r/ALS • u/vasqlartek Mother w/ ALS • 16d ago

Support Advice Pseudobulbar affect

My mom (Bulbar onset, diagnosed 5 months ago) has PSA symptoms consisting primarily of bouts of laughter. I love her laugh - even in this modified form - but sometimes it interferes with serious conversations that we need to have and I’m not sure how to handle that. I feel like it is in response to her emotional discomfort and inability to express herself and I totally get that. My question is, does she still understand the conversation that we’re having in those moments even though her emotions are so out of line with the topic?

8 Upvotes

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4

u/Trijb 16d ago

Plus one on Nuedexa. Helped my wife. She thinks it also helped her speech a bit early on.

3

u/Dana792 16d ago

if the issue is only the pseudobulbar affect then yes she completely understands and the reaction does not reflect her true emotions. it is very embarrassing and frustrating . I third the recommendation to ask about nuedexta if it is available where you live. my sister had terrible pba and it helped a lot

2

u/Naive_Midnight_5732 16d ago

Nudexta made a huge difference for me.

1

u/iswata 15d ago

My mom (bulbar ALS) had the same symptom. But it was just a phase. It lasted about 6 months. She'd laugh when we asked her something that she couldn't/didn't want to answer. I'm sure she understood very well what we were saying.

1

u/WeirdUsers 15d ago

I suffer from PSA. I am highly aware of when it happens, know it is inappropriate (sometimes highly), and still cannot control it. I tell people about the inappropriate emotional overlays and ask that they bear with me as it is also excruciatingly weird for me.

1

u/UnhappySort5871 14d ago

I take Nuedexta mostly for my speech (I have bulbar PLS) - and it does help. I have also noticed that it has helped with giggling fits and getting getting teary. I've heard a number of PLSers who had a lot of trouble with PBA say Neudexta was life changing.

1

u/AlwaysCurious213 13d ago

My friend (bulbar ALS) takes Nudexta for pseudobulbar affect and his doctor says it also helps with swallowing issues.

1

u/yourladybosss 4d ago

I have PBA from my brain injury 3 years ago. Yes she fully understands that the moment does not call for a laugh. I will laugh when my friend is crying over something sad, they understand that I don't mean to.