well annny I will pray that the disability is granted to you as you need that and I hope that the doctor is not cubbyhole doctor who does diagnostic and drug treatment but no therapy...I put a lot of years in shrinks chair and I am glad I did...today my life has come around full circle from sitting there in shrinks chair....I am glad you said something about the tests....hugs

Thanks, Bill.

I was depressed as a youngin and had plenty of therapy, but spiritual practice helped me to change the way I was looking at things. Right now in my view I have some kind of organic problem with my brain (I think related to lupus), and I'm hoping it will be seen, understood and there will be an effective treatment. In my view there is an over ascribing of everything not understood to a psych cause.

This isn't a social security doc, by the way. it's at a university department, but I've been struggling to get the right treatment and even diagnosis. I may go off the deep end, though, if I can't find proper help.

Hi Ann, I have no words of wisdom, but I do have prayers! I hope this Dr doesn't just hear you, but actually listens and you are able to get the testing you want & need.

Sending up prayers for clarity, patience, healing , answers and peace of body, mind. & spirit. Please keep us posted on how your doing.

Hugs & God Bless
Lisa

Hi AnnNY, I post mostly on the Brain Injury board and have been thru neuro/psychological testing...it was years ago after they sent me for a sleep-deprived EEG and found abnormalities in both Temporal lobes. I was also having other strange behaviors/confusional episodes. The neuro/psych testing, I remember took a couple days, was exhausting cognitively because there are so many tests to check different areas of the brain, so just do the best you can, that's all you can do and I hope it gives you some answers. I also asked for copies of the report in case you change docs (I grew up with depression too), but seizures are nothing to guess at so maybe getting another opinion about that would be a good idea. You are in my Thoughts and Prayers Ann...this is hard stuff to go through!! Blessings!

Do you have Fibromyalgia as well? That will definitely give you the brain fog and it's so annoying and frustrating. Don't be scared, those of us that pray will pray for you, and the rest will be thinking all good thoughts for you. Seizures are NOT psychological, sorry doctor. They are a symptom of an underlying problem and he should be smart enough to know that. I have extremely low blood pressure and I don't exactly have seizures, but I pass out with no known reason. Well, that isn't entirely true. Sometimes it's because I have unusually low blood pressure. I hope your doctor will set you up with a professional that can test you for the cognitive problems. They are so common with people with Fibro. Please let the group know what happens on Tuesday if you don't mind sharing. Hugs Gramybear

Ann,

If you think that your problems are of a physical/neurological basis then why are you not just going to a Neuro Dr. first and see what they say?

If you go to a Psychologist/Psychiatrist their job/training is to look for/diagnose/and treat psychological issues. They don't diagnose or treat physical issues of the body, just mental ones. A Psychiatrist is not going to be the best Dr. to try and diagnose Cognitive problems.

So if your "scared" of dealing with a Psych Dr. why not see the 2 specialists separately, if the Neuro doesn't find the answer that is?

Hopefully you will see a Preceptor who knows what they're doing instead of someone still in training. I do wonder why your seeing a psyco dr. You may want to be prepared to hear things you don't agree with.

Hi, Kat is right, the doctor will only Dx you through his small paradigm of expertise. Hopefully they will realize that any depression you have is connected with the physical illness, and not the other way around. I went through tha with a narrow minded GP, luckily I dumped him before he could do any damage to my medical records. I think with your documented illness, it will help. If they ask if you have deppression say "yes, wouldn't you if you had chronic pain and brain fog for years?" I think it is just the origin of the malady that you will be Dx'ed with, so don't be intimated by the blotter tests, and all the other gobble gook that they try on you.
Good luck!

I'm going because my rheumy is sending me there. Also, since I am claiming to have cognative issues this apparently is what they do when your MRI is clear. They are supposed to figure out what is amiss. I know I have trouble with my speech at times, with reading, writing and my memory. But I started with a great memory and I'm well educated and pretty bright. I know I haven't been the same since I had the illness that resulted in the seizure. I'm not sure they will be able to tell. The speech thing goes in and out so--although quite a few docs have already observed it. Also, I want it to be treated. Spending two years with foggy brain is too long. I did see an old neurologist. Everything seemed to be ascribed to anxiety and depression, without asking me if I was anxious and depressed. I brought in a bunch of records to my old pcp of nearly 30 years and he called these guys "a bunch of idiots." Of course, potentially going through this again is making me anxious.

As far as I can tell, this is supposed to figure out in what areas of your brain you are having problems and offer some solutions, although the solution may lie with the rheumy, I hope anyway. And I'm not written off as something I'm not again.

Grammy-- they say I have fibro, but sometimes they say, no it's a not well defined connective tissue disease. It seems closest to lupus, but a relatively mild lupus--although it doesn't always feel so mild. When I had the seizure they seemed to think I had lost it or was faking, even though I had a high sed rate, high crp and very high lactic acid. There seem to be a lot of arguments over the EEG.

Thanks for any prayers or info.

Here is a new treatment for brain fog, might apply. Seems Ike a EEG would show a slow brain response. Here is a new procedure for helping brain fog. http://www.synergyhealthconcepts.com/brain-fog/
The cloud has lifted some after detoxing form the Lyrica, I feel almost human again. You don't realize how bad until the clouds lift. Brain fog is very demoralizing and imbarrasing, when those around you are completing your sentancing and find names for you... These are all names I'd people you know well! I remember getting lost going to my doctors appt. got chewed out by the receptionist about being late, even though I was seeing the doc for brain fog!

Ann, you will be just fine with the psych doc's. If they let you walk out of the office without a straight jacket on, you're all good to go. lol. When I go to see the social workers after I make my appointment, I'm going to bring a duffle bag with me just in case they detain me. I hope you figure out what's causing your brain fog. I hope you feel better soon. Hugs!

Thanks guys. I really appreciate the support and your taking the time to give me feedback. I've been reading what this is about and it seems like bringing neurology and psychology together, but a couple of you have scared me more about the psych aspect. Hope they don't throw me into the straight jacket.

I was just joking Amy! You aren't have any trouble with the psych docs. Also, they won't dare detain me - they don't have enough food in the psych ward to feed me for three days! I'd shut them down for a month!

Ann,

What kind of Seizure did you have and did anyone else witness it? You said you had an underlying illness, do you mind saying what it was?

Kat

I have a lupus-like illness with a history of neuro symptoms. A doctor saw me have a seizure in the ER. Thereafter, there seemed to ensue and argument between the neurologists about whether is was a seizure or not. One neurologist showed me a seizure on my EEG and told me it started in my temporal lobe, but another one said it was an "artifact" and I had an "episode."