Cognition

Hi Melanie,

I just wanted to welcome you to MS Central.  This is a great little community with members who are genuinely supportive of each other.  I do not have a concrete answer to your question, but have read accounts of MSers with a wide variety of cognitive dysfunction.  It is never the same between any two individuals.  It's wonderful that you and your husband are making plans now for the future.  Good job.  I wish you well and hope that you enjoy the weekend. 

I'm sorry to hear about your cognitive problems, I think I do understand where you're coming from. I'm not yet diagnosed with MS, but that's what the doctors are focusing on. I also underwent neurocognitive testing recently and it showed some distinct deficits in some areas. For me it was mostly short-term memory, word-finding, and coordination/manipulation skills that are the problem.

Your question implies that you believe your cognitive problems are going to continue to get worse. This disease is so unpredictable that I wouldn't automatically make that assumption. You may level out or even improve a little with time. My thinking seems to go in cycles. I have a few bad weeks followed by a few good weeks. Sometimes the bad times make me depressed which results in more thinking problems and a downward spiral. Right now I'm doing well, but seem to be stuttering and having trouble with verbalizing my thoughts again, so maybe I'm starting the next downward trend. (I hope not.)

Take Care,

KJ

Welcome aboard.  I hope you find our site supportive.  I am responding in hopes of relieving some of the stress in your message.  I agree with KJ; you stillhave a chance to at least level out.  Don't give up.  I tried to deny IT too.  It's a good bet that many of us did the same.  Well one or two broken bones later (whose counting) I could not deny it any longer.  I decided that I'd better get busy fighting this thing.  At least "slow the roll".  Although the meds are not for you, there are other things you might consider like vitamins, exercise and diet.  There's a lot of information on the web.  Personally I feel better researching alternatives for my situation.  Maybe you will consider doing the same.

I really learn alot from others here and like to send support from time to time. (It takes me away from my problems.)  Good Luck 

I hear you about trying to deny the MS.  I am right there with you.  It is a really hard thing to accept for sure.  I am so sorry about the cognitive skills...it is so hard to predict what will happen with this disease.  Can you tell us more about the liver damage?  Does that ever...heal or...what happens with that? 

I am glad you are here...there are super nice people here and tons of support.  Sometimes I feel helpless except to say...yes MS sucks.  This is a bully of a disease. 

I am hoping that your symptoms do not progress any more. 

Thanks for sharing your story here.

Hi Melanie:

I was diagnosed six years ago and cognition can be a major issue for me. I've had two neuropsych tests done because of thinking/processing/memory issues. The last one was scary -- processing was down to 19 percent of normal, executive function and verbal recall low. My dr said I wouldn't be able to handle my current job anymore.

But guess what? A year later, I'm still in my job and last year I published a book. I am limited in certain ways and avoid putting myself into stressful situations that make everything worse. I am careful not to get tired or to push deadlines until late in the day when I know my cognitive issues will be worse. (Worse = not being able to understand speech, unable to comprehend stop signs. I can spiral downhill terribly if I don't take care of myself.) I rest, eat well, avoid stress and put myself first -- this makes a world of difference.

Like someone else said here, my cognitive issues sort of ebb and flow. I never feel back to 'normal' but there are definitely days when I know the brain is working a little more smoothly.

I really do believe you have to keep exercising your brain and that will help functionality as long as possible. I may test low but I function high. I haven't read anything that leads me to believe my cognition issues are doomed to get worse.

Take care.

Hi Melanie !!!

Well like you I have had this condition for I would say at least 10 years so far and let me tell you that it is very challenging.  Mine is quite strong and the only thing that helps me at the moment is giving yourself clues in all sorts of ways around the house that is right in your face written down.  I started off with stickies (coloured) around where ever I was walking in the house then moved onto a list of daily activities on the kitchen table.  This is the only way I can at least control it some but it is a different world than when a limbs goes out on you.   Just be prepared that there will not be any warning before a sympton happens, like when a physical problem goes out on you, lapses at least last for a day and then some.  I hope that yours turns out mild.

Melanie -

I started having issues with cognition about 10 years ago. It comes and goes, heat and stress definitely make things worse. I feel I am much more stable now that my neuro is prescribing vit. d supplement - in large doses, to keep my levels high (around 50, 30 is normal). But I don't know if it is the vit. d, or if I am just going through a good patch! Ask your neurologist about it, it may be worth a try.

Good Luck.

Zann

Hello and please hang in there...your mind can actually improve if you work on it. I have been diagnosed with MS for 8 years and my memory went downhill fast but I started reading more and spending more time doing word puzzles...especially crosswords. I truly believe that I have lost much of my brain function but I have strengthened what is left.

The same is true with my muscles...work on building what you have left.

Have faith in yourself.

Barbara