Bulbar Affect : Does anyone have this... - My MSAA Community

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Bulbar Affect

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador
28 Replies

Does anyone have this? Where you laugh or cry in the wrong place or at the wrong time? I have heard that it can affect ppl with MS.

I don't have it, l dont think anyway. I'm dyslexic and when l argue l have a tendency to say things backwards. Which ticks me off and l cry. Lol:p

But does anyone have it? And how do you deal with it?

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Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2
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28 Replies
johnMSAA profile image
johnMSAAPartner

You're not alone in this, Jesmcd2 . Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) occurs in 10% of people with MS, maybe even more. Everything MSAA has on PBA can be found here:

mymsaa.org/ms-information/s...

We've also created a video entitled "Why Do I Cry or Laugh Inappropriately?" with an MS expert that we hope will help, which you can find here:

mymsaa.org/videos/pba-kantor

Has anyone else experienced uncontrollable laughing or crying as a symptom, similar to Jesmcd2?

- John, MSAA

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to johnMSAA

Thanks for the info johnMSAA will definitely have to ck that out. I don't think l have it tho. Thank goodness. I just say things backwards, then get fustrated, then more angry at myself for not being able to express myself then l cry lol tics me off to no end. :)

johnMSAA profile image
johnMSAAPartner in reply to Jesmcd2

MSAA is chock full of info, so, glad I could pass it along to you!

Vlbrown57 profile image
Vlbrown57 in reply to johnMSAA

I was diagnosed with pba about 6 months ago. It was a relief to know I wasn't completely insane. The medication for it did not work for me. So I am just learning to live with it and educating my family and friends as to why I burst into tears at times. I also become extremely agitated when many things are going on at the same time. Sensory overload. MS has so many faces.

johnMSAA profile image
johnMSAAPartner in reply to Vlbrown57

Sorry to hear the medication did not work, but good to see you are helping to educate your fam and friends on how to help you live with this issue.

Vlbrown57 profile image
Vlbrown57 in reply to johnMSAA

I received the magazine Momentum last night. It has an article showing that my type of ms progressive relapsing has been eliminated and now I am in the ppms category. Which means the Aubagio has been a huge waste of money and a torturous time of side effects for no purpose. How do I convince my neurologist to take me off this poison and prescribe the medicine to flush it out of my bile? She seems defensive about keeping me on this despite serious side effects.

johnMSAA profile image
johnMSAAPartner in reply to Vlbrown57

You ask very good questions about your medical care, Vlbrown57 , and ones that hopefully your doctor can be open to trying to answer:

* First, asking your doctor what type of MS it is they believe you’re experiencing at this time may be a place to start, and you can inform them of the information you read and your concerns surrounding this.

* It can also help to ask your doctor about their decision to keep you on this MS therapy and why they think it’s effective for you; hopefully they can provide more clarification as to why it’s necessary and how they think it’s benefiting you.

* Letting the doctor know the side effects and concerns you have about this particular medication can add to the conversation as well.

When you feel like your questions and concerns aren’t being heard or addressed, it’s important to know that as a patient you do have the right to seek another medical opinion of your case and obtain another perspective of your care; either with your current medical team or a new one hopefully you can receive the support and clarification you deserve.

As always, if you feel you would like to get into this in more depth with one of MSAA's client services consultants, please feel free to contact our Helpline:

(800) 532-7667 ext. 154

MSquestions@mymsaa.org

- John, MSAA

agate profile image
agate

@jesmcd2, I don't think you're describing pseudobulbar affect when you mention crying because your dyslexia sometimes causes you to say things backwards. Pseudobulbar affect would be a situation, for example, where a friend told you of the death of someone you both were fond of and you began to laugh without being able to control your laughter. It just appeared out of nowhere. Or if the police came for you to lock you up and you began to laugh as you were herded into the paddy wagon. That's pseudobulbar affect--an emotional response that is totally unexpected and inappropriate. Crying from frustration about your speech problem seems to me to be in the normal range of responses. Many people cry from frustration or disappointment with themselves.

