Lulu and and other that may be getting some types of therapy

[Sailorsong]

Ok I have seen several ports about various therapies some people on here have been getting or about to get...

So I am wondering about therapies that are available that might help me to stay independent for a longer time. That is the scariest part of what is happening to me.. I really fear that it will be comming very soon at the rate I am getting worse.

So here is a list of my major problems.

Memory - both short and long term:  Part of this is neurologial and part PTSD

Reading and writing - Tarnsposing letter, numbers and words. susbsituting words. etc.

Speaking - Not able to find words or using the wrong words.. Losing train of thought.. etc.

Hearing - Not understanding thinks said to me, difficulty hearing things, Difficult understanding or hearing things when other noise or people talking. I also do the same things as I do with the reading writing, and speaking when listening to someone talk.

My other major problems in taking care of my self are probably more of needing aids. They include:

Vertigo / lose of balance - I still need to find something for my shower to keep me from falling in it. (stool handhold, etc), also need some help in thiis area for when getting dress and undressed.

Getting lost - I have all kinds of trouble at times finding my way out of stores and finding my car once I get out of the store. Still looking for something to help me with this.. kind of hard when you don't even know what you are looking for.

Remebering to eat... I still have a great appettie but my body doesn't seem to be telling me when I am hungry any more. What ever this turn out to be the fix for might also help me remember to take my meds.

Doing housework.. I am getting further and further behind in this area due to the vertigo and back pain when on feet for more than a few minutes.  Need some suggestion on how to make this easier to do for me. It currently take me about 4 hours to vacume a single room in my home and 2 hours to do dishes.

Getting dressed... Lately I have been having trouble with dressing myself ( putting clothes on in wrong order, putting clothes on backwards) Have no idea of how to help myself in this area.

I guess that pretty much covers the major problems I am having right now.. These can change on a daily basis though.

So if you no about what kind of therapies I could ask about or what aids may be helpful PLEASE let me know. As for aids where I might find them would also be helpful. One other point.. I live way out in the country so things like someone comming in to do housework and the like are not an option. You just kind find those around here.

Thanks for any info you might give me. I have an doctor Appointment on the 1st so it would be nice if I could ask the doctor about this stuff when I see him.

Dennis

[jean_619]

Wow, thank you for posting this.  I have many of the same problems and now I don't feel so alone.  Unfortunately, since I was just dx'ed in April, I don't have any advice, but I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to ask these important questions.

Jean

[Lulu54]

thanks, Ashley, for giving such a good explanation as to why I am seeing a speech therapist for cog fog!

[ashleyPT]

Here's my PSA for the day:  Speech therapists, as they are usually referred to, are actually Speech and Language pathologist.  That means they do a whole bunch of awesome stuff that no one knows about!

So the speech part of it is actually making the sounds and the language part has a lot more to do with context and communication.  In the hospital they work with swallowing problems and determine what kind of diet someone has to be on (no liquids, different stages of thickening etc.). Then they get to work on anything that aids communication and comprehension, from memory to sign language to assistive boards to cognitive communication issues.  Sometimes that even includes difficulties communicating because of hearing issues.  

Pretty much - they are the coolest.

[Lulu54]

Hi Dennis, the first thing you need is to have a thorough evaluation to determine what deficits you have and develop a plan to trreat those....

My neuro likes to use the rehabilitation team - the PT's and OT's have specialties in doing assessments.  The woman I am seeing for memory is actually a speech therapist. I know that sounds wrong, but she does work with memory too.

We have also discussed life skills - the types of things you are talking about.  How to organize, prioritize and follow through is a skill that can be retaught.  Or so I'm told!  LOL

So, my thought is to ask for the assessment in cognitive therapy and go from there.

best, Lu