This has been gaining in momentum and I guess it's time to ask some questions.
In the past I've never had a problem finding and formulating words and reading out loud. But gradually over the past 5 years or so, I've had increasing trouble. I attributed it to the variety of antidepressants I've been on (not sure why), and stress. It isn't consistent, but it's increasing and there are times recently when it's almost embarrassing to speak. I have to slow to an abnormal speech rate to give myself time to find and say the words. Even then I'm jerky because I have to stop because I can't get the words out. I know what I want to say, but when I open my mouth the words aren't there. It seems to me it's been discussed here but right now I can't find it.
Is this a neurological issue or something else? Can anyone give me info on what's happening and why? I've noticed the word "aphasia" in my reading. And anomic aphasia.
Is there treatment and what would it be?
I have sicca symptoms, mild peripheral neuropathy, vertigo for 6 months, shortness of breath (upcoming tests for that). I'm still waiting on an appointment with a rheumy and a diagnosis. I am to have a follow-up with my neurologist.
I am not an expert on this one, but I can tell you what happens to me and if it is the same for you, maybe it will help. Before I was diagnosed with primary SJS, they thought it was all stress and anxiety. So they put me on 40mg of Prozac. I am one of those sensitive SJS types to medications, so the 40mg really sent me to another world. I found that I could not get the words out or even find the words to say in my mind. After my diagnosis, I was put on Effexor because it helps with aches and pains, too. At first, it made me hyper and jittery. I can only handle 37.5mg per day (which is an extremely low dose), but it cuts out a lot of the pain. At least I can think on Effexor. The other problem I have (and this was even before I did anti depressants) is being over tired. When I get over tired, my brain fog is ten times worse and I know what I want to say, but it won't come out. It happened to me when I was hosting a soap making class two weekends ago. They ladies were asking me about the history of the place and I had it all in my head but the words would not come out. I was exhausted that day from a long week of working.
Hi sunflower. Yes, I have that word problem as well. It's the neurologist that would help you with that. I did some neuro testing for that and I'd be hanged if I can remember what it's called! Neuro- phsyc? Anyway, some medicine can also have that as a side effect like topiramate.
Hope you get some more members to pipe in!
Yep, I've had trouble with that for years. It comes and goes, but is almost always there at least in some level. And yes, worst when I'm super tired.
A few years ago I went through neuro-psychologic testing because of cognitive difficulties. After that I don't put much weight on those tests - the testing time (don't remember if it was 4 or 6 or 8 hours) was divided into shorter sections "so that it wouldn't be so tiring". Erm... what's the point of testing problems if the testing is set up so that problems wouldn't arise???!!! ::)
Mostly my results showed above average results, however with some inconsistencies. Hm. Yeah, I might be above average, but I've been way bettter! And what's with the inconsistencies? No idea. They said I've occupational exhaustion, moderate/severe depression and suggested to repeat the testing after a year.
Well, after a year I was being examined in the institute of occupational health and they were supposed to do the neuro-psych testing again. However, the psychologist said that she won't test me, no use, because I was already tested so recently. DUH. I think she was just being lazy. Instead she used two appointments for some idiotic questionnaires and the entire ordeal made me furious like a teenager. Sigh.
So I guess my problems then are just from stress and depression and what else. Nobody offered any help for it. At least now I don't need to work because I couldn't handle it anymore.
I used to do a lot of writing (poems, stories, blogs, songs...) and photographing, built websites for different people and organizations. Now writing doesn't happen, neither does photographing, because my mind is just blank. I've managed to build a couple of very simple websites with a lot of huffing and puffing, and am having a huge amount of trouble trying to re-build the website of hubby's firm. That's not so simple and I find myself looking at the code as if it was all greek written with Chinese letters.
It's so frustrating!!!!!!!!!
So I don't know if it's a neurological issue or not, but it can be.
Aphasia, from what I understand, is caused by brain damage, usually a stroke. It's treated (after treating the stroke, of course) with speech therapy.
This is what I found re aphasia:
http://www.aphasia.org/aphasia-definitions/ (http://www.aphasia.org/aphasia-definitions/)
Quote"Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write. Aphasia is always due to injury to the brain-most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals. But brain injuries resulting in aphasia may also arise from head trauma, from brain tumors, or from infections."
