Migraine

I was just reading some other posts and saw several people mentioning mixing up words or not saying the right words. Does this happen to you only when you have the migraine? I have noticed in the past few years that I do this a lot. I know what word I mean and the wrong one just comes out. It is so weird, and sometimes embarrassing! I've never thought much about it before, but then I just read that and it made me wonder if that's common. Can those of you that this happens to talk a little more about it? Thanks.

Welcome Kristen,

Word issues can come from many sources. Your profile does not state your age, but I did start to have problems as I entered menopause. It has worsened for me with the migraine prevenatives I'm on (Topamax). I have some problems when I am having a migraine and after a migraine.

Others I know will provide you their experiences also.

Take care and I hope this helps.

Cindy

I am normally quite easily and fluently verbal. When I have a migraine, and only during the migraine, I have mild word-finding problems. I have trouble coming up with the word I want to use. I don't usually wind up saying a different word, though; I wait until I'm able to think of the word I want.

Another effect occurs when I write--not type--during a migraine. I tend to leave a letter out of a word that I know perfectly well how to spell.

First off, hello!

I usually only have issues talking when I have a migraine activity. Sometimes it's during prodrome, and can be a good indicator that the beastie's on its way. I can also have issues when I'm in that icky "hangover" spot. Mostly I garble words or mess up syllables. I will elide over some syllables completely, or I'll reverse them. Reverse can become reserve, for instance. I'll have issues writing, sometimes, too, and will miss letters or sections of words. It doesn't seem to affect my typing, though. I don't goober up the writing nearly as often as I goober up the verbal stuff, though.

I occasionally use the wrong word before a migraine hits. I usually see something and replace it with that word. For example, I may be looking at a car and say “I need to go to the car” instead of “I need to go to the store.” It doesn’t happen every time, just enough for me to pick up on it.

I time it all the do.

Ever since I had what a neuro said later was prolly a TIA in March of 1995 (and was sent away from the ER without being treated--that's why I hold the thought in my mind that I'd rather die at home than be mistreated in an ER), I've had problems of several sorts including diminished sensation and mixing up words.

It does get worse during my aura phase. We call it the 'oatmeal' syndrome. For some reason, several times I've substituted the noun 'oatmeal' randomly for other nouns. I almost always realize I've done it within a few seconds and one of us will call out 'oatmeal!'. Makes for very funny sentences!

Topamax made it really hard for me to talk and find correct words.

Now I have noticed anytime I have a migraine it is very hard for me to remember things and to explain myself. The worse I feel the more problems I have with it. Fortunately my husband usually can figure out what I am saying/asking for but when he doesnt I get very upset and frustrated.

Count me in too!

I think the Topamax had/has something to do with it, but when I migraine, my brain is mush anyway, so it's had for me to think and words just come out blah and all mushy.

It's frustrating for me. I tend to try and only talk to DH during these times. He understands what it is and can bear with me. If I'm at work, no phone calls please! Just leave me alone till the Frova kicks in, thanks!

I hate having to stop and really think of my words before saying them, if that makes sense. Like I almost have to think of how to form the word before I speak it.

quote:

Originally posted by dragondroolHOST:
I usually only have issues talking when I have a migraine activity. Sometimes it's during prodrome, and can be a good indicator that the beastie's on its way. I can also have issues when I'm in that icky "hangover" spot.

I have the same issue as Droolie. Before, during and after my brain is pudding. I can't think straight, concentrate or express myself. I tend to mess up words (especially when I am trying to type) and I lose words.

Cindy is right too though about menopause from what I have heard. I know when my mom started it she was really frustrated because she felt like her brain wouldn't cooperate with her.

Also, if you are on preventives, or really any other meds, it could be a side effect.

I don't so much "mix up" my words but rather can't find the words I want to say. I can think it and know what I am trying to say but it just doesn't seem to come out right.

I have been on Topamax for over 3 years and just had this conversation with my HA spec on Monday because it is VERY frustrating and sometimes even more upsetting when when your migraining and just can't seem to talk right. And lately my memory has been getting worse and my DF is getting more concerned.

Needless to say she agreed these are and can be side effects but offered no advice or assistance.

Lori

Wow, thanks for all the responses! I have always thought of myself as very well-spoken, and I thought I was just going crazy.

Now that I have read about this on here, I am going to start paying more attention to it and see if I can track it more. Looking back on my last migraine, I think I was doing it right after but it never occurred to me that they might be connected.

Oh, and to answer a couple things that were brought up: I am 31 and not on any preventative meds. So no menopause or meds to blame! This website is so fascinating to me - just reading all of this from you guys is amazing. I'm putting things together that I never thought of before. Thanks!

I definitely have issues with mixing up words, but right now, the Topamax is mostly to blame. It does seem to be worse when I'm migraining though - my brain just turns to mush, like others have said.

Hi Kristen,

As you can see by the responses your not going crazy Just to chime in, I mix-up words during a migraine like nothing else. When I am having auras before the headache phase, I can not even get a complete sentence out sometimes. I sometimes even start to stutter or say the same word over and over. It is like I know what I want to say, but can get it out. Migraines do crazy things sometimes. Like others have said, sometimes my brain feels like mush!!

I am glad you are learning so much, Keep asking those questions

Dar

My students know when Mrs. Davis is prodrome by the way I mix up words and simple math calculations. They tend to be very understanding, even the boys who normally give us fits.

My immediate family has also learned to be very patient with my word problems. But, we all mix up words, so it gets to be almost a game. That's how we came up with "flobby" to describe Banzai, our cat who is both flabby and floppy.

Funny - I'm on Spring Break now, & haven't really had a migraine since Saturday. But, I'm not under 48" fluorescent lights, in a room with miserable ventilation, for 3-4 hours at a stretch now.

Rebecca

I thought that I would mix my words up only when I am sleepy or woken up or prior/during migraines, but according to my partner, I do it all the time (apparently, I amuse him).

He thinks I hear things wrong & I misinterpret things & it comes out wrong- if this hypothesis is correct, my expressive language is very strong, but somehow my auditory processing gets things messed up. I know I do tend to confuse short vowel sounds (i'm educator & had to be suffered by testing by a classmate) & have a tendency to space out or fall asleep, especially if I have to listen, so that may be part of the issue. I don't this has changed much over the years, but i might have developed coping strategies.

When I am sleepy or out of it, I have a hard time coming up with words -this has more to do with word retrieval (it's in my memory somewhere, but I can't come up with the word(s). This issue may have more to with my migraines than the others. I do have a tendency to slurr my words in this state. Since I have a relatively sophisticated vocabulary, I seem more intact than I am. I do have processing issue & have more difficulty when told to do things quickly.

When I handwrite (typing is ok), I drop letters, words, I don't write in a straight line & everything is mumbo-jumbo on a good day.I have a tendency to not "close" my letters. This is called dysgraphia- a writing disability (many of my students have this)& often connected to AD/HD, Autism & Cerebral Palsy, as well as other learning disabilities. This has gotten more severe this past year & my tracking issues (visual reading) have gotten a bit worse & I feel like I've gotten a bit dyslexic (not normally).

When I am out of it, my writing turns for the worse- I don't think it's even English. This is called "automatic writing" - aitomatic behaviors occur in various neurological disorders.

My editing skills have gotten much worse this past year.

Again, I don't think MOST of those issues have anything to do with Migraines, but maybe the slurring & word finding stuff are somewhat. However, when you have one neurological condition, I imagine there is a high likelyhood that other neurological stuff will show up in the same person.