Cognitive issues

[kel1lost]

I'm trying to explain why I am so forgetfull and have no common sense, so slow and just ???  I don't even know what to call it, to my parents and boyfriend.  Just dx a month agowith MS and I was wondering any of you would give some examples of your funny, scary, things that have happend, so I don't look like I'm the only one.

I get lost everywhere I go.  Can't even remember the rest of my thought in order to complete a sentence.  Forgot how to make a grilled cheese yesterday, Want to say something inportant, but can not even spit the words out that I'm looking for somewhere in this brain.  Lol

How do I tell them what it's like??  They all know I have MS but blame the cog. issues on my ADD.  Help me please.

Thanks,
Kelli

[jensequitur]

Yup, I requested a neuropsych a year after my diagnosis.  Depending on the neuro you have, this can be either a painful or reassuring process.  I had to argue with mine - he thought I was just 'confused' and anxious because of the diagnosis.  I was found to have mild cognitive impairment, and the psychologist recommended Aricept.

My problem with cooking was usually not knowing which to do first.  Or I would mix up the amounts, so the recipe wouldn't come out right.  This is part of executive decision making, which was affected.

[kel1lost]

Thanks so much you guys!  Always so helpfull, which means so very much to me!

Kel

[Sailorsong]

I just went through a Neuro Psych evaluation a week or so ago and the doctor gave me a good explanation of why we have these types of problems.

Every moment of every day our brains are processing 1000's of things every second. These include things we are hearing, seeing, smelling, feeling ( touch ), and a large number of things dealing with what we need to get done ( even when we don't realize it).

But due to the neurological damage things have slowed down quite a bit. As a result things we are trying to remember get bottle necked in the processing of all of this information so it is a lot harder for us to recall things when we need it. If this wasn't enough we also tend to get anxious when we can't remember something which adds even more things for us to process causing an even bigger bottle neck in the processing.

For example when trying to remember how to make a grilled cheese other things on your mind blocked that information from getting to where it needed to be. This got you anxious which further got in the way. But eventually the information does make it to where it needed to be, but just not when you needed it.

Dennis

[doublevision1]

Hi Kelli,

have you considered having a neuropsych evaluation?  I haven't had one but others here have and may chime in with regards to its usefulness.

This could help to shed light on any specific problems that may be treatable.  It would also provide you with a baseline measurement so that if things worsen down the road, there is something to compare against to determine just how bad it's getting and possibly at what rate of progression.

Of course, there are probably many other possiblities besides MS causing your issues, eg: the stress of being newly dx'ed and being preoccupied mentally; the ADD that you mention; side effects of medications; sleep deprivation, etc.  I think you need to talk to your neuro about this.

Since dx I have definitely noticed changes in my short term memory, my speech (at times I get tongue tied, and I have trouble with word finding); and my previous ability to put together a coherent argument on the spot seems to be lost.  I'll start out stating my position on something, then halfway through the sentence I completely forget point I'm trying to make.  This one is the worst, it makes things so awkward.  Also poor concentration; reading  takes more effort than it did before.

My neuro said maybe changes in the brain from MS, maybe side effects from meds, and since I need the meds to mitigate pain so that I can function in my daily life, the trade off may be this cognitive stuff.