Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group
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Need to vent
I find this the scariest symptom (well close to it) Slowly over the last 8 yrs my mind has been getting worse/slower/not all there.
I noticed it was harder to add simple numbers. My memory was not quit as good as it was before.
Now it is almost impossible to add single digit numbers. My memory is terrible.
I find myself confused almost everyday. Some times when my Hubby is joking around or "being smart" I have to ask him to stop b/c he is confusing me. He stops once I tell him what is going on.
I find it frustrating I want my mind back the way it used to be.
Anyway I have been anxious lately. I would be confused or find myself not following thing right & I would get anxious. The more I was confused the more anxious I would get. It also seemed like the anxiety caused more confusion. So on & on it went. I asked for a drug to help with the anxiety & it worked. Today I asked for a drug that lasted longer but does not tire me out like the other.
It was good to go about the day without the anxiety. Being able to think.
Is this just part of MS slowly losing your mental faculties.
I know I have lesions in my vision center, short term memory & other places.
Does anyone else have this problem?
What do you do about it???
I find this the scariest symptom (well close to it) Slowly over the last 8 yrs my mind has been getting worse/slower/not all there.
I noticed it was harder to add simple numbers. My memory was not quit as good as it was before.
Now it is almost impossible to add single digit numbers. My memory is terrible.
I find myself confused almost everyday. Some times when my Hubby is joking around or "being smart" I have to ask him to stop b/c he is confusing me. He stops once I tell him what is going on.
I find it frustrating I want my mind back the way it used to be.
Anyway I have been anxious lately. I would be confused or find myself not following thing right & I would get anxious. The more I was confused the more anxious I would get. It also seemed like the anxiety caused more confusion. So on & on it went. I asked for a drug to help with the anxiety & it worked. Today I asked for a drug that lasted longer but does not tire me out like the other.
It was good to go about the day without the anxiety. Being able to think.
Is this just part of MS slowly losing your mental faculties.
I know I have lesions in my vision center, short term memory & other places.
Does anyone else have this problem?
What do you do about it???
I don't think there is much we can do about it. It could be the medications that I take (opiates for pain). Maybe it is the same for you? Some meds put you in a cloud and you can't think clearly, hence your confusion.
I know a lot of members use web sites like Luminosity for daily exercise of their brains. You might want to try going there for 1/2 hour each day and exercise and see if it helps you.
I know it is scary to be in a state of confusion all the time and I'm sorry you are going through this phase. MS takes so much away from us!
Nothing you can do about it other than to try to relax as I find I can get words out better & try to remember (or make it appear that I do) if I take it easy.
Take care & try to laugh when words come out back to front or throw it back to others when they ask if you remember such & such ask if they do & when did it happen - prompts sometimes help too.
Know you are not alone.
Sometimes I tell people I have alzheimer ( jokingly) so they understand how I'm feeling.
Alma
hugs to you!!
Amy
Now, I notice that writing has become more difficult. My memory is not the same. I also have trouble working with abstract ideas sometimes.
I don't have any answers on how to improve it, other than keeping your mind and body active. I also notice I feel better when I'm well hydrated. I hope your symptoms get better..
I know I could not start all over at a new position, even if it were very similiar. Alot of experince gets built in 24 years.
I find I also struggle cognitively, my mind used to go a million miles an hour and I would multitask several jobs at a time, but know I try to focus on one thing at a time and avoid distractions. I found one of those little note pads you can fit in your top pocket invaluable, when I get an idea or task that needs to be done I write it down immediately before I forget it, on good days when I am thinking clear I take advantage and write everything down in lists and plan my week. I also have a calendar I hang on the wall beside me so I can always see it and were I write appointments and reminders.
Also a healthy diet and exercise is is great for the brain
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/6-foods-to-help-improve-your-brain-memory-power/
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/18264218/ns/today-today_health/t/forgetful-eat-memory-boosting-foods/#.T77crIFaeb4
http://www.improvememory.org/how-to-increase-memory/brain-power-foods
Sorry this is happening so fast to you!
It's doing the same to me too.
sometimes when I drive, I'm like where the hell am I going?
I'm 38 and this sucks!
I also got sticky notes to write down stuff I need to remember.
My spelling is going too.
my memory is really bad, I thought before I got dx-ed with MS it was bad , wow , was I wrong!
I feel ur suffering in that part of MS.
I hope we all can feel better one day
I hope they can find a cure for MS ASAP!
I hope It happens in my lifetime!
Always Silky ~
OH and BTW thanks for the URL'S ,
I will bookmark them and work on my memory too!
Gentle hugs, Linda
Anyway, I know that heat, humidity and stress all make it worse and then there is just progression of the disease. I am making the switch to Tysabri (as soon as the insurance approves it) to see if it can slow this thing down.
In the meantime will probably do a round of steroids.....
This happens all the time. He once simply stated "I'm home" in a text and meant "I'm on my way home" but it confused me so much I thought I was in the wrong house because I couldn't find him and I was home.
Very frustrating.