Questions: Tingle, ON, "Cognitive difficulty" - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

lilc · 06-11-2005, 10:30 AM

1. Since I know that my tingling arms are not a result of any sort of spinal compression, I'm wondering if there is medication that can make it go away or do I just have to live with it until it (hopefully) goes away on it's own? 3 months now, I am getting very cranky about it...
2. Are difficulty focusing my eyes and excessive watering worth mentioning to the neurologist?
3. I've finally reached a point in my life where my ability to earn a living depends on my mind and not my back. The notion of "cognitive difficulty" is very frightening to me. I've always considered myself to be articulate and capable of conveying my thoughts clearly when speaking. Yet lately I find myself stalling out, unable to get the words in my mind out of my mouth. My greatest fear is that I may lose the ability to think analytically. What sorts of experiences have others had?

Thank you all, again. My next appt. is this coming Thursday, will report!

KelliD · 06-11-2005, 05:14 PM

Hi Lilc! Talk to your neuro about ALL of these issues. Never leave any stone unturned. Have you seen a neuro-opthalmologist? Might be worth discussing, given the issues with your eyes. Re: cognitive function..I have experienced exactly what you describe. It is doubly troubling because I work as a radio announcer for a living and when the words won't come it's hard to recover in a light-hearted way for the listeners. I asked my Neuro what could be done. He said you just take a breath, then start over. There's SO much they don't know about MS. I wish it were a tangible adversary - I'd feel so much better if I could physically knock it on its rear-end. Ha! ha!

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilc

1. Since I know that my tingling arms are not a result of any sort of spinal compression, I'm wondering if there is medication that can make it go away or do I just have to live with it until it (hopefully) goes away on it's own? 3 months now, I am getting very cranky about it...
2. Are difficulty focusing my eyes and excessive watering worth mentioning to the neurologist?
3. I've finally reached a point in my life where my ability to earn a living depends on my mind and not my back. The notion of "cognitive difficulty" is very frightening to me. I've always considered myself to be articulate and capable of conveying my thoughts clearly when speaking. Yet lately I find myself stalling out, unable to get the words in my mind out of my mouth. My greatest fear is that I may lose the ability to think analytically. What sorts of experiences have others had?

Thank you all, again. My next appt. is this coming Thursday, will report!

lilc · 06-11-2005, 07:13 PM

Kelli, I almost cried when I read your response. I started doing radio announcing about 3 years ago, it is the thing I love to do more than anything else. I'm pretty sure I was born to do it - my last name is Rock! [I'm sitting here for a long time, thinking about how much I want to say.] I was a DJ for a small, struggling station. I'm a white girl who plays Black Gospel, and I seem to have a gift for it. The station is not on the air right now, and I miss it so much. But lately I've been wondering if I could do it again given the chance. Please, please, please keep on working. I was always very critical of my shows. Everyone told me they didn't notice my screw-ups, I just kept going or started over, it is LIVE, after all!
I can't thank you enough for being here. I haven't told anyone how bad the last couple of weeks have been. A couple of people know I'm going through tests regarding L'Hermittes, but I can't tell them that I sometimes lose my right arm for a while, or that the tingle is constant now, or how painful it is to lift my arms, etc. OK, no boo-hooing! Just thanks. I'm keeping you in my prayers.

KelliD · 06-11-2005, 11:38 PM

Hey Lilc! For real? You're in radio!!? I work for a contemporary Christian station and love it. The management has been soooooo understanding of the MS issues and each staffer has logged onto a site where I directed them to learn more about this unseen thief. What a blessing!

Anyway....I want to encourage you NOT to give up your dreams! MS may slow us down, but it can't steal what is in our hearts!!

Sometimes when I am on the air, it's as if my mind and mouth fall out of sync with each other...and trying to spit out the words that my brain struggles to motivate my tongue to speak is sometimes like looking directly at a clock and STILL not being able to say what time it is. Does that make sense? Has your Neuro said what he or she may suggest doing for such a flare-up?

lilc · 06-12-2005, 09:00 AM

Kelli, God is GOOD!!!

When the station is back on the air, there is no amount of fear that can keep me away from it, this desire of my heart is just too strong. I travel a lot, what market are you in? I'd love to be able to "look you up" on the air!
My next neuro appt is this Thursday, I think I need to write down all the things I need to discuss with her so that I don't forget something. I'll certainly keep you posted!
Oh, and the clock analogy makes perfect sense, so frustrating...