Also meant to ask what should I be expecting and if there is anything I need to get him to do. Treatment wise he basically has had the minimal amount. He is without insurance and the county medical is very limited. I would love to send him to a rehab treatment center to help get his addiction issues under control and his medications leveled out. I think that the constant headaches do not help how he feels about life.
Sorry for the rambling but there is so much wrong I dont even know where to start myself.

Hi Pam, I'll post more and try to answer some of your quesions when I'm not so drained (it's been a rough day) but I wanted to say hi and let you know you're not alone ~ my husband also has frontal lobe damage. I found this site a couple of weeks ago and everyone has been wonderfully supportive and encouraging.

Pam, God Bless you and your hubby for what you are going through. I cant really help all that much as my son also had frontal lobe damage but he has had almost a 100 percent recovery. But all those things are what the doctors told us to expect when he woke from his coma. He was on meds, ativan, when he first woke up for anxiety and some issues. He did not like the way they made him feel so he quiet taking them. I know what ive gone through, and it sounds like you are having a much harder time.

It is so hard on the family. These TBI's dont just happen to the person, they happen to the whole family. Everyones life changes.
Kelly

I was hit on the back of the head, but have front lobe epilepsy and damage from injury. That was 16 yrs ago. Lots of memory problems. Apparantley I went to a cousins wedding that day in the morning, but only know because I was told. Still dont remember. Or many other things. And for me that wont change. I used to be happy go lucky type, now I am more withdrawn from the effects it has had in my life like others go through too. Get agitated more easily at times, but not the other issues your having to deal with. It must be overwhelming for your family. Are there any other options you can go to for help? It is so important you look after yourselves to cope with this. Any places he can go for his addictions to be cured? They wouldnt be helping at all, and he needs his meds without them. So sorry you are all suffering with this.

Do you know if he's suffering any pain? I think a lot of people carry pain and don't really say anything or don't think people will believe them or care. I know that though i've gotten a lot better, i still have pain and when it's higher my tolerance for things and people and situations is lower. I think that applies to all people but when tbi's involved, it's a lot stronger.

I think his pain comes from the constant headaches. Some days he is so sick that he is throwing up. But like he says everyday his pain level is about a 5. He has for the most part gotten used to the daily headaches. It is the migraines that do him in. It is when they last for a day or 2 that he tends to self medicate, then he has a hard time stopping. He likes how the opiates stop is brain from going 110 mph all the time. He says he feels like his brain is on vibrate and rocking and rolling in his head. Very exhausting to live in his head.

This possibly explains a lot of his actions and reactions, and must be awful for all. Can you find out what is happening to cause these headaches? When is his next nuro appt?

Not even sure he is seeing the right kind of doctor. The one he sees is a neuro-psych doctor. He only saw a neuro surgeon when he was injured and since it has been a psychiatrist only. Like I have said before I do not believe that he is getting proper treatment and it is very frustrating. I think that he is almost giving up on himself. And that is very sad and worrisome.

My injury is also frontal lobe , with constant headaches .
Im also a victim of an assault.

His head is still feeling like that because his HIGH BALANCE is still settling down .
Any sudden movements will most likely make him feel ill( like trying to tie a shoe lace)!

Be very careful what medications he is pushed to take .
A neuro-psych should have a very good knowledge and information bank about TBI and brain injuries .

If this is not the case , its his/her job so make them work !
Sounds to me like your son would benefit from in house rehab , I understand how hard that is .
Planning ,
decision making,
All emotions,love, hate , sad happy .
sleep ,
speech / both slurred and or dis inhibited ,
are just a few of the common persisting problems that can arise from a frontal lobe injury .
drug dependence is also on that list .
being in constant pain for almost 6 years now ,
I have been the road of the heavy ADDICTIVE med's.
I no longer take any addictive drugs by choice.
Its sad we seem to have to do this ourself as doctors seem quite happy if we are drugged up / shut up.
it makes there jobs easier .

NO injury is the same !
we all heal and recover at different rates and levels .
Its true he now has a brain injury for the rest of his life ,
but he will also recover from it , for the rest of his life !

what you have now will get better .
he may seem like a child now in some ways right now .
try to understand he is in a world he used to know and have control over .
right now his whole being has been put into a huge spin , and seems the 3 of you had very little help or information offered.
Try to remember is IQ will be intact ,
The boy you had before the injury is in there and over time he will surface .


Please realise its is as hard / if not harder to watch a loved one go through this .
you and your husband also have a life long test in front of you .

Support each other but ask for help if you need it .
If you wish there is a group run by myself on my profile , it has some very good links for information for you .
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/httpdailystrengthorggroupsrecovery

http://www.tbiguide.com/
has a free guide you can print the lot at no cost .

best of luck :)
Daz