My husbands Brain Injury - update

Seanymph

For anyone who was supportive - and thank you all - in previous posts I thought I'd let you know I finally went to the GP with him this morning and he got a referral to either a neurophsycologist or a neurologist depending upon what is available in our area.

Can anyone who shared their experience perhaps let me know what may happen next? or what we can expect or hope to gain from the referral?

I know that was what was recommended from headway - and to be honest just someone saying to me 'it's his head injury making him behave this way' would be enough right now.

But, it always helps to approach consultants with some idea of what you expect I think.

Thank you.

Morglin

Neuropsychologists usually run a load of tests, to check responses, memory, co-ordination etc., and there is generally a long waiting list. They send a report to the GP and any neurologist that is involved.

To be honest, I saw one at Haywards Heath hospital, in Sussex, and I didn't find it that useful - 3 hours of tests with drawing, ink shapes and word connections were a bit odd lol

However, they may help others.

Neurologists do more of the physical stuff, such as scans, monitoring, medications etc.,

Good luck with it all.

Kin

LandyAndy

Why do I always think your username is pronounced 'Shawnee-Umph'?


I hope your husband gets some effective treatment.

Seanymph

I have no idea. Try Sea Nymph.

And thanks - me too! To be honest I'm not sure if he can get treatment - but if someone tells him he has to listen because I'm not being unreasonable, and tells me that I'm a carer and it's his bang on the head making him such a different person then I'll be happy.

Of course that may not happen! I don't know how much the tests will tell us, but we'll see.

I was months ago though that I was on here because he hadn't phoned me from France - and it's taken me this long to decide to take him in.

So I felt very brave this morning.

trailingspouse

Well done - a thing begun is half done.

Hope you get the answers that you and he are looking for.

troubleinparadise

Hi Seanymph,

Glad that H agreed to see the Dr, and is compliant with going along to a consultant. That In itself is a big step forward.

As said, there'll probably be a battery of tests carried out, which may or may not conclusively find physiological changes which explain the functional/behavioural changes you have noticed in daily life.

And whether there is anything that can be medically done, or other supportive treatment, which may help with addressing those issues is another matter.

And whether your H is willing to accept that the changes mean he has to perhaps do things another (your?) way is also another matter.

I have a number of friends who have neurological changes due to strokes/tumours/trauma/infections, some of which are very obvious (speech and movement), and others which are more subtle - mood, temperament, apathy and so on. The subtle changes are the ones that cause most problems for others such as spouses, families and at work - yet are also the least acknowledged by those suffering - probably because they just aren't aware of the changes.

And the health professionals do tend to sit on the fence with regard to these - because they aren't really measurable, but sometimes because they are just a magnification of previous behaviours. But living with even subtle changes for the OH can be difficult (and I write from personal experience).

For my own well being, I've had to learn to live within those changes, and handle carefully how I raise them, and work around them in new ways. Not many people are willing to admit to, or acknowledge, neurological changes in themselves, even when told by a healthcare professional of them.

I guess you will have to wait for the outcome of the appointment to see where it takes you. But well done on being brave enough to tackle this, and I'm pleased that your H is willing to take this next step. Good luck.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

Whilst I have not read you other thread, I can relate to changes a severe head injury can bring.
My best friends cousin was involved in a serious car crash many years ago, pre accident he was a local young well known and liked ameture boxer and had in the pipeline pro boxing as a life going forward at age 17, before finalizing the paperwork with a well known pro manager and event co-ordinator the car he was traveling in left the road hit and a lamp post near his house at approx 80MPH he got ejected from the car through the windscreen, he suffered severe injuries to limbs both legs multiple fractures, 1 arm and wrist were broken and skull fractures face fractures, ruptured spleen,
spent 3 months in a coma had many operations including surgery to release pressure from the swelling on his brain, 3 years later and with physio he was back training, but unlike before where he was dedicated to training he seemed to let It slip and not care for it, he was dropped from boxing, he started acting unusual in his recovery before he was dropped form boxing, he was caring and funny wicked sense of humor pre accident, post accident, he was unforgiving uncaring, lack of empathy, his funny humor turned into a dead straight attitude, he took things out of context quite often and became argumentative, his parents often commented that he couldnt argue his way out of paper bag pre accident for breaking down into fits of laughter and turning it into a joke with his humor and happy go lucky attitude to life, now he was arguing a subject to the death and would not let it go for hours.


he go into trouble with police for the first time in his life at 21, he started petty theft at local shops he would walk in pick up something not try and conceal it and just walk out, police stopped him for taking a tube of smarties from a shop, he turned violent on the officer resulting in charges for assault on a police officer he was not charged with theft, and did 150hours community service.

he then hung with people he didn't know well from community service would stay away form home for days on end sleeping in parks, peoples sheds and garages, eventhough nothing was amiss at home with family he had nice warm bed to go to all the time but chose to sleep rough a week or two, one time he spent 7 months sleeping rough in London.


he began drinking (eventhough he was against drink pre accident and was t total person) then shop lifting for drink.
he had numerous tests scans etc done to figure out this behavior but the scans showed normal and very little scar tissue on the brain from the accident but nothing that would account for his behavior.


