Fatigue and Slurred speech episodes

[crswin]

I posted earlier about fatigue being an indicator for my episodes, regardless of where they strike.  Yestarday, I had a bout of slurred speech.  It came on progressively and lasted about 1 hour.  This is my 5th episode, but the 3rd invloving slurred speech in almost 8 years.  In the other 2 episodes, one lasted less than 30 minutes, the other- the first one- lasted 1 week.  During these slurred speech episodes, my right cheek gets tingly and I feel the right side of my face drooping.
In yestarday's episode, I also felt weak to the point that I collapsed onto the floor, but I did not lose conscienceness.
I slept over 11 hours last night and still feel like I can go to sleep for days.  My right side has a dull throbbing pain, that will ocassionally turn tingly.
When I am not in an episode, I am an active, healthy person who does not want or need to take naps.  This fatique is frustrating.  I am not diagnosed, but I am headed to a new neuro. in April.
** Does anyone else experience slurred speech episodes like this?  
** If so, what kind of explanation have docs given you as to their cause?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Crystal

[GrannyJo6]

Slurres speech was what clinched my diagnosis way back in the 80's. I just woke up with it one morning and it lasted for a good week or more and then gradually improved. When I get over tired I tend to slur a little as well. I was also fatigued at the time, but chalked it up to having spent a week-end in Canada with a carload of soccer playing 10 year olds! It was really scary and I was afraid I had suffered a small stroke. Back then they called it cluttered speech - I don't remember the term they use now. My GP had me repeat "The rugged rascal ran round the rugged rock". Couldn't do it! So off I went to a neurologist. Hope you get some answers!

[Alli78]

wow you have been through a lot with those symptoms.  Good luck.  I hope you get some more definite answers soon.  Alli

[crswin]

I do not know if my face actually lowered this time, but the 1st time that this happened- almost 8 years ago, it did.  I also had right side loss of sensation- not complete paralysis.  I spent 1 week in the hospital and had MRIs, LP, blood work- you name it.  Nothing came back out of the range of normal- except for 0 monocytes and 0 leukocytes in my LP.  The neuro did not seem to be concerned with these low levels.  He stated that I had a probable TIA, but 7 years later, he threw out his own diagnosis.  When I went to him with tremors and pain in both legs and blurred vision, he listed my condition as 'probable MS', but when my MRIs and VEP came back normal, he changed my condition to 'unknown etiology'.
In this event, my collapse was due to right side weakness.  This episode lasted 6 days and started with fatigue that progressed.  The fatigue increased, my right side went from a dull pain to tingling, and the symptoms peaked with the slurred speech and disipated in the same manner that they appeared.
This is my 5th distinct episode in 8 years, with the last 3 happening since July of this year.  They seem to be getting more frequent, which is making me more desparate for answers.
Thank you again for your comments.
Crystal

[rendean]

Hi,
My neuro told me that my slurred speech episodes were due to fatigue. This is AFTER I have had a full work-up to rule out other things like TIAs.  I was hoping to blame the muscle relaxants for cramping he had recently placed me on but he told me any neurological disease (I'm undx) will worsen with fatigue. At least the slurred speech bought me a ticket to work remotely from home part-time. With the increased rest the slurred speech as resolved for the most part. If I get overly fatigued, it returns.

Hope this helps,
Rendean

[Alli78]

When you say you felt the right side if your face droop, did it actually lower or did it feel that way?  Also when you collapsed was it because the whole right side of your body went weak?  You said you had those symptoms before.  Did you see a doctor during one of these attacks?  Just wondering if other health issues were ruled out specific to collapsing and the sudden onset of speech disturbance.  It sounds frightening.  Hope you find relief and answers soon. Alli

[Rena705]

Hi honey..sorry to hear you are having trouble again and I hope it doesn't last too long or get too serious for you!  I have had slurred speech and it lasted over a year for me and it wasn't until I recently went on an anti depressant that my speech returned to normal.  One doctor told me that the reason is because the drug makes the brain work faster and therefore I probably have no problem with speech because my brain is working faster.  I don't know if that is the truth but it seemed to work for me and I am happy about that.  I also had stuttering and loss of train of thought as well but that has improved considerably.  I hope that you can get some answers soon because I can relate to how frustrating this can be...I was accused of being drunk one time because of it and I don't drink!  Please let us know how you are making out ok and it's great to see you here although it would be better under other circumstances it is still great to see you!

Lots of hUgs,

Rena

[crswin]

Thank you for your response.  I know that it can be frusterating to have a list of symptoms that the doc does not have an answer for.  I think that finding the right doctor and keeping a journal of my symptoms as I search will help me to someday get the answers and treatment that I need.

[CareBayer]

I can relate. Lately I've been experiencing more slurred, trying to find the right words to articulate, mispronouciation of words. From what I've read it could be related to MS, but I dont have a dx and cant say it is although it could be. I have not told my neuro of this new symptom yet as he seems to think I have too many symptoms anyways. I probally wont bring this up because my other symptoms need more attention than this one.

I really hope your appt with your neuro or some of the other memebers of this forum help you find some answers.

[crswin]

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[Amazingsymptoms]

I am experiencing the same except I can speak clearly at night and can sing clear.