I used to be real smart, lol Now I forget things all the time. Important things. I also have problems with words, getting them from the files in my head, I usually get words backwards or placed in sentence wrong. This is a big part of my MS.

I've had this a lot lately. I'm taking a class, and a recent assignment involved looking up some information and writing a short paper. I just couldn't wrap my mind around what was a pretty basic concept. I had to step away from it for a while. I went and did some physical labor in the yard, which seemed to help.

This is one of the most annoying things about MS. I'm still new to MS, so I look "normal." I don't think the people around me "get it." Go figure...

At least you guys/girls "get it!"

i am currently on disability because of cognitive issues.

I was having some pretty bad memroy loss,and I cant think as quickly as before.

I did a neurophyscology test,and it showed I Have working memory loss,short term memory loss,consintration issues,mood disorder,anxiety,depression.

If this has become a problem for u,then ask your neuro to order a neurophyscolgy eval.

It will help u out to learn what problems U do have,and plus help out with you Disabiltiy clam..

good luck,
aly

bump

Not only do I have problem coming up with words, I have a problem getting my bills paid right no matter how hard I try, and I cant understand ppl if they talk fast. Mostly its short term, but there are some long term losses in there too.

the post office expects me to think fast and go fast. there's no excuse for slowing down to them. quite funny To say, I ran into my bosses car with mine. LOL. It was an accident. m/s related? hummmmmmmmmmmm

I recently got the results of my annual physical back from my PCP. Everything was fine, and within normal levels, EXCEPT for my B12 levels. The nurse said that my levels for 'that' were half of what they should be. I am taking a B-complex vitamin now. Yanno,......my memory might even be a bit better, since having started taking it. I dunno. Still, that bit about alzheimers scares me. My grandfather had alzheimers. I do not want to get it, if I can help it.

mailman, sounds like you were thinking..... and moving fast.....

Mailman not a good idea to run into bosses car even on accident. I try only to remember important things and I do allright. I have been keeping brain sharp playing cards. I do not have a lot going on which helps. I hav'nt been forgeting(sp?) my money and or lighter or tobacco or cig. papers or reefers before I go for my walk downtown as much as a couple years back. I had memory issues when I went back to school a few times, for Algebra and Computers. I did not achieve much at school the second time. I was not dxd. with anything at the time. Its not easy being green!!!

I also started taking a Centrum 50+ Vit. this week it seems to help me a small bit. I have less dull time when I am trying to think of somthing. I am not sold on the idea that vitamins are really needed much but I am going to try it for the summer anyways.

Hi,
I too suffer from cognitive issues. A couple years ago I had to have a Psyche Evaluation done to see just how bad the problems were. I was shocked at how much i'd lost cognitively. Some days are better than others cognitively. It changes with stress, and the summer heat, etc. Some days I surprise the heck out of myself at what I can accomplish cognitively, and other times I get so frustrated with myself. Mine was so bad, that I was afraid I had alzheimers, but I was assured that it was NOT alzheimers. Thank God. It's just one of the ways my MS effects me. To look at me you'd never know. But........I know :-(
How does it effect you?
Hugs,
Kat

Below are my notes from an NMSS program that I went to a couple of weeks ago called "Cognition & MS" which was presented by Dr. Darcy Cox, formerly of the University of San Francisco (she is moving to a position in Canada - go figure!). They also handed out a pamphlet which I have quoted below. (fyi, part of the presentation also included points of depression)

-------

Depression

-Autoimmune disease = increased risk of depression (neurochemistry findings)

-20% of people w/MS suffer from depression
-50% of people w/MS will suffer from depression in their lifetime
-depression may worsen if not treated, but is also one of the more treatable symptoms of MS.
-term for a symptom of depression: anhedonia = lack of enjoyment
-depression vs. grief = grief hurts, depression disconnects, grief can be worked through, depression cannot.
-most recent research finds no relationship between interferon meds & new onset depression (interferon gamma for Hepatitus-C does increase risk)


COGNITION AND MS

Areas of neuropsycological functions impacted by MS:

-speed of processing
-attention & concentration
-language
-memory (recall, taking longer to memorize things)
-visual/spatial processing & memory (getting lost driving; right-left confusion; problems assembling things from diagram/instructions; difficulty in understanding how machines work, i.e., cell phone, microwave, VCR,; trouble judging differences between objects like when parking a car;trouble visualizing an object from a verbal description of it)
-executive functioning (this means multi-tasking, decision-making, organizing & communicating information)

From the pamphlet: "Only a few decades ago cognitive impairment was considered rare in MS. We now know that 50-65% of people w/MS have some cognitive problems. While most symptoms are mild to moderate, they can have a significant impact on a person's ability to function comfortably."
-presentation for Alzheimers & MS are VERY different
-cognitive impairment "waxes and wanes"
-steroids can cause cognitive impairment

Factors that impact cognitive function:
-Sleep
-Depression
-Fatigue
-MS

Brain atrophy (shrinking): all brains experience atrophy, the rate of shrinkage is faster w/MS sufferers. CRABs protect against atrophy.

Do you think you are having cognitive problems? It is important to determine what is causing the cognitive impairment; is it fatigue? Is it sleep disorder? Is it depression?

To determine whether you are experiencing cognitive problems, you can have a neuropsychological testing assessment. Problem: expensive, time consuming (takes approx. 8 hrs), emotional.

CBT = Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
This therapy helps you manage your anxiety and adaptive coping skills, for example:

Appraising the problem --> controllable?-->problem focused strategy--> less stress

Appraising the problem -->not controllable?-->emotional focused strategy--> less stress

The important aspect of CBT is that it reduces the stress you feel when experiencing a cognitive issue. The more you notice your cognitive problems, the more it happens-- because stress aggravates the symptoms.

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hi jewell2u,
my cognitive issues no longer allow me to multi-task. i spend alot of time getting frustrated over things. also i feel alot of guilt especially with my husband, i feel like he is cheated out of having a wife with a good head on her shoulders anymore. he has to take care of more business issues because i don't get all of the info or ask the right questions and that's even writing the info down. i never get things straight, it's so frustrating. i feel like everyday i lose a piece of me and so does he!

yep!!! once again a trip to the dr. started off great! found the building, found the elevator, found the office. time to leave,
couldn't find the car...i give up!

Well Mailman today all day I was feeling like a dumb ass for sure. I even got caught in the rain a bit without a jacket. And because of the cool wet weather I at times today was not totally clear what season of the year it was?? I have had this happen before in Off weather, I will be walking in cool weather and lose track of what season we are in.