I seldom interact with people for any length of time. There are a number of reasons for that, all MS related. My hearing is pretty bad. Even with hearing aids, I sometimes have trouble recognizing speech (I swear some people just mumble), and if the person is speaking rapidly I can just forget about understanding. Also I lose words while speaking, which is terribly embarrassing, and I stutter a bit while fishing for them. I never stuttered before.

Now there’s a new reason for shying away from people. If I engage in a conversation with people, I can be fine one minute, and the next minute – even while I am speaking – I completely lose my train of thought mid sentence. Sometimes I can’t remember the point I wanted to make, and sometimes I can’t even recall what we were talking about, though that is usually while I am having a hard time fishing for words. When this happens I am MORTIFIED.

I used to be a very effective speaker, both person to person and when giving major corporate presentations to large audiences. Now I limit my verbal communications for fear of appearing like an idiot.

Does this ever happen to anybody else?


P.S. - Of all the things I’ve lost in life, I miss my mind the most.