When Your Brain Takes a Vacation: Cognitive Dysfunction in MS
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- mdboxell
- loveisjoy
- Morgan12
- villa1285
- MagsF815
- 2tired
- Sybil03
- isalazar
- lkz
- ram11273
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» mdboxell - Re: Re: Brain's loss of my mind........&my job....&&&&&&&&
In response to message posted by loveisjoy:I was diagnosed with MS in 1981. I didn't start having cognitive problems till about 3 years ago. My doctor told me it could possibly be the age I was getting to (42 at the time), but not to rule out MS. I started keeping a "Brain Journal" to track my "senior moments", or brain farts as my husband jokingly refers to them. In doing so, I've noticed they're worse when I'm tired (which is always), so I'll say more tired than usual, when I'm too hot, or when too much information is having to be processed quickly. Then I get really confused!
Last year I had two surgeries in three months. The day after the second surgery, I had an attack, which affected my right side. I knew the possibly of this happening because of the anesthetic, plus the stress put on my body, so we weren't surprised. This year I had to have back surgery. Afterward, I started having ALOT of episodes of cognitive disfunction,ie. trying to make a phone call using the remote control, looking at the calendar, knowing what day it was and still going for an appointment 24 hours early. In keeping my journal, my doctor suggested that I may have gone through another attack. This time cognitively instead of the physical symptoms. I'm in agreement with him. I still experience alot of the symptoms you speak of, but the severe senior moments have lessened considerably.
I don't dwell on the negative in these situations because all that will do is depress me. My friends, family and myself all try to stay as positive as we can about my illness, and sometimes we get a really good laugh. Laughter IS a good medicine. And staying positive has let me endure this disease. Sometimes it knocks on the door and reminds me, "Hey, I'm still here!". But when it does, we roll with the punches, do what needs to be done, and go with it. Sometimes laughing as we go. Especially when I'm getting frustrated because I can't get a dial tone on the darn phone! (the remote). In the last 20 years I've learned to adapt with MS. I painted a bright green stripe down the remote. NOW I know if I have the phone, or not.
In all seriousness, yes this disease can knock you back, knock you down, and overall really piss you off, if you let it. Stay positive.
-- posted by mdboxell
» loveisjoy - Keeping it positive
I think your advice is right on target. We have to strive to keep a positive outlook, and a good sense of humor really does wonders in that regard. It keeps you from free falling into a depressive funk.I love your idea of keeping a Brain Journal. That's a good way to track cognitive lapses and see if a pattern evolves. That way, you can come up with ways to reduce situations that give you trouble.
On a different note, I noticed that you mentioned having had back surgery. I've recently heard from several folks with MS who've developed back trouble. I had surgery on two discs early this year, after enduring 6 months of excruciating pain. I'm much better now, but now I'm curious if having a chronic disease like MS where your mobility is limited can aggravate or cause back problems. Just a thought....
Thanks for posting!
-- posted by loveisjoy
» Morgan12 - Re: Keeping it positive
In response to message posted by loveisjoy:This article has "hit a nerve" (pun intended). I recently had neuropsycology testing which confirmed cognitive dysfunction due to ms even though I have only been diagnosed for 2 years. I have done some strange and amusing things such as buy groceries and then go home without them or getting into a stranger's car and trying to start it (not only was it not my car but it had two babies in it!) I have also had some scary incidents such as getting lost while driving home from work. Although cognitive dysfunction can be very amusing at times, I find it is extremely devastating to my self-esteem and it is making my professional life precarious at best. Knowing that you all can see the bright side helps considerably. I suppose one of the plusses is that we can now hide our own Easter eggs and read the same book for years!
