My name's Mike. I'm 53, been a project manager at a tech company in Columbus for 15 years. Married 28 years, with two kids.
I'm not a doctor. I'm not selling anything. I'm just a guy whose brain started failing him at the worst possible time.
If you're reading this because you forgot something important today and now you're terrified about what's happening to your mind, we're on the same boat. I've been there. Hell, I was there for three years.
For me, it all started with my hearing. First, it was just "annoying." I'd be in a noisy restaurant and have to strain to follow the conversation. I'd come home feeling mentally exhausted and have no idea why.
Then, I started saying "what?" in meetings. I could hear people talking, but the words were fuzzy. I blamed the conference room audio, but I knew I was guessing.
That's when the brain fog hit.
At first, it was forgetting where I put my keys. Then it was walking into rooms and forgetting why. Normal stuff, right? "Just getting older," everyone said.
But then it got worse. Way worse.