Trouble with fine motor skills function and memory?

[LisaJF]

It's me again -- seemed like all my minuscule complaints went away for awhile and the only thing remaining is the damn fatigue -- and I don't mean "tired".  I occasionally have nausea during the night time -- but its doable.

Well I noticed this the past few days that my fine motor skills ie: pinching, grabbing a paper towel off from the roller, opening a clamp up my bird cage is totally uncoordinated or scooping ground coffee to put in a small keurig k cup holder with moderate tremors. It's weird.

Also, I went to apply for medicaid last week since my insurance lapsed from my work and I couldn't afford to upkeep the premium.  So with that said, my trip to the neurologist to get a LP is on hold.  Off track there -- so when the girl asked me my telephone number I couldnt answer her. I couldnt retrieve it from my mind.  I was totally blank.  She then asked what is my cell.  I could not answer that either.  My boyfriend has on a few occasions got irritated that he "told me this already" and I completely forgot -- even though it was a few weeks go.

So  I'm just wondering if anyone has this or its just me and my aging?

[jensequitur]

Sometimes I'd rather share my troubles with strangers on the Internet - my family always looks so concerned about me, and there's nothing they can do.

I'm so glad that you have medicaid set up.  Take advantage of their wellness programs and well women exams!  

Are you taking anything for spasticity?  I have a lot of low back/pelvic/lumbar pain, and it seems to be spasm/spasticity related.  Really odd spasms in my nether regions...  

My husband doesn't think I'm a hypochondriac!  Of course he's seen the symptoms for himself, so he can't deny that they exist.

[LisaJF]

I just wanted to say that today I received confirmation in the mail in regard to my medicaid application and I was accepted.  The effective date is April 1st, 2011 so I can't do anything until then.  I'm so thankful that I finally have health insurance to see this dilemma through.

I wanted to thank everyone from the first time I started posting in this forum until now for your support and friendship.  Sometimes it saddens me that I find solace for my grief through strangers on the internet instead of my own significant others that I've known most or all of my life.  Again -- thank you.

Today was a crap day, had issues with low back pain and pelvic pain.  Last week it was flank pain and groin pain (on same side) thought I was passing a kidney stone, but the last time I went to the ER with this problem, surely knowing that it was a "kidney stone", the CT scan showed nothing and the nurse and doctor looked at me like I was just "drug" seeking.  I reminded them that I refrained from coming to the ER knowing if it was a kidney stone that I was to drink lots and lots of water and I took motrin 800mg every 8 hours to help with the pain.  After 24 hours of nonstop pain I finally gave in and went into the ER only to have them tell me what I thought I had wasn't there and they sent me home.  I had the same thing again last week but I didnt go to the ER.  I was afraid whatever happened then would happen again.  But this time it lasted 48 hours.  

My boyfriend seems to think Im a hypochondriac.  Sometimes I wonder....But I have to say, I've been dropping things (breaking them) from my right hand, my fine motor skills are not what they used to be (opening up packages or pinching to grab something), my balance is off, my fatigue is still here (waiting for that to go away even though its been since July of 2010).  

Do you all think I am one?  LOL. I'm starting to doubt myself now.

[jensequitur]

I had a couple of years of my right eyelid being lower than my left.  It's normal now, but I still have a saggy chin on the right side.

[cainer]

hey--  yeh  i do it and aricept has helped but- i even give my shots lol for years- well
then im blank- could not figure it out!     its part of it

[LisaJF]

Oh yes, and forgot...to ask (Dont think Im weird)

has anyone looked at themselves in the mirror and feel like your face is distorted -- not a lot...just a smidgen (like fisheye lens or something?)  I know you probably think Im losing my mind.

[LisaJF]

Hi wow you guys and girls! Thanks for responding.

I had a real crap day today and came on here to check to see if anyone responded and lo and behold!!!

It's a nice feeling to know you're not alone.  Honestly I dont know if I even have MS, all I can go by is what the neuroradiologist  wrote on the impression and to clinically correlate.

Well, one thing for sure, I've got clinical up the a$$. Heh.

Im grouchy today.  Frustrating to grab a grocery bag and cant get it open with your uncoordinated fingers, even wetting them so there's no static cling.  Or pulling a package open that is zip locked and i have to use my forefinger and beyond to open it. Myt humbs seem to be all thumbs and useless.  I'm having a hard time finding the words to write lol.

