Does anyone else have problems with cognitive stuff and if so, how does it affect you? I muddle words quite often, somedays worse than others. Sometimes it’s similar words, I’ll say ‘hand’ when I mean ‘foot’ or ‘left’ instead of ‘right’ and I don’t mean because I muddle left and right, I muddle the word somehow. Sometimes the word I come out with seems to have no connection at all though, calling someone “jelly” instead of their name, although their name does begin with J. I wasn’t even thinking of food at the time! Sometimes when I’m doing stuff like cooking dinner I do silly things, go to put things back in the wrong place, or just have to somehow think more carefully about what to do next. I just feel as if thinking has slowed down. Again this comes and goes. I forget passwords, very annoying in a password driven age! I also forget people’s names, not just in the way I used to, where it used to be people I didn’t know well, this is names I know I know, I even know I know them when I forget them if you get what I mean! I find this cognitive stuff scary. I’m not sure that anyone else notices, but I’m aware. When I’ve mentioned it to people, they belittle it somehow, tell me they haven’t noticed or that everyone forgets things sometimes, i really feel it’s more than that yet. I don’t even know that I have ms yet, but something’s going on. I’m not really asking if this is an ms thing or not, I just want to talk to someone else who understands what this feels like! It’s kind of scary, how far might it go? Faith
Hi Faith,
You are not alone, I’m not dex’d yet but I do have lots of cognitive problems some similar to the ones your listed and often on days I think I;m doing great something else happens - the kids think its hilarious the majority of the time or just down right annoying but I totally get what your saying it can be very scarey.
Karen
Hi
Yes this sounds familiar to me too!. Initially I got really stressed about it ( even thinking I was going mad) as I teach & found I was I inventing parts of the body & asking my groups to do impossible things. What upset me most was people making fun of my confusion ( I haven’t told many people about my medical problems/tests).
However when I decided I would stop beating myself up about it & develop a thicker skin, I found it settled down & I can now laugh it off more easily. I’ve tried slowing down too so I don’t get so frustrated.
Remember there is a helpline you can call if it’s getting you down hun, but try not to let it.
Love & hugs,
C xx
Hi Faith,
Im another one whos not diagnosed yet, but has similar problems as yourself. I get a mushy foggy feeling in my head, as if my brain is switched off for a few seconds, like some of your thought processes are not there anymore. Its certainly very different feeling from when we all randomly forget things. It turns out I have a very good long term memory (Im remembering amazing stuff that Ive completely forgotten about for years). My short term memory is rubbish so it seems.
Like others I have learnt to laugh it off when I can, but its not always easy. I find it easier to go at a slower pace and keep calm, as stress and anxiety can make the problem worse. I talk much slower now to allow things in my head to process at a more managable speed. Things like passwords, I log them all in one of my reading books (no ones going to look there).
Problems i’ve come across,
Constantly forget simple passwords, even my name and address etc.
Forget things Ive done or said literally seconds before!!
Take the wrong pills - or completely forgetting Ive already taken them.
Put the milk away in the microwave. Put the jar of coffee in the utilty room?.
Rub talc powder in my hair?
Constantly forgetting what Ive just set out to do.
Writing a reminder list and forgetting what to write.
You made me giggle when you said you called someone Jelly, I love it, what a great unique name too. Its always best to have a humourous approach to life. But if it is worrying you, you should talk to your GP, neuro or MS nurse, Im sure they will help put your mind at ease.
Almond xxx
Hi I am dx with ms and have very similar problems with forgetting words, names etc. I also get what I call sensory overload, so if too much is happening around me (noise, conversations etc.) I completely shut down and can’t think about anything. I have just started seeing a neuropsychologist for this very reason, he’s been testing my cognitive abilities and there not very good for someone my age (29). I know have to think of ways of coping, avoiding chaotic situations (easier said than done with two young kids!). Also writing things down more often, planning my activities so that I can cope better. Also the key thing he keeps telling me is to relax, getting worked up about things will make it worse. Again, easier said, but got to try! I don’t know if any of that ramble helps you in anyway, but there is help out there so don’t be afraid to ask. Best of luck to you 
Lx
Hi everyone, I instantly recognised the sensory overload Leora has mentioned, in recent weeks i have had strange experience in shopping centre, supermarket, restaurant; lots of people, load, heat, increased symptoms but my brain seemed to ‘shut off’ my husband was a bit frightened by it, me too! I have to talk slower at work as if overloaded with info just a blank and speech to me appears as if had a few drinks, not good in meetings. At the weekend I had a panic as could not find wedding ring, had taken it off and put on a window ledge built have no recollection of doing this. Am going on holiday this week, have slowly been packing etc… Over days so as not to stress, I however have had increase in numbness to skin, instead of patches coming and going, now head for 24 hours, in night woke to spread into chest, now left side arm and leg too. More I think, oh please don’t go crazy with all this on holiday, the worse it does get. It’s all very strange. Anyway neuro appoint when return. I do find listing does help, my fridge is covered! Take care all Ally x