1. < Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19

Does anyone else have word finding issues...

Posted by tookie @tookie, May 4, 2023

Hello. New on deck. My 2nd Covid in 08/2021 is where I seemed to have gained my soon to be Post Covid issues and like you... thetevare many. Question: Do any of you folks have or have had issues with word finding/retrieval? Its become so much part of my day to day life. Do you have anything that has helped you? TIA

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law59 | @law59 | Nov 14, 2023
In reply to @janeaddams "Just discovered this; surprised there aren't more of us here. Tested + for Covid in March;..." + (show)
@janeaddams

Just discovered this; surprised there aren't more of us here. Tested + for Covid in March; typical LC symptoms since May. I've always been a busy gal, but over the past months have learned that PACING works best for me for the bone crushing fatigue that follows activity; I try to NOT push through, learn from the new limits, take breaks, etc. For me the neurological stuff has been brain fog, inability to do simple math equations, forgetfulness, inability to multitask, word retrieval... "tip of the tongue" (may find it later?)... but also ... just nowhere to be found, that name, that word. I've been a meditator for many years, now I find that pacing works best for my mental fatigue as well... I take a deep breath, relax and just breathe (deeply, diaphragmatically) for 10 minutes... and try to give my brain a rest. There's so much worry and research and work involved in caring for ourselves (and my doctors are not very helpful in this) ... I think well-meaning folks (medical and otherwise) who don't have this condition think we just need to try harder, exercise a little more (our bodies, our brains), have some more testing done (!) and all will be well. IMHO, most of them really don't know much about what helps, what works... and research hasn't connected with the clinical world yet, at least not mine. I'm grateful I found this forum...I'm learning a lot from others who have actually been there. I have found validation and support here...as well as good information and encouragement. Good luck to us all ...

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Hi @janeaddams. Thank you for that perfect description of what so many are going thru!

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pat814 | @pat814 | Nov 14, 2023
In reply to @petrau "THIS IS ME TOO!!! It is so depressing. When I have complained/presented this to some medical..." + (show)
@petrau

THIS IS ME TOO!!!
It is so depressing. When I have complained/presented this to some medical professionals, they have said things like, “what are the consequences of not remembering a word? Like are there any dangers involved?”

What a low bar?!? I’m a psychotherapist! My work is all about rich, descriptive language!

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I definitely struggled with word retrieval post covid, but I was grateful it wasn’t brain fog. Over a year later, that issue has resolved.

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1 reply
smdawson540 | @smdawson540 | Nov 14, 2023

I have had Long COVID for 3 years. I still have Brain Fog which impacts my being able to find words and my short term memory. If I do my breathing exercises and remain as calm as possible it helps some. At times I have laughed and said it is time to guess what Susan/Mom is trying to say. It is really upsetting when it happens in a work meeting. I work remotely as I have all kinds of issues from Long COVID. I have told people I work with closely so they are aware. At times not only can I not find a word, I am thinking one thing but what I say is something else. Good luck with this.

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3 replies
tookie | @tookie | Nov 14, 2023
In reply to @smdawson540 "I have had Long COVID for 3 years. I still have Brain Fog which impacts my..." + (show)
@smdawson540

I have had Long COVID for 3 years. I still have Brain Fog which impacts my being able to find words and my short term memory. If I do my breathing exercises and remain as calm as possible it helps some. At times I have laughed and said it is time to guess what Susan/Mom is trying to say. It is really upsetting when it happens in a work meeting. I work remotely as I have all kinds of issues from Long COVID. I have told people I work with closely so they are aware. At times not only can I not find a word, I am thinking one thing but what I say is something else. Good luck with this.

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It seems most people with PC have an extreme amount of the same symptoms.
Thank you for sharing...All though I would never wish this on anyone, it helps to know Im not alone...

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1 reply
smdawson540 | @smdawson540 | Nov 14, 2023
In reply to @tookie "It seems most people with PC have an extreme amount of the same symptoms. Thank you..." + (show)
@tookie

It seems most people with PC have an extreme amount of the same symptoms.
Thank you for sharing...All though I would never wish this on anyone, it helps to know Im not alone...

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This group is very helpful. I am so glad I found it. It does help to know we have others who understand what we are going through. Good luck. I am learning to live with my new normal but it has not been an easy path. Everything that Long COVID triggered in me is not curable. I have to find a way to manage through medicine, physical therapy and medical equipment. I am 52 years old and was in excellent health prior to this. I am at a point now that I am looking at what is good in my life and trying to focus on that.

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jwatzig | @jwatzig | Nov 15, 2023
In reply to @smdawson540 "I have had Long COVID for 3 years. I still have Brain Fog which impacts my..." + (show)
@smdawson540

I have had Long COVID for 3 years. I still have Brain Fog which impacts my being able to find words and my short term memory. If I do my breathing exercises and remain as calm as possible it helps some. At times I have laughed and said it is time to guess what Susan/Mom is trying to say. It is really upsetting when it happens in a work meeting. I work remotely as I have all kinds of issues from Long COVID. I have told people I work with closely so they are aware. At times not only can I not find a word, I am thinking one thing but what I say is something else. Good luck with this.

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Yes, 2.5 years in and I have the fog an trouble finding the words I want to say. I know what I want to say, but sometimes the words don't come out or the wrong words do come out. Very embarrassing at times in work situations. Hope it gets better for us soon!

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1 reply
sherryoct11 | @sherryoct11 | Nov 15, 2023
In reply to @smdawson540 "I have had Long COVID for 3 years. I still have Brain Fog which impacts my..." + (show)
@smdawson540

I have had Long COVID for 3 years. I still have Brain Fog which impacts my being able to find words and my short term memory. If I do my breathing exercises and remain as calm as possible it helps some. At times I have laughed and said it is time to guess what Susan/Mom is trying to say. It is really upsetting when it happens in a work meeting. I work remotely as I have all kinds of issues from Long COVID. I have told people I work with closely so they are aware. At times not only can I not find a word, I am thinking one thing but what I say is something else. Good luck with this.

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I have these same issues. The more anxious or in a hurry makes it much worse. Thank you for sharing:)

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bmd | @bmd | Nov 16, 2023
In reply to @jwatzig "Yes, 2.5 years in and I have the fog an trouble finding the words I want..." + (show)
@jwatzig

Yes, 2.5 years in and I have the fog an trouble finding the words I want to say. I know what I want to say, but sometimes the words don't come out or the wrong words do come out. Very embarrassing at times in work situations. Hope it gets better for us soon!

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Yes. Some days worse than others. It’s very frustrating and embarrassing!

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dianagc | @dianagc | Nov 16, 2023

Not sure this is a coincidence or not but since taking Paxlovid for my 2nd Covid-19 in September ‘23, my word finding has improved about 90%. I too find that if I’m in a long active conversation or excited or in a hurry, it returns, but the word is just slow in coming. I’m no longer saying/writing the wrong word. I’m very thankful and hopeful that it keeps improving. I am 76 so some of this may just be old age.

I still have other long Covid symptoms mixed with fibromyalgia and maybe old Lyme disease: shortness of breath, some lethargy, and exercise fatigue. All have improved but not gone since taking Paxlovid. What has improved dramatically is my energy level, but mornings are still painful and difficult.

Good luck everyone; enjoy what you can and love yourself.

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shell5693 | @shell5693 | Nov 21, 2023

Yes, got covid october 2022 and I still am having trouble with this and forgetting how to spell. Thank goodness for spell check for my college papers. Due to me writing papers a lot i noticed it immediately after covid. It has improved some but nothing to where I was before Covid.

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