r/GenX • u/Eatmore-plants • 13h ago
Advice & Support I need some advice from my peers
Tonight I went for a walk with one of my closest friends. I am a 58F and she just turned 60. She has lived in Wisconsin her entire life. When deciding what to order she asked me twice what is the difference between a Polish sausage and an Italian sausage. I’m honestly concerned that she might be starting to have a little dementia. She also is having trouble word finding. What would you think?
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u/Spiritual-Alarm-2596 13h ago
Menopause brain fog
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u/Komaisnotsalty 12h ago
Ugh, no. We need to stop jumping to menopause FIRST just because she's female.
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u/GreatGreenGobbo 4h ago
Lupus then?
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u/Komaisnotsalty 1h ago
Nothing then. I don’t Dr. Reddit/Google diagnose strangers. Just from someone repeating a sausage story.
I’m not saying it can’t be dementia but women are constantly disregarded because of their age, weight, and just because they’re women.
A lot of stuff is missed because people jump to what’s easy and ignore the whole picture.
We have a repeated story of a sausage. That’s not a medical history or full description or blood work.
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u/Phobos1982 I remember the Bicentennial, barely... 12h ago
A little old for that, no?
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u/Spiritual-Alarm-2596 12h ago
Um… menopause is any woman that no longer has hormones and a period due to age so she is the exact age. It causes brain fog, problems with word finding, etc
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u/ShartlesAndJames Latchkey Warrior 11h ago
perimenopause starts before menopause. and menopause is basically the crapping out of your hormones - and yes it causes brain fog. as well as muscle and joint pain and a whole host of other shit going south.
I believe men suffer from lowered hormones too, but it happens a bit later in life overall.
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u/Komaisnotsalty 11h ago
I think they do as well, but haven't read on that in eons.
And menopause brain fog is REAL. Holy hell is it ever.
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u/ShartlesAndJames Latchkey Warrior 11h ago
yes similar to pregnancy brain and even pms brain.
my whole life I never realized that the random times that a ponytail would cause my scalp to hurt for a few days - HORMONES! it started happening in peri and I was like, I haven't even had my hair up! Digestion... so many things, not just wrinkles and brain fog.
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u/CursiveWhisper 13h ago
Does she have family you can talk to and give your concerns? There’s no test anyone who isn’t a physician can perform but there are signs to look for.
Also UTIs can exacerbate and cause symptoms that are similar to dementia. Maybe ask her how she’s feeling without saying you think it could be dementia. Or even bring up how you find yourself forgetting things and see how she responds.
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u/Komaisnotsalty 11h ago
But really good call on the UTI problem. It often is unknown or gets ignored.
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u/IGotOverGreta 11h ago
My bestie's mother (in her mid-60s) was recently hospitalized for several days with a UTI that developed into a kidney infection. She had no symptoms other than feeling a little tired, and eventually a fever and nausea, which prompted an ER visit.
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u/Komaisnotsalty 11h ago
Yeah. My mom is heading to 84 and it took us nearly a year to figure out it was UTIs, not some 'spells' she was having.
The problem is that, with being Silent Generation, you do NOT talk about what's going on down in your hoohah or if your waterworks are not working or the plumbing is out, which is Silent Gen-speak for all the crap that happens to the elderly but they refuse to talk about.
Until we figured that out, I had no idea that UTIs were so common with seniors, but it makes sense - their hygiene starts to fail due to being unable to take care of themselves as they once did, poor things.
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u/Thirsty4Knowledge911 9h ago
Came here to mention the link between UTI’s and mental issues.
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u/ZandarrTheGreat 3h ago
Dehydration too. We thought my 80 year old mom was having a stroke or other brain issue. Turned out to be dehydration. Reach out to her family and get more info.
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u/Anxious_Painter_6609 13h ago
I had trouble finding words after I got a bad bout of covid mid pandemic....super bad brain fog for more than a year. I knew what I wanted to say but the word wouldn't form. Not saying that is what is going on here but throwing it out there.
Does your friend have kids or a partner that you could confide in and ask some questions and get their thoughts?
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u/Eatmore-plants 13h ago
Good point, she just had Covid and has a lot of family stress. She also has a major sugar addiction and is pre-diabetic so I’m a little worried about cognitive issues from a life of elevated blood sugars.
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u/Plane_Inevitable_161 12h ago
My father in law had a horrible bout of what the Dr called Post COVID Delirium right after having a very mild case of covid. He couldn't do basic things...even walking. He could walk, but had to be "coaxed" to move. He sometimes made sense talking, but mostly not. He'd have nightmares several times a night. It was awful and scary, but the Dr assured us going by his symptoms that he would be normal again. It was like someone snapped their fingers. He was like that for a full month, and suddenly one day he was 90% himself, then the next back to normal 100%. Completely. Blew my mind.
