Slurred speech when I'm tired (most of the time!)

[ValancyRedfern]

Should I be worried? I've been exhausted my whole life (lifelong insomniac) and I work full time as a teacher and am a single mum. So exhaustion is par for the course. But I've only started getting slurred speech in the last month or so. When I get a good night's sleep it does make it better. But it's back again by that evening/next day. I just can't face waiting for hours at the Dr for them to tell me to relax and sleep more (I would if I could...). But then there's a niggle that this might be a sing of something more serious....

I would go to the doctor.

I'm 40 and otherwise physically healthy. On 40mg citalopram for depression.

Slurred speech is not caused by fatigue.

My slurred speech is caused by migraines. Its the aura part and can be unaccompanied by head pain. Have you ever had a migraine?

Sorry didnt see you post. You're probably right. I know I shouldn't prioritise work over my health but I have DD booked into a football day tomorrow so I can work all day in school. If I go to the drs (it's a sit and wait service if I want to be seen before doomsday) that's half my precious work time gone. Then the Dr will tell me to relax more and I won't be able to because I've got so much work to do....

Is it a side effect of citalopram?

You asked if you should be worried.
If I was you I would be worried.
However if you can’t make time to get to the doctor that’s a problem.
Have people noticed your slurred speech?

Thanks. I just know the Dr will say it's caused by stress. But I agree I should go just in case.

My partner has noticed. It tends to only happen in the mornings and evenings so no-one else has. I think at work I go into 'performance mode' and it goes away. That's part of what makes me think it's stress related as well.

My speech gets slurred when I’m tired as well - I think it might be connected to b12 deficiency as it gets worse when my levels are low. It’s worth asking your doctor and ask for a set of blood tests to check if anything is causing your fatigue.

You need to go to doctor about it. If it is 'only' stress and tiredness, then your doctor can at least sign you off work for a couple of weeks.

Could you ask for a phone consultation? In our surgery you could book a time slot, usually to discuss test results but it might work for you if they would consider to send you for tests or to see a consultant.
But tbh I would go for an appointment even if it’s a long wait, your health is far too precious.

OP if you are worried about taking time off you could pay for a digital doctor? Most of them cost £20-30.

Have a word with your GP and put your mind at rest. If it's nothing all the better.

Thanks everyone. I'll go to the drs tomorrow and take a load of work with me to do while I'm waiting to try and ease my work anxiety a little.

Any news op?

What was the outcome ? Hope all ok

Hope your appointment went well

Thank you for checking in on me. I'm afraid I didn't go. But I will go on Friday as DD is with her dad. I am 99% certain it's exhaustion and anxiety. Also now that I'm anxious about the speech itself I think it's happening more. I have so many anxiety symptoms: headaches, Ibs, insomnia, inability to sit still. I'm sure it's all part of the same thing.

I get similar. Working lone parent and no breaks from the dc's. I've even had an unknown low level headache down one side for two years, all tests fine.
A few times a year I get a decent nights sleep and I feel very different.

A lot could well be anxiety. Last year I went through a weird rough patch healthwise. Well I had all sorts of worrying symptoms until a MRI came back clear. Then whether I stopped panicking the symptoms went and if they were back occasionally I didn't take much notice! So at least some symptoms are caused or aggravated by anxiety.

I have a permanent headache too meglet. Scaring myself now with reading about mini strokes but I don't think my symptoms fit. They wouldn't come and go depending on how tired I am if they were a stroke. Just need to sleep for 1000 years!!!

I've had slurred speech at times and it did come out as mini-strokes on brain MRI. I don't normally get it alone though and no pattern in it - sometimes I can think the words and not say them, sometimes wrong word / jumbled. Often get problems moving my arm at the same time.

I would get checked by doctor. Mine only showed on a brain MRI, CT didn't show it. I failed lots of the neurological tests too and they got weakness down right side, problems with one eye, failed balance test, failed putting one hand on top of each other fast - a doctor maybe able to run some basic neurological tests. When I get things due to anxiety / emotions I generally get anxious thoughts first then symptoms, also sometimes if I think about it I can bring it on or stop it, this I can't control. If you can control with thoughts it could well be psychological but best to get checked out.

I get very tired and very confused/delirium after but not before with the things I presume must be the TIAs they found. I've been referred to neurology for stroke advice but they haven't given any treatment so far and was discovered in May/June. I have lots of balance problems.

I was going to suggest b12 deficiency too. It causes lots of neurological symptoms, nerve pain and weird sensations and intense fatigue.

I was given lots of blood tests not entirely sure what - I think its to rule out other causes which can give similar symptoms. My bloods were normal. It's worth getting some blood tests done too - when I was very tired blood tests showed anaemia and low folic acid and the vitamins also stopped aches and pains (presume magnesium in them) so sometimes things can be solved or at least helped very easily. Too much iron is bad for you so do get tested first.