Hello

[Another_cat_lady]

I'm new here and just wanted to say hello and maybe talk a bit. I had a pretty serious accident a few months ago and since then my life has sort of fallen apart. I hit my head hard and suffered a concussion and damaged my middle ear, jaw joint and the whole right side of my head was numb. I also damaged my thyroid and was  hyperthyroid for a while and that seems to have really thrown my mood right out. The Dr feels I have PTSD too just to add the icing to the cake. The broken bones have healed but my head just keeps getting worse. I've been to see two psychologists. The first one wanted me to do a reflective journal and practice mindfulness.  I was actively hyperthyroid at the time and could barely sit still.  The only way I could feel calm was to keep moving. Mainly scrubbing things. Expecting me to sit quietly focusing on my breathing just wasn't going to happen and I felt it showed she really didn't understand what I had been telling her. So I tried another psychologist and he was just a bit weird. Very disorganised. He took a few notes on his phone (because he didn't have anything to write with) and said he felt I needed neuro psych testing to check for brain damage. He was surprised the Dr hadn't already done that.  He said he would be in touch and that was the last I heard from him. That appointment was 10 days ago so I don't think he is going to get back to me. Is it usually so hard to find a good psychologist?

 Anyway, I am such a mess at the moment. I know I am depressed but given everything that's happening I think that's to be expected.  I have massive anxiety and my brain hurts. Sometimes it gets so bad I just want to bang my head against a wall. How mad is that! I don't know if it's the brain damage, the PTSD or what. I cry at the drop of a hat, can't handle stress of any sort, I cried in the supermarket yesterday which was horribly embarrassing, and have no idea where I go from here. My Dr doesn't seem very interested.  He just wants me to see psychologists. I think maybe I need a referral to some sort of specialist.  Maybe an endocrinologist or a neurologist or even a psychiatrist.  I have booked an appointment with a different Dr on Friday to see what he thinks. Now I just have to hold it together until then. My husband is terrific but I feel so bad because I know he is really worried.  I'm pretty worried too. There are times when the panic gets so bad I don't know how to cope. I am so sick of feeling like this. Thanks for listening. 

[geoff]

dear Another cat lady, on this site we talk about ideas, suggestions and support that we offer to those that post in, and
what we do say doesn't mean that you have to go out and do what we say, but all we want is for you and others to think
about what was said, I say this because there maybe times when we could agree with what your psych has said to you.
A long introduction, but what worries me is that you have had a serious accident where your brain is causing you pain
so you're having trouble trying to cope with this.
Can I say that I also had a serious accident where my brain was damaged, but before I go into this I just wonder whether
it was from a car accident or work accident and if so then it has to reported, however you can let us know about this.
With a head injury there are so many problems that arise from this or aty least for me, plus I am having great trouble
with my eye vision,
I have to go right now, sorry but will continue when I get back, but pleaser think about seeing a neurologist, or your
doctor could get an indication by looking into your eyes.
Back soon so please reply in the mean time. Geoff. x

[Dwwmills]

Hi Another cat lady.

I’m sorry to hear things are so tough for you at the moment and I hope they improve very soon.

I think you are doing all the right things at the moment. You’ve booked in to see another doctor and hopefully get a referral to a neurologist to check that your brain has not been damaged. Make sure you tell them about the pains you are having in your head. Hopefully your results will come back good and you can continue treatment from there. While the second psychologist may have been a little disorganised he was at least on the ball with his suggestion for neuro psych testing. You could give his office a call and get him to send some notes to your next doctor so that they has some insight into what’s happening.

As I said before I think you’ve done all the right things and now it’s just a waiting game until more results come to hand.

Good luck

Dean

[Dwwmills]

Hi Another cat lady.

Just an afterthought from my last post.

If the doctor does not want to refer you for brain scans make sure you ask why they think these are not necessary. They may have very good reasons for not thinking that you have any brain damage. I often find it difficult to think of all the questions when I’m in a doctor’s consult.

Good luck

Dean