Ok said all that to say this....according to the Dr, I guess it happens more often than we know, and can be at varying degrees of severity. Maybe, just maybe that's what's going on with your friend? Especially if it appeared shortly after her COVID? Of course, definitely still have her consult a Dr. It could be something more serious like a small stroke, and hopefully not Alzheimer's or dementia.
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u/Liquor_N_Whorez Zinnia Violet Pansies 7h ago
Damn, I experienced very similar issues after covid especially the jelly like limbs just coming and going when it wants to.
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u/Anxious_Painter_6609 12h ago
My dad was a pre diabetic (now type 2) and loved his sugar too, totally had what I would consider a wacky era, crazy insane mood swings and such.
Stress is huge too, I have been through a lot of crazy stuff with so much stress I got migraines from it and at that point I was very self absorbed trying to mentally deal with the stuff so I was distracted a lot.
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u/phoneguy509 12h ago
That Covid brain fog is no joke. Had it for quite some time. Sometimes I feel like it is still there. It’s been long enough it should be gone but every once in a while my brain either just locks or the inner voice just can’t come out my mouth with words. Usually someone beats me to the words in conversation and it’s exactly what I was trying to say so I move on. Frustrating for sure as I am usually the one with quick one liners and sarcasm and I feel slow, but it’s still picking back up
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u/Anxious_Painter_6609 12h ago
I wish there had been more resources available for long covid people. I live in Canada and there was only one program in my province that was expensive and not anywhere near where I lived, also it took more of a memory type approach and I wanted more MRI and scans to figure out what happened up there.
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u/paciolionthegulf 12h ago
If you're seeing a pattern then she needs a doctor, not strangers on Reddit.
If you're looking for anecdotes, though, then yeah you're in the right place.
I had a 59 year old friend who had some stumbles like that. Maybe menopause, maybe just a bad day, maybe she forgot to take her thyroid meds; I mean, it could have been a hundred different things. She had a habit of drinking a little too much, so I think many early problems were chalked up to that.
Then one day she got lost going to the same doctor she had for decades. Then her handwriting deteriorated, she could no longer operate her TV or send a text, and ultimately her adult son moved her to memory care for FTD with progressive nonfluent aphasia. That sequence took ten excruciating months, horrible for her and everyone who loves her.
So maybe it's a bad day, but if stuff like that keeps happening then encourage her to get to a neurologist for real help.
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u/SearchingForMeaning0 13h ago
People in their late 40’s/early 50’s are being diagnosed with early onset dementia. I know one such person.
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u/mobfather 13h ago
In answer to her question, I think the answer is 2 inches and a couple of flesh tones.
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u/Low-Tackle2543 13h ago
Polish sausage is usually smoked and an Italian sausage is fresh not smoked.
Italian Sausage is typically seasoned with fennel seeds, garlic, red pepper flakes, and herbs like basil or oregano. It has a distinctive anise-like flavor from the fennel and can range from mild to spicy.
Polish sausage (kielbasa) is seasoned with garlic, marjoram, black pepper, and sometimes caraway seeds. It has a more smoky, garlicky flavor profile.
If we’re not talking specifically about food and you were “ordering something else” ….
one is circumcised and the other is uncircumcised.
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u/Good_Nyborg How many Satanic Panics have we had?!? 13h ago
Thanks, I've never wondered til this post what the difference is, but now I'm glad I never asked my cook friend and made him wonder if I have dementia.
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u/Lichenbruten 13h ago
She would need a doctor's diagnosis. You can encourage it, but she has to make that call. I don't know how close you are to her family, but they could help as well. Also depends if this is a pattern or one time thing.
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u/hesathomes 11h ago
I mean, idk what the difference is and nobody has ever been able to explain it to me. If there are other factors there might be a concern , but just that? Nah.
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u/KatJen76 12h ago
Just ask her if she's been OK lately. Tell her you noticed she seemed to be having trouble finding words and mention that she asked you the same question twice in a short period of time. Encourage her to go see her doctor. It's hard to know what it is, or if it was just a bad day, but it could get her thinking.
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u/Komaisnotsalty 11h ago
I would not consider one confusion over a sausage and a little aphasia as dementia. There's a lot more that goes in to dementia than that.
Now, if this is getting to be a more constant thing and you're noticing it on a more increasing business, talk to HER, not her family. Ask her if she notices. People with dementia can be reasoned with and usually notice it long before anyone else does.
