Welcome to TFP!!
I've got to be one of the least computer literate members here

,,, so let me tell you what I do

Since I can't always rely on the search function - I just go to "View your posts" in the upper right hand corner right below the POOL SCHOOL button to check on anything I've participated in
Not sure how I managed to do it but when I log in, below my name and non-avitar is the option to view new posts or my posts - I always go to view new posts and can see every post that has happened since I logged off (to be quite honest, I've only checked the entire forum topics a couple times - I don't have to the way I'm set up

)
As for the 'senior moment', I've had a few of them - what I think I did wrong was to confuse previewing the post with submitting it

and then just leaving the post. My wife has taught me how to open another window and check if the post actually posted - of course I often forget to do that
Try to keep an eye on whether you're submitting or just previewing and remember to look for the page that says 'Your message has been posted successfully' before leaving the thread
