Ok, so here's my current paranoia‼️ I was just reading about vascular dementia, and wondering if PMR is related to development of same.
Some of my early symptoms with PMR were loss of focus, concentration, creativity, and motivation. As I read the symptoms of VD, they seem similar.
During the last Six years with PMR, It seems my brain power ebbs and flows...some times I feel "brighter" than others. If I have a task requiring focus and concentration, it is always a morning task. Later in the day, brain power seems more suitable to reading a book, as compared to writing a book.
Just wondering if our Wise Ones ( you know who you are🤓) know of correlation here.
Thanks, Jeri,
PMR diagnosed 2013, currently 7 mg pred
Written by
Purplecrow
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GCA is a cranial vasculitis - one would expect that if it isn't managed and visual loss or stroke doesn't happen then something else must. Poor blood flow for whatever reason must result in some cognitive impairment.
But brain fog is common to almost all autoimmune disease and to many drugs. Don't think I;d worry too much and if you are worried - speak to the GP about some testing? I don't ever get the impression your brain is too impaired!!!!!
My main problem is that I find it very difficult to read a new book without becoming confused. This isn't as bad as it was at first, but If there are many characters or the plot is at all complex, I still tend to get lost. I came to grief with an Iris Murdoch novel which had two strong female characters, the hero's sister and his ex-wife. I kept confusing the two and was constantly wondering 'Why on earth is she doing that?'
These days I usually stick to novels that I already know well or short stories. In fact I've joined a short story reading group which is very helpful and enjoyable.
I've had the same type problem with books having many characters especially if names were russian, etc. ( embarrassingly, I am not conversant in any language other than English). What I resorted to doing, was listing each new character as they came on the page, with a one or two word descriptor. Example: Sue, Janes neighbor. It helped me thru the worst of my early PMR.
I finally resorted to reading "cozies", which have little old lady detectives and a bakery or flower shop as main features. Still love them, no violence or crushing drama...🤓
Those big 19th century Russian novels usually have the characters listed at the beginning as do Dickens' novels - very useful. I think the saddest outcome of 'brain fog' for me was having to give up my French studies which I was enjoying very much. I've wondered about enrolling again this Autumn. I suppose what makes me hesitate is the cost. I lost one term's fees when I first fell ill and was incapacitated with PMR. If I could manage to attend every week and make some progress, it would certainly be a big psychological boost.
I think it's good to have something enjoyable to look forward to. The community choir I used to attend stopped being available in my area for a couple of years, but it's coming back in August so I signed up right away. As for language studies, doesn't get you out of the house but there are programs on the Internet and there should be something available at your level. I've been "learning" Italian and Spanish on Duolingo, and also keeping my hand in with French. I'll never learn to speak the languages fluently but was chuffed one day a few months ago to be passing a local restaurant which had a paragraph in a foreign language painted on their doors and realized I could actually understand it (Spanish although the restaurant is Italian).
Maybe get your confidence back by doing a bit of Internet study and then enroll in the class again?
Thanks for your encouragement and good luck with the choir. Regarding the French course, I suppose I'm more scared of failure than of wasting money. I do try to keep up with my French studies online, though not as much as I should. I think I'm gradually psyching myself up to try again!
I don't know how adept you are at the language. Had you considered reading short stories in French just for the fun of it? I used to work in a public library, in the children's department, and we had quite an extensive French collection. People used to come in and find the same work in English and French to help them or their children as they progressed in their French studies - could be picture books, or beginning readers, or Anne of Green Gables!
I do read in French. I try to read at least one online news article per day and watch as many French films/TV series as I can. 'Spiral' Series 7 is supposed to be coming out in the UK this year - can't wait, though I do need the subtitles for the police and the villains with all the street slang and swearing and the strong Parisian accents. I can usually follow the lawyers without the subtitles as they speak 'proper' French in full sentences. I'm re-reading 'Un Sac de billes' by Joseph Joffo which I think was written mainly with children in mind to keep alive the memory of how many Jews suffered in France during World War 2. It's a gripping story in fairly simple language of two young Jewish brothers on the run.
My daughter did a European Studies degree with a strong French component, and the thing that helped her most with modern spoken French was to watch the whole of 'Sex and the City' (which she already knew well in English) in a dubbed French version.
hi HeronNS what is your Duolingo "handle" .. I am doing Swedish and could use a kick in the pants ..we can follow eachother there I think even though we are doing different languages. I think I am yogabonnie there or maybe Bonnie West.
Try doing Duolingo. It’s easy and has many levels. I use the app and treat it like a game or puzzle that I have to complete every day. The free version is fine and my French has actually improved.
there is always my collection of short stories! Boyfriends. (not all about boyfriends. that's just the publisher's title for one story!) Blatant self advertising! (Bonnie West)
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