You need your head examined

[anon07072023]

They finally called me today to schedule my cognitive function test.  I've been waiting since 5 Nov for them to schedule it.  
It will be Monday, 31 Jan.  I know a few of you have had this exam and some have pretty recently.  

Can you please tell me the name of the exam? I'd like to look it up.  And maybe you can tell me a little about what to expect?

They said it will be all day.  Which kind of ***** actually for 2 reasons:
1) I need to eat and drink all the time (I tend to have hypoglycemia if I don't).  Maybe they'll let me take snacks and a drink with me?  
2) And it ***** because that means I need to leave at 6am to get up to Denver by 8:30am with rush hour traffic, in order to check in on time.

Thanks,
Kelly

[anon07072023]

Thanks Lulu.  

[Lulu54]

I love it when we say it is "all in my head" and it really is with MS.  The neuropsych exam info from Kat, Jen and Beth is spot on.  Remember you are not being judged from this test just evaluated.  There are no right or wrong answers with this one.

As for your censored words, there are some words that could be used in a sexual context that ALWAYS are zapped here by the autocensor.  The one you wrote does.  And it always wipes the word that is used to describe that needle sensation - pin pricks.  :-)

[anon07072023]

Kat, Jen, and Beth,

Thanks for your advice.  I'll check out the neuropsych exams and the MMPI, Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.  

Beth, I think you're right about the drive to and from Denver that will be the overall stressor for that day.  

I'm not for sure what my exact IQ was before all of this. I really wish I knew what it was before this.  I know it had to be a little above average since I have a Graduate degree in a technical field and I graduated with highest honors for my Bachelor's (straight As).  

Right now my major complaints are just remembering short term stuff and having my attention wildly drawn here and there, and then I forget what I was doing.  I keep forgetting whether or not I've given our puppy her eye drops and her other medicine. I could have just finished doing it, and I haven't the foggiest idea of whether or not I gave it to her.  Unfortunately, I've been told by my partner, that I'm going to have my medicine giving powers relinquished now. Oh well.

Oh, BTW, I didn't swear in my initial post. For some reason it censored my word that starts with an "s" and rhymes with ducks.  

Thanks,
Kelly  

[maestro1959]

Hi Kelly,

Do not worry.  It is more scarey going in than coming out,  Mine was referred to as a Neuro-Psych test with cognitive function evaluation.  Kat had it right in her description.  You will draw pictures, repeat words, retell a story.  All of it is to determine where there are memory problems, etc.

Take snacks with you.  I told the Neurologist giving the test that I am diabetic, and she was willing to give me a break any time I needed one.  She even offered breaks when I was not thinking about it.  Speaking up should not be a problem, and pausing between the little exercises will not skew the results.  That is what I was told.

Driving into Denver will be more of a stressor than the actual test.  Like Kat said, though it will leave you tired.  All that thinking made me weary.

Chin up, and let us know how it went.

Beth

[jensequitur]

It's usually referred to as the neuro-psych exam.  I asked for one early on to check for baseline, because I could really tell there was a problem with my thinking.  Unfortunately it showed that I've lost 30 IQ points! I can still function in a work environment.

The test I took (had to look this up!) was called the MMPI, or 'Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.'  It's pretty common - I expect you'll be given that test.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota_Multiphasic_Personality_Inventory

There was one test that I failed, but not for cognitive reasons.  They give you a picture, and you're supposed to write a story about that picture.  They're looking for complete sentences, not sentence fragments.  

[torikat32]

Hi Kelly I just had my 3rd annual cognitive tests done a month ago although mine wasnt all day but about 5 hrs of testing left me exhausted. I think if you google cognitive testing it may give you some insight. There are multiple different tests they can give some are like playing games, some have you reading words or drawing a picture. but each test they give you tells them about how your brain is functioning. since this will be your basline exam any future exams will show a decline or sometimes even a better score. This last tests for me showed a modertae to severe decline from last year I was suprised but fter thinking about how much I have noticed problems this year than last it made sence to me. I have decided to leave work mostly due to these cog problems they have caused me so many problems at work and I would rather leave on a medical leave then be canned. I think they would let you eat and drink just tell them about your sugar and they will also make breaks aaiable and if you get to tired or stressed out ask them for a break my doctor sends me the results of the tests the whole 10 page report and the comparisons to previous yrs your report will state from what the average person stats are and how you fall into those categories. good luck dont stress and any more ques just ask
Kat