Aa
Speech difficulty increasing :(
Hey all! Hope all my Canadian friends had a great weekend...I did although sounding drunk without drinking is not what I expected in my life!
It's getting to the point that I don't know when this garbled junk is going to come out of my mouth. I know in my head what I want to say but when I open my mouth this crap that is totally non-understandable comes out! I feel like a moron!
Usually my hubby is with me and can discern what I am trying to say but in public alone I just want to die!
It seems to get worse when I am tired and in situations where I am feeling comfortable...like when we get together with "friends" I still think I am getting the looks of "what is wrong with her, she was fine an hour ago and now she can't talk?!" and it makes me really uncomfortable so I just try to keep my mouth shut. Then I get"what's wrong with you, why are you so quiet?"
I have an appointment with the neuro on Monday and I am taking hubby as my witness to the neuro saying he wanted to do an MRI last time then changing his mind on the phone with no reason. Of course I am sure that my speech will be fine while I am there and so my brain will "let me down" again! :(
I am feeling just a little frustrated today...just needed to vent I guess!
Rena705
It's getting to the point that I don't know when this garbled junk is going to come out of my mouth. I know in my head what I want to say but when I open my mouth this crap that is totally non-understandable comes out! I feel like a moron!
Usually my hubby is with me and can discern what I am trying to say but in public alone I just want to die!
It seems to get worse when I am tired and in situations where I am feeling comfortable...like when we get together with "friends" I still think I am getting the looks of "what is wrong with her, she was fine an hour ago and now she can't talk?!" and it makes me really uncomfortable so I just try to keep my mouth shut. Then I get"what's wrong with you, why are you so quiet?"
I have an appointment with the neuro on Monday and I am taking hubby as my witness to the neuro saying he wanted to do an MRI last time then changing his mind on the phone with no reason. Of course I am sure that my speech will be fine while I am there and so my brain will "let me down" again! :(
I am feeling just a little frustrated today...just needed to vent I guess!
Rena705
Best Answer
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh Jen just reminded me of a made up game i play. When i lost 'all' nouns so strange only being able to describe lol I couldn't name anything out loud but i discovered i could name things in my head pretty well, no stutter/slurr either. I would drive along "thinking" traffic light, red, bumper bar, tree, sign etc etc Eventually i was getting it right over and over, so i started speaking instead of just thinking the word. It did take a long time before i was able to say the word, as well as or as quickly as i could think it.
I never could work out why i could think 'tree' and i'd imediately go to say 'tree' and i'd of lost it already, having to resort to describing until the word i wanted came back to me lol it did get better over time, but i was working for it, with 'brain plasticity' at the forfront of my mind.
I didn't know you could loose nouns, just nouns like that, just gone. I had had hints for a few years prior, i'd get 'sick' again and find i'd forgotten the names of the kids i was working with but i had lots of excuses for it though none when i totally lost my nouns, I knew my brain was fried. I still play this game when they go again and I do feel that i've never had it as bad as the first time my nouns were completely wiped out but that could be wishful thinking lol
I only became aware I was mixing up words or using the wrong word a couple of years ago, that has continued to get worse right along with everything else. It doesn't help finding solutions, when half the time your not even aware you've used the wrong word. eg You think you said fridge but you actaully said couch, which arn't even remotely similar or related objects or even in close proximately so how on earth do you work on fixing something that has no predictablility? lol Any ideas?
Cheers.....JJ
I never could work out why i could think 'tree' and i'd imediately go to say 'tree' and i'd of lost it already, having to resort to describing until the word i wanted came back to me lol it did get better over time, but i was working for it, with 'brain plasticity' at the forfront of my mind.
I didn't know you could loose nouns, just nouns like that, just gone. I had had hints for a few years prior, i'd get 'sick' again and find i'd forgotten the names of the kids i was working with but i had lots of excuses for it though none when i totally lost my nouns, I knew my brain was fried. I still play this game when they go again and I do feel that i've never had it as bad as the first time my nouns were completely wiped out but that could be wishful thinking lol
I only became aware I was mixing up words or using the wrong word a couple of years ago, that has continued to get worse right along with everything else. It doesn't help finding solutions, when half the time your not even aware you've used the wrong word. eg You think you said fridge but you actaully said couch, which arn't even remotely similar or related objects or even in close proximately so how on earth do you work on fixing something that has no predictablility? lol Any ideas?
