[SpaceCadet]

It sure feels like it.

I'm thankful that a lot of my symptoms have either resolved or stabilized, but the one that doesn't seem to get any better (its actually worse) is my ability to express myself "properly". I used to have a silver tongue. My ability to articulate what I'm saying/doing was a strong point for me...and now its pretty much diminished. I have trouble communicating with people in the simplest situations. I use a bunch of small words and run on sentences to get what I'm trying to say out. I have a lot of pauses, "umms and uhhhhs", I'll sometimes not be able to get what I'm trying to say out so I'll just say "Never mind" or "You know what I'm saying, right?"...Its very very annoying. Its gotten so bad that I feel uncomfortable talking to people...especially those that I don't know very well.

I'm starting to feel like a mute. I feel awkard and embarrassed to talk with people now...I'm avoiding social situations by ignoring phone calls, not going out with friends that much and just not wanting to speak to anybody. Every once in awhile, maybe once per day or a few times a week, my personality comes bursting out of me and I get on a roll. Everything I'm trying to say comes out fluently and with ease...but it never lasts long. Its like an adrenaline rush or something. When it happens, I feel like I'm healed, like I'm able to articulate myself like I used to...and then it goes away and I'm like CRAP!!! Lol...and this didn't even fully manifest until the beginning of March. That's 9 months after the initial injury...and it gets worse all the time.

What can I do? Is there some kind of medicine that could help me express myself better? (I know, probably not)...umm...What about exercise? Or will that make it worse? I noticed after having sex a few nights ago that I was able to express myself with ease...but it only lasted for 10 min lol. What do I do???

A lot of people on here post about stimulation, crowds of people, lights; exacerbating their symptoms. Like headaches, dizziness, etc. Well, any type of stimulation only makes it harder for me to express myself...and some brain fog/slowed thinking. I'm unable to watch TV, listen to music, or drive for more than 10-15 minutes because it causes me to become pretty much mute.

Yeah, anyways, so this pretty much turned into a vent but I'd still like to know if anyone deals with something similar or what they think I should do about it...I love being able to express myself and I miss being able to make my girlfriend smile with the things I used to say....so this is really hard on me. Why won't it get better???

Nick

[Mark in Idaho]

Have you had your rotten teeth fixed yet? The poison from rotten teeth could be effecting your speech center.

[SpaceCadet]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Have you had your rotten teeth fixed yet? The poison from rotten teeth could effecting your speech center.

I'm taking antibiotics to treat the infection.

I can't have them pulled until I finish the course of treatment.

[MommaBear]

Originally Posted by SpaceCadet

I feel awkard and embarrassed to talk with people now...I'm avoiding social situations by ignoring phone calls, not going out with friends that much and just not wanting to speak to anybody. Every once in awhile, maybe once per day or a few times a week, my personality comes bursting out of me and I get on a roll. Everything I'm trying to say comes out fluently and with ease...but it never lasts long. Its like an adrenaline rush or something. When it happens, I feel like I'm healed, like I'm able to articulate myself like I used to...and then it goes away and I'm like CRAP!!! Nick

Wow Nick, this sounds a lot like my son. Except all he's probably aware of is that he is horribly frustrated and thinks I make fun of him (OMG!!!!!). He's done well with his Speech Therapy, but he HATES it, I think he doesn't like working at it. He's gotten worse lately, has not had therapy for about 3 weeks now due to all the demoliton / reconstruction of my ktichen, it's been chaos. Just hiding out in his little cave, and shutting me out.

I wanted to get him back in but now his therapist is on vacation.... errff what awful timing... But yeah, when he gets on a little roll it's like sunshine and worth waiting for, his old personality shines through in those brief moments. The rest is pure misery and I'm getting desperate, as usual...

Anyway, It sounds like when you have sex then you get that blood rush and endorphins to your brain and that relaxes you so you can talk. That's my best guess. I think mainly you need to find ways to RELAX, get oxygen to your brain. If you like to swim, I bet that would be great, both relaxing and exercise. There have been recent posts on that subject and I would love to try that with my son. Worth a try?! Best wishes!!

(P.S. It's me, wendro*, I got my nickname changed)

[Mark in Idaho]

MommaBear,

Glad you posted the PS. I saw a new screen name with 48 posts and was wondering who it was. Now, I know I was not losing my mind. LOL

How is he doing?

[MommaBear]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

MommaBear,

Glad you posted the PS. I saw a new screen name with 48 posts and was wondering who it was. Now, I know I was not losing my mind. LOL

How is he doing?

Hi Mark, Yup I'm MommaBear now... recognize the reference? ;-) I'm the one losing my mind, but I think I must be infamous for that by now...

He's not doing well... playing his games less, sleeping more, always short and sarcastic with me, thinks the whole world is BS, and hasn't even showered in probably a couple weeks now. Deprived of much grocery shopping for the next several weeks (this kitchen crap is murder and stalling and taking forever) -- LAST thing either of us needed to happen at this stage of his game!! His routines have been too much interrupted by all this.

The only bright spot is that we eat out for dinner every day and he is great about choosing a restaurant, this he is enjoying very much and always thanks me for it. Eating seems to be his life now. Everything else is too much brain overload for him.

Worst thing right now is that he's been turned down by his insurance for inpatient rehab because he "doesn't need 24 hour nursing"... annnd just got notice that he is not eligible for Medi-Cal because he's not "permanently disabled" and doesn't have a kid in the house... which means a disability rejection should be coming in the mail any day now :-(

Sooo there goes any option of getting him any rehab other than the Speech, or paying up the wazoo for what he NEEDS... sheeeez... we're SOL...

NOT to be hijacking Nick's thread!!! ... please all, carry on with suggestions for him!! Nick, I hope the GF and the new job are going well for you!! And ohh the tooth thing, I had a tooth abscess a few years ago and it was sooo horrible, I can imagine that would negatively affect things for a while, what a brain strain! I hope that all clears up quickly. And I hope the antibiotics are far enough along that you feel much better by now. Doncha just love all of life's little setbacks, arrrghh

[pcslife]

Nick,
Have you tried any racetams? (Piracetam, NooRacetam etc.,). referred to as smart drugs, memory enhancers, neuro enhancers, cognitive enhancers, and intelligence enhancers (from wikepedia). I tried once and my stomach resisted. (I have very sensitive stomach btw). In U.S it is dietary supplement and in some countries it is a prescription medicine and tried for PCS.

I am tempted to try again but I have to quit the anti-seizure med I am trying now which was given for pain. It is doing nothing for pain but atleast there are no side effects.

As you know there is no magical pill, supplement and is all a trial and error. As I always say no one knows how every individual reacts to these meds. So there goes my disclaimer.

Cheers!

[Jomar]

VERTEBRAL ARTERY issues?

http://tos-syndrome.com/newpage12.htm

[SpaceCadet]

I'm going to do some research on the "smart drugs" you mentioned.

I don't know if I have vertebral artery issues. My neck was extremely sore after the assault...so its possible. How do I go about finding out?

[SpaceCadet]

My problem is more like aphasia than dysarthia.

I'm able to move the muscles in my mouth just fine...I just have trouble coming up with the words to express myself.