Compulsive counting: We don't have a... - PSP Association

PSP Association

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Compulsive counting

Kris539 profile image
25 Replies

We don't have a definite diagnosis yet, but Im sure my husband has PSP. The latest thing is that he has developed as compulsive need to count all the time. Whenever he has to do something he starts counting just under he breath, sometimes up to several hundreds. Anyone else experienced this compulsion?

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Kris539 profile image
Kris539
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25 Replies
NannaB profile image
NannaB

Not that particular compulsion but my husband constantly checked the water pressure gauge on the water tank and boiler. For a few weeks it was several times an hour. As our tank is upstairs I had to keep going with him so he didn't fall down. He wouldn't allow me to read it and tell him it was OK. It drove me scatty. It did pass though so hopefully your husband's counting will stop as well.

X

abirke profile image
abirke

LIke NannaB's husband my husband perseverated over different things at different times....Look CarePSP or PSPA to get more info on what sort of symptoms are sort of exclusive to PSP...Downward gaze , or the lack of it was our warning flag. His falls weren't so much backward but to the side maybe a tinge backward.....

When you've read one of these PSP sites you will be able to start a conversation with your neurologist about your mates symptoms....

Good luck

aVB

Yvonneandgeorge profile image
Yvonneandgeorge in reply to abirke

George is always asking me if I have checked the oil in the car, drives me mad.

abirke profile image
abirke

Windows open, shut , heater on, ac on, heater off, ac off, constantly clicking channels turning as I just start getting interested.....

Nanny857 profile image
Nanny857 in reply to abirke

Hi AVB, I can relate to the constant changing TV channels. Just over the last few evenings W clicks from one channel to the next and when I think he has settled on one and we settle down to watch, he changes it and so it continues. It's driving me crazy.

Lots of love, Nanny857 xx

Debbieann profile image
Debbieann in reply to Nanny857

I thought that was a man thing(sorry men) my husband and Dad have always done it!

Debbie x

Bianca profile image
Bianca

I also feel that my hubby has a little OCD as he keeps repeating certain requests (like if he wants to check certain documents), and also quite impulsive. Neuro also indicated that impulsivity is one of the traits of PSP.

Amilazy profile image
Amilazy

May be a man thing M never had compulsion for counting but doors windows always double triple checked but nothing to do with PSP, a bad experience when in nurse training digs being burgled. I on the other hand have always worked with number and routines and always count items or monitor gauges and can be OCD if sums do not work out.

AmandaF profile image
AmandaF

Yes, but it was not an early symptom, it followed diagnosis. My mum had several compulsive symptoms including humming/groaning, word repetition, fidgeting with her hands.

So sorry to hear about your husband.

Amanda.

Finoni profile image
Finoni

Early on my husband read the signs we passed when out in the car. Store names, license plates, street names. Not every one, but enough to be annoying!

The counting may be a way of your husband focusing on what he needs to do, rather than being distracted by other thoughts. I know my guy is more likely to fall if trying to do something when his mind is partially somewhere else.

ketchupman profile image
ketchupman in reply to Finoni

My wife did the same thing early on. And it was when her speech was getting softer and more spastic. So I'd have to ask her several times to repeat herself, only to find out it was some nonsense, like a billboard we passed 2 miles earlier. Same with something like a TV commercial.

Been 6 weeks since her passing and I'd give anything to hear her tell me something of nonsense just one more time. Word to the wise: treasure these moments.

Ketchupman

psplife profile image
psplife in reply to ketchupman

Agree with you Ketchupman--treasure every moment. I would give anything to take a drive with my guy and listen to him read signs to me. Heartbroken. Miss him so much.

Nikkie

Finoni profile image
Finoni in reply to ketchupman

So true. Thank you for that perspective

I keep meaning to record 'conversation', so I can refer to it in the future when I need to hear his voice. I'll put it at the top of my to-do list.

Katiebow profile image
Katiebow in reply to Finoni

Ben also did this make a year ago but that has stopped now. Strange isn't it?

K xx

Kevin_1 profile image
Kevin_1 in reply to Finoni

Great thought...Thanks

murrumba profile image
murrumba

....your post bought back so many memories my, my mum died in 2002 from PsP. ..but this is one of my earliest memories of her before diagnosis. .constantly counting...used to drive me nuts...but hey ho wish she was still back counting ..xx

psplife profile image
psplife

Yes! My guy counted all the time. He we count the cars we would pass, the number of 18-wheelers, the street lights, the number of times something was said, the number of commercials, the number of everything! He would be counting and then all of sudden he was say..."that is 100 cars we have passed". I was always surprised that he was counting. He would also read all the signs--city signs, billboards, highway road signs, etc. Those he would read aloud. His vision was excellent for near sighted stuff. He was reading signs and counting on the Sunday before he passed two weeks ago but he had been doing that for some time. I wish I could hear his voice again. I am so brokenhearted. Miss him so much.

XOXO

Nikkie

Robbo1 profile image
Robbo1 in reply to psplife

Oh Nikkie, my heart goes out to you. I was just thinking this morning, how hard things were, then I thought, if he wasn't here, it would be so much worse. Sending a big hug.X

loppylugs5 profile image
loppylugs5

Des in the car opened the glove compartment checked all closed opened checked all if he stopped it was to try the sun roof whatever the weather over and over again,we got quite wet some days.Two weeks ago I drove behind his hearse and waited expecting to see a hand from the coffin re-arrange the flowers.He continually checked to see he had his watch on which he could no longer see and if ever I settled he needed curtains and blinds adjusted. Now he is not here I look for things to check XXXXXXPSP gets to you even when you have lost them. Bugger my Tourettes syndrom is back again.

I really hope it is not PSP but if it is you are NOT alone.

Love to you and yours Px

easterncedar profile image
easterncedar in reply to loppylugs5

That's my guy. Makes driving very hard sometimes. He changed the radio station in the car while waiting for me one day and got stuck listening to some junk saccharine pop rock station, and had to insist it was just what he wanted. I changed it back, tho, and now tease him a little about his secret music tastes.

Tttp profile image
Tttp

Hi there my brother started looking at the clock saying he only had minutes because he had to go to bed at 7:15 now every night at that time he will say it's 7:15 I have to go to bed he started that a couple months ago but for him it's a later symptom he has had PSP 6 years you can't understand him much just getting worse constantly. So sad to see him like that.

Debbieann profile image
Debbieann

My husband checks the roads on teletext several times a day, even when we're not going out!!

Debbie x

peace2all profile image
peace2all

My mother would write down words on small pieces of papers and store them in a drawer. She would show them to me. I think she knew she was becoming forgetful and her brain wasn't working like it used to. This was a way of showing herself she still remembered. Eventually she got to where she couldn't remember how to spell certain words. It was so frustrating to her.

easterncedar profile image
easterncedar in reply to peace2all

That is heartbreaking.

peace2all profile image
peace2all in reply to easterncedar

This is a terrible disease.

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