Is This a Normal BFS Symptom?

[nameyisyBoby]

Hi everyone, I wanted to know if this is a normal BFS symptom or something more. First off, let me say I have been twitching for about a year now, and I have gone through all the tests to rule out anything else (MRI, EMG, CT Scans, blood tests, etc.)

Anyway, my concern is this. For the past month I have noticed that at times I have difficulty speaking. I know what I want to say, but it just doesn't come out clearly. I have never in my life had this problem, because I have given countless speeches before, and public speaking is my forte.

Are my speech difficulties related to BFS? Sometimes I'm fine, other times I foul up and cannot get my words to come out clearly. Can anyone relate?

 

[JCVanilla4125]

I have been twitching for 2 years, 3 months, with no weakness. I have the same speech problems you describe. I think sometimes it's all in my head, that I only think what I say is not clear because I am listening too hard because of these fears. I also believe that when I do slur or stumble over words it's probably due to being nervous about my speech being slurred, again due to this fear we have.
I strongly feel my twitching and percieved speech problems are, in great part, due to my health anxiety.
My two cents...
NoraFL

 

[nameyisyBoby]

I too have had problems from time to time with speech, and like yourself I am used to speaking in public. I find that ignoring it is the best way to deal with it. Thankfully, it doesn't happen as much as it did when I first developed BFS (two years ago). I do however believe that it is a specfic manifestation of BFS and not just anxiety.

 

[JCVanilla4125]

Joe,
Does your tongue or lips ever feel slight numbness? Or does your tongue feel like it's "tired" or "lazy"?
NoraFL

 

[nameyisyBoby]

Hi NoraFL,

No, I can't say that I have tongue or lip numbness or that my tongue feels tired or lazy. It is more of a feeling that the words don't flow out as easily as they normally do; and sometimes a word will come out sounding different that it should. It is somewhat hard to describe. I believe it is related to the tongue muscles being in a hyperexcitable state and the words can't get formed and out fast enough. Thankfully it only occurs episodically.

 

[AllSithknight]

Hey Joe,

"It is more of a feeling that the words don't flow out as easily as they normally do; and sometimes a word will come out sounding different that it should. It is somewhat hard to describe."

Actually you described it perfectly. I get the same thing.

NoraFL