Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

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Eloise 09/10/2007

Have any of you experienced aphasia? I very possibly did last Friday, or at least that's what I have been told based on what occurred.

I read a note posted on a door about a meeting. The note said that the meeting had been postponed until the following Monday. Wrong. That's NOT what the note said. It really said that the meeting room had been switched. The words that I read were not the same words on the note! My neurologist stated that this could indeed by aphasia, which has to do with language, and was quite possibly another MS symptom.

I am wondering if this aphasia, combined with my fatigue, depression which hit hard last Friday, memory issues, and change in temperament (very, very easily annoyed and angered) add up to an exacerbation? I'm not sure, but I don't know how else to explain the past few days. New symptom--aphasia--combined with a worsening of old symptoms (depression, angriness, awful fatigue)is what constitutes an exacerbation--and what has happened to me seems to fit this definition. But I am not sure since I have only had this disease for 10 months.

Oh, another new symptom this evening--kind of. I feel asleep on the couch and suddenly I jumped and yelled. I felt like someone had just slapped me across the face. This woke me up. I have had the 'jumps' in my sleep before, but not the face slapping that goes with it. Actually, now that I think of it, it is kind of funny although it wasn't at the time as I really did feel like someone had hit me in the face! So....can anyone relate to the sleep jumps? sleep slaps? aphasia?

I also have had problems spelling--or maybe it is typing. I make errors like crazy and sometimes type a word that I hadn't meant to. So if any of this doesn't make sense, chalk it up to my fingers hitting the wrong keys. While it is certainly normal for this to happen when typing, it is happening way too often lately and I wonder why.

Enough already! I hope to hear from many of you regarding your opinions. I think that those of us who live with this disease often know more than the neurologists we see. I value your opinions a great deal. Thanks!

Michelle

deleted_user 09/10/2007

I know exactly what you mean about aphasia...however I did not know until now that this is what it is called! I actually did the same thing at work accept I'm the one who sent out the email about the meeting room change and wound up going to the original room instead...until someone came and got me. I felt like a complete idiot since I was the one that called the meeting in the first place! This of course was one of the occurances leading up to my going on disability. I had ALWAYS been known as the most organized and best multi-tasker ever...but might as well be back in kindergarden now! hehehehehehe! Is it story time and naptime yet???
I also experience awful "twitches" in my sleep. My whole body will jerk forward and wake me completely up. I have also had those "falling" feelings only I am "ducking" from being hit by a ball in the head...it all happens in a split second, but the effects take a couple minutes to getover and get back to sleep.
You're not alone dear...I'm fighting right along side ya! HUGS

feisty 09/10/2007

I threw a fit in the grocery store because they were selling LION MEAT!!! My husband calmed me down and asked me to show him what I was so upset about.....it was Pork Loin. This kind of stuff happens a lot. It's usually funny. Sometimes not. The other day I was driving to my Moms. 3 miles away, I do it once a week at least, I've done it 1,000,000 times. I got lost on the way. That was not funny.

Eloise 09/10/2007

How good it is to know that I am not alone (not that I'd wish this stuff on anyone). I, too, have ducked when I have 'seen' something coming at me (imaginary bird, for example). I loved the 'Lion Meat' and laughed and laughed (which I desparately needed to do). I, too, have been the super organized person and am wondering if I can continue to work for much longer? This is perhaps the hardest thing for me to face and to try to figure out.
Thank-you, both of you, for your responses. You have no idea how much better I feel.

Oh, one last thing. Today I was driving downtown to pick up perscriptions and saw the large white buildings way up ahead. I don't recall ever seeing them before, but the closer I got, the more I realized (from the looks of them) that they've been there for a long, long time. Did I forget that they were always there? I couldn't have seen them for the first time as I have lived here for 20 years and driven down this street more times than I can count. Very strange. I decided I better see the eye doctor. After a very thorough exam, eyes were pronounced wonderful (which is very good), but no explanation for the 'new' old buildings! I feel like I am losing my mind. I need the kindergarden naps and story time too! Being an adult, especially one with MS, diabetes, and asthma is sometimes just too hard!

Michelle

Rbear66 09/11/2007

Apasia - Partial or total loss of the ability to articulate ideas or comprehend spoken or written language. Michelle, I am a Paramedic, and still working. this morning I had a patient that I reported to the receiving nurse that had a "histor of seizury" and this afternoon was explaining ( or trying) enzymes to a patient when I said "every body in the muscle"....I misread things, miss spell them ,use other words, cant find words...you name it. fun isnt it? I have to admit, my goofs made me laugh, and those around me too....gheshhh, a histor of seizurey....lmao

Eloise 09/12/2007

Glad to know I'm not alone! Thanks for the replies!

