Slow as Molasses

Okay get ready...I am gonna talk about MS here. Alert the media!

Today I experienced feeling as thick as molasses and just as slow. My body was not only affected but my mind was as well. And I must say that I did not like it one bit! This is probably one of the most frightening aspects of this disease to me. I knew that my motor movements could become impaired. But my mind? Please don't take my mind!

My brain may not be the best brain in the world but it has gotten me to this point in life thus far. I have survived many challenges in my life due to keeping my wits about me. I owe my brain a lot! My survival depends upon my grey matter. And now here I am wondering how I can keep my mental abilities intact.

What does it feel like?

Some people with MS describe this cognitive phenomena as being in a brain fog: "More specifically, 'brain fog' refers to a type of clouded thinking where the mind itself, the part which is used to accomplish tasks, becomes clouded, as if there is a type of 'mental cataract' obscuring 'internal' vision." For more details go to this web site.

This seems a pretty good description to me. It was as though all my thoughts were vastly slowed down to a point where coordinating them with things needing to be done proved quite a challenge. I have never felt anything like this before as usually my thoughts are racing out of the gate. I am used to multi-tasking, being alert, and responsive to my environment. It was as though there were a haze to cut through before I could access my thoughts. It isn't quite like being drunk but close enough to it. I understand now why some people with MS are mistaken for being intoxicated during an episode.

Basically you feel as though something is just not right. When you aren't used to this brain fog it can be quite frightening. It feels like yet another loss of control.

Yes it sucks.

But the good news is...is there good news? Yes there is. In an article by Anne Frederickson entitled, Multiple Sclerosis and the Self, she points out:

"At a time when they are losing control of their body, they do not also need the extra burden of believing that they are also losing control of their mind. However, Britell acknowledges that a failure to remember or concentrate is not a sign of a decline in intellect. In fact, a decline in intellect is one of the rarest cognitive dysfunctions. She notes that people with MS retain their abilities with regard to intelligence tests. They are able to reason and solve problems. Just because they are slow to respond to a question does not mean that they do not know the answer. It is rather a sign of other problems. They may not be able to connect the thought with appropriate words or may be having problems concentrating on the question. Slowness is a failure of speed rather a failure of ability."

I am not losing my intellect. I am just sometimes a little slow is all.

Anyways...I have always liked Molasses.