Cognitive Issues - Help
 

Anyone ever have a flare that was mostly cognitive and then resolved?

I'm getting pretty worried about what's left of my brain.:eek: I am making huge mistakes in every aspect of my life. I cannot even figure out how to figure out things.

These are things I used to be really good at like budgeting and planning stuff. For instance, I have been trying to figure out how to automate payments and can't for the life of me figure out how to figure out the right amount of money to keep in my bill paying account so that I can just let it do it's thing.

I have ZERO confidence in my ability to write the correct numbers from reading them off the calculator because I am making so many mistakes. I also have no confidence that I am remembering when and where I am supposed to be correctly.

I just got my neuro appt all mixed up with last year's and almost went a day too soon. In fact, I had my DH take the day off today so he could go with me and now I find out that the appt is tomorrow when he is working!:mad:

I am leaving letters out of words when writing them and making bizarre spelling errors (I was a spelling champ in a former life). One spelling error that kind of got me was the word sterling, I keep wanting to type it as sterline. Why???:eek: If it wasn't for spell check, it would look like everything was written by my 8 year old.

I cannot multi-task at all. If I am interrupted, whatever I was doing gets dumped from my memory until someone starts looking for it. Even then, it seems like a distant memory like something I was working on last year rather than an hour ago.

I am really hoping this is some kind of flare and that it will get better. So, did anyone else ever have bad cognitive issues that went away? Someone give me some hope here!

I have had intermittent cognitive issues - couldn't concentrate - couldn't sleep as mind was whirling through every problem I'd ever encountered but that part seems to be past -I can concentrate and actually read a book - still can't spell anywhere near as well as I once did - used to be able to visualize the word in my head - 3 years of Latin helped too - takes me longer to do the budget -but all in all - I'm better then I was - so yes - it can and does improve -

I have most of my severe cognitive issues when I am really stressed, whether it is either physical or psychological. As far as all the numbers I feel that I have lost a lot of my critical thinking skills and it sounds like that is waht you are talking about. And it really works on your confidence big time. I'm sure there are mind excersizes that you can do and actual physical things that can help you but I don't know what. Maybe a out patient rehab clinic? Good luck.

Yes, about 12 years ago. Not long after giving birth I was having word finding issues and trouble keeping track of things I was suppose to do... like feeding the baby! At the time wasn't diagnosed, but had known for about 5 years that it was possibly MS. Most of the cognitive difficulty cleared up after 6 months.

However, now it's back and has been for almost 2 years. :confused: What you describe is how I feel. I get so confused trying to figure out details. My neuro recently put me on Aderall. It helps some, but not so much for energy levels like I had hoped.

tk

:hug::hug:

My cog fog issues are intermittent. Generally I know it's nap time whan I can't keep a thought in my head.

I try to do puzzles and stuff to "train the brain". There's a lot of good games out there online or for game consoles, like the Wii. Even stuff like sudoko (sp??) might help.

Hope it improves. :hug:

Most of my relapses were vision and cognitive problems. I almost think the two go hand in hand sometimes.

I had trouble with word retrieval, spelling, reading, writing, simple addition and subtraction, memory, multi-tasking etc.

I did what I could to compensate for the deficits, but many of those things just cannot be compensated for, especially in the middle of a meeting!

If it's any consolation, yes, they did go away, and what didn't go away, I must have learned how to live with or just stopped caring for the most part.

I still use a calculator, make lists, use a giant calendar, carry around a date book and a notebook, put things in one place so I can remember where they are, etc. I don't write as much as I used to, I don't enjoy reading like I used to (I could read a book a day, now it takes me weeks) and I make sure to tell the old man everything that is going on so one of us will remember!

They say a lot of these problems come along with age anyway, but I don't FEEL old, just a lot dumber sometimes...:(

I hope this resolves for you! :hug:

Thank you! I have vision issues, too. Perhaps you are right about it going together.

UPDATE:

I saw the neuro this morning and left there with several referrals. It seems like he feels there is something going on.

Referral #1 - Neuro-Opthalmologist for the abnormal eye movements and my vision problems with the computer.

