[rtbabb4]

Hello, all! After having PCS for 8 wks, I've begun to say a word, thinking I was saying a different one. For example, today I said, "Shelley" instead of "Sheila" - I have no recall of saying the wrong thing. My husband says it's been going on for about 10 days. Is this a normal part of PCS?

[Mark in Idaho]

Yes, yes, yelp.

Often, the word you want to say is replaced with a word with the same first letter and maybe a mixture of the rest of the letters.

I don't do it much more but used to do it quite frequently. If I say the wrong word, I may notice it once I hear what I said.

I don't do much driving so I am often in charge of the map and directions. My wife has learned to wait after I say Turn right for me to correct myself to Turn left.

You will find that you do this more often when your are in a rush or under other stress.

It's best to learn to have fun with this. It can relieve the stress so you can go on.

Tell us more about what things you are struggling with. I guarantee you that you can not stump us with a new symptom.

My best to you.

[xanadu00]

I had this problem even before my brain injury. It may have been a residual effect of previous head injuries, though none of my previous head injuries came anywhere near this one in terms of severity of symptoms and overall disability. It can be a little embarrassing, but it's nothing to be alarmed about.

[EsthersDoll]

Yes, that still happens to me quite a bit, but not as much as it used to. (I've been recovering for about 22 months now...) I also have difficulty with "word finding" and I think the two are related somehow... but I really don't know.

When I'm in a bad mood, this sort of thing really increases my frustration that I have to deal with it at all.

When I'm in a good mood, I just laugh about it.

[Lightrail11]

This is common, especially if the injury involved the left frontal lobe. This is where Broca's area is located, the part of the brain associateed with speech production.

[Dolfinwolf]

I have had similar issues; I will say let the dog outside to eat (instead of potty), and so forth. My kids just cock their heads at me and we all have learned to giggle at things like that. (although it is still frustrating and embarrassing to me if word exchange happens while I am at work.)

I also find that I put things away where they don't belong. My daughter had strep, and I thought I put her amoxacillin away in the fridge, when I actually put it in the cabinet where we keep dishes (nowhere near the fridge). Needless to say, we had to buy a new prescription for her.

That last incident is a new development for me; I think I will have to do what was suggested on another thread and repeat where the item goes while I put it away. oh well!

[EsthersDoll]

I've put milk "away" in the cabinet and dry cereal "away" in the fridge. :P

I still say all sorts of weird things to my boyfriend at home in the evening. (I'm the worst in the evenings.) A whole sentence might come out completely wrong. This is a mild example, but I asked him the other night if he wanted me to get him seconds, and what I was attempting to ask him was whether he wanted me to put his plate in the sink. I said, "Do you want more?" And what I thought I was saying was, "Can I put this away for you?" Both are very different sentences! I didn't notice what I had said was wrong until he answered me, at which point I explained myself and he was totally ok with it, because he's used to it.

It's weird. I'm better than I was a year ago. I hope that I continue to improve.

I don't like feeling incompetent and remembering what an accomplished and competent person I was just a couple of years ago and how it all changed so much so quickly can make me sad.

[Kenjhee]

I do this fairly frequently, and things like it. The look on some people's faces when you say something goofy should garner awards.

[Dolfinwolf]

Originally Posted by EsthersDoll

I don't like feeling incompetent and remembering what an accomplished and competent person I was just a couple of years ago and how it all changed so much so quickly can make me sad.

You got a partner in thoughts with you on that one. I feel exactly the same.i mean EXActly. Well said; I could not have put it any better. I teared up a bit for the both of us
you have come a long way it seems though and you have helped me a lot with your posts!

[EsthersDoll]

Originally Posted by Dolfinwolf

You got a partner in thoughts with you on that one. I feel exactly the same.i mean EXActly. Well said; I could not have put it any better. I teared up a bit for the both of us
you have come a long way it seems though and you have helped me a lot with your posts!

Thanks for letting me know!! I feel the same way about this forum - it's worth it's proverbial weight in gold!