[andi]

OK so I had my appointment with the rehab facility. They were GREAT, my doctor seems really competent and was very very nice.

In the last few months while seeing my normal doctor I felt like I was annoying to her. This doctor told me this happens and made me feel much better about my situation. She told me no more work until the headaches and tiredness are gone. She also told me not to start school (bummer). So here I am.

I start speech therapy and am going to be neuro psych tested??? Not positive if that's right but it's something like that.

In the meantime she put me on elavil 10 mg at night and ritalin 5 mg in the morning. I took the elavil last night but don't really notice a difference (I am very sensitive to medicines) and I just took my 1st ritalin today.

There is a chance of me going to intensive outpatient therapy for head injury which will be 5 days a week for 3-5 hours a day, she is not sure if I need that yet or not. Hopefully the speech therapy help with my articulation. It's such a pain to not be to say what your thinking.

I'm very thankful that I have such a great rehab facility in my area (Patricia Neil), here's hoping I start to improve soon.

[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.

[andi]

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.

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.

[Mark in Idaho]

andi,

Have you tried contacting your State Unemployment Insurance people? They might have some suggestions for you.

Regarding sleep, PCS can be a big drain on sleep. I woke up this morning at about 8:00 AM feeling lousy. I had a big project I was working on in the garage but could not get my brain going. I had something to drink and sat down in my recliner and slept to 2:00 PM.

I tried using caffeine ( in Excedrin) to wake up and be alert. When I told my doc, he flipped.

What was the expensive drug that was prescribed? I know that my meds would cost me about $400 per month if I did not have insurance coverage. When they were not available in a generic form, they were more like $800 per month. The insurance premium was less than the medication savings.

Are you doing an nutritional supplementation? Like B-6, B-12, D-3, folic acid, Omega 3's, a broad range of anti-oxidants, etc? They can be a big help to a healing brain.

The high functioning issue is common in rehab facilities. They are more geared toward the patient who was comatose and non-ambulatory. The threshold of function is often very low. Post Concussion is usually far above any rehab levels.

You seriously need to reach out to find an advocate/assistance. Check out the offering at this link. http://www.tennesseeanytime.org/findhelptn/ You have to answer a bunch of questions and the system will list the programs you qualify for.

The neuro-psych assessment will be a good baseline for any applications for assistance/unemployment/disability.

Does you state have an Office of Insurance that can help you with Disability Insurance issues?

Here is another link. http://www.tn.gov/comaging/

Also, http://www.state.tn.us/humanserv/rehab/rehab_main.html

As humbling as it sounds, for the current time, you are disabled. Utilize the systems in place to help prevent you from falling through the cracks.

I hope this helps.

My best to you.