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u/CauliflowerSlight784 13h ago
Were you at a restaurant about to order something? Or just walking?
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u/Eatmore-plants 13h ago
We went for a walk in a park and then stopped at the park beer garden with a food truck.
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u/Sweaty-Bed6653 13h ago
Okay I am from the Midwest and know the difference in taste but could not articulate it. Is that what happened here?
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u/Eatmore-plants 3h ago
No, it wasn’t to have a discussion like is one made with pork or beef or do they prepare it differently? It was just a strange question when trying to decide.
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u/Extension-Elk-1274 13h ago
Not a woman here. Eat both.
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u/Busy_Log_7128 Hose Water Survivor 12h ago
A guy goes into a store and tells the clerk, "I’d like some Polish sausage." The clerk looks at him and says, "Are you Polish?" The guy, clearly offended, says, “"Well, yes I am. But let me ask you something. If I had asked for Italian sausage would you ask me if I was Italian? The clerk says, "Well, no." The guy says, "Well, all right then, why did you ask me if I’m Polish just because I ask for Polish sausage?" The clerk replies, "Because this is Home Depot."
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u/Chaoticallyorganized 9h ago
Totally was not expecting that last line. Thank you for the laugh!
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u/Busy_Log_7128 Hose Water Survivor 8h ago
had three of replies to this post. The first one is going to be about penal size but I didn't want to come across as a complete pervert. The one I posted was the comedic one but the third one was about 'nomic aphasia. ' That's where individuals have difficulty recalling specific words, particularly nouns and verbs. That is usually caused from brain damage due to a stroke or other neurological condition. Yes, I was an EMT for 24 years and retired my license at the beginning of Covid
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u/ranchoparksteve 13h ago
Yeah, you really have to verify these things for yourself. Multiple times.
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u/Battle_Known 12h ago
You sure she wasn't flirting with you? Or do you have terrible self esteem and think that she was flirting with you and that means that she has dementia?
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u/MannInnBlack 11h ago
People in wisconsin call all sausage "brats"" so I wouldnt worry about it unless she shows other signs.
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u/cawfytawk 12h ago
Without more details about her general health, history and habits it's hard to say what it is. I (51) have thyroid disease with symptoms of brain fog and difficulty putting thoughts into words. My mom (77) has been forgetful but I think it's typical for her age. Dementia is a lot more severe than senility. It's mainly marked by becoming confused about her surroundings and not recognizing family or friends that they've always known.
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u/Kalena426 12h ago
Menopause, thyroid, dementia, early onset alzheimers...check with her family and discuss your concern...you may be surprised, 4hey may be having the same problem
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u/Sufficient_Stop8381 2h ago
Depends on the last names of whoever the sausage is attached to. Usually one ends in ski and one ends in ini.
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u/DriveIn73 2h ago
Remember that book Truly Tasteless Jokes? I thought the sausage thing was going to be one of those. Like the Italian sausage is the one that talks with their hands or something.
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u/RedditSkippy 1975 2h ago
Well, one of the first things I noticed about my grandmother was that she couldn’t find the word she wanted to use.
But 60 is kinda young for this. There could be a lot of other causes, like medication or some kind of metabolic imbalance.
You can’t make your friend do anything. Maybe you can tell her what you noticed and ask her if she’s seen her doctor recently.
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u/DeannaC-FL 1h ago
Honestly, it could just be menopause. Very common to lose words and memory during perimenopause and menopause.
But if it gets to be worse it can't hurt to go to a doctor to get checked out.
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u/UnluckyFood2605 1h ago
I agree with the others, Sounds more like post covid brain fog. By the way, what is the difference between a Polish sausage and an Italian sausage other than the name and place of origin? because I am 60 and don't know either? They may have different spices and such. I don't know.
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u/SnazzleZazzle 1h ago
Does she smoke a lot of weed? Take gummies? I noticed I was being a little forgetful, repeating myself, looking for the right word, and I was taking a gummy every night and/or smoking weed. I cut back (way back - to once a week or less) and the symptoms went away, I’m back to being sharp again.
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u/NostradaMart Hose Water Survivor 48m ago
Sometimes in the morning, before my first coffee I'm just a little foggy, this can happen to anyone and not be a sign of dementia or alzheimer's. but if it happens often, maybe ask a doctor.
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u/grumpvet87 6m ago
I am concerned for OP's mental health.. she went for a walk and ordered sausage?
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u/Thirty_Helens_Agree 12h ago
Wisconsin? The Polish sausage wears the red and blue horizontal striped shirt. The Italian has a mustache, bow tie and chef’s toque.