-- posted by Morgan12
» villa1285 - brain on vacation
hi,I love that article, that is the problem showing in a non doctor` language. I`d like to add, that if the brain can`t find a word or info, he is searching for it in the backyard all the time `till find. for ex. I could remember all my cars whereto sold, but not a white suv. and than 2 years later suddenly a picture came into my mind: a family looking what`s under the hood. what did I learn: never give up looking for forgotten things in yr brain
all the best
harry
-- posted by villa1285
» 2tired - Re: Re: Keeping it positive
In response to message posted by Morgan12:I have been experiencing some strange syptoms going on in my body for the past 9 months. one of these is my brain been asleep when the rest of me is trying to do be awake. I have done some real crazy things, going to get a trailer and not even having a tow ball, wearing a shirt inside out to the shops( never ever done this before) geting lost, not remebring where Ive parked the car, even infront of my office, The scary thing is my memory along with the eye twiching, musclepain and fatigue etc are getting worse and I am only 29. I have not been diagnosed yet because the doctor blames everything on my hypothyroid. I have a laugh at all the silly things Im doing, but deep down its quite scary
-- posted by 2tired
» Sybil03 - Re: Re: Re: Keeping it positive
In response to message posted by 2tired:2tired I also am 29 years old I was diagnosed with MS 1997. My mom was not diagnosed until 1999. I'm in the process of losing my job. I can totally relate to the things that you are talking about. I ask myself all the time. "Are you crazy?" Crazy people don't know they are crazy, so what are we? Informed "Nuts". I guess I would rather know that I am crazy then think that everyone else is crazy. Some things that have helped me through my symptoms is laughing when I do something crazy. My friends like to say that I'm "directionally challenged". I often test my brain function in a day by how well I play solitare. If I lose a lot of games. That is not the day to pay bills. If I seem to make pretty sharp decisions that day then I handle my personal affairs and tough work related decisions. Find another doctor who will do the necessary tests so that you can find the right treatment fast. I had a doctor refuse to test me for MS because he told me that there is no cure and there was no medications that would help. I found that to be sooo wrong. I guess I can't sign off without telling a funny story.......Ahhh...Ahhhh.Can't think of one at the moment. When the thought comes back I'll send you one.
Sybil03
-- posted by Sybil03
» isalazar - Brain and cardiovascular due to Apnea
I was not aware of Sleep Apnea (although i was sleeping 12 hours and was tiread) until I had a nose job where they had to stuff my nose with gauze for 7 days..That brought on or exhacerbated the Apnea to the point of having a baby heart attack a month after the surgery, high blood pressure ( I never suffered from it) ...after most checking my heart is fine and I have to treat the Apnea. Most people are not aware they have it. But your heart and brain are oxygen starved and you can be just as tired and confused and not having the mental energy to follow up, or be very confused when someone is explaining something to you like directions. This condition is common but most people do not know about it. If you are living with half the oxygen then your muscles are starved, your brain is starved. Some of the conditions that you mention here I have them. I am 57. female. 120 pounds with back problems and arthritis. Check yourself for allergies, for any blockage of nasal passages or throat. I check mine buy using AFRIN + breathstrips; if the combination of these two clear your nasal passages then you might not be breathing enough oxygen during the night,. Hope it helps.-- posted by isalazar
» lkz - Re: Re: Re: Re: Keeping it positive
In response to message posted by Sybil03:Hi,
I have already lost my job and hate it. My kids like to say that I am having a senior moment. It is amazing I was a financial manager/accountant and now I can barely pay for anything I buy without major confusion. But you are so right, be positive and keep a smile on your face. The one thing is we could have it a lot worse and need to be happy that this is our only challenge.
-- posted by lkz
» ram11273 - Re: Brain's loss of my mind........&my job....&&&&&&&&
In response to Brain's loss of my mind........&my job....&&&&&&&& posted by lamills:i also stumble for words EVERYDAY, i forget what someone told me 5 minutes ago, and people think it's because I am not paying attention, it's very annoying, and I do not know how people can stay positive. I for one am so fed up with everything...I have been on Avonex since dx in march 04, it worked initially, symptoms were minimilized, but that last few months it feels like it is not helping at all, on top of that I am also on xanax, lexapro, wellbutrin, and nexium...I can't work, depression, anxiety, ms..yet I am awating an appeal from social security disability, I applied in Sept 03, will not see judge until (at least) march 05...I am just so tired of everything, and for many years people have been saying "be positive, it will get better"...I DO NOT SEE THAT HAPPENING...I tried being positive, but there is always something that will change that...
-- posted by ram11273
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