Medications After TBI: Kevin Part Eleven
Another area where the absence of a collateral source of information about Kevin made it hard to get a feel for his actual functioning was in the area of his mood, emotions and medications after TBI. This is particularly difficult because of issues he has with insight.
Let’s talk about your emotions and problems that you have with emotions and behavior. Do you feel like your behavior is at a reasonable level now and it’s doesn’t interfere with your ability to get along with people?
Yeah, yeah. I, I can get along with people, it depends on what kind of person it could be too.
What kind or people do you have trouble with?
Ones that usually put down other people.
Packer fans?
Ha!
Someone who is critical of other people?
Yeah.
Do you get anxious or self conscious about your injury at times?
Sometimes, but sometimes when I just, I don’t know, act like nothing happened or, because I don’t think, I’m still kind of in denial yet, like I could, all I think is nothing really happened and all that, you know what I’m saying? And I get medical records you know from UW Madison Hospital and Lakeview and Mercy and I mean, obviously there are other people who are worse than me with their brain injuries.
You like to think of yourself has having a mild, small brain injury?
Right. Real small.
The reality is that it wasn’t.
No, I was in a coma for 12 or 14 days.
And were in inpatient treatment for a whole year.
Yeah.
Now you mentioned that when you were in the hospital, they had you on some pretty significant seizure medications after TBI. Have you had any problems with seizures?
No. I don’t think I should be on medication anymore.
What medications after TBI are you on now?
Effexor, Depakote and Neurontin.
When was the last time you had a seizure?
See that part I don’t remember.
Has the doctor explained why you’re on those medications after TBI?
I think, yeah, but I can’t remember it all. One’s to prevent brain seizures and one’s for depression and anxieties, or stuff like that I guess.
You feel like you’re anxious?
I don’t think so. Well how do you define anxious though? I’m not really sure what it means.
What makes you irritable?
Maybe not enough sleep, or sleep or someone talking when you’re trying to listen to something.
Too many distractions?
Yeah.
When you watched the game last night were you by yourself or with a group of people?
Me and my dad. I like to watch the game when you can concentrate better.
Is that how you typically watch games, like you watched the Packer/Bears game?
Yeah, and the White Sox game.
Coming Tomorrow in Part Twelve – Frontal Lobe Functioning
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I’m glad he’s talking about how he reads his medical records. I read mine even almost six years after my injury and still can’t really believe how bad things were. I interviewed at several jobs while in rehab and the only thing that came out of that was, I can’t go back to work and make the mistakes I was currently making, can’t sleep during work either. I encourage people to try hard to do the things they used to do while in workers compensation, when it fails document it. Try to go back to work, it won’t happen, but try anyway…..