Almost 20 years ago, I began having trouble recalling the simplest words. Dust pan. High chair. Those two in particular were real boogers for me. I don't recall having this problem prior to that, but there are still times now when a word won't come to me. I'll be looking right at the object, but its name won't register with me. It's particularly frustrating when I'm talking to someone and the old it's-right-on-the-tip-of-my-tongue thing happens. Normally, I'll be able to come up with the word in a few moments, but by the time the word does come to me, I've usually either substituted something else, or have had to describe what I'm trying to say. An example: "You know, it's that thing you brush your teeth with. Oh yeah. It's a toothbrush." Frustrating for both me and the listener, and it makes me sound -- and feel -- incredibly stupid.

Right before this started happening, I'd finally gotten away from an abusive spouse who used to grab the hair on the back of my head and slam me repeatedly in the head with his fist. I've wondered for years (20!) if that could be the root of my memory lapse problem. Is this possible? My memory hasn't gotten any worse, but it hasn't gotten any better, either.

Thanks for any help.

Hello there!

I might be going overboard, but stress and high blood pressure caused my MIL to get a 'disease' called Progressive Aphasia.

She, quite literally, loses words. It's now to the extent she has NO nouns, no verbs and limited descriptive words (adjectives?? LOL) of course, she's doing it 'differently' to most 'average' Aphasia victims.

It's believed to be related to Dementia (Alz), high blood pressure, heart problems, strokes or Head Injury can cause it.

It doesn't show up on MRI's or CAT scans either .... I would suggest you find a neurologist and get a full work up. Also, see if you can get into a Speech Pathologist and PUSH yourself, because they CAN help but you have to perservere (something my MIL didn't do).

Let us know how you go.

Cheers
Sally

Hello, Sally. I'm so sorry to hear about your MIL. How long was it until she reached the point she's at now in the progression?

After I saw your note, I did a little reading about it on the web, and I don't think it's what I have, mainly because it's progressive....my problem hasn't gotten any worse. I believe you're right, though, I ought to see my PCP about a referral to a neurologist. Since it's been troubling me for this long, I ought to see if a doctor can determine what it is. I've never even mentioned it to my doctor before. Denial?

Hi again,

It's taken my MIL some 5 years to go from a family friend noticing a slight stutter to now where she is down to baby babble. Mind you, she has had this since she was about 65 and we're 98% sure she's got dementia (not confirmed officially as yet) which just exacerbates the whole picture as well.

It's a rare disease, and manifests itself in different ways with different people. It's also a 'step down' disease where you can plateau off for 'however' long and then notice a downward trend later on.

Hopefully you DON'T have this horrid disease .. but yes, get it checked out ASAP ..... and denial is a normal behaviour, we don't want to know we've got something wrong with us, but your not in denial otherwise you wouldn't have written on the board :) but that's what these boards are about, asking, educating and being careful ...

Isn't it great? :-)

Hugs, and PLEASE let me know how you get on

Sally

Hi, I don't know if I should even say anything about this but your speech function in your brain is in your temporal lobes. Usually the one that is on the opposite side that you are handed. I have problems with words because I have temporal lobe epilepsy. I think, I'm not a doctor but, maybe damage to your temporal lobes can cause problems like that.
Jeff

Hello,

A happy New Year to everyone.

Just thought I'd add a little to what has already been said.

I have lupus anda nerve and muscle wasting problem amongst other things, and noticed that I was having problems with my speech and also forgetting what things were and not recognising certain things. I normally type as |I speak too, and then haved to take for ever to edit my writings.

I must say though since I had a triple bypass 18 months ago, I have got so much worse. I noticed that mustang sally mentioned this, and I so agree. When I was in hospital before the surgery, elderly patients were given a series of tests to determine how they were before the surgery - mentally that is. They were then asked to go back after surgery and then again 6 months later to undergo further mental agility tests.

The only thing was that because they said I was very young to be having this type of surgery, nobody thought to put me through the same tests. The more I read about this type of problem now, the more I think age should not be a barrier. It is obviously something that is a known thing to have brain
function problems after heart surgery.

Thanks for listening, it's been good to get this off my chest, and hopefuly it will be of use to somebody else here.

Regards

goldenwings :angel:

Hi Jeff, Sally, Goldenwings. Wow, I've learned more about the brain, aphasia, and temporal lobes than I ever thought I'd need to know. I feel like I'm back in psychology class. :D

I'll let you know what the doctor says. Thank you for caring. Happy New Year.