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Worsening cognitive problems. Any idea on where I can go from here?

I started having problems with remembering words and putting my thoughts into sentences many years ago, about 10 years ago to be exact. I also have several other cognitive issues like trouble concentrating and other neurological-type problems like my skin going numb and constant headaches. I went to several neurologists, and they all did the same basic thing...run an MRI, see that it was clear, and then tell me they had no answers and to try going to a therapist or taking anxiety medicine. I tried both of those things and also tried anti-depressants. None of it helped. The therapists always told me they couldn't help me with my problem and to go back to the doctor.

So I gave up for a few years, but recently the problem with putting together sentences has gotten so much worse and I'm terrified. It used to be that I could mostly function okay in everyday conversation and it was just when I was in situations where I had to I guess use a bigger vocabulary (like when having conversations about politics or writing an essay) that I ran into trouble. Now I'm finding myself having trouble with the most basic of speaking tasks, like I was trying to ask my dad what to do about my bathroom water coming out cloudy yesterday and couldn't find the words to ask the question. I'm having a hard time even writing this right now, so I'm sorry if I sound rambly. My headaches have also been so constant and intense lately. I can't help but freak out worrying that maybe I'm having mini-strokes or something.

I have no idea what to do. I'm pretty sure if I go back to the neurologist again, they'll tell me the same thing they always have. I can't live like this. I can't hold a job if I can't even communicate with people. I've tried going on several job interviews where they asked me a question, and I just sat there staring at them because I couldn't put the words together to answer the question. Needless to say, I never got any of those jobs. It's to the point where I don't want to even be around people because people want me to talk to them, and I just laugh and say things like "haha yeah" to everything they say.

I'm so scared.

I am 28 and female if that matters.

Thank you.
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Avatar universal
I am now 57 and lost my job 7 years ago when I started making mistakes at work and had no idea I was the one making them! I honestly thought someone was logging in on my computer just to mess with me! Then I had a car wreck and (which had nothing to do with it) but really messed up my neck, so I was off work for weeks on FMLA. They replaced me while my job was supposed to be protected.
As I was attempting to return to work, they informed me they didn't have a position for me (tho FMLA guaranteed they have to hold you a position). I had other health issues that never stopped me from coming to work, such as SEVERE migraines, where I could barely open my eyes, had to wear sunglasses some days. And lupus, and fibromyalgia. But I was forgetting conversations that my husband and I had at home. I decided it was a good time to see if I qualified for disability. I had already started over with a new job twice in 5 yrs after 24 yrs at a previous job! At the age of 50 with my health issues, I didn't think I was hireable. They approved me within 6 months!
But earlier this year, my Dr put me on an antidepressant called remeron, and all of the sudden I started thinking cleare
r, I had more energy. Bad news was, side effect of this drug is appetite stimulant. I gained 30 lbs in 3 months. It kind of tapered off there. But I begged him to find me something else. So he switched me. Now I'm back in the same boat. Not quite as bad. But I don't feel near as good as I was on Remeron. I was on Celexa before, and it took years to figure out that was what caused the decline in my cognitive thinking!
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Avatar universal
I am now 57 and lost my job 7 years ago when I started making mistakes at work and had no idea I was the one making them! I honestly thought someone was logging in on my computer just to mess with me! Then I had a car wreck and (which had nothing to do with it) but really messed up my neck, so I was off work for weeks on FMLA. They replaced me while my job was supposed to be protected.
As I was attempting to return to work, they informed me they didn't have a position for me (tho FMLA guaranteed they have to hold you a position). I had other health issues that never stopped me from coming to work, such as SEVERE migraines, where I could barely open my eyes, had to wear sunglasses some days. And lupus, and fibromyalgia. But I was forgetting conversations that my husband and I had at home. I decided it was a good time to see if I qualified for disability. I had already started over with a new job twice in 5 yrs after 24 yrs at a previous job! At the age of 50 with my health issues, I didn't think I was hireable. They approved me within 6 months!
But earlier this year, my Dr put me on an antidepressant called remeron, and all of the sudden I started thinking cleare
r, I had more energy. Bad news was, side effect of this drug is appetite stimulant. I gained 30 lbs in 3 months. It kind of tapered off there. But I begged him to find me something else. So he switched me. Now I'm back in the same boat. Not quite as bad. But I don't feel near as good as I was on Remeron. I was on Celexa before, and it took years to figure out that was what caused the decline in my cognitive thinking!
Helpful - 0
5265383 tn?1669040108
I would suggest having a sleep study.  Sleep deprivation can cause a lot of neurological symptoms over time, and sleep apnea is easily treatable.  One thing to rule out, anyway.
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Avatar universal
I have been doing that about 15 years, but I am 63!  
Yeast may be your culprit.  It was mine.  I had an overgrowth of it.  If it gets out of hand in your intestines, it can get into your blood and to your brain.  They also have tiny barbs that can poke holes in your intestine causing "leaky gut" which is essentially toxins from your gut leaking into your body and can make you vey sick, causing many problems.  Your Dr can prescribe a yeast killer like Diflucan, but you must do at least 39 days if it.  No more than that to prevent liver damage.  You can only eat things that are not sweet or starchy for thirty days and can only add back a few very low sugar or low starch things at a time to see if You still have problems with them.  
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you for sharing your experience,Bren64. I will do some research on yeast.

--
*sigh* I went back and read some of my old posts on this topic from many years ago. I wrote so much more eloquently back then. I thought my language difficulties were bad then, but they are so much worse now. Depressing.
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