The ritalin was not the 1st choice there was another medication she prescribed first but when I got to the pharmacy it was almost 400 a month. I though I was going to die. Right now without ritalin I am sleeping around 13 hours a day. Before the accident I had terrible insomnia only sleeping 4-6 hours a night...LOL I guess I am a girl of great extremes.
With my speech it is a problem with getting the word from my brain to my mouth. It's so hard to explain that to someone who hasn't experienced it. I know where I am going but I blank out an lose everything and I can't think of words even though I know exactly what I am trying to say. I am willing to try anything. The intensive out patient therapy is not very likely. She already thinks I am a little too high functioning for it.
I am losing my insurance soon and having major problems with my job. They have denied me disability because I haven't worked enough to qualify for the last 3 months and they will not terminate me so I can at least collect unemployment. They are giving me an exception the the absence policy to not be terminated but are holding strong to the short term disability policy. They are basically leaving me with absolutely no money coming in at all. I'm going to lose everything. So I cried for hours yesterday and the more upset and stressed I get the more confused I get. Oh well. At least they will be comfortable in their big executive house with their nice cars and eating steak with their families while I am out in the cold homeless. It's a terrible world when we put policies and profits before people.
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Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho
Good for you that you found a doctor that you like and shows you respect.
I am interested in the reason for the Ritalin. You are on a small dose but the research I have read about Ritalin is sketchy. It appears to have some short term benefits but not much is said about long term outcomes. My neuro read me the riot act for attempting to overcome the tiredness/sleepiness with some caffeine. He did not want me using any kind of stimulant.
Is your speech problem about articulation or more about getting a word from your brain to your lips? I struggle to get words from my brain to my lips and the speech therapist did not see it as a treatable symptoms. I sometimes will use the wrong word that is close or starts with the same letters. I have a TBI friend who does this with extraordinary flair. Her willingness to expose her struggles is a tribute to the strength of her joyous personality.
The 3 to 5 hours a day of intense therapy sounds extreme. It is common for someone coming out of an extended coma but not so much for lesser brain injuries. When I was seeing three therapist a day, it left me exhausted. And I was 9 years since my most recent injury. Beware the rehab facility that is trying to fill their schedule. Ours is good at maxing out insurance coverage with therapy appointments.
I wish you well with this new doctor.
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