I'm retiring due to health reasons. AMA

[BigRedChief]

I have short term memory loss. The doctors can’t seem to find the root cause. This isn’t some forgetfulness, it’s serious. They tell me I have about 10 years before I will lose all short-term memory. I will retain all long-term memories. So that post you make about me in 2006 is still going to be up there in my noggin.

I have previously shared this diagnosis with the mods. I asked them to keep this information confined to the mod lounge. Which they did and I appreciated their consideration. They encouraged me to share this information with the rest of the Planet. It’s time to come clean.

I also have CLL (Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia). Its only put me in the hospital once and it usually does not kill people these days.

Would not be a BRC post without bragging so…. Last 10 years of my career, I architected, designed, and implemented the first cloud at Bank of America, the largest private cloud in the world for the military and for IBM, the world’s largest serverless IT infrastructure services provider with thousands of enterprise customers, thousands of applications in more than 60 countries.

You cannot do that kind of work without a functioning short-term memory, so I have no choice but to retire.

I’m 65. I’m being forced to retire a little early but only losing a couple of years anyway. I’ll have a comfortable retirement alongside my wife of 34 years.

AMA

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by Dante84

Sorry to hear about this, BRC, but glad you're able to retire despite the terms.

I'm curious to know, if you're open to sharing: When did you realize you might have problem?

About 1 1/2 years ago. Started missing stuff at work I never missed before. Not a big deal but was new. Thought it was me, getting older.

Originally Posted by Dante84

Has it escalated? What's the frequency you encounter issues?

yes, really escalated in the last few months. Went from forgetting to turn off a faucet, forget to do a to do thing to forgetting to pay a bill, posting stuff on social media and forgetting about it, then reposting. Planning stuff and forgetting about it. Talking about stuff as if its new but was already discussed and decided. Forgetting basic I.T. stuff.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

Not an issue yet but I am training the wife to take over the financials for us, just to be sure I dont send Bearcat $1000 accidently.

"accidentally"

Like the 4,000 Venmo requests he "accidentally" sent to you?



Glad you're in good humor. Best of luck sir. My dumbass mind is the only part of my shit body that isn't broken down yet. I do not envy your position.

[jdubya]

I had to retire for health reason too. Sucked as I wasn't ready. Took a long while to accept it. Good luck!!!

[ThrobProng]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

About 1 1/2 years ago. Started missing stuff at work I never missed before. Not a big deal but was new. Thought it was me, getting older.
yes, really escalated in the last few months. Went from forgetting to turn off a faucet, forget to do a to do thing to forgetting to pay a bill, posting stuff on social media and forgetting about it, then reposting. Planning stuff and forgetting about it. Talking about stuff as if its new but was already discussed and decided. Forgetting basic I.T. stuff.

Forgive my complete ignorance on the topic, but does being aware of your condition help you avoid some of the memory issues, or does it make no difference?

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Originally Posted by wazu

Give it a rest, dude.

Shuddap, it was funny

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

About 1 1/2 years ago. Started missing stuff at work I never missed before. Not a big deal but was new. Thought it was me, getting older.
yes, really escalated in the last few months. Went from forgetting to turn off a faucet, forget to do a to do thing to forgetting to pay a bill, posting stuff on social media and forgetting about it, then reposting. Planning stuff and forgetting about it. Talking about stuff as if its new but was already discussed and decided. Forgetting basic I.T. stuff.

Long covid?

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

Long covid?

Nope, never got it.

[Rain Man]

I'm trying to figure out if we have an epidemic or if short-term memory issues are common at a certain age but I've never been in the peer group to hear about it. But it seems like a lot of my peers in their 60s talk about having short-term memory issues (diagnosed or undiagnosed).

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by ThrobProng

Forgive my complete ignorance on the topic, but does being aware of your condition help you avoid some of the memory issues, or does it make no difference?

yes, it does make a difference. You write stuff down, keep track of stuff.

[ThaVirus]

Sorry to hear you’ve been thrown a bit of a curveball.

Buuuuut retiring at 65 isn’t a huge issue. Based on what you mention here, you’ve seemed to enjoy your career and shouldn’t struggle financially. Plus you live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Enjoy it, bud. Sounds like you’ve earned it.

[ThrobProng]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm trying to figure out if we have an epidemic or if short-term memory issues are common at a certain age but I've never been in the peer group to hear about it. But it seems like a lot of my peers in their 60s talk about having short-term memory issues (diagnosed or undiagnosed).

I think they're common, but now there are just so many more senior citizens out there. I remember hearing C.R.S. (can't remember shit) jokes from old people, even when I was a kid.

[Hog's Gone Fishin]

Luckily we have Patrick Mahomes winning us a SB every year so we don't have to keep remembering shit

[Mr. Plow]

Sucks that you are being forced into it, but I hope you enjoy retirement. Now is the time to enjoy all those things you worked hard for. Good luck to you!

[Wisconsin_Chief]

Originally Posted by BigRedChief

I was working as a Respiratory Therapist for 10 years in an inner city Level 1 teaching hospital. Started to bring some of that home with me. The hospital was switching over from paper records to electronic records. I was helping people use the computers and app. I didn't own a computer at the time. People were telling me this computer thing was going to be a big deal, you should get into that.

Took some basic server/infrastructure classes but basically taught myself. I worked 12 hours a day being a Respiratory Therapist. Went to night classes. Got home at 10:00pm or so. Tuck the kid and wife into bed. The stayed up 10pm -2am building and breaking stuff learning. Get up at 6:00 am and do the whole day again. That went on for 2 years.

After a year or so doing desktop/call center stuff, I got my break when Sprint hired me and I was off and running.

What an amazing story, and I truly mean that. You are one of the last of a dying breed, sir.

I hope your doctors can find a way to help with your condition, because it sounds like you truly earned a great retirement. Either way, enjoy as much as you can and congrats on all your amazing accomplishments.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Sorry to hear you’ve been thrown a bit of a curveball.

Buuuuut retiring at 65 isn’t a huge issue. Based on what you mention here, you’ve seemed to enjoy your career and shouldn’t struggle financially. Plus you live in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

Enjoy it, bud. Sounds like you’ve earned it.

Yeah, its not like this shit hit me at 40. So at least it waited till I was close to retirement anyway. I've been reading about retirement advice lately. Says you need $1 million in cash on hand. I ain't got that kind of cash but I'll not be eating cat food anytime soon either.