Joelle

Thank goodness you had a compassionate judge! Sometimes they can be real...well, you know. Sorry you had to go through all that...

I've done the same thing with people when you see them totally out of context. I had the same thing happen to me the other day at the grocery store. Ran into someone I have known for 10 years. We chatted, she called me by name, talked to me for about 15 minutes and for the life of me I could not think of who she was. I felt like an idiot. It finally came to me when I was driving home and passed her office! She's the president of the Chamber of Commerce!!! I worked with her husband on several projects and her son owns a nursery in Reno! Maybe she didn't notice...

Hopefully after Tuesday, you can get some rest and things will settle down for you.

I have also heard that Aricept works...maybe you can talk to your doc about it.

You've been through a lot recently, don't be so hard on yourself. You need to take some time for YOU...

Cog Fog is not fun or funny!

You need rest!

Glad the court thing is over.

Lots of

Awwww, Joellelee, take it easy on yourself. And you're right: we DO understand.

Ya shoulda been here tonight when my granddtr (2) got a little flashlight and shined it on the floor. Then she chased it saying, "Come back here, wight!"

Keeping you in my prayers. (((Joellelee)))

Stress really does a job on my 'cog-fob'. I can't believe the difference it makes when I am nice and relaxed with no worries. It's almost like being a normal person. Except I can't remember what normal means anymore. My normal of 15 years ago is long gone. But I'm talking about my normal since MS.

Aww Joelle. I'm crying right along with you.

I feel your pain and your humiliation, cos I've been there too. Not quite to the extent that you have, but almost. I understand how you must be feeling.

You and I have shared too many not nice experiences this past year, but at least we understand each other a little better for it.

Sending gentle hugs and loving thoughts.....

That must have been very difficult, Joelle. You got through the worst of this though now, and things will start to get easier. You are almost done this very difficult part in your life.

Joelle, I am concerned about the cognitive struggles you are experiencing. I have gone through that myself, particularly when I've been under considerable stress . . . so it's not all that unusual for us. However, I do think you should mention this to your neurologist if things seem to be getting worse, because you are on Tysabri.

It is very unlikely there is any connection, but cognitive and leg coordination problems are the two things I remember should be checked into.

Big hugs, Joelle.

Cherie

(((Joellelee)))...I'm almost crying now, I know how miserable high stress situations can be. Hang in there ~ only one more day till the election!

I hear ya with the stress and cog problems. When I was getting a masters degree I used Aricept because of the stress and the problems I was having with my memory. It helped tons and I was able to get through the rest of the program despite the stress.

Bad thing for me was that I ended up with some of the side effects--nausea, diarrhea or frequent bowel movements, and vomiting (mainly dry heaves). Lost 20 lbs while I was on it, which was a nice bonus but felt cruddy eventually when the nausea/vomiting got too bad. Luckily I was near the end of the semester.

Maybe you can try it and see if it works. My insurance wouldn't cover it--it was off label use and studies proving it improved memory in MS didn't matter to the company.

Hang in there. Hope it calms down for you after election day. I'm a poll worker (for the election board) tomorrow and have to be at my voting place from 6:00 a.m. until probably around 10:00 p.m. and then take all the voting material down to the county office. Not looking forward to it, but it's important to be involved.

I am so sorry to hear all of this, like the others, I've had my turn at the emotional side as well as the stress side of things. There is always 2 sides to every issue, and the more intense the one side is, then the other side has to be equal to keep balance. Right?

Geezzz What I am trying badly to say here is this: Be glad that you do feel emotion at all. I know about that one. Also, crying and as well as humor are great ways of relieving stress. Sort of like a pressure release valve.

As far as crying in public? I have come to the conclusion that there are aspects of MS that cannot, nor will not, allow themselves to be suppressed. Emotions are one such aspect. I do not try to control things I simply cannot control. I make peace with them.

As for the stress? You have to learn to pick through the things in your life that cause you stress. Choose only the things you really can do something about and deal with those.

As for the rest of those stress causing issues? You have to learn to either pass them off to someone else to deal with, get someone to help you deal with them together (such as coming here for moral support), or simply let them go.

Saying it and reading it, are the two easiest parts of this. Actually putting this in to practice is another thing all together. Finally, take the advice of those who posted already.... Discuss this with your doc. The sooner the better too.

Dave

Thanks to everybody ! I feel much better now. I'm done with my volunteering for the time being. I've gotta take care of myself first. I also wanted to let everyone know that my neuro knows about the cog issues, that's why he ordered the new mri and possibly a neuropsych test, Argh! to all!