So this week I started having trouble talking. It's not quite stuttering. When I'm talking a word will suddenly get "stuck" and I have to sort of spit it out. Almost sounds like I am raise g my voice. Ugh. I have a profession job and have to speak in public often. What a nightmare! And of course I'm terrified it will get worse.
Anyone have this????
Posted by Summer3 (Member # 35286) on :
I don't have the exact same thing, but I have been screwing up my words lately. I especially notice it when I'm trying to read aloud. I'm completely jumbling words.
I also noticed it happens more often when I'm nervous or rushing so I try to just relax and not think about it too much. If someone mentions it to me I just tell them I'm tired lol.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
A couple people in our support group do. One has improved a lot since getting tx. The other is just now getting dx and with a LLMD, so hopefully he will also see improvement in his speech.
Remember how many sx are just temp and seem to come and go. So this too can pass and be history.
Pam
Posted by KentuckyWoman (Member # 38894) on :
Jessiep, I have that trouble too.. It comes and goes. My words get stuck like a record (dating myself) My brain is thinking the next word, but my mouth is just stuck. Can't wait til I start my treatments.
Posted by dal123 (Member # 6313) on :
YES!!!! I had that trouble soon after the tick bite, & off and on for months while on abx, minocycline seemed to help, 300 mg daily plus Ceftin, I would stumble over words that had an explosive fricative, ie activity, excitability, getting to the second or third syllable my teeth would chatter and struggle to get that " explosive" part completed.
Posted by coffee71 (Member # 17467) on :
At the beginning of my treatment I had problem with the speech. I had sentences formed in my head but I had hard time voicing them. English is second language for me so I would think in English but I would say it in my native language. I noticed this symptoms were prominent during Babesia flare ups.
Posted by Dogsandcats (Member # 28544) on :
I still have "find the word" problems. I don't stutter as much anymore.
When I slow down, instead of getting more frustrated, it helps.
Posted by Lymedin2010 (Member # 34322) on :
Yes, sometimes when I don't talk slow enough or talk too fast, I stumble. Have a tough time finding the right word & remembering things, names that I may have mentioned or said often.
People will just see it as part of your personality & never see the pain or suffering behind it.
Never could have imagined this was possible myself.
Posted by Jessiep (Member # 35399) on :
Thanks, all. It's been worse last 24 hrs. Become a true stutter. My husband is freaked out and so am I. I start tindamax tomorrow then go back in 3 weeks and llmd will prob start something else. I'll keep you posted. Don't know how I can keep working with this issue. I have to talk all the time--presentations, meetings, phone calls. Etc. ugh. I'm thinking of taking sick leave for a month in December to focus on resting and getting better. Maybe that will help....
Posted by Razzle (Member # 30398) on :
Speech therapy?
Posted by Anissahope4healing (Member # 39221) on :
Sorry to hear about your speech problem.
Speech and memory were a few of my main symptoms, along with the extreme fatigue.
I am on doxy now, Nystatin, B12 injections, and a whole list of supplements and some RX meds.
I have found my symptoms slowly improving. When I am speaking, I purposely make myself slow down- this helps some.
But I do still have problems with words getting stuck...stuttering...and also not able to find words, word slurring, and so on.
I think it is a great idea, if you are able to take a leave of absence.
It will certainly benefit you physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. How wonderful for you to be able to rest and take care of yourself.
Stress can plunge us further down, it is so bad for our immune system, everything- so alleviating the stress and work pressures regarding your performance will be a welcomed relief.
I know it is scary and upsetting when symptoms pop up- it can be really scary. I feel as you as being treated, taking care of yourself, and so on, your speech will improve.
And on a side note, I am not sure what meds you are taking, but a couple of different sleep meds that worked for some didn't work for me-
it made my mental thinking/capacity completely hung over and my words would be worse. I felt drugged and hungover..well, technically I guess I was "drugged".
And with the ones I am on now, I do feel it inhibits my mental cognition and hopefully in time I will not need them.
But yes, speech is a symptom and I feel it will improve, and I hope you will be able to rest and give yourself a break. Take care of yourself! Pls don't get too run down- I did that, and it set me way back in my healing.
Posted by Jessiep (Member # 35399) on :
Thanks, all. It's been worse last 24 hrs. Become a true stutter. My husband is freaked out and so am I. I start tindamax tomorrow then go back in 3 weeks and llmd will prob start something else. I'll keep you posted. Don't know how I can keep working with this issue. I have to talk all the time--presentations, meetings, phone calls. Etc. ugh. I'm thinking of taking sick leave for a month in December to focus on resting and getting better. Maybe that will help....
Posted by Anissahope4healing (Member # 39221) on :
It will definitely help. Is there a possibility of taking some time now off of work to take care of yourself?
And you may have done this already, but if not, call your LLMD and ask them about it. Since your job involves speaking on many different levels, I hope your LLMD can help you figure it out, and also taking time off from your work.