I really appreciate your feedback, each of you. Maybe it's stress for me. I tried Effexor years back (supposed to help with hot flashes) and my BP spiked to the point where I ended up in emerg at night. It was too high a dose but I was taken off right away. Very few antideps work for me partly because I'm so sensitive to them.
It's helpful to hear about the neuro-psycho testing. My neuro offered to test me but my GP thought it was pointless. I may discuss it with him again but I have to think about it.
Here are snippets of what I found on aphasia from the site Eija offered. Some of it sort of rang a bell.
http://www.aphasia.org/aphasia-definitions/ - Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write
http://www.aphasia.org/aphasia-resources/anomic-aphasia/ - anomic aphasia ? difficulty finding words; nouns, verbs
I feel like this (SJS?) is gaining on me from many directions but because I haven't seen a rheumy yet I don't know. It's a helpless feeling and frustrating for sure! I suspect the only way a doctor would understand is if they would go through it.
I have been having trouble with this also, especially in the last two years. Similarly, I intend to say a word like "running" and only "run" or "runt" or something like that comes out of my mouth. It is very disconcerting. I am not sure if this is the same thing, but the work I want is often on the tip of my tongue and won't come to me - but it is for some common words. It is very scary for me. I attribute it to the inflammation in our bodies that is also somehow inflaming our brains - that's my hunch. Still scary as anything.
Ouch - just noticed I keyed "work" instead of "word." Now I'm doing it in keying as well as speaking! :-)
Misery loves company but I'm sorry for you, Lucy. It's just so frustrating. And if it's inflammation - of the brain - oh dear, not comforting. I've written down totally the wrong thing - a word coming from absolutely nowhere. However, I would attribute "work" to just a common typo. I hope that helps!
Hi SF,
Are you old enough to have been through menopause? Or even perimenopause. I ask this as this is when I noticed what you are experiencing. "Back then" (really) a very small book was published (no longer available) on perimenopause. I had never heard of perimenopause. One of the bothersome symptoms which occurs was listed as word recall/finding. I am a speech pathologist...and that was sort of important in my line of work. :)
I began to tell EVERYONE I was menopausal. It is likely I used this excuse for about 10 years. I WAS laughed at! Give a woman an excuse....
Now...about 6 or so years ago (I will be 74 next month) I starting "losing time." Didn't know how else to describe/think of it. I was still working...but part time/contract work...same field. To me it always happened in the car. The events were quite infrequent. However the word finding became worse. I attributed it to old age. The truth is I thought it was Alzheimer's. That's how much it had escalated over the almost decades.
I never mentioned it to a doctor. At 71 I was dxed with SjS. This was not a symptom of Sjogren's but the events continued...never increased in frequency. I was to eventually learn it was NOT Alzheimer's (and so relieved) but the condition was revealed. Not in any way related to SjS. I am medicated for it now. My full sentences are much more fluid. My thought processes are clearer. That blankety blank word recall is still a problem to me. So disconcerting. I use my iPhone a lot to look up stuff! I have a friend who says she can't finish some thoughts without searching for something on her phone. :) We laugh about it. She is about 5 years younger than I am.
My age is different from yours I am sure.
Briefly--aphasia's cause is ordinarily a stroke. You can have neurological causes--most often brain tumors---and other TBIs.
What you are describing wouldn't be considered aphasia by an SLP with our limitations for examinations. A neurologist (with whom I consulted regarding my symptomatology) or oncologist would be the next level. Speech therapy can help. With the brain damage caused, never complete recovery---unless the stroke itself didn't do extensive damage. In that case, we consider much of language reacquisition is spontaneous --or recovery with time w/w'out therapy. Yes. Depressing to know.
As I have gotten older my memory and my speech output "don't match". For instance I referred to something from "45" years ago a week or so ago to my son---he looked at me and said...that was more than "24" years ago. I said...WHAT?? He said, you just said "24" years ago. As soon as he said that I actually could HEAR I had said 24. It was strange. I wondered how often I do that with people who don't know me well enough to correct me. It was a new verbal output condition. Drats.
Good luck and hope this helps.