deleted_user 09/12/2007

Funny you mention it - about 9 months prior to my diagnosis I was driving my daughter to a basketball tournament. The previous weekend's tournament had been somewhere else and that's where I was headed again until I realized that this tournament was somewhere else. So we turned around and started to the right place. Of course, I was already late since we had gone most of the way wrong and I got behind an old man going very slow on a two lane highway. I hate to fly by people when I pass them. I don't know why but I always feel rude. So, I leisurly drove past him with the intent of moving back over in my own lane once past but instead I just continued driving in the wrong lane for probably half a mile!! I noticed a car coming my direction in my lane and I thought "What the heck is this idiot doing?!" Then I realized the idiot was ME! I got over. It wasn't a close call or anything - he was still a way away from me but he stopped and turned around and followed me to the game and got out and screamed at me in the parking lot until I was balling uncontrollably. What could I say? I told him that I had no idea why I did that. He was furious and I thought for a minute he was going to hit me! I was so shaken up by the event that I called my primary doc the following Monday and he said he thought I had sleep apnea and sent me for a sleep test which I passed fine. Fast forward then to a big MS attack, hospitalization and dignosis. Now I am thinking that was definitely MS related. Thanks for sharing your story! Maybe I am not crazy after all! Or maybe I am! :-)

deleted_user 09/12/2007

Yup, as RBear says, aphasia can be either receptive (unable to comprehend) or expressive (unable to communicate). Some people (like people with strokes) have global aphasia--or both kinds.
I have also experienced a kind of dyslexia with numbers, words and trying to find my dang car. I also find myself misreading signs and billboards--some are really funny. A lot of this is just a symptom of ageing, and not neccesarily the drain bamage from MS.

deleted_user 09/12/2007

Ditto to all the above. I have said and mis-read many of things. Glad to say I am not alone. Hey do any of you involentarily(sp?) run into walls? I do and my 2 yr old trys to imitate me with also walking into walls.
Michelle

deleted_user 09/12/2007

Wow I'm not alone! First, I hope I don't make the pork lion mistake. I work in a supermarket and I'd never live it down.Second, I can't remember peoples names at all. Even those I've known for years. And twice today I woke up from a nap or should I say "shot out of bed, like something startled me. (My house was calm and quiet.)And...I transfered to a new store at work because I felt I lost control over my position at work and was constantly angry at everyone. Where I'm at now I have few responsibilities, and it keeps me happy. When I make a mistake, it's as if the world has ended and I fight to keep myself from crying, even thought the mistakes are just goofs and no big deal. (Major overreacting) I'm not on any meds now but I'm making a list of my problems so I can get treatment as soon as money permits. It amazes me at how many problems I've had, everyone else has too. I just keep reminding myself..it' all because of the MS.

deleted_user 09/12/2007

I have noticed for some time that I am often not able to finish a sentence from start to finish.... kind of like "George Bush" moments... ;-)
I will know exactly what I want to say when I start the sentence, but by the time I am in the middle of it I will lose ability to recall words to finish the sentence. For instance, yesterday I was trying to tell someone about kids coming to the door for a school fundraiser... in the middle of the sentence I could not remember the word "fundraiser."
Having been told I am pretty articulate throughout my life, this is a stunning blow to my self-confidence. I feel it makes me look like an idiot. Then, once I am flustered, NOTHING out of my mouth comes out right!
I am finding that I am much more distressed by my cognitive losses than my physical limitations or even the pain. It takes much longer for me to comprehend what I am reading, and that has always been one of my strongpoints too, quick reading comprehension.
It's tough to share this with some of my family and friends without thinking they wish I would stop whining. I try not to "whine," but it is troublesome. I appreciate being able to come to this forum for understanding support.

Eloise 09/12/2007

Seeker,

I know what you mean about the cognitive function. I've had similar issues. I teach four sections of public speaking to high school students and one block of English I. Imagine trying to teach kids to give speeches and you can't find the words! Fortunately, my students know I have MS and I've forwarned them that this (loss of word retrieval) may happen. Generally someone will supply the word for me. Humbling at first, but now I think it's kind of neat to get assistance from a student.

deleted_user 09/13/2007

I've had wierd occurences while I have slept. I just had one a few nights ago. I spoke to my mother on the phone at 12:45am. I went to bed just a few minutes after, which after everything took place I don't remember the process of doing so. Now, I don't know whether to call this a dream or what, but I heard my ex ask me what time it was and in my "dream" I replied 1:00 as in the am. At which point we were standing in the kitchen. I saw and felt myself float through the dining room, living room and hallway into my bedroom. At that point I also saw and felt myself rise up onto a stomach laying position and I felt emotions like being scared and protected all in one-really wierd! My body slowly lowered gently onto the bed. I'm going to stick with the fact I was partially awake when this happened because as I lay on my stomach my head was turned to the side and I was facing my bedroom door in which I saw the light glaring from the living room I leave on at night. I felt my lifeless body lay there with the feeling like something was not allowing me to move or talk and all of my emotions had left the building at this point. I had no recollection of blinking my eyes during this time. I felt as if I had laid lifeless for at least an hour with my eyes open. When I finally snapped out of it I don't recall opening my eyes cause I think they were already open. I then got up off of my stomach and found that very odd because I never sleep on my stomach for it causes a cramp in my neck. It was 2:20am when I got up. The funny part was that all of the times add up. Was it MS? Maybe. Was it paranormal? Maybe. When these types of things happen, which they have to me several times I try to find a logical reason why they happen, but lots of times fail to find one. I'm really not sure whether it's the MS or just the house I'm in(yikes) because this has never happened until I moved to my current residence, although I was dx'd around the same time I moved here.

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