He then started to take heroin via injection.


he got into more trouble with mounting debt to drug dealers, he began turning over chemists, and GP surgeries, stealing from cars and parked lorry's overnight to pay back and fund the habbit.


he got found deceased 300 yards away from his mother and dad house in a lane.


He turned out to be a completely different individual post accident, he wasn't even a shadow of his former self pre accident other than he looked physically the same (minus the scaring).


I hope you get the answers your looking for, and the aid and help you seek, at least now that the referral is in the pipeline, when you receive the acceptance letter, theres no harm in calling the department that hes refured to every couple of weeks to see if your moving up the que or that theres a cancellation you could attend that week.

itsanne

atrixblue.-MFR-. wrote: »

Whilst I have not read you other thread, I can relate to changes a severe head injury can bring.
My best friends cousin was involved in a serious car crash many years ago, pre accident he was a local young well known and liked ameture boxer and had in the pipeline pro boxing as a life going forward at age 17, before finalizing the paperwork with a well known pro manager and event co-ordinator the car he was traveling in left the road hit and a lamp post near his house at approx 80MPH he got ejected from the car through the windscreen, he suffered severe injuries to limbs both legs multiple fractures, 1 arm and wrist were broken and skull fractures face fractures, ruptured spleen,
spent 3 months in a coma had many operations including surgery to release pressure from the swelling on his brain, 3 years later and with physio he was back training, but unlike before where he was dedicated to training he seemed to let It slip and not care for it, he was dropped from boxing, he started acting unusual in his recovery before he was dropped form boxing, he was caring and funny wicked sense of humor pre accident, post accident, he was unforgiving uncaring, lack of empathy, his funny humor turned into a dead straight attitude, he took things out of context quite often and became argumentative, his parents often commented that he couldnt argue his way out of paper bag pre accident for breaking down into fits of laughter and turning it into a joke with his humor and happy go lucky attitude to life, now he was arguing a subject to the death and would not let it go for hours.


he go into trouble with police for the first time in his life at 21, he started petty theft at local shops he would walk in pick up something not try and conceal it and just walk out, police stopped him for taking a tube of smarties from a shop, he turned violent on the officer resulting in charges for assault on a police officer he was not charged with theft, and did 150hours community service.

he then hung with people he didn't know well from community service would stay away form home for days on end sleeping in parks, peoples sheds and garages, eventhough nothing was amiss at home with family he had nice warm bed to go to all the time but chose to sleep rough a week or two, one time he spent 7 months sleeping rough in London.


he began drinking (eventhough he was against drink pre accident and was t total person) then shop lifting for drink.
he had numerous tests scans etc done to figure out this behavior but the scans showed normal and very little scar tissue on the brain from the accident but nothing that would account for his behavior.


He then started to take heroin via injection.


he got into more trouble with mounting debt to drug dealers, he began turning over chemists, and GP surgeries, stealing from cars and parked lorry's overnight to pay back and fund the habbit.


he got found deceased 300 yards away from his mother and dad house in a lane.


He turned out to be a completely different individual post accident, he wasn't even a shadow of his former self pre accident other than he looked physically the same (minus the scaring).


I hope you get the answers your looking for, and the aid and help you seek, at least now that the referral is in the pipeline, when you receive the acceptance letter, theres no harm in calling the department that hes refured to every couple of weeks to see if your moving up the que or that theres a cancellation you could attend that week.

Just as well he's nothing like Seanymph's husband then :eek:.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

itsanne wrote: »

Just as well he's nothing like Seanymph's husband then :eek:.

agree that's a good thing, its shocking and upsetting how a head injury can change such a peron, like my friends cousin as an example.

lilmissreading

Hi SeaNymph

I don't know your story either but in general Neurologists are medically trained doctors who will organise scans, order blood tests, check hormonal levels, carry out physiological checks on eyes, gait (how you walk), strength, balance etc, ask for a neurological history and so on.

Neuropsychologists vary widely depending on the context you see them in.

Outpatient Neuropsychologist often see you for a one off assessment, it take anything between 90minutes to 3 hours and they probe for history also. They are usually more interested in the mood aspect as well and how that can impact on a person. They'll want to know how he's different to before. They often do pen and paper tasks which will help them infer what is due to brain injury and what may be due to other factors like personality before, mood now (depression, anxiety can affect memory, concentration and speed of thinking), medication, lack of effort etc. usually you get a report (you may need to check they send it to you too) and they send that to the GP and neurologists. It's rare they are allowed to treat.

What you may wish to google locally is community neuro rehab teams or community rehab teams. The ones that have neuropsychology will be able to tell you so and in the communty it is usually a lot more treatment based. This might involve cognitive behaviour therapy for mood issues, cognitive assessment (pen and paper tasks) to confirm the existence and extent of thinking problems and strategies for the person to manage. A neuro OT can often offer strategies for coping with thinking changes as well and about return to work. They will be used to working with people with poor insight.

Sometimes, if the service you need does not exist you can apply to your GP for extra funding if you can make the case that it is relevant and needed. Much harder of course if you don't speak the neurological 'lingo' to convey this and money is an increasing issue.

Good luck. It's a hard road.

CH27

I read your other thread. I'm glad you got him to the GP & that you've been
offered help.