Im fatigued.  So fatigued.  Im so sick and tired of being fatigued.  I thought if you had relapsing remitting ms that all symptoms go away after awhile?  I hope this finger issue and hiccups in memory or loss of words to make a sentence will go away soon.  Anyways, enough of my whining.  I just am so tired of feeling alone, misunderstood, being blamed for being lazy (which Im not lazy ive worked since I was 16 years old and only have been off for 6 months now -- blech).

I've got 4 + weeks to wait for approval on medicaid, because had an issue to find my birth certificate at the vital of statistics due to being adopted (long story). So I wait.

[jensequitur]

Cognitive issues are very common with MS, Mike - it's good to eliminate other possibilities, though.

[Mike_Shuswap]

I've been going loony-toon lately, cog/memory problems got so bad I decided to go see what my doctor thought.

He sent me for a blood test to check my thyriod, B12 and a bunch of other things, and he's going to do a memory test on me in a couple weeks. At least I think that's what he said.

Who knows...maybe going bonkers isn't a part of the MS. Have you had these blood tests done?

Mike

[jensequitur]

I've had cognitive issues so bad I couldn't recognize people I knew, or I would call people I knew by the wrong name.  Phone numbers were such a wash - I had to start writing them all down because there was no way I would remember.  Same with passwords.  I finally got smart and started using one high-security password and one low-security.  That way I only have to remember two passwords.

I also have problems with motor skills.  Now, with your tremor and fine motor skill problems, it sounds like a lesion in your cerebellum.  I have two - one on the right, one on the left.  I had action tremor for a long time, and couldn't paint a straight line - they all wiggled!  Drove me crazy.

My neurologist recommended Acetyl-L-carnitine for fatigue.  It's given to Parkinson's patients, and it helps the brain process signals better.  The brain doesn't have to work so hard, so it's less fatigued.  It's also OTC, so you don't have to get a scrip.

[RazCarver]

cognitive issues I can't really talk about. sure i can go into a room and not remember why or can't come up with a word right away but that been going on for years. not remember my password - something I know I know ,bothers me sometimes but if I take a deep breath and relax it will come to me.

The Fine motor skills I do have trouble with. I drop thing. some day it down right erks me, when I pick up my keys for the forth time in a row. Not an easy task picking things up from the floor without tipping over lol.

I do have tremors that don't go away and some days are much worse then others. I have learned that if I keep my arms closer to my body then it is much easier. It's when I have to reach my arm all the out I have the hardest time trying to reach my target.

Raz

[sllowe]

Hi Lisa,

I think the aging is more gradual. You had some improvement and then wham, your uncoordinated, memory issues, etc. Definitely something going on there. Can you put on jewlery? That's my major test. If I can't grasp and clamp the lock, clamp, I'm definitely not right.

Bf needs to chill out, lol That's just how this stuff goes. My hubby now says the words if I'm struggling - definitely progress on my end. Hope your bf does the same.

Good luck getting to the LP. Remind me what you've been tested for so far, and if you layed it out in another post, point me to it. I'm sorry to even have to ask...

-shell

[addicted2harleys]

Hi, Lisa-

I just recently started having increased memory problems.  I had already been having trouble recalling things from the past, like when my daughter says, "remember when I was 10 years old and....insert something.".  I was having trouble remembering those kinds of things.  

Then I noticed that I was becoming kinda forgetful.  I would forget to pay a bill, my mom would give me some money for safekeeping and I would forget that she gave it to me and where I put it.  These were far from my norm.  

Just recently I began having trouble with word recall and some other cognitive issues.  This seemed to have happened overnight and was very visible to my mom, daughter and my pcp.  I understand about the phone number as I have done this too...even forgetting my birthdate and address.  :/

I have some motor skill issues, as well.  I drop little things...like toothbrush and razor.   Or pencil and pen, spoons, forks, knives.  You get the picture.  

So, you are not alone in what you are experiencing.   Good luck with Medicaid and neuro appointment.  Keep us updated...

Addi

[figuerpa]

Lisa,

Well I have a terrible time recalling things myself. When I am tired it is even worse. My dh gets upset sometimes as well cause he says he told me something and I tell him I don't remember, it was worse in the beginning but he is coming around and realizing that it is not that I am just trying to make excuses. He still has a hard time with it but is getting better.

I hope you get your medicaid soon so that you can get your LP and get on with the process.

As for the fine motor skills, I am not sure what to say about that, I do drop things and have a hard time gripping things on occasion but I am sure someone else will drop in to lend a hand with this on.

Take Care,
Paula