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.

[Crocodileclip]

I have no experience of this but I think you know the answer yourself. He needs to go see a doctor. It may be something, it may be nothing. Ignoring it is not the solution. How you make him see that is the problem I suppose.

[MrsKCastle]

Are you sure it's not a joke? Is he aware that he's doing it? Does he react at all?

No ideas I'm afraid, but if it's definitely not a deliberate thing I'd be making a GP appointment first thing tomorrow.

[FunnyFoot]

Please take him to A & E.
This happened to me and I was having a TIA (mini stroke). Not saying this is what's happening and it could just be stress related but please err on the side of caution.

[PeanutBitter]

He should attend A and E today as an emergency.

[scarletforya]

Yep, sounds like word salad.

[OhBabyLilyMunster]

A&E job, rightaway. This made me think that some neurological even has occured

[MsVanRein]

It's really important he sees a doctor today. As a matter of urgency!

Can you pinpoint when this started? Were there any other symptoms that you've maybe not noticed or could have been overlooked. I don't want to scare you but there could be a number of causes and he needs medical attention to rule out a serious cause.

I hope all goes ok for you both.

[PrudentPolly]

Thanks - this is what I thought. I know this is terrible but I don't even know who his doctor is and he's gone to work on his bicycle for a few hours. My GP has had concerns about him in the past and he isn't even a patient there.

[PrudentPolly]

I commented on it and he said he was just tired but when he did it later on he joked about a stroke. He also get migraines sometimes.

[PrudentPolly]

*gets

[BrianTheMole]

A and E today.

[littleducks]

I would take him to A&E

If he wont listen ( to you or random internet strangers) phone NHS direct to get a medical person to say the same thing

[FunnyFoot]

He's your husband and you don't know who is Dr is?

OP if he will not take care of himself and seek medical attention then I am not sure what you can do. You can try ringing 101 for advice but at the end of the day he is an adult. Very stupid person if he does not see the seriousness in his condition.
I hope he listens to you and goes to A & E.

[shouldnthavesaid]

A&E, now. He needs a check up as it sounds like something neurological's going on.

[beatingwings]

This is an emergency. Straight to A&E.

[SheherazadeSchadenfreude]

PLease, please, please get him to go to A & E. It could just be stress, but I worked with someone who started doing this - we were all giving him odd looks, and asking what he was on. He got more incoherent and ranty, and had a massive stroke two days later. It started off exactly as you describe, with the odd words.

[Didactylos]

yup, get him to a doctor. Neurologically not normal, whether it has a psychological, psychiatric or organic cause.
Does he realise he is doing it? Can you have a conversation with him?
How does he respond when you question it?
Is he having any other issues eg problems following what you are saying, clumsiness, difficulty following instructions or carrying out normally straightforward tasks

[shouldnthavesaid]

Is he at work now, do you mean? Could you drive down there and take him to hospital? If not, could you phone nhs direct and see what they suggest? He really isn't, by the sounds of it, safe to be cycling.

[LadyMud]

A&E obviously, as others recommend. But it's interesting that you mention migraine. My very first migraine attack resulted in an ambulance ride to hospital, with a suspected stroke. The main symptom was talking random gibberish.

[alreadytaken]

if it's a TIA he could have a stroke in the next month, he's at higher risk for the next year and the effect could be more serious. So he has to go and see a doctor and as it's been going on for days going to a&e is not a bad idea. As he cycles could he have had an accident he hasn't told you about?

[Itsfab]

I really hope he is just tired but you need to make him get checked. He has a duty to look after himself being a husband and father.

I remember reading a really sad story of a man who died of skin cancer as he didn't want to make a fuss and go to the doctor for a check up.

[PrudentPolly]

Yes he left about 40 minutes ago for work. Otherwise he seems ok today. Yesterday he also read quite a lot to DS (The BFG), which is not a great book to read under the circumstances as there are so many random made up words in it.

I suspect I will have to head down there and frogmarch him off to A & E. He will think I'm being totally neurotic but I'm glad everyone here shares my concerns.