Concentration Problems and Reading
 

I thought about this after seeing Littlepaw's post and I wanted to share (but was too out of it after taking the Tizanidine last night to risk what might have resulted if I posted it then...that stuff makes me a little wonky).

I used to be a BIG reader and a major book lover. I love all kinds of stories in pretty much all genres. A year or two after my RSD started...I began to notice the difficulties I was having concentrating. I would re-read paragraphs over and over and...nothing. It was like my comprehension level after reading a page or two just evaporated. It has gotten worse with time.

So I turned to audiobooks and found my love of reading once again. It's slower than my own reading used to be...and I miss the feel of holding a book and the ability to read with other people around...but audiobooks have brought the books back to me and have helped get me through some rough times. I talk a lot about finding things to take my mind off the pain and losing myself in the story helps with that...especially when I can't move around much.

But recently I have discovered ANOTHER option for books. Totally by accident...I have fallen in love with Chrildren's Books. I know...it's not COMPLETELY by accident...my 18 month old who I read 20-30 books a day to might...possibly...have something to do with it. But I realized last night that I have become a little obsessed with kids picture books...and I think this is why. The illustrations are amazing and I can handle reading the few lines on every page. And I get to have a REAL BOOK in my hands again.

I have a bit of an addiction when it comes to buying books for my little girl (good thing she loves books)...but when I was thinking about it last night I realized that the HOURS (yes...hours) I spend every day looking at kids books on Amazon is in large part due to my own NEED for these books.

So take that RSD...I found another way to thwart your plans to take something I love away from me. :p

Hi Catra,

I am enjoying your posts.

I, too, have significant challenges with attention. In my case, I know this is influenced by the degree of pain in any given moment, along with some med side-effects.

I need a very quiet, calm space without interruptions in order to focus and concentrate. Sometimes, this works well, other times, not so much.

I have also been an avid reader throughout my lifetime. However, I now find it difficult, if not impossible to read books. I have this problem with audio books as well. I retain the most watching video and seeing visual cues along with the audio. I have to be deeply interested in the subject matter, as well. I try to watch movies now and then and I lose track so many times. I am constantly rewinding and trying to find the spot where my mind skipped out. Lol. I also skip out of paying attention at the theatre sometimes.

I do much better, cognitively, with fewer meds on board. I know it's a trade-off and while I don't like the foggy headed feeling, I sometimes need the break when pain is severe for too long. Other times, I choose to endure more pain and have less fog. Yet, too much pain or meds needed to help with pain, both cause me some cognitive slowing/fog.

It's fun to hear about you and your daughter. :D
I am glad you have found a reading alternative that allows you to continue to enjoy books. :D

Love All Around,
:grouphug:

Its a trade off isn't it? Brain fog from the pain or from the meds?

Have you tried Young Adult fiction? Its written at a teen grade reading level, so easier to read and easier to follow, but there are still some very good books.

For me it's definitely not meds as I was off all meds for several years and still had the same issues. The brain fog has not increased with the meds being added in...though don't even try to get me to use my brain from about 30 minutes after I take the Tizanidine until 6 hours later.

It's not the reading level...I just start to check out and can't concentrate. It happens with movies or tv sometimes where I turn something on and walk out of the room 15 minutes later and about 30 minutes after that realize that I had just turned something on. It can happen when people talk to me sometimes...and there is no way I can concentrate on the tv, a person talking, and something on my phone/computer. My boyfriend gives me a hard time sometimes and there's just nothing I can do about it...that ability is just gone.

However...when I am doing another activity like my cross stitching and I have a book on and nothing else going on...I get lost in it and am fine. I guess the stars need to be aligned just perfectly for it all to work out. ;)