Cheers.....JJ
this happens to me so much and it's usually in public. I'm not a nervous type of person and when this happens I feel like people who don't understand just look at me like I'm weird.
hang in t???
wobbly
hang in t???
wobbly
hey Rena,
I have done exactly the same..I just can't talk anymore and I can't remember what I want to talk about either. It gets so very frustrated and at times embarrassing. I have been doing it for a long time and have tried to get help, even talking to my Dr., I might as well be invisible. So far, mine doesn't get better..
It was okay for awhile, I could laugh it off, but that got tiring.... today at Starbucks I tried to order again and could not think of any of my order and there is only 3 important words, the server helped me fill in the blanks. This is not the first time I have done this, its practically every time I go in. I keep thinking that I should write it down and/or practice before I go in...but do I remember to do that ? nope !!
Now I am not sure to laugh or cry..
I have done exactly the same..I just can't talk anymore and I can't remember what I want to talk about either. It gets so very frustrated and at times embarrassing. I have been doing it for a long time and have tried to get help, even talking to my Dr., I might as well be invisible. So far, mine doesn't get better..
It was okay for awhile, I could laugh it off, but that got tiring.... today at Starbucks I tried to order again and could not think of any of my order and there is only 3 important words, the server helped me fill in the blanks. This is not the first time I have done this, its practically every time I go in. I keep thinking that I should write it down and/or practice before I go in...but do I remember to do that ? nope !!
Now I am not sure to laugh or cry..
What's funny is that while it's going on, I have no idea what to call it! It's only after I've recovered that I can talk about the problem.
Now, as to what to do about it - I'm not really sure. I fought it tooth and nail. Every time I came across a word that I couldn't connect to, I would say all the synonyms for that word, or all the words that came to mind that weren't that word, and eventually either I would figure it out, or hubby would figure it out. Then I would sit there and repeat the word to myself.
I think a major part of recovery from aphasia is repetition. You've got to make new pathways to the information you need, so you're retraining your brain to access that information. Kind of like your brain is one big old library, and holes keep appearing in the floor. They say that this is part of MS fatigue - your brain is having to work really hard to do the things it used to do easily.
I would recommend light exercise, then sitting down and playing a computer game, or doing a crossword puzzle. There's something about that combination of exercise and brain activity that helps to grow and sustain new neurons.
And this might just be flare-related. You could be perfectly normal after a couple of weeks! Good luck - I know this isn't fun.
Now, as to what to do about it - I'm not really sure. I fought it tooth and nail. Every time I came across a word that I couldn't connect to, I would say all the synonyms for that word, or all the words that came to mind that weren't that word, and eventually either I would figure it out, or hubby would figure it out. Then I would sit there and repeat the word to myself.
I think a major part of recovery from aphasia is repetition. You've got to make new pathways to the information you need, so you're retraining your brain to access that information. Kind of like your brain is one big old library, and holes keep appearing in the floor. They say that this is part of MS fatigue - your brain is having to work really hard to do the things it used to do easily.
I would recommend light exercise, then sitting down and playing a computer game, or doing a crossword puzzle. There's something about that combination of exercise and brain activity that helps to grow and sustain new neurons.
And this might just be flare-related. You could be perfectly normal after a couple of weeks! Good luck - I know this isn't fun.
Rena, this just rots that this is happening to you!
Have you consulted a speech therapist? These folks are trained with working with neurological problems, too, not just lisps and stutters! They're wonderful!
As a funny note, MS T-Shirts sells one that says "I'm not drunk, I have MS!"
I hope this resolves for you. Maybe a flare?
Have you consulted a speech therapist? These folks are trained with working with neurological problems, too, not just lisps and stutters! They're wonderful!
As a funny note, MS T-Shirts sells one that says "I'm not drunk, I have MS!"
I hope this resolves for you. Maybe a flare?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hey Rena,
The other week I started a thread on verbal/speaking issues (stuttering, slurring and articulation difficulties) which I was having on top of the other more common communication issues that we talk about eg word retrieval, loosing what we were going to say, mixing up words, using the wrong word etc. There aren't many of us here that experience these issue too but lol lost my train of thought, ummmm pass! lol
[Ok got the jist of it back] Fatigue physical and or mental and over heating seem to be a common theme that makes the 'cog fog' worse or brings it on if it isn't part of your normal, Basically the pseudo rules apply so if you want the neuro to see this for himself, it might be an idea to set youre self up to fail, if you understand what i mean.
