frustrating...

[meg321]

I am not doing good at all in the cognative dept....that last 2 sentences I typed regarding the hurricane took me about 10 min just to get the words in the right place.  Thats why I can't type too much on here...

I do have an appt with a therapist on 9/13,it will be nice to have someone objective to talk to.  I find myself being more alone..withdrawn lately.  We are in a smaller town and noone really comes to viist or keep in touch and, sadly, I am getting use to it. I have a party and lunch this weekend and I am not going.

Part of the reason is that I am still not well and then even if I wasn't. i would probably not go.  I have always been very outgoing and the life of the party so I am so different now.  For a few reasons really.  But I am accepting this lifestyle far too easily.  I would rather be home and alone now.

Part of it is most likely being sick with the pneumonia and now, the fluid around my lungs that has kept me down since May.  But I need to work on this area of my life.

that was easier than those first two sentences..

hugs, meg

[michelleric]

(((Meg))),

You sound so sad.  Wish I could come over and give you a laugh or two.  I am pretty good with that, although seeing that I have no voice, we could play charades?

I am glad you are going to see a therapist.  That will be really helpful to have someone listen from an unbiased place, and help you find new ways of the challenging things that are being presented to you.

Do you have a friend in your area you can talk to? Maybe someone at the luncheon this weekend you can go with?

Depression is so hard.  Have you shared with your doc how you have been feeling?  That might be a good place to start,

We are listening, Wishing you rainbows and hugs to you,
Michelle

[grannyhotwheels]

Hi Meg... Take it from me the more withdrawn you are the worse it will get... I also used to be what you would call the life of the party... I loved going out with friends and the talk never stopped... Since the MS I have became very withdrawn and I know I have a lot of depression too...

Getting me to go out now is like pulling a tooth... I try to make myself but in the end I'm always looking for an excuse... For instance tomorrow my best friend is taking me for a day of pampering... She has several things planned but is also getting me a Hotel room so I can relax whenever I need to...

What am I sitting here doing tonight?  Thinking of a million reasons why I can't go... I've already been told that if she has to tie me up and carry me out I'm going...lol... It's just so hard to go out in public... I feel like an idiot most of the time because I can't seem to keep up in the conversations..

I tire so quickly and I never know when a pain attack is going to strike... This is why she got the room for me so I will have no excuses...I miss going out and doing things with my family and friends but like I said earlier the longer you sit at home the harder it is to make yourself go...

I think Jen has some pretty good ideas about playing the games for our cognitive issues... I've heard others talking about doing this too... It helps keep your mind sharp... My minds been about as sharp as a bowling ball for about 5 years now...hahaha

One thing that really helps me is coming to this forum... The men and women here understand exactly what we are going through... When I sit here reading all the different posts I see a lot of people like me and I see others that always have something going on...

I get a little jealous I guess... I think if they can do it why can't I?  Well, sitting around feeling sorry for myself is part of the reason but I'm not sure how to get around it... I've done it for so long now that this is my comfort zone and it drives me nuts when I think I might have to get out of it...

Just talking with you right now has already helped me a lot... I know I'm not the only one, that there are others feeling just like me... Others give me incentive to get up and do something.... I've decided that I'm going tomorrow no matter what... See are talk has already helped me...

I hope it's helped you... If you want to talk more please feel free... I might even listen to you the next time...hahaha... Sorry about that...

I'll be praying,
Carol

[jensequitur]

Very difficult to communicate when you can't talk straight.  I can definitely relate.  I had two years of that, some days worse than others.

I did several things, some of them good.  I started playing simple box popper games - bejeweled, big kahuna reef, that sort of thing.  It forced my brain to solve puzzles.  I took Aricept.  My current neurologist thinks it binds neurons and prevents them from forming new connections.  She may be right about that.  All I know is that I kept fighting this cog fog, and couldn't get anywhere - then I took Aricept, and four months later I was thinking much more clearly.  There are other drugs that also help cognition.  I would talk to your neuro or therapist about it.  Exercise helps build neurons, and game playing will tell your brain to keep them.  

All that being said, it's still hard for me to go out, because I know I'm going to get worn out and want to take a nap.