Cognitive Question
 

This week end I was making a note for places to find the Wii....since it's so hard to find, I made a list and phone numbers to call around town here. When I reviewed the list later to start making the calls, I found that I had written:

Frem dis for 'fred meyer', Everything else in the note was correctly spelled....

I catch myself doing this when I type sometimes.....thoughts? I showed it to my DH...When you can see what I'm talking about, its a cause for concern...just wondering if any of you have these kinds of issues.....thanks

Well I have been known for typing/writing odd things like this also from time to time but much more often is for the life of me I get can't remember how to spell something at all, even easy words like "have & come", it almost the same when I'm talking and a word I'm wanting say will not come out. http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k2...y/dontknow.gif

It happens pretty often for me J. For some reason, I usually can't write the letter w without really concentrating. It wants to come out as something else entirely. :)

I think I will do the neuropsyc test. Seems that should cover the whole enchilada and pin point everything. Thanks

I get that sometimes (not often). It happens both when I speak and type. Nothing like the confused stare of a 2 year old. When I realize I was speaking jibberish, I usually just say "Well it's not like I understand what you say either, so we're even." :D

there are days that I simply cannot type what I am thinking. I am a great typist, and can do so in the dark, never have to look at the keys and can go pretty fast. I have those MS days that I cannot make it work! I have learned to slow down and just not be in a hurry.

So I gather that this is a sx of MS... but what other things can cause this, anyone know? I'm willing to accept it could be from depression....but I really do feel good most the time....just scared about the future sometimes, and who isn't? Not sure how depression could cause me to mis-spell things like this.

Thanks for your responses to this point :D

Just started my physical therepy for my back this morning. We are going to work on my stomach muscles and I really like my Therapist...very nice, alert, and informative. Also, I voluntarily stopped my zanaflex and vicodin last Monday. I still have plenty, I just hate feeling crummy all the time from them and want to get it out of my system. Knowing they are there if I need them is good enough for me :)

Gotta study! See ya all later....

GJ, I firmly believe this is a symptom of MS, and not depression, anxiety, confusion, or anything else that the neuro may tell you! (Sorry, bit of a sore point for me.)

Typically cognitive problems for me include mixing up letters in words, or substituting one word for another. I was trying to type 'course' earlier and kept typing 'coarse' instead. Or Copaxone - my fingers keep wanting to type Xocapone. I do this when writing, too, but I write so slow that I can catch those mistakes.

As to what it all means... well, I won't give you any false assurances. I've improved since my last flare, and now I only have this problem when I'm having a down day. (More MS symptoms than usual) I still have short-term memory problems, and I do use the wrong word or phrase occasionally.

For memory, it helps to build up routines and double-check yourself. Keep a daytimer handy for important appointments, passwords, account numbers, etc. Then don't lose it! That's the sort of thing you don't want an identity thief to have.

I've been struggling with cognitive stuff a lot since my dx. It's a major issue with me. Sure some of my memory issues could be depression (I've suffered for 30 years) or the antidepressants (currently on high dosage), or perimenopause (year 9). But since these things have been ongoing for some time, I am able to differentiate what memory issues are related to them from what is MS. My problems with spelling is definately NEW and I blame the MS. I never had a problem with spelling before. In fact, I only developed this problem within the past three months or so.

The cog-fog, is also MS, as I never had this problem before either, not even during my worst days of depression (which included a couple suicide attempts, but I was always able to work). On my foggy days I can barely get through the work day.

The forgetting names has been with me a long time and may be a few things, but it has certainly gotten much worse with the onset of MS. And forgetting words was an occasional problem that has also gotten much worse.

I suppose it all varies person to person, but I have noticed a significant increase in how often I forget things, how spaced out I am, and my inability to concentrate (sometimes I can't even read a book without getting lost) just in the few months since the testing began in August 2007 and my dx in Nov 2007. And none of it has improved with time, I'm sad to say. My daytimer has become my security blanket.

Thanks Jen, I guess being open to 'anything' at this point is what will see me through all this. I don't want to get stuck on one thing any more....and am willing to listen and respond to what the doctor's say; the problem is, do THEY know!!??

Today I made an appointment with a PCP that I saw once. My DH and DD use him all the time. I'm going to bring in my testing for the past 4 months and get him up to speed on everything. See what he has to say :rolleyes:

I know how you feel, it would just be great to hear "Your not crazy and it's not stress or anxiety" from a Dr, wouldn't it? :hug:

The Neuro didn't tell me I was having anxiety or stress...I told him :D Neuro said he would be there if any sx show up again and we'll look at it again at that time. His concern never strayed...but how far can you go with testing if it refuses to show up? It's a wait and see with him.

My Gynocologist said my missing period for 5 months was due to stress tho :rolleyes: Guess she was right, cuz it's back.

For me, I would just like to determine WHAT took place and why.

Now I have an appt with a PCP and and Therapist....I'm getting to the bottom of whatever it is. :)

Stress can definitely cause your cycle to be thrown off. And it's pretty normal for you to be anxious and stressed... I think it's cool that you went ahead and told the neuro! He probably appreciates the honesty.

However, cognitive impairment (due to anxiety) is very different from cognitive impairment due to MS. It's definitely an organic failure in my case, because it's intermittent. (Thank goodness! I couldn't work full time if it were around full time.)

I think we've already talked about neuro-psych exams on this thread... I'm a-hankerin' to get one myself, as I want to know where I am right now. I hear it's a long tedious testing process, but worth it.

I heard that too Jen. I was told 7 hours with a lunch break. I can see the value in it. When I talked to my new therapist today, I asked him if it would help identify emotional issues, and he said not the way I'd like it too, but I'll keep that on the back burner in case I want to go there...and as always, follow thru on every lead until it's all crossed off.

Funny, I never asked for a "Santa's Wishlist" before....:santa:

Shes making a list
Checking it twice
Gonna find out which doctor is right

la de doo de da da de dum.......:nopity:

All together now.... :boy(music):

yep,All the time.
The most worst is when I mess something up as far as the docotors stuff

I feel for you and I know what you're going through. You should see my notes :rolleyes:. Work on not worrying too much about it. At least you know what you meant, right? Tell any one else that it's your new short hand and to learn it or go away. :p

All kidding aside (I really think you have to keep a sense of humor about all this mess) work on focusing on the happies. (((((Hugs)))))

Welcome to the MS fog. I too suffer from majour cog problems. Forgetting what a fork is for, numbers, names, faces, and yes the ever fun....word finding, or even better, words find you and come out of your mouth that don't make sense. And you wonder WTF? How did that get there. People just look. My family have come to accept that words just have a way of coming out of my mouth. Sometimes they laugh, other times they just look. What did you say? Why did you say that. "how the the H should I know. why can't I walk. why do snakes have no testicles? Geeze you ask to many questions:D'

Life goes on, I just get used to it, and amazed at this each and every day. Some days it does scare me, and I'm supposed to go for another neuro test, but it's all the way to Toronto, and at this point the way I feel (painwise) it much too far to go. Just too much walking. I don't feel like spending 2 weeks recouperating.

:hug: GJ,

I go through cog issues too. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I want to scream - but it's there. :rolleyes:

Not sure what else would cause stuff like that, but hope you can find some answers soon.

This is a good point for me to make with my Dr.'s, stress ALWAYS messes up my period and I haven't missed a beat in a loonnngggg time :rolleyes: I told my neuro is was having any stress right now.

The stress was working 14 hour days, 7 days a week....on my feet. Exhaustion was certainly a factor in that stress, like an athlete who works their body too much....never lost the period before and it could be premenopause.

Goodness, yes that is stressful. :hug: