Category: psychologist

The things I’ve been through…

Darren LongLeave a comment

Okay… It’s been awhile. Let’s look at the previous entry from way back in August. Back then, I had started seeing a new Psychologist. This is just something that I just felt needed to be done. No big deal…. right?

Well… it was working with this person to “change medications”. Honestly, this was a dumb idea and I should have denied to do it. Instead, I went ahead and agreed to change one… or some… or all. Whatever. No big deal…. right?

It IS a big deal. I’ve been taking these medications from my Neurologist for years and was asked by the Psychologist to just entirely drop one. The reasons for this medication I was taking was seizures (by a Neurologist) and I was using the SAME medication for another reason (by a different doctor). Well, this new Psychologist told me to just drop it because… well… I honestly can’t remember the entire reason for that. SO, what happens to me when I just “drop” a seizure medication?…

I have a bad-ass seizure on the day-after Christmas.

I was lucky that my awesome son is with me at the house. He finds me on the living room floor and calls an ambulance. I have no memory of this and the next thing I know is that I’m opening my eyes hours later in the same hospital where I got the brain surgery done. SHIT! At that time I could see and hear, but I just couldn’t speak. I was told that my brain was not working enough to get words all the way through and out my mouth, so the doctor will be back later. Thankfully, after an hour or so, I was able to talk when the Neurologist returned.

I was told that earlier (but don’t remember) that I had been put through enough brain scans to look further. It’s still there… what little is left (haha). I was just basically told to GET BACK ON the medication that I had stopped, but only getting on it SLOWLY. Started this all over again directly after getting out of the hospital, and I AM STILL slowly getting back on these pills in April.

Okay. Side effects of this medication that I had gladly gotten away from before having the seizure: “increased tremor” and “getting less words out of my mouth”.

I’ve always had a tremor in my arm/hand since the damage to my brain 35 years ago. With this med, it is just worse.

I have always been able to think about and know exactly what I want to speak. I just don’t have the luxury of getting everything out of my mouth on the medication. I can get all my words out when I RAISE MY VOICE (done with a different part of the brain), but I just can’t when I speak “normal” as easily.

So, that is where I am at today. Have not had any more seizures (thank God), but the tremor in my arm is getting worse. I’ve forgotten how bad the tremor has got while on this medication. Bummer….

New Psych @ The Hospital

Darren LongLeave a comment

So, today I went on a trip back to the hospital where my brain-surgery was done. Went there to see a new “Psych-lady”. That was… nice.

I just told her my entire “story” (pretty-much everything in this blog, and more). She was quite impressed with my entire life. I talked to her about getting a new Psychologist in my hometown and not have to drive the length to the hospital. She agreed.

So, that’s where I am with that….

Next…..

The Psych…

Darren LongLeave a comment

Well.. with the new Psychologist, here are the things to be done. What I originally thought is that a is there would be new medication to help me with the psych-things (whatever those things are called). I learned that his idea in mind was what to prescribe to me was a medication that I WAS ALREADY ON.

He suggested to INCREASE a med and help with needs. Seizures (one thing it’s good for) is what I don’t need it for anymore. Um, but I have been trying to get that medication LOWERED by using another medication.

Being put back ON the medication that I worked hard to get off by getting this brain surgery??? HELL NO! The whole reason (to me) to have this brain surgery was to get off the stuff. I need to speak with someone else, or something like that.

Need to think about what to do next….

Ah! A Psychiatrist…

Darren LongLeave a comment

Lets see…

Neurologist.
Neurosurgeon.
Psychologist.
(I know there’s other BIG words for the “people I see”)
And NOW a Psychiatrist… at least in my town.

This was cool. This is the type of Doctor that people go and see every once in awhile, to talk to and get a different medication for that reason. At least, this is the reason as to who this person will be…. for me.

Basically, I sat there and told my “story” (pretty much everything in this blog) and then we discussed medication.

Lastly, we talked about the next appointment…
“eh… I’ll see you next month.”

Works for me!

Doing Much Better!

Darren Long1 Comment

I’ve finished getting off these medications, as was OK’d by my Neurologist. Ohhhhh…. I feel goood. I’ve gone through my life having medication changes, but never entirely “getting off” one …….and never starting a new med.

Right now I have just TWO left ….and haven’t started to get off those for a different reason.

I’ve been feeling these side-effects slowly going away and I’m feeling sooooo good. I can FINALLY get my verbal communication entirely working again. I’ve always had the ability to “think” just fine, but could not get many words out my mouth in a normal voice. And if I’m unable to communicate, I would just NOT talk in different situations.

While speaking with several people (Parents, Son, Psych Lady and others), I was just comfortable and I could get most of the needed words out of my mouth. At least, that’s what I always thought… but I’m sure there was just somewhat of a problem. I can just say that there is “less” of a problem today.

Now… (should have started this earlier)… I’m getting signed up with a new Psychologist Doctor (not getting rid of the Psych Lady) to get these last two medications changed to another. Since my previous pills only controlled seizures, these last two are for seizures and Bipolar. My Neurologist told me I needed someone else to help me change those.

So, that’s what happened so far. All I can do is KEEP GOING!  🙂