45 on a 33

I don’t know how many of you remember the old 45 records and 33 records.  They were the CDs of my younger years.  The 45 records were little things, about the size of a salad plate and the 33 records were platter size.  If you played a 45 record on 33 speed, it sounded like someone on an LSD trip.  (I guess, for those of you who are younger, think of what it is like to try to watch a movie on a tape that has stretched and drags.)

People have tried to interpret the words to songs on records that were not clear for years.  One of the funniest parts of “Jumpin Jack Flash” is Whoopi Goldberg trying to figure out the words to the song by the Rolling Stones.  One of the most bizarre incidents of this was when Charles Manson tried to claim that he heard certain things in the Beatles’ song “Revolution” that made him try to start a race war.  He did manage to get his clan to kill several people.  It was a terrible, tragic event.

I had an event last week that made me think about being on the wrong speed.  I was reading a book when I realized I was just staring at the page and not comprehending the words.  My eyes were blurred and when I tried to put the book down, it was like I was moving in slow motion. 

When I stood up, the same feeling of being on the wrong speed made me walk slowly (which I do anyway) and in a dream-type state.  I tried to say something to my husband and the words were slurred and hard to get out.  It really scared me.  My first thought was that I was having a stroke.

Although this lasted no more than half an hour, it really made me worry.  I have had quite a few seizures and often came out of them with slow speech.  I have not had this feeling when not having a seizure.

According to the National MS Society, speech disorders are fairly common in MS. Speech patterns are controlled by many areas in the brain, especially the brainstem. Lesions (damaged areas) in different parts of the brain can cause several types of changes in normal speech patterns. They range from mild difficulties to severe problems that make it difficult to speak and be understood. Medically, speech disorders are called dysarthrias.  Slurring words and abnormally long pauses between syllables and words are common with this condition.  I guess we should be happy we can talk and be understood!

I hope this doesn’t happen again.  Maybe I will look on Amazon and see if there is an old stereo for sale in reasonably good condition.  That way if it does happen, I can flip the speed over to the right one and get myself back in gear!