Posted by Jessiep (Member # 35399) on :
I saw a new llmd thursday and hence will start tindy tomorrow. He was the quiet type but has a strong rep and said he has every confidence I will get better. my last llmd was treating one thing at aTime. I was on Mep/zith for almost 5 months and in th meantime my Lyme was raging, clearly. I purposely looked and found a doc that says he treats all cos and Lyme at the same time.
Tha ma again everyone!!
My kids are like mommy why the heck are you talking like that! I'm tell them the Lyme bugs have made a nest in the part of my brain that controls speech. But but that I am worki g on an eviction!!!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- As a child, had any adult told me that lyme bugs in the brain are to blame for speech like that, and that there's an eviction planned, I would have been paralyzed in horror. Actually. Paralyzed. In. Horror.
A "nest of bugs in my mother's brain?" would have sent me into a fast spiral of fear for her.
I "think in pictures" and this would have been far too literal for me to adequately manage.
I used to have the same speech "freezing" troubles and other stuff, too, and would just explain to others that my brain was trying to think too fast for my mouth.
To tell children about the horrors of lyme can inflict horror upon them, too. While it's no joke, it's important to keep explanations very simple and not too graphic.
I still feel the wibbly gibblies when I recall my mother talking about how someone she read about in the news with a teased "beehive" hairdo had a nest of spiders. THAT gave me many nightmares.
Thank goodness the "beehive" style was pass� by the time I hit my teens. Anytime I see photos from the 60's and a woman is sporting that style, I get the creepy crawlies all over again.
I know that "think in pictures" is a characteristic of those in the autism spectrum - and I am there (probably due to lyme).
Those dear souls who are more sensitive may also "think in pictures" and very literal translations.
As a adult who has had years to come to terms with what a chronic infection means in terms of my interior terrain, I still have to be very careful with how I describe that - even to myself.
What I've worked out is that I'm sort of like a sea with skin on. My body is a water park of sorts with all kinds of creatures swimming about. Some good; Some not.
Then, I've devised scenarios for how to alter the water so the not so nice elements are just not wanting to stick around.
As your kids have already gotten the "nest of bugs in brain" explanation - if they seem freaked out about that or just have questions, this might be a fun time for a science lesson on how the body looks INSIDE and all the biology of that. That could put it all into perspective.
Whatever kind of biology lesson that could be geared for their age. I recall my first time seeing a protozoa under the microscope. It was amazing.
National Geographic website - or PBS website - may have some body interior lessons. -
Posted by minimonkey (Member # 8693) on :
I developed a pronounced stutter for a while, as well as slurred speech. It always came and went, and I was never sure when it would get really bad.
I still have it at times... though not nearly as severely, after treatment.
I'm a university lecturer, and I've learned to just adapt to it when it happens... I also say the distinctly wrong word at times. If it gets bad enough, I just tell my classes that I have Lyme, and that it causes neuro and speech problems from time to time.
Posted by Jessiep (Member # 35399) on :
Keebler, thanks for sharing. My kids are fine tho. They know what I've got and understand they are microscopic bacteria, etc. we've been honest and very matter of fact about it all. The message, however, is alway that I will get better!! They believe it and arent horrified. Just is what it is.
Posted by Tiramisu (Member # 15082) on :
I developed that problem, too. A few years into my illness.
First was word block, but then stuttering (only around my husband or someone I'm very comfortable with, oddly enough!)
Also saying the wrong word, or blending 2 words.
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
I had speech problems too. Not sure if it was Lyme, Bart, mycoplasma or mold. It definitely got worse when I was in a moldy environment.
Something to consider and test for. I just posted a link for the ERMI through EMSL on another thread. PM me if you are interested in testing and have trouble finding it.
If it is mold that is causing this, it could be work or home. If it is home, your month long leave may make you worse. Posted by shadesofpurple (Member # 23923) on :
I have had voice problems. Like the word gets stuck half way out of my mouth, almost like bad cell phone reception would sound. also reversing & mixing up words, or not being able to think of a word.
there were many times i would let my answering machine take calls so i wouldnt have to speak.
Stress is negative. Try to de-stress the best you can. be regular with rest & routines.
It comes & goes, not as bad now as it was before treatment. Not sure if it was LYME or Babesia or the combo of the two.
I 'manage" my conditions with execise & regular sauna visits. Heat seems to help me. If i start to see the voice symptoms flare up i take extra time for myself & routines, rest more & avoid things that cause stress etc.
I hope you figure out what works for you. Please share if you find anything that helps. Posted by Jessiep (Member # 35399) on :
Tiramisu, my speech issues seems mostly to happen around my husband and kids! it's the strangest thing. i didn't realize it until yesterday. man, this disease is crazy
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
I purposely looked and found a doc that says he treats all cos and Lyme at the same time. ![[Embarrassed]](redface.gif)