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to agate

agate lt does get extremely fustrating when l argue and my words get mixed up ugh. An Lord help me if l ever got arrested lol l probably would laugh. But l agree it's not pba. I was just wondering about it all. :)

Fancy1959 profile image
Fancy1959

Jesmcd2, it's Fancy1959 back. A decade one more before I was diagnosed with MS I had an episode I believe was the Balbar Affect. Long story short on a camping trip with 6 or so other families the kids were playing football. I picked up the football to get back to them and they held their hands up for me to throw it. I couldn't ever throw a football to save my life so I threw it short to make sure I didn't hit anyone with.it. Well don't you know the ball took a. big bounce an it hit a girlfriend in the face on the bridge of your nose and broke her glasses in two.. I watched in horror as it unfolded. As I raced over to apologize, it hit. I started laughing uncontrollably. I couldn't make it stop.My husband thought I was nuts and quite frankly so did i. It never happened again. But looking back I believe that was an early sign of my MS.

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to Fancy1959

Oh no Fancy1959 lm so sorry that happened to you. Sounds like something l would do. Make sure you throw short just to make sure. I hope your friend was ok and all n all saw the humor in it at the end. :)

erash profile image
erash

I treat people with PBA ( due to dementia or TBI). Most were diagnosed by neuro-psychiatrists. Nuedexta (medication) is available, helps, but side effects. Agree with above, doesn't seem like your symptoms are PBA, but if concerned discuss with your health care provider.

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to erash

erash Bless your Heart for treating ppl that need help like this. It can't be easy and needs a very special kind of person.

I have been like this my entire life, so l know its not pba. MS has so many in's and out's, up's and down ' s you never know if your coming or going. :)

Jbarksley profile image
Jbarksley

I have been treating it with Nuedexta and it actually helps. I Don't cry watching football or laugh at a Eulogy anymore. Not as much anyway 😂😂.

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to Jbarksley

Hi Jbarksley l cry every time the 9'rs fumble the ball ugh :) and l dont even know what eulogy is so lm gonna have to look that up lol:p

Jbarksley profile image
Jbarksley in reply to Jesmcd2

9rs bandwagon, huh? It pretty comfortable here,isn't it. Go 9rs !!! But without Nuexdexta PBA can be embarrassing. One of the few MS meds. that I can actually tell works.

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to Jbarksley

Jbarksley been a 9'rs fan since l lived there 20 some odd yrs ago lol. Unfortunately l dont get to watch them to much here on the east coast.

So glad that the nuexdexta pba works for you. It's always a good thing when we can slow the monster down.

cloudbear profile image
cloudbear

yes i have it and the medicine that stops it or seems to calm it down is called nuedexta ask your nuerologist about nuedexta it seems to help me alot

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to cloudbear

I'm so glad it helps you cloudbear . Does it affect your life terribly? I'm just curious you don't have to answer lol

cloudbear profile image
cloudbear in reply to Jesmcd2

no not really i do isolate alot but i have a understanding wife that knows ask your doctor about nuedexta and see if they will perscribe it to you it may help it has helped me

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to cloudbear

So glad that your wife is so understanding. It's always a good thing to have an amazing support system! But as l said before l dont have it... not now anyway. I'm just curious about it.

agate profile image
agate

I had one episode that was probably PBA though I had no idea what that was at the time, and it was 3 years before MS was diagnosed. It was a very stressful situation, one where nobody would laugh, but I found I was laughing uncontrollably. It lasted only a short time, and afterwards I wondered why in the world I had been laughing.

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to agate

I have a tendency to laugh at commercials over and over again.. My bf thinks lm just nuts but l just find them funny. So lm with you on that agate :)

ssdw1958 profile image
ssdw1958

Sandra ssdw58I. Either cry to much or laugh at the wrong time. People just don't get it

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to ssdw1958

It has to be difficult Sandra. Do ppl understand when you explain?

ssdw1958 profile image
ssdw1958 in reply to ssdw1958

No not really whiche can be frustrating, but when 'you can't remember what a word is this is what I do,I wait a little bit and think as if I am a Book with other words that are similar and I fill in the word. It is so much better than leaving the phrase bl

Jesmcd2 profile image
Jesmcd2CommunityAmbassador in reply to ssdw1958

Sounds like a good plan. :)

ssdw1958 profile image
ssdw1958 in reply to ssdw1958

The last word is "blank"

Sorry about that

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