Referral #2 - Neuro who specializes in balance problems.

Referral #3 - Neuropsychologist for retesting to see how much I'm slipping.

Referral #4 - Occupational therapy for my hand problems with writing / keyboarding.

Then, I have to get a new brain MRI and then he also ordered IVSM for after all of the above to see if I get good benefits out of it like I used to, but he really wants all of the testing done first. I'm going to be a busy girl.

Sounds like you have a good doc! While all the testing is going to be a pain, it can only help to give a clearer picture as to what is going on!

I've learned to always make an appointment with my eye guy when I was relapsing. He was the one who suggested MS right at the start when I had ON and I trust him completely when it comes to getting to the root of my eye stuff. I even went to a neuro-opthalmologist once and he didn't catch what my regular guy did.

Hugs to you, ya lil pincushion! I hope things get better for you soon! Let us know how it goes. :hug:

I hope the neuros plan helps Holly. Im going thru something similar
right now. I was playing a new game with my 10 and 5 yr old yesterday
and was trying to read the directions to figure out how to play and
I was so confused.:( Finally with some help from my dd, we figured it
out but sheeesh.:mad:

I hope things improve. :hug::hug::hug:

Thanks, River! He is a good doc. He was actually very concerned that I would get fired or written up at work. He would actually pull me out of work under doctor's orders if I was in danger of that. My bosses actually told me that even at the rate I'm going right now, that I'm still smarter than most people! I'm blessed that they are patient and understanding bosses.

He was also really concerned about me driving and making mistakes, but I told him it made me way mroe cautious than normal. I've become one of those people who waits for an invitation before pulling out! He seemed satisfied with that for now until he gets the results of this additional testing.

Ugh reading directions! That has been hard for me lately, too.:hug: Maybe you should talk to your neuro, too!

Holly, things did get a bit better with me after my really horrible cog problems in 2003. So there is hope.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you with the neuropsych testing. I know how frustrated you must feel right now. It's a real #^@#! to handle. Hang in there though. The neuropsych, if you ARE slipping, should have some good suggestions for you on how to compensate--maybe things you haven't tried too.

:hug:

Holly,

I finally figured out that my cognitive problems almost always were linked to not sleeping enough. It is a simple thing to check....

If the alarm has to wake you everyday, then you aren't sleeping enough. Your body will wake itself when you have had enough!

And I, like Gazelle, have come back to pre problem cognitive powers! So don't give up!

Puzzles, games (join us on Lighter Side here)....studying with kids...reviewing simple math facts....playing board games like Memory....

I have the same problem with the cognitive stuff. I am a teacher and the year has just started and I feel overwhelmed already. It's so hard to multi-task and keep track of stuff.

I was hoping for IVSM but the neuro's PA wanted me to wait and try Tysabri on Monday, my first infusion.

I am in a horrible depression and my psych RN just increased my Wellbutrin XL and my Xanax and then I am back to see him in two weeks. I am a complete mess. I am exhausted, lucky if I eat once a day, could sleep forever, and have no desire to do anything.

My cog fog mistakes are daily and hard with me being a teacher. I'm just plain worn out.

Good luck,
Weebs

YESS in fact it has been my most serious symptom and the one that scared me the most cuz I thought I could not longer work.

Sense of direction.. went kapoots

Speech.. saying the wrong word.. slurring..stuttering..

WRiting the WRONG numbers at work.. and not even knowing I did it.

Balance.. then weakness.

Well.. I had a short oral prednisone stint and improved..but..when i went to my guru of a nutritionist.. he FED my brain with much lacking nutrients.. and detoxed my toxic brain/body.

ANd know what? I have had little to no more cog symptoms !!!

YOUR BRAIN NEEDS NUTRIENTS>>>WHOLE foods especially designed for YOUR brain.

These specialists can test etc but not necessarily CORRECT...

OH well.. I am glad I am better.. 2 years plus now

Jan

Thanks everyone. I'm just too tired to even really respond right now. Maybe it is a flare. I just want to crawl back into bed.