Stuttering, memory loss, dizzy spells

[Prometheus]

I am 33 with DC aged 3.5 year old and 1 year old. I work full time. No known medical issues.

I have noticed in the past 18 months/2 years that I am having worsening problems with my memory and particularly with speech. In almost every conversation I just cannot think of the words I want to say. Alternatively I stutter...I can think of the word but my mouth won't say it. I have to stutter or say the wrong word then literally spit of the word forcefully to make my mouth say it. It is really upsetting me and causing trouble at work as i'm just going blank in meetings as I can't think the word to say or can't spit it out if someone asks me a question.

At the same time my memory is failing. I can't remember the weight of my youngest son at birth for example (I need to look it up in his baby book). I can't remember simple things any more. I am highly educated with a high powered job and have always been 'clever' and organised and this is really worrying me.

I'm also having dizzy spells....it feel like for a second my eyes vibrate and things go black, my head feels fuzzy and I almost fall over. After 1 or 2 seconds it passes.

I guess I'm asking if this is normal for someone in their early 30s with a young family and a full time job? I don't want to go to the GP if he will just laugh at me. But it is affecting my work so don't know what to do. Does anyone have any experience of this or advice please?

[CheckpointCharlie]

Haven't had those exact symptoms together but I do often struggle to find the word I want. Could it possibly be that the anxiety this is causing you is making you stutter?
You say you are clever and a high flyer, maybe you are piling pressure on yourself to stop and making yourself more worried? Anxiety can also cause dizziness and panic, maybe accounting for the strange dizziness?

I can have strange episodes but only when I am really knackered. How much sleep do you get? (am imagining not much with two little dc).

Have you recently gone back to work?

I think if I were you I would still get yourself checked out but many of your problems could be caused by anxiety or tiredness.

[iliketea]

It's not normal - your GPwon't laugh.

There are lots of reasons for your symptoms, I would expect the GP to do blood tests to check for anaemia and thyroid function as a minimum. Plus consider your stress levels and potential depression.

Definitely go and see the GP, write your symptoms down so you don't need to worry about remembering what you need to say.

[MoreBeta]

Prometheus* - please go to your GP that sounds potentially quite serious. The blackouts in particular.

[MrsPiggywinkle]

I agree with iliketea

Also, I have B12 deficiency (pernicious anaemia) and before diagnosis one of my symptoms was that I used to really struggle with remembering things such as names for common objects when I was talking. Felt like I was operating in a fog. Also fatigued, dizzy, breathless, depressed, lack of sensation in fingertips, etc. Not necessarily what you have, but definitely worth getting checked. (And simple to treat)

[tak1ngchances]

Definitely go to the GP, they will not laugh at you.
I had things like this and it turned out to be migraine. Yours might be something different, or anxiety, or nothing specific - but always worth getting checked out.

[rundontwalk]

I stutter & can't find words in specific situations when tired or stressed. No dizziness/blackouts though.

Go to your gp. He/she will not laugh. If a friend wrote your OP what would you advise them?

Something to pay attention to is when does it happen? Do you stutter at home/with friends as well as at work. Does the dizziness happen at certain times of the day/week/month.

Please go and get checked out-do not put yourself last because you are too busy.

[Prometheus]

Thanks for all the advice. I guess I had better make an appointment. In answer to questions - it seems to be getting noticeably worse and happens both at home and work and doesn't appear to happen at certain times - can be any time of the day. I am definitely a stressy person and very anxious so likely it is something like that.

[rundontwalk]

Mine is definitely a warning sign that the stress is building up-apparently a stutter can be a symptom when you're bottling things up rather than acknowledging them. Good luck at the Dr :)

[grimbletart]

Make sure your blood tests include folate levels as well OP. A very low folate level can induce memory 'fog', anxiety, pins and needles and 'head in bottle' feeling.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

No the GP will not laugh at you; this warrants further investigation.

It may be all to do with your thyroid gland being out of sync; finding out why this is happening is vitally important. This can indeed cause such problems to arise.

[fivecupsoftea]

Hi, I get the eyes vibrating thing, I've never come accross anyone else with this, so happy to hear I'm not the only one. I also get dizzy and am often lightheaded. I also have all the same memory problems as you. I'm being investigated for POTS, you can read about it on POTSUK. Most GP's have never heard of POTS. It affects your circulation and can give you reduced cerebral blood flow - so you can feel dizzy. I've been re-assured that it has no link whatsoever to dementia.

[dottyaboutstripes]

I had this and it turned out I was anaemic with very low ferritin

[Prometheus]

Thank you for all the advice - I've made a GP appointment for Friday. Unlikely to be anaemia as I take daily vitamin tablets and blood tests with both pregnancies showed I had high iron levels. Willing to explore any possibility though.

[wileycoyote]

let us know how you get on

[veeek8]

Look up postural orthostatic tachycardia before you go to the doctors as it very often overlooked. It took me 8 years to get diagnosed and was causing speech problems, discalcular, visual disturbances, temporary paralysis, dizzy spells. The symptoms are similar to anemia because it causes hypovolemia (not enough blood volume). All the very best.

[Prometheus]

Update: felt really stupid going to the GP. She was nice and did a basic memory test which I passed then said she thinks it is stress/tiredness. I will be having blood tests for thyroid/ferritin etc. to check they are normal. I had those tests done monthly whilst pregnant with both DCs (wasn't in UK) and they were always normal so expecting them to be fine.

I guess I just need to try and be less stressed

[veeek8]

Hey Prometheus.
You should never feel silly for going to the doctors, it's really important to get things checked out. It is your body and you know if something isn't right and don't ever be shy about getting second opinions.
I hope you are feeling better very soon, but if not get back to those doctors and make sure they help you.
All the best V.

[iliketea]

Never feel silly about going to see the GP about your symptoms. And yes stress may be the cause; but it may equally be a contributory factor rather than the sole cause. You may find your blood results show something which is made worse by stress.

(As an aside, you can get a fair few free relaxation apps with 10mins guided relaxation on Apple store - you just listen with ear phones - may be worth a try).

[CheckpointCharlie]

I am reading an amazing book, called something like 'mindfulness in a Busy world' or similar, it has a yellow and blue cityscape cover. It's very good for stress. I am struggling to like my job at the mo and it's helping me a lot.

Hope it's not anything else. here it is

Don't feel silly, your symptoms were quite worrying.

[Prometheus]

Update - blood test results all normal so looks like it is all stress related. Thank you for all the advice and recommendations.

[MumsDeword]

Hi Prometheus,

Just searched these exact symtoms and came across this message thread!

I've recently been experiencing the 1 sec dizzy spells, new stutter & very poor memory.

Just wondering if these symtoms have since cleared up for you and if there was any further diagnosis or just down to extreme tiredness and/or stress at the time?

...I'm def not getting enough sleep of late which could well be the cause.

Many Thanks