From the article: Tips for Dealing with Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis
I imagine that everybody (MS or not) could all use some suggestions on how to "keep things straight" and think clearly in a chaotic world. For those of us with MS-related cognitive dysfunction, the frustration of forgotten appointments, misplaced items and a diminishing vocabulary can cause just as much anxiety as any of our physical symptoms. Please help us out by offering up your tips for staying on top of things. Don't worry if your approach seems childish or obvious. You may just have an idea that will help someone else avoid unnecessary stress. Share Your Tip
My tips for remembering
- I have many tips for remembering my daily activities.I keep a notebook beside my chair w/daily to do lists; I use an egg timer when I have to remember something specific; use a weekly calendar w/my passwords & write down each appointment or event to remember; I turn a certain light on in my ironing room when I have the iron on;turn it off when I turn off the iron.I keep all my medications on a lower table shelf beside my chair in a zipper pouch. I use my computer to type documents, i.e., 1)a daily ms log to record my ms symptoms which I send to my doctor(s) as needed 2)a list of all medications (prescription & OTC), the dosage, reason for taking med,how long taken, any side effects & MD who prescribed it, 3) a list of my doctors, their addresses, & phone/fax numbers, 4) notes on what I need to discuss with each MD on next visit; 5) a fax cover sheet on each MD which I fax information; 6) a list of hospitalizations/surgeries, 7) a grocery list.
- —Guest Winston1907
Vit B12
- Vit B12 helps for a short time when i need to concentrate. I use sunlingual - RevitaPop, originally designed for ADHD & autistic kids, significantly reduces destructability & increases focus - at least for me.
- —Guest em
Multiple Calendars
- I use one calendar for my doctor appointments and MS therapy classes. A seperate one for the TV shows I watch. Another one for rest of the familys doctor appointments.
- —Guest Cathy
Cognitive Dysfunction
- I use a large 2 pg journal that I use one side to enter things I want to do (wash dishes, laundry in/out, start dinner) and assign times like I would make appts when I was working. The other page is for writing down imp conversations, notations of bills paid, what the dr actually said during appt, and anything else I need to remember with reminders as to where I file them. It is my "master mind" when I can't get my brain in gear...most days. I have started doing the word searches but can only do for a short time each. I assign daily time to meditate and pray, have a rest/nap, and times to take meds. I took a lot of my clues from training my son, who has congnitive dysfunction from autism/ADHD/brain trauma, and found that the tools I have taught him for keeping his life in gear also work for mine. Color coded clips for sock pairs, etc. Remember to laugh at yourself. And, get help with heavy housework but don't clean up before they get there! LOL! Blessings!
- —Guest momonamission
Cutting Back
- I have cut back to essential things to deal with the fatigue and memory issues. I began cutting a lot of things out years ago before being diagnosed as my ability to multitask and handle input decreased. I often just go to bed and cut down on all stimuli. I get balanced again and then can go back to doing things. Sometimes it takes a while. I have a really hard time letting people talk at me when I am not following at all. I try to break in and get it down to essentials and am faced with either being rude or simply shining on what they are saying since I can't retain that much at one go. I would like to be able to get the important 3 things to know, but they are buried in a monologue that seems to go on forever. I forget the things I needed to know by the time they are done. I find myself staying at home a LOT to avoid over stimulation. Conversation tires me out past a certain point. Reading too. So I do more physical things instead when I can.
- —triara1
while working
- While working my mind catches moments of things to remember or people to call etc. So to continue working I just jot down on a small piece of paper a list of these things throughout my day. Example....someone tells me about a movie they rented and it sounds good to me so I write down the name of it, or someone tells me they went to the market and got a great price on steaks and I write that down, or someone says "Hey, ask your husband if he can (whatever it is)" and I write it down....so when I leave work I look at the note in my pocket and possibly stop by the store and look at it again when I get home....it has become a routine and so far works for me...
- —azkrazy
Silly Cell Phone
- I'm not a great user of the cell phone, only use it for emergencies when in the car or out doing errands. I use the schedule function and put all my chores in there. When the alarm goes off, I do the chore and won't forget it! Works better for me cuz I don't always look at my calendars or log on for the computer scheduler with my email program. The phone rings at noon - I strain the kitty litter box. Phone rings every third day-I wash hubby's work clothes. It solves many of my problems!
- —janster51
OneNote
- I've had MS for 10 years and I use OneNote every day. It automatically saves so I don't have to remember. Notes are arranged any way you choose. The whole thing is quickly searchable. I have tabs for Journal entries, a health tab for tracking my meds and exacerbations, a family tab for storing phone numbers and addresses, and a Think tab for storing thoughts that come up. It helped me keep on top of a mountain of data in engineering jobs I had before and works quite nicely for me now to keep track of my daily activities and To Do items now that I am disabled. I can't remember much to save my life so OneNote has been an indispensable tool for me.
- —Guest Guttyr
Measure multitask limitations
- Ask your neurologist for a functional MRI. Yes, its hard to keep up in most of its tests, but you will get an idea of where you're weakest. Then train your brain with puzzles or repetative exercises in vocabulary or math.
- —Guest Tron2
One Calendar
- I have one daily planner that I carry everywhere with me. I can't remember to take my vitamins every day much less my sons orthodontist appointment. I write it all down in the planner and I check every morning to see if I am forgetting anything. I have enough to remember and I will use whatever it takes to help. As for organizing to suit me. I live with my husband, 2 children and my mother. I work full time and have a 2 hour commute each way. I have to live with my families organization, except for my desk. That is mine, and no one else can find anything on it but me. I only have conversations with the kids one at a time and I pay attention to only them not anything else. (Or at least I try) I sometimes have to go in another room to talk to them however.
- —stardubois
Link my activities
- I try to "link" my activities to one another, so that doing one thing triggers the thought that I should do the next. For instance, I always give myself my injection right after I get out of the shower. Before I started doing this, I would completely forget my daily dose! It really helps.
- —AmelieS
