Always about the headaches or depression?
 

Hi there,

So, I went to a new neurologist within the same practice as my old one yesterday. Things went as expected. Its always all about my head?! Fist question how often do you get headaches? Well about everyday but.... Where are the headaches? What stops them? What makes them worse? What kind of pain is it? (Mind you when he first started I told him my head wasn't too bad it was everything else. But he insisted we start with the headaches. My whole family has a history of migrains so yes I get headaches but they don't even get up to a level of 6 most days!!! I'm so frustrated with this blind single. Minded so called doctors!? I get they specialize in the head but there's a lot more to the "head" then just the exterior pain....hmmmm, like the brain and how its functioning!
Then of course I get the whole are you depressed? No I'm not "depressed" I'm frustrated with the fact that I hate going out with friends couse when I talk I make no sense and I can't ever follow what they say. But I love my life I have a fun job that only requires minimal work in a field I love. Yes I can only work PT but my bf and friend whom I live with are very supportive. Like really? I'm so sick of the same stuff every time!
Another thing that gets to me is he did a small and I mean small cognitive eval he asked me to remember 3 words then tested my reflexes then asked me to spell world backwards..."Dlorw" ha not! Then I try to think of how to spell it forwards so I can spell it backwards and I completly forgot how to spell it altogether?! But anyway. At the endd of the visit he started talking about meds to help my headaches. First was topomax which can have a poor effect on the memory....I stopped him right there. I told him that my headaches arent the real issue here that my memory loss, inability to focus, poor balance were the problems so he decided to go with gapatine/neurontin (sorry for the wrong spelling) and then at last minute decided to send me for an MRI and TBI/cognitive eval at kessler. Well finally thank you! But of course he has to add in that it is only. To figure out if there is something wrong or if I'm just depressed. So we call kessler where my Mom works and the docs now a bit about me and my history and they say that I need a full tbi, neuropsych. And cognitive eval. Finally! Sorry for running on about this but I'm so fed up with them!

I am glad you are getting the help that you need/want! I totally understand as far as the depression/headaches thing too!!

My very first appointment, the Neuro wanted to prescribe some kind of beta-blocker (which I told her no thank you) and then wanted to describe Zoloft for the "depression" that I don't have!!!! YARG! I actually had to bring in my dad to help "persuade" her to order an MRI, (luckily insurance saw that it was necessary) So I totally know how you feel!!!!! SO frustrating!

Happy for you now though, keep us posted on your results...and remember if it shows normal, at least you will have peace of mind...! (no pun intended, ha ha)
:)

I understand the frustration with the doc's obsession with depression. I will admit to being depressed, it sucks when your life changes dramatically and you have to deal with pain and confusion etc.

My doc (GP) tried to explain it that they couldn't do much about many of my symptoms, but they could treat the depression. I said no thanks to the drugs, I tried 2 different antidepressants (Citalopram & Venlafaxine) years ago (during a difficult life transition) and they were a big mistake and made me feel awful. Made an already difficult situation much, much worse.

He also tried to argue that if you're depressed you're not getting the rest you need for your brain to heal. Well... I have no problem getting lots of rest (except for my rash that keeps me up sometimes... fix THAT! I say to him!!) and really am wary about taking pills period.

During my last appointment, he was very pushy about the drugs and with my "filter" being broken I just said "no, I'm not taking the drugs and I want you to shut up about them"... oops. :o

I'm hoping that when I go to the brain injury rehab clinic in July that they have something more to offer than just drugs. I would be very disappointed.

Best of luck & congrats on getting your referral, I hope they are able to help!
Starr

Thank you,
Its just so irritating when that the only thing a doc can think is wrong with you. He honestly only cared about my 'headaches' (which aren't too bad) and whether I was depressed or not. Now yes since my injury things have been turned upside down. I had to quit the one thing I have loved doing my whole life and the rest of my life has been put on hold but that's life. Things happen and I get over them. Just now about 10 mons later have I started to feel down but not cuz I'm injured because my symptoms aren't going away and they are getting worse! He was so against any further testing (neuropsych, cognitive evals)! My mother (thank God) was with me and she works for the Neurological Unit at Kessler Rehab so she knows her stuff and backed me up. First she's my Mom and she Knows me and knws that my brain isn't working right Second she knows what she's talking about when it comes to brain and head stuff. He finally came to the aggreement that I would get testing done and if specialist thought my head/brain was ok then it was depression. Which is fine by me, do the testing don't just jump to conclusions!

I don't know of anyone who has had a tbi or any serious imparment or injury who wouldn't be upset by it. Docs need to think of what came first the so called depression or the injury? Then so what they have to, to find out if its from the injury or depression. That's all I ask for is for them NOT to jump to conclusions.

I am SO with you on that!