Depersonalization and Derealization
 

Hi. 11 months after my injury my insurance finally ok'd me to see a "specialist". I went to Virginia Mason Neuroscience Institute. I guess my hopes were too high. I felt like I was in an interrogation. The Dr. was so intense with his questioning that I started crying. My memory is bad. Some of the stuff he was asking about was 11 months ago. I don't remember how I felt. I was trying to explain the feeling I get before a "seizure" (he is not sure they are seizures- yet he put me on keppra and topomax) and it is really hard to explain in word. he kept saying "you are paranoid" No I am not. anyway, I was was so upset that I came home and found Depersonalization and Derealization on the internet and most of it fits how I feel. I have a TBI, I was unconscious for 25 or so min. and I have vestibular damage. The ER that I was taken to by ambulance did not do any testing on me or check my head. There diagnoses was that I fainted because I was drunk.( I was at a rock concert- I had 1 drink, blood test confirmed I was not drunk or on any drugs.) I was wondering if anyone has any info on Depersonalization and Derealization. Thanks.

Nats cool,

Sounds like you found a real jerk of a doctor. He says they are not seizures but it appears he did not offer an explanation of what they could be. The intense questioning is also a sign that he is missing the boat. If he does not recognize your PCS symptoms, he should not have been examining you. You need a concussion mTBI specialist.

Have you checked with http://www.headinjury.com/ ?

They may have a recommendation of a concussion specialist.

My best to you.

natscoolma,

I am so sorry that you had such a negative experience with the "specialist". Your description sounds horrible :( I wouldn't be real eager to go back to that doctor!

Was this doctor an epileptologist? Epileptologist = A doctor who specializes in epilepsy. I presume that the feeling you're describing before a seizure hits is a "scary deja vu". Is that correct? Depersonlization and derealization both occur during a complex partial seizure. The scary deja vu is a very typical aura of complex partial seizures. There is no memory after the deja vu until we come back into awareness (usally 1-2 minutes). What happened in that 1-2 timeframe does not go into memory.

Depending upon what area you live in, there are a lot of award-winning TBI and neurological treatment centers. I go to Mayo Clinic and can't complain ~ but there are many others across the states. I don't know of any across the borders, but there are places all over the world that are well known and respected options. I'd therefore recommend looking in your area (within a few hundred miles, ideally) to begin. Talk to others that have been there for PCS, TBI, and/or epilepsy.

Gentle hugs to you ~ very best wishes!
Shez :)