I used to be a math teacher, grades 7 through 12. I was a great speller. I would give my students short spelling quizzes on mathematical terminology. I still do okay with math, but I rely heavily on spell check and the dictionary for other words. My grocery list sometimes looks more like a word scramble game.
I tried to teach for a year after I got sick. One day, I was writing an algebraic law on the board, and i wrote the word "the" turned out to be "th3". It took me 3 more tries to correct my error. I couldn't believe that a simple 3 letter word had become so difficult for me. My students got a great laugh out of it, but that day .... I knew I was in trouble.
Like some of the others on DS CFS, I sometimes "lose" words in mid-sentence. Sometimes, I even forget what I'm trying to say. I do work crossword puzzles several days per week, and it does help me --- at least on good days. CFS, FM, or both, we are all together!

Just one more thought on the crosswords! I do them EVERY day! I also have a numbers...brain training kind of game on my hubby's x-bos that I do after supper each night. I find I am GOOD at crosswords, and I'm good at the brain training game.

I think that we MUST keep working on our mental acuity. Do the crosswords!! You don't have to do eighty of them a day, but at least one a day, and get your brain back into the daily activity of retrieval!!

Now, I hope I spelled everything right in this comment! Sheesh!

I used to spell words out for my family, and now when I can remember what word I want, I cannot remember how to spell it. Even simple, everyday words like stomach. It's madly frustrating, but what can one do?

Now, I am losing my hearing. Just thought the man said "for lack of a monkey" and what he did say was" for lack of a monarchy". So funny to be aging. Just another loss to contend with.

My friend got ear radios and they cost over $6,000. Paid for by her daughters. and mine are not so rich, not yet.

I have the same problem. I was great at writing in school and even went to college to be a journalist. I've seen in the past few years that I have horrible spelling problems now. In fact I just had to switch jobs because I was told I had no excuse for messing up like I did.

I definitely am forgetting how to spell. It is so maddening and makes me feel stupid.

I am having such a horrible week with brain fog. I feel like a walking idiot. On a good day, I still struggle with spelling and grammar sometimes. I used to be the leader of the pack in this department, but NO MORE. It's really very sad.
Thump. (the sound of my intelligence hitting the floor)

I don't know if you guys have noticed, but this is the kind of thing people tend NOT to believe has anything to do with your illness. (Sorry; there's a sentence in there somewhere.)

In fact my partner, who has been incredibly supportive about everything else, when I mentioned this to her she said it's only because we're getting older. That it's part of the territory, according to her. I'm looking forward to showing her all your responses. I'm not saying that in a mean way, it's just that she really has no way of knowing the difference between "getting older" and what this 'idiot brain' feels like.

On a lighter note, I know now that I can blame this degeneration of my faculties on either fibro OR chronic fatigue. (Gee, maybe it's both!)

I don't know what I'd do without the support of this web site.

Thanks,
Barb

Oh boy, the responses on this issue have made me feel like I'm not alone. I struggle so much with verbal communication and I also have spelling problems as well. I find myself looking up simple words over and over. I keep thinking, "Why can't I remember how to spell it when I just looked it up yesterday?" I have been taking fish oil. I'm not certain if it is helping my mental fog or not, but I think it helps my mood a little. So, I've stuck with it. I find that when I have to help my daughter with Algebra, I get headaches from the mental strain. I try meditation to calm my mind. That helps some. Blessings on you, tenderwolfe.

What I can't understand is that I forget to spell, I speak words that are not right, I forget what I'm doing if I get interrupted, but then sometimes I can do the most difficult and complex things. It's very puzzling to me why some things come easy and things that I feel should be easy are difficult. I tried to do an easy sudoku puzzle the other day. My brain was hurting so bad from the mental strain and all my entries were wrong that I just gave up. I wish I could understand what part of the brain is affected so I could know what I can and can't do.

I have been apart of daily strength for awhile but only recently start posting , because I was embarrass , and worried what others word think because I have the same problem.

Yes, spelling and language & word choice have become an issue. It used to come so easily, but with the brain fog it makes it difficult and then I find myself second guessing a lot. I do notice that when I am physically stronger, I can think more clearly & it is easier, but when I'm having a rough day, it is harder.

I don't know your age, but you mentioned that your partner sees this as just an aging issue. Well, it IS an aging issue, but then add CFS and Fibro brain on top of the aging and Voila!, you spend a lot of time in outer space, or at least appearing to be in outer space, as you try to recall whatever it was you were just talking about. I'll be 60 this year and the combo of aging and CFS can be really frustrating. I try to find the humor in it and recall times like when I handed a friend paper towels for some water she spilled and said "Here, have a sleeping bag!" I also spend way too much time chasing my tail around the house because I can't concentrate on a darn thing for more than a few seconds half the time and forget what I'm doing. Some days are better than others depending on fatigue level, but wow, some days trying to gather thoughts to concentrate about a decision or numbers, etc...can feel like climbing Everest. Hang in there, we're all in it here together. I agree that testing the brain when possible is really important. I just heard the most important thing we can do for brain health is exercise. Well, I won't be running any marathons anytime soon, but whatever you can do to improve circulation is great. And I agree, there are some supplements you can try, but I'd run that by your health practitioner for sound suggestions.. Good luck! Hugs!