Sound like anyone you know? 😂

[WAshingtongirl]

Wondering what percentage of us with MS have problems with distractions and concentration...

I do.

[jimeka]

Sure do! 🦋

[erash]

Oh my! I'd be a very wealthy girl 😊

[greaterexp]

Oh, dear! Tutu, you witnessed one of mine when I attempted to introduce you at the coffee shop. All I could think of was "Tutu."

I've had a steady rise over years with it, but never attributed it to anything but my obvious lack of intellect. After hearing that I had multiple lesions in the brain at the time of my first relapse, I wonder now if difficulty with concentration/memory and other symptoms were a result of the lesions I didn't know I had and could have had for years.

I am not in a relapse now, but find I have difficulty in completing tasks which require concentration. I ruined a couple of floor tiles the other day before realizing I should have stopped cutting.

No matter - I whip out my diagnosis in a heartbeat to explain it now. This diagnosis should be useful for something.

I do wonder if doctors routinely measure decreases in concentration as part of monitoring us. And if they don't, should they?

[WAshingtongirl in reply to greaterexp]

I had a neuro-psych test done years ago (long one) and they found deficits then. Actually, the test results confirmed the problems I told my neuro I was having (learning new things, organization, spatial, etc.). About 2 years ago, my neuro at the MS clinic here had the speech therapist test me to determine if my increasing cog issues were due to age or MS. Results came back showing MS. Maybe deficits matched those areas of disease in my brain? For someone who always managed huge lists and tasks solely in my brain, I now use lists and post-it-notes for everything. My brain doesn't work at all like it used to. And don't worry greaterexp , I often forget my own name when being introduced to someone!

[Taylorsmom in reply to WAshingtongirl]

Hi WAshingtongirl . Oh my, my concentration and memory is thee worst these days. For quite some time now, I've been blaming it on pregnancy brain. My OBGYN told me I could get a little forgetful but I should return to myself after about a year. Here I am almost 5 years later and I am diagnosed with MS so, it's MS brain not pregnancy brain. I too have to write note and use post it notes to keep track of who I've talked to, what I'm supposed to be doing and by when, where I'm traveling to, you name it. I also forget things right in the middle of talking, I just stop and laugh and tell whoever I'm talking to that it's gone. We might as well move on to something else now, lol.

[WAshingtongirl in reply to Taylorsmom]

Pregnancy brain? Never heard that before. But yes, I'd say 5yrs is past that excuse. 😉 MS affects a lot of us cognitively. I believe cog deficits are much harder to measure than our physical difficulties. My neuro has also said that while MRIs can pinpoint the location of brain lesions, it can't measure the amount of deficit or problem associated with them. Maybe one day they'll develop a precise way of doing so.

[Iona60 in reply to greaterexp]

greaterexp "Hard to concentrate" is one I'll add to my list of symptoms.

[jennie62]

ME ME ME!!! Yes I want a puppy! Oh, a dollar would be nice too. What was the question?

[WAshingtongirl in reply to jennie62]

You all are funny!! 😂😂

[erash]

I've been trying to learn patience and to let go of perfectionism all of my life and MS has forced me to do this. I think I'm a happier person because of this...or perhaps it's true and ignorance is bliss? 😜

Although I would say I'm a recovering impatient perfectionist who suffers from many relapses into impatience and perfectionism. Oh well, life is a work in progress 😊

[WAshingtongirl in reply to erash]

Me too, erash . I think a combination of lowering my (perfectionist) expectations of myself and 'ignorance is bliss' (or Good_enough , as our friend with that name has reminded me) has helped me be more at peace with myself lately.

I've also come to the realization that people are far more important than projects. MS has made me reverse my old philosophy which was the opposite--not because I don't feel people are important, but because I've always been an accomplishment-driven person and was raised that way. That provided my self-satisfaction and contributed greatly to my self-image, which also suffered when MS made me give up one goal after another.

I have so much energy and time to spend each day. How will I spend it?? These days, I'm choosing people over projects. 💞

[AMWill in reply to WAshingtongirl]

OCD I have struggled with I guess somewhat like perfectionism had to accept my home will not be perfect all the time!

[jennie62 in reply to erash]

I used to be a perfectionist too! Boy what so many people say here makes "perfect" sense to me!

[erash in reply to jennie62]

jennie62 and WAshingtongirl

Should we start a recovering perfectionist club? I bet we'd have lots of others wanting to join 😊

[jennie62 in reply to erash]

YES!

[Eleyne92]

So true. For me, I don't think I'll blame MS, though. I've been that way all my life. But now, I think MS has made concentration more difficult, so it's easier in several ways to allow myself to get distracted. Or just freaking doze off. 😠

Oh, look, squirrel! 😂😂😂

[Karen-x]

Count me in too, sometimes I feel the old me and my mental strength, and then zap! Gone.....

[Krispat1975]

I totally do. I can read an entire chapter in a book and not be able to recall a single thing. It's very frustrating 😝

[jennie62 in reply to Krispat1975]

And here I thought this just happened to me Krispat1975 -LOL

[AMWill]

Everyday and even if I write a list sometimes I forget that!

[Fancy1959 in reply to AMWill]

AMWILL, it's Fancy1959, and i hear you loud and clear! Now if those stupid little list would simply stop jumping out of my purse!

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

or a great big "lap kitty" that loves to snuggle

[CalfeeChick CommunityAmbassador]

I make notes for myself and forget to look at them. My lack of focus definitely gets worse at mid-day most days. You all sound much like me and I do certainly love your comments.

[BigMar7]

Tutu, I am so happy I am not alone being so forgetful. I write notes in my phone and forget to look at them.

[greaterexp]

I'd love to join that club if everyone promised not to change anything ever and send reminders of what it is and what it's for.

[jennie62 in reply to greaterexp]

AGREE! Then again, I'd still forget. Ha ha?

[Fancy1959]

Tutu, it's Fancy1959. If distractions were just one dollar each, I would have my husband stop playing the lottery because we'd already be millionaires!

[Eva1981]

Puppy? I love pets! Ooh shiny! Look a sparkly rock. I like bananas! .......I have my squirrel moments. Not sure it's ms related though as I have always been easily distracted.