i have come to realize that it is just a natural occurrence with this disease, don't doubt the copaxone...it can't save us from everything, but if your mri was good, than you are moving in the right direction.
--em

I wonder if it could be fatigue. I know sometimes I have to concentrate while doing things that took no or little concentration before. (It's funny: I'm sitting here trying to think of right words, etc..) I never had good memory and it seems it is getting shorter. Anyway, I believe it can be an MS problem, but I wonder if there is anything that can be done about it. Take care and I hope you get some good answers.

Fatigue is definitely a front runner. I had to cut my work hours recently due to total exhaustion that landed me in bed for a week and a half. I take Provigil for the "brain fog" but it does nothing for the muscle fatigue. I pop a lot of ibuprofen during the day and take Robaxin at night for muscle pain and horrid foot cramps. Whatever it is, I hope now that I am not working as much, it will not be so bad. It's embarrassing to try to have a conversation and trip over just about every third word.

Thanks again. ~J

i find that word recall is a common occurance with the MS...and short term memory issues as well..i was having long term memory issues but that cleared up with the change in seziure meds...but yes word recall and short term memory loss has always been an issue with me for about 6 years now...and actively getting worse...
sorry i wish i could say no..grin..it was something else...but alas..for me it is not..sigh

hugs
heather

I do this with my words a lot. Often I trip over the words or reconize them if in written form yet cant get it out. I am 34 yrs old.

Ms affects cognition in 2 common ways--short term memory and working memory. Usually one has recasll problems when too many things are on your mind. Try speaking to people in a room that is not cluttered with other tasks or other people - limit all background noise and interference. Have conversations at your peak hours. Fatigue, for many of us, does make our symptoms worse. yOU MIGHT WANT TO CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN ABOUT TAKING OMEGA 3 FISH OIL OF A HIGH QUALITY GRADE BECAUSE IT HELPS WITH MEMORY AND BRAIN FUNCTIONING. Most of all, don't fret about forgetting things because stress will make it worse---just laugh it off and consider it amusing when others are around. You can look on line for memory enhancement exercises - there are free ones. You might also want to check into an exercise routine called Brain Gym, and see if there are any classes offered in your city. Physical activity is important for cognition. The NMSS has a good booklet (but small print), which you can request from your local chapter. There are also a couple books I can recommend if you are interested. Yes, having a hysterectomy can affect your estrogen levels, and some research has shown that taking an estrogen supplement for one year can help, but you need to ask if forgetting an occassional word is worth the risk. And, after one year of estrogen supplements, there is absolutely no benenfit to the MS woman. One study I am familiar with showed that Gingko Biloba helped with Alzheimer's patients, and thus it is believed it might help with MS patients.

Thanks so much for the advice! I did meet with an MS specialist not long ago, and she also recommended the fish oil, which I started taking. Brain Gym sounds interesting. I will check it out. ~J

This happens to me a lot. I have found I slow down my speech & take a breath which gives me a chance to try to find the words I want. I have also seen a speech therapist & she gave me some good ways to get around finding words too.
Might be worth seeing a speech therapist (or similar) to give you some helpful pointers.

Oh yes this happens to me all the time and thank God above that I have family & friends that totally get what I'm trying to say and will help me out. Then we get the giggles because I'll get the words all tied up and they come out in funny sentences. It comes and goes though which is great. Sometimes I have to remember just to slow down and take it one word or one digit at a time. Guess it is just one of those WWWOOOO things.

Yes, this wass actually the first symptom that I really noticed. Although they think/ I have had MS for a long time just undiagnoised...I ws more worried with the word thing...It strated about 3 years ago and I would either say the wrong word for what I wanted or I would forget a word and resort to discribing what I wanted to say...

Now, I know that is part of the package so I let friends and family know when the sharades are about to start and we all work it out. It is embarassing with a stranger...but quite a ice breaker at parties.