:) c3
Am I old enough to have been through menopause? YES, although I'm still struggling with hot flashes. I'm almost 72 and have been going through menopause for 25 years. :(
I have trouble with time concepts too. I think about Alzheimers but I doubt it. I could find an online test to check, I'm sure.
Thank you for the feedback on aphasia. I haven't had a stroke.
Memory and speech output - yep. 45 vs 24 - I know, believe me! I have checked with people as to what I said. Crazy.
Interesting that this might be linked to SJS, as I always thought it was just from ASD.
I could've sworn the term for it was "executive dysfunction", but I just checked Wikipedia and that doesn't sound right.
I have had this problem intermittently for several years. I believe it is neurological and caused by my autoimmune system playing games with my brain. I started doing easy crossword puzzles (AARP website has free ones) and it has helped. I have also begun trying to learn Spanish - my son is engaged to a woman from Mexico. I read somewhere than learning a foreign helps the memory as it forces the brain to activate more cells. Don't know if it is true, but I do think both activities have helped my brain. The Duolingo website offers free lessons in many languages. The lessons are very good. I also do online Jigsaw puzzles (again at the AARP site). When my kids were small, I read somewhere that doing jigsaw puzzles help children learn to read. I have no idea if any of these things really help, but I seem to be better. Anyway, they are fun and I tell myself they are therapeutic and I am not wasting time with playiing computer games.
Katie1111
Sabbra: I understand how you pulled up Ex Dys for what we are discussing. It does apply to speech and language ==but among populations with neurological implications.
KATIE: I too play games. I do them on my phone tho. I started with Words with friends. In the last 6 months I have added some others which "stretch" other areas of my brain.
It is believed one must attempt to solve "unfamiliar" or at least harder problems for these "games" and tasks to really help benefit your brain. So...I ventured out: ONE is puzzles. I do the ones on National Geographic site. Warning: They are hard. And you can choose categories which are outside your wheelhouse for a real workout. I have always worked puzzles...and loved them. My children always knew a new puzzle was placed on the game table in our home each holiday...and especially over summer months. My grandchildren followed suit. I started the now 23 year old on computer puzzles before he was in school. But....I didn't remember them until a friend told me about the NatGeo site puzzles. Honestly..they are so hard...I put them off.
I am MAINLY writing because you are absolutely correct regarding the value in learning a new language. It's too difficult for me. I always learned a modicum of a language when visiting foreign countries. That was YEARS ago. Now? I make about one attempt each year....and fail abysmally. You are a smarter, stronger woman than I. Hang in there. You will have helped your self esteem AND your brain!
If you have a smart phone, PM me and I 'll tell you my brain stretch games I love!
c3
Search the site for brain fog and for word problems. It's been discussed a lot.
To briefly recap my situation - I had the neuro psych testing. The results were very split - there were parts that I scored very well on, but then there were some where I was well below normal. However, based my previous career, some of those where things I used to be very good at, like remembering lists of things, certain kinds of pattern matching, switching context easily. So something was definitely different.
My symptoms include having a hard time with short term memory. For example, I can only copy numbers 2 or 3 numbers at a time. I can't remember a phone number long enough to write it down. I have problems saying and writing words. I sit there and wave my hands and say "You know, the round thing that goes on a car. There are 4 of them." I use to write professionally, and now I make mistakes about their/they're and there (OMG!) I substitute one word for a similar sounding word sliver/silver, crane/crape, flurry/floozy. It makes for some pretty hilarious sentences, but really is no fun.
My understanding that it's a part of the inflammation that comes with some autoimmune disorders. When I'm immunosuppressed, it definitely improves. It's also worse when I'm tired, and I do have a lot of fatigue.
It is hard.
Brain fog - oh yeah, that's what it's called! I'll look it up. Thank you all for helping me out.
I've had trouble with this since peri-menopause. It was also the time all these auto immune problems happened for me. When I was on Wellbutrin, I didn't have a problem with that but Wellbutrin gave me tremors so I had to stop. Ugh! I hated that. Sometimes I think when my thyroid is off, the problem is worse. I really hate this though. Sometimes, the word will just pop back into my head a few minutes after I wanted to use it. But, it definitely comes and goes for me. Of course, when I am tired, like today, it is worse.