Outpouring of support for Sky Sports’ Chris Kamara over speech disorder

[helvella]

Not many football stories in this forum!

Outpouring of support for Sky Sports’ Chris Kamara over speech disorder

Concern after Kamara’s latest appearance on Soccer Saturday

Presenter announces that he has developed apraxia of speech

theguardian.com/football/20...

[tattybogle]

"Kamara previously underwent a brain scan to check if he was developing dementia after experiencing what he described as “brain fog”. He worried the illness might be related to heading the ball as a player. However, his symptoms were instead explained by an underactive thyroid, for which he now receives treatment."

Oh dear poor bloke ..i remember when he was on telly last year and the Doc confidently told him he'd be better in a few months on Levo .... seems not .. and nobody here will be that surprised.

Can somebody who does that twitter thing tell him where we are.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to tattybogle]

Afraid I don't do most "social media" outlets.

But would be good if someone let him know.

[TSH110 in reply to helvella]

Done

[shaws Administrator in reply to tattybogle]

The majority of GPs seem to have very little knowledge of anything to do with a dysfunctional thyroid gland. One of mine told me that liothyronine (T3) converted to T4 and I told him "No doctor - it is the other way around as T4 converts to T3. T3 is the 'active thyroid hormone'.

I hope some member will be able to have some contact (or through his manager) that joining this forum will be helpful for him to learn how best to cope with his hypothyroidism.

[stiltzski]

What a pity. I hope he recovers from it. I had never heard of this symptom but I frequently get a hoarse voice.

[tattybogle in reply to stiltzski]

It happens to me a lot ...... if i'm on too much Levo... if i'm on not enough Levo ...and after i've overdone it physically .

(i've never headed a football apart from a really heavy leather one once or twice in 1976.. it hurt a lot and gave me a thick ear .. so i didn't do it again)

[TSH110 in reply to tattybogle]

Yeah same with me those leather footballs were evil one header was more than enough small wonder so many pro footballers got brain damage they’d head them repeatedly all training session in fact the surprise is that some do not get dementia after withstanding that brain battering. My voice went like a darlek really deep and electronic sounding with zero tonal variation and I couldn’t remember words I even forgot my friends’ names which was a bit embarrassing. Even now I forget the odd word….my voice is ok now but still lacks expression. Can’t remember any slurring tho but that doesn’t the mean I didn’t have it 🤣🤣🤣

[DeeD123 in reply to stiltzski]

I had a terrible time with slurred speech when undermedicated. Someone actually went back to my sister in law and said I was drunk in town in the afternoon. Awful symptom

[tattybogle in reply to DeeD123]

yes .. i've had strangers concerned that i may have had a small stroke, and nurses once or twice who seemed convinced i must be drunk, they must have asked me 15 times "when i had my last drink , had i had a drink this morning ", (which is hilarious when you know my actual capacity for alcohol these days is about an eggcup full, and consequently i rarely drink at all and a bottle of gin will last me about 4 months ) ... on that occasion the lack of fluent speech was caused because i'd had to do a long fast and have a long journey early a.m before a colonoscopy. In my house it's referred to as " oh, mum's just gone bleurgh, don't worry she'll be alright in a bit.... "

When it happens i can't find the words for , on top of / behind / next to.... etc ... so i'll be trying to direct someone by saying .. " Thing ...urr ... pot , table..."

[RedSonja in reply to tattybogle]

'Mums just gone bleurgh'😄😄

[TSH110 in reply to tattybogle]

Yes I tried to walk or should I say talk my way to the right word like that

[shaws Administrator in reply to DeeD123]

That's an awful thing for someone to state especially if repeaated to a number of people. They, in turn, would look at you on a different level when you next met.

[Arkenstone in reply to stiltzski]

Yes so sad. Could someone let him know about ‘Mewing’ exercises by Prof. John Mew. My sluggish swallow and slightly slurred speech improved tremendously after doing the Mewing exercises shown by Dr. Mike Mew on YouTube. Has anyone tried this for sluggish swallow? I am told it is common for those who are hypothyroid and have EDS to have sluggish swallow.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Arkenstone]

Many years ago, I was advised a similar (but NOT identical) exercise as I had a clicking jaw. It certainly helped me.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Sounds like he’s under medicated for thyroid….likely low vitamin levels too

(that’s not a surprise to thousands of U.K. patients)

[Divine1990]

I've sent him a message on twitter earlier. However it may unfortunately get lost in the many messages he has received. Hopefully if others message him via whatever means he will be directed to THYROIDUK 🤞🤞

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Divine1990]

Thanks for trying - that is all we can do.

[LynLyn]

I sent him a message too. Two people have liked it so hopefully he’ll see it!

[Divine1990]

I've also sent him a message via his website. I think that's all I can do for now. 👍

[humanbean]

I don't know Chris Kamara, although his face looks familiar. I'm not someone who is interested in sport. If he does join up here I hope he stays anonymous/incognito because I'd prefer the forum not to be inundated with people who are interested in him rather than his condition.

I suspect that sounds nasty, but it isn't meant to.

I just wanted to mention that having deteriorating speech and word-finding abilities is something that I've had for some years. In my case the two main culprits appear to be low nutrients (particularly iron/ferritin) and low Free T3.

[Horsey07 in reply to humanbean]

It’s a great shame that it takes someone ‘famous’ to highlight a condition so many suffer from. I also hope he remains incognito if he joins the forum. I also hope his club keeps a close eye on him as hypothyroidism does not rule out the possibility that he also has brain damage, something all too common amongst football players.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to humanbean]

'Me too' when it comes to interest in sport.

I certainly hope he'd join anonymously. It would always be my advice for anyone and everyone. And the better known the person, the more I'd emphasise it.

His hypothyroidism was in the media some time ago, at least months, and I had already added him to my Famous People list. I'd seen him on television a couple of times, but would never have known who he was.

[tattybogle in reply to helvella]

yes ,, a good idea .. i'd never tell anyone on here that i'm actually Dolly Parton .

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to tattybogle]

I take it that is Just Between You and Me.

[tattybogle in reply to helvella]

you, me and Bobby McGee

[Ellie-Louise in reply to tattybogle]

I loved it when you and Kenny Rogers sang Islands in the Stream. Can I have your anonymous autograph please?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Ellie-Louise]

I wish I'd though of an anonymous autograph.

A wonderful concept.

[tattybogle in reply to Ellie-Louise]

Certainly ....have PM'd you x

[Ellie-Louise in reply to tattybogle]

Received. 😂

[Lovecake]

In a small way I’m hoping he needs some T3 to feel better………….and then he can shout about how good it is (or even NDT).

[JagersMum]

I saw Chris on GMTV and all I could think was wow! That's what I had! It has a name! I told all my colleagues about him.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Just a quick update:

‘Unbelievable’: Chris Kamara calls time on 24-year Sky Sports career

Broadcaster had revealed speech apraxia disorder

Sky Sports colleagues pay tribute to Kamara

theguardian.com/football/20...

I'm sure many here would both wish him well and send him some T3!