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Member
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: I live in the rainy Northwest
Posts: 135
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: I live in the rainy Northwest
Posts: 135
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Here's my take on it Angie,
You betcha I had a HUGE grieving period because the first head injury (I've had three in the last two years from fainting), caused me to feel like I lost 1/2 of my IQ (thankfully, that came back at about a year and I feel at about 90%.) I've always taken pride on the fact that I had a high IQ and could figure anything out, but this took it away from me (again, temporarily). My neuro also reminds me frequently that I will never be able to handle stress as well as I used to, whenever I complain about my other symptoms from the head injury which are exacerbated by stress (myoclonis, parasomnia).
So, there's a couple things going on.
I was WAY more depressed in the beginning than I am now because it was such a huge instant life change. Antidepressants didn't even begin to touch the grieving, but I'm over that now and have accepted my new normal. I believe the antidepressants along with the other drugs I take for the symptoms REALLY help me to live a normal life as possible.
I hear your anger about finding the real cause, but there's nothing they can do (besides medication) even after they find the cause in most cases.
My doc found my brain injury on the MRI and it didn't change any of the medications I was on. It just made me feel 'justified' in a way that I was not being a hypochondriac or something. Getting the proof didn't change my lifestyle, as my neurologist told me that I needed to keep working full time regardless of how it made me feel (she was right, by the way) and regardless of how stressful my job was because if I didn't maintain as much of a normal life as before, it would be very easy for my brain to stay 'stuck' where it was. She had me on provigal for a while to help me focus my brain. It gave me headaches and made me grind my teeth, so I went off it and just lived with the 'duh'.
I understand the need for a diagnosis, etc., I really do- but it doesn't really change anything. All they can do is treat the symptoms.
You asked about Alzheimer’s medications. I'm not. But I am on Parkinson’s' meds since the brain injury, as well as klonopin (both for the myoclonis) and seroquel (for the parasomnia).
I know how frustrating it is, I really do- but I'm two years out now and it's really taught me patience. 
__________________
Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.
~ Groucho Marx
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