DH's speech peppered with random unrelated words (sudden-onset)

[PrudentPolly]

I'm very worried about my DH, he is 37, has a very high pressure job and is self-employed. Recently he has been having a quieter patch which should help him relax but he is anxious. He cycles to and from work daily, eats quite a healthy diet, although he has a sweet tooth and usually drinks wine every day.

In the past few days his speech has been peppered with random unrelated words. For example, he was talking to DS "Good lesbian morning my sweetheart" and "Have coal-tar you prepared the supper?" This is very odd he is usually very articulate and bright. It couldn't be tourettes could it or a stroke or something - he is as stubborn as the proverbial mule and won't go to the doctor. He is also complaining that his back is very achey but he often moans about it being painful.

Has he got any other symptoms? You said that your doctor was worried about him in the past?

It could simply be stress.

Oh, how worrying for you, OP. Agree with others, he needs to be seen asap.

Good idea to go down there now, rather than wait for him to return. If he won't be persuaded to go with you to A&E, ring 111, tell them you think he might be having a stroke and they will take it from there.

That doesn't mean I think he necessarily is having a stroke but, as Didactylos has said, he needs urgent neurological assessment.

It's definitely a trip to the doctor job. I suffer with migraines which result in me adding random words to speech.
I know I'm doing it but I'm unable to stop. The first time it happened I thought I was having a stroke.
Please update later. I hope you get him some medical attention.

I also vote a and e. My mother has grand mal epileptic seizures and this random word substitution/addition always signals the onset of a seizure for her. There are a number of reasons this could be happening, and migraines are also a possible cause, but you must get him checked out ASAP.

Maybe phone NHS Direct before heading off so you have more back up than random strangers on mumsnet.

Agree with other posters who say maybe phone NHS direct for some advice then you have something to back-up your concerns so to speak if he thinks you are just being OTT.

This is something that I've seen many times in a professional capacity and obviously it's hard to point to an absolute cause without more information, but I would be quite adamant with your DH that he needs medical attention ASAP.

with Mrs VR here: I know what Id want to assess/examine if I saw him in a professional context: but online its not possible: but would reiterate he needs to see someone, sooner the better
Call NHS direct especially if it would help him accept going in to hospital. Is he working alone or are there other people with him?

Just to mention that NHS Direct no longer exists in England. For urgent health assessment/advice

England: NHS111 - ring 111
Scotland: NHS 24 - ring 111
Wales: NHS Direct - ring 08454647

Hope everything is okay, Polly?

I'm an A&E nurse, I would take him there now, this can be a serious sign of a neurological event such as a stroke or a brain haemorrhage it might just be his migraines evolving or a stress response but I would get him checked out now

When it was noticed that my sister was having trouble saying the word she wanted to use, it was suspected that she was having a TIA. She was 33 at the time.

A week later she passed out and it turned out that her heart wasn't working properly and she needed a pacemaker fitting.

Get him to the GP if he won't go to A&E. But get him checked out.

He is so stubborn, despite what NHS Direct says and everyone here - he just brushed me off and said he'll go to the GP, but I don't believe him. I've contemplated telling his parents to get them to back me up on this but my own Dad thinks he will be furious if he thinks I'm going behind his back and will be more determined to overlook it.

Its he still dropping in unexpected words?

If he won't go for himself can you persuade him he needs to do it for your and DS?

If he really won't go, I'd be tempted to call an ambulance. Not the right way to go about things at all but he must be seen.

I'd be tempted too.

NHS 111 or whatever it is now do sometimes call out ambulances when they are on the phone to people. Maybe sneak into another room and call them and explain that he refuses to go and see what they say.

Is there any chance that he will go to the docs but not say anything until he gets results?

Why are men so bloody stubborn and fools with their health. I'd get his mum and dad on side and go for a three pronged approach !

When DH was very ill I got him to do the doctor by saying "I don't want to be a widow and I don't want DD to grow up without a father so do it for us even if you won't do it yourself."

Men are dreadful at admitting they are frightened of being ill.

Now he is being a selfish git and I would tell him so. If there is something wrong and he dies because he is too stubborn to go to the doctor it isn't HIM left bereaved. On the other hand a bit of time at the doctors and he could be told he is fine.

He may be quite scared- I would be. It's vital that he gets seen though. Is he still saying the unrelated words or has that stopped now? Either way, I think you need to do whatever you can to persuade him to see a doctor.

What a tough one OP. Can you pick a calm moment when he's relaxed and use migsie's approach

He has stopped muddling his words but has promised to see the GP next week and I actually believe him now. It's a bit far off but this is major progress. My GP said given the nature of his job he should have an annual BUPA health check, although DH maintains this is OTT. I'm thinking of going to the GP with him to make sure he tells him everything. Also he just doesn't know how to relax, not sure how you teach someone to relax but I think maybe we should take up tennis or something together, ie a social sport.

this thread worried me, and has been on my mind - OP, did your husband go to the GP, and what was the outcome?