't hear water running and have left that on a few times too.  I think the worst forgetful thing I did concerning water was draining my pool.  I wanted to drain a couple of inches off the pool because of heavy rains.  Well, you guessed it.  I forgot about it and drained half the water out of the pool and flooded my neighbor's yard!    UH!  That's when my son bought me the vibrating timer. 

 

Sherrine 

Ok, so I broke my own rule cuz I forgot!! I put on a pot of water to boil to brew tea. Then got the bright idea to move my little tool box from one closet to another and got all distracted. Fortunately, I heard the water boiling and turned it off. Sheesh!

Wanna Sew, I know how you feel. I have been known to leave burners on after I have put the food on plates and served dinner. That's really sad! Luckily I haven't burnt the place down yet. I also used to forget to turn the coffee maker off when I left for work. Now I unplug it after I turn it off. I used to have a photographic memory, but those days are long gone.

Not to rub it in but I'm seriously lucky I have my husband.  when its my turn to cook I usually get to tired or in pain to stand over the stove.  so we've gotten me to the point of moving the computer chair next to the kitchen and i'll read a book and set a timer to remind its been long enough in between stirswhen the fog is too thick.  Or you could do couples/group cooking.  someone has the skillets and someone has the toast??

When my fog is bad, I won't use the stove. I just use the microwave. When it has finished cooling, our microwave beeps once every minute until you open the door and take out the food.

The cell phone idea is a great one because it will remind you even if you've left the house (assuming you didn't forget your phone.) My problem is that I always think I will remember so I don't set reminders.

Sometimes I put my car keys near something I don't want to forget. This way, you are less likely to leave the house and forget something. I was forgetting my lunch for a while so I put my car keys in the fridge next to my lunch. Then I put a post-it by the hook where I usually leave my keys. It also works when you are cooking, put the keys by the stove and you a less likely to leave when the oven is still on. I usually put a post-it up otherwise I'll spend hours looking for the keys. It's a bit of work but it helps. You just have to do it every time and not just when you think you need to.

We have been thinking about putting a dry erase board by the key hook. As long as I take the extra steps to write on it and LOOK at it, I think it will help. Once it becomes a habit, it should work.

How true, Sherrine! Remember that Joni Mitchell song that said, "laughing or crying, you know it's the same release,"?

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one in this kind of shape.  I usually burn something on the stove at least once every two weeks and my DH sometimes gets upset at me. 

 

I have tried to explain that it is the Fibro fog to him but he thinks it's just carelessness. 

 

I'm going to see if he will read some of your post to prove to him that there is a reason I do these things.

 

God Bless!

Shannon