Cheers..........JJ
The other week I started a thread on verbal/speaking issues (stuttering, slurring and articulation difficulties) which I was having on top of the other more common communication issues that we talk about eg word retrieval, loosing what we were going to say, mixing up words, using the wrong word etc. There aren't many of us here that experience these issue too but lol lost my train of thought, ummmm pass! lol
[Ok got the jist of it back] Fatigue physical and or mental and over heating seem to be a common theme that makes the 'cog fog' worse or brings it on if it isn't part of your normal, Basically the pseudo rules apply so if you want the neuro to see this for himself, it might be an idea to set youre self up to fail, if you understand what i mean.
Cheers..........JJ
I really appreciate all of your supportive comments and jen...thanks yet again for giving some of it names! hehe
I am also finding that I will have a sentence in my head but it is only there really fleetingly and I start with, "Ummmmmmm........I don't remember what I was going to say" and it happens time after time after time after time and it's just p*ssing me right off! So, in response to my frustration, my hubby said, "why don't you, every time you forget what you were going to say after the Ummmmmm...just say 'pass' and it will make it a little easier?" Sooooo , Ummmmm...pass! he he It does make it a lot easier and takes away one more frustration. Not to mention that it usually sends us unto fits of giggles because now my hubby does it on the very occasional time that he forgets what he is gonna say! he he he I love my Man!!
Well, I guess I am just going to have to put up and shut up if I am not comfortable speaking. I will mention it to my neuro and let you know what he has to say about it. I am really going to push for an MRI...haven't had one in 5 years and I think it's time since I have had a few things change since the last one. I hope you all get through this horrible symptom really quickly and thanks for the uplifting written words!
Hugs,
Rena
I am also finding that I will have a sentence in my head but it is only there really fleetingly and I start with, "Ummmmmmm........I don't remember what I was going to say" and it happens time after time after time after time and it's just p*ssing me right off! So, in response to my frustration, my hubby said, "why don't you, every time you forget what you were going to say after the Ummmmmm...just say 'pass' and it will make it a little easier?" Sooooo , Ummmmm...pass! he he It does make it a lot easier and takes away one more frustration. Not to mention that it usually sends us unto fits of giggles because now my hubby does it on the very occasional time that he forgets what he is gonna say! he he he I love my Man!!
Well, I guess I am just going to have to put up and shut up if I am not comfortable speaking. I will mention it to my neuro and let you know what he has to say about it. I am really going to push for an MRI...haven't had one in 5 years and I think it's time since I have had a few things change since the last one. I hope you all get through this horrible symptom really quickly and thanks for the uplifting written words!
Hugs,
Rena
I am going through the same thing. I get frustrated talking to people because I'll be thinking of what to say but when I talk it sounds like jibberish. I stutter and can't pronunciate properly. I've been worse today than usual. I feel like my husband is my interpreter :( I haven't been diagnosed with MS (as of yet) but I'm exhibiting all of the symptoms. I hope your symptoms get better :)
Hey honey.,
Need not to feel alone although you did't say you did....I suffer from that too. Now I have a name for it ( thank you Jensquitur ) I really get frustrated when I get , I call fog brain......I tend to shut down and not talk. I get it it when you say you feel like a moron.....Although your husband is supportive, no one really undersands what we go througj and the feeling it leaves.....Stay optimistic and I pray your app. goes well with your neuro.
Need not to feel alone although you did't say you did....I suffer from that too. Now I have a name for it ( thank you Jensquitur ) I really get frustrated when I get , I call fog brain......I tend to shut down and not talk. I get it it when you say you feel like a moron.....Although your husband is supportive, no one really undersands what we go througj and the feeling it leaves.....Stay optimistic and I pray your app. goes well with your neuro.
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Slurring my speech was also a problem - my mouth wouldn't enunciate, so it sounded like I was drunk.
Unfortunately this is something that comes and goes. I haven't had the extreme aphasia that I experienced, but every once in a while I get a reminder!