Fall is the time of the year for changing weather patterns, and it also brings change into our lives. The children go back to school. Favorite holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas follow with winter officially arriving in December. All of this causes change in our daily routines. Then suddenly we find ourselves in a New Year. Sometimes a phone call brings unanticipated changes to our lives.
I was awake but still lying in bed when our phone rang this morning at 8:45. The system announced the number that was calling. When I heard 858, I thought "this is probably Jerry's neurologist's office," as I noted the time and area code. Not wanting to miss a call from there, since he had just had two MRI exams on Saturday and a PET scan the week before, I took the call. Much to my surprise and in keeping with Scripp's excellent medical services, it was Dr. Michelle Van Noord. She told me that the PET scan really didn't show any abnormalities. However, the imaging of the brain confirmed atrophy, which is more concentrated in the frontal temporal area of the brain. However, he has suffered brain atrophy all over the brain. The concentration on the frontal temporal lobe, of course, would explain the behavior changes. She emphasized that the atrophy is not profound, and that she has seen worse. She said she would like to get a copy of the PET scans and MRI exams that were completed 10 years ago, so she could check the progression.
You know, it was quite refreshing to hear a neurologist speaking of the actual findings versus tossing out a diagnostic opinion. I have never been a fan of labels and have often told my own mentally ill patients not to take them too seriously, because it is more helpful to the people who handle the money for billing and payment purposes than a benefit to the patient. In spite of the same diagnoses, I have never met two people with exactly the same needs. I have pretty much ignored them throughout my career.
Dr, Van Noord also told me the cervical MRI exam has identified a blockage in his neck that needs further attention. She is referring him to their surgical department, and someone will be calling to arrange the appointment. She pointed out it is possible the blockage in the neck is contributing to his staggering when walking. Now THAT was good news, since I was concerned about it possibly being a sign of Parkinson's Disease.
When a doctor tells me they are referring to surgeons, I immediately have a mental picture of a half dozen smiling surgeons in white coats each holding two knives while rubbing them together and smiling. "Oh Goody ...here comes another one!" My first inclination is to run.
Okay ... my humorous husband time now. I told him that it would be interesting to find that our method (way) of dealing with (treating) the brain disorder may be a most effective treatment program, which should be shared with others going through this. The neurologist complimented us on how we are "handling" this issue during his first evaluation. Anyway, it would be a pity if there is something to what we are doing that could help others, but it is like it is our own little secret. One of the key ingredients to what we have done is related to treating the psychiatric issues that develop when you have a brain disorder of ANY type. Because of our background in mental health, we immediately reached out to our psychiatrist friends and colleagues, and Dr. Michael Lardon has been involved in treating Jerry, as well as serving as an advisor to both of us. When Jerry first started displaying some major behavior changes, it was a natural response for me to drag him into a psychiatrist's office. Many people object to using psychotropic medications for addressing inappropriate behaviors. My life has been spent working with people who have the most severe behavior problems and if not addressed, they end up in institutions. So ... call it treating symptoms or correcting behavior problems, but I am of the mind set if it works, it is better than the circumstances that result when people prevent others from having medications which can be helpful.
So ...right away, the psychiatrists addressed his "symptoms," while I began dragging him into the offices of brain specialists. Thankfully, Jerry has always been very cooperative. Anyway ...this morning when he and I were discussing this, I told him that if others would include a psychiatrist who are the experts in identifying the best medication for a given situation when people have what Jerry calls "broken brains," it can help with delaying the progression of the brain dysfunction. I reminded him of a friend from Charlotte who developed a brain disorder and tried to address it through a general practitioner with the end results being the guy totally lost it and locked his wife out of the house one day. The police had to be called, and he ended up being institutionalized in the most dramatic way. Jerry laughed and said, "If I locked you out of the house, you would throw up your hands and say "Yay!!!" and go down the road." We both shared laughter over that statement.
The bottom line to this entry is .... I have a feeling our lives will be changing very soon along with the other changes that come with fall every year. What's next? Who knows? We will just roll with the punches of life and count our daily blessings.
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