Anyone have subtle speech problems post-surgery?  

I have recently noticed vascillating difficulties I am having with pronunciation and clarity.  When it happens I am usually pretty tired.  I feel as if my tongue is swollen.  It feels like I don't have the capability to create the sounds that my brain is telling it to make.  (For 10-20 days after my second surgery, I had waves of a total inabliity to pronunciate words.)

Stephanie

I was the same way and still that way when I am Exreemly tired. I had my surgery almost 5 years ago. I had a stroke before being diagnosed, and six months later I had the surgey done. I am now 26 still trying to enjoy the night life. My husband and I have a agreement that if I say "pumpkin" it is time to go. I have been pushing myself a bit so it usally comes out as "bumpin" he then knos it it time to go soon. We set this up so I don't feel imbarrised in a croud. You are not alone. Your body will find itself. Hey even when I get realy tiered and I go upstairs I forget the step height and trip. Just know your body and rest when you need to.
Your in my prayers,
Becky

Hi Stephanie,

You might want to check out a previous post I made shortly after surgery, asking the same question. The responses I received really helped me to put this into it's proper perspective:

What about this speech thing? & Scrubs hats
« on: Jan 10th, 2008, 5:20pm »

I'm six months post- surgery and my speech is still altered a bit - especially when tired or stressed. My Dad says I tend to put a stronger emphasis on the first syllable of words - I think it's because I am just trying to get the rest of the word out of my mouth. It's improved tremendously over the last few months. But when I do notice it, I just remind myself how lucky I am to be alive and to have such a relatively minor impairment - and heck, maybe one day I'll find it has cleared up entirely.  :)

Kim

Hey Steph! I still have problems with getting my mouth around words and I am 7 years post op. I often cannot say the right word I need to say and I feel like an incompetant and/or illiterate fool, which is hard as I used to pride myself on being really eloquent with my speech pre brain surgery, now I have to be content that the right word eventually comes to me, and it is not the most important thing in my world anymore.
I do lots of crosswords and games to try to get my brain flexible again
moira

Hi Steph -

Same thing here...I notice it mostly when I'm really tired or I haven't had enough hydration.  For me, I had a stroke after my second surgery (4+ years post op - yay!) which affected my speech center.  I believe I have some brain damage from that.  But, minimal.  Crossword puzzles and reading can help keep your mind sharp - keep it active.  

-Shari

Hi all:

I am still within a year of my surgeries (Jul 07) and after I had the left side done, I was talking a blue streak for about 24 hours, then it stopped and for the next couple of days it was very sporadic and for about 2-3 weeks after I continued to have trouble (I even tried singing my words like in "A Fish Called Wanda", but people preferred I just keep a writing tablet ;-)

To this day, there are times where I not only can't articulate a word, but I have trouble thinking of the right word to say.  It is frustrating, but if that is the worst I have to deal with, then I am grateful.

Good luck!

Both surgeries done August 06.....anytime I am tired or worn out....it appears in jumbled speech or stuttering. My kids have jokingly learned to "translate" Mom LOL!

I think speech will always be my red flag saying "time to slow down"

hugs....Diane

I am so happy I logged on this morning!  Just took my son, Kyle (10yrs old) to get a MRI/MRA yesterday because of his speech problems.  I thought perhaps he was having more TIA's. He is exactly 2 yrs post-op!  WOW...just looked at the calendar, can't believe it's been that long!  Anyways, this is again, the power of this wonderful website!  Now I know speech problems are typical of moyamoya patients and me not just being a typical worried-like-crazy mom!  Thank you all for your messages.
Renee

Aloha,

I am two years post surgery.  I still have problems with my speech, especially when I'm really tired or if I get excited.  When I'm tired I tend to slur my words and when I get excited, I usually have "brain farts"  [smiley=crackup.gif] ...you know those mental blocks that one gets when you are trying to say/explain something and just can't get it out.  When things like that happen, I have to remind myself to slow things down and try to get my bearing together.  Unfortunately for me, words sometimes come out faster than I can think.  You should see my boyfriend's face when I start thinking about how to explain something to him....he say I'm dangerous when I think. [smiley=ohjez.gif]....Oh well, I'm just being patient, hopefully as time goes on things will get better.  

Aloha pumehana,
Jan

I had my surgeries in 2000 and 2001 and i had a stroke after my first surgery.  my speech is slurred and i have problems getting my words out also.  when i get real tired i might as well forget it .  my husband usuasly says amy go to bed youre too tired.  and i also say things before i know i said them that has happened more times than i care to admit.

Hi Stephanie,   I also had speech problems post-surgery. I had my surgery in 2003. If I am tired or excited I trip on my words. I also have a problem with spelling. I keep a dictionary by my side to spell simple words.  Take care, Sharon