Finally got report on neuropsychiatric test.!

Besides the obstacle of my carpel tunnel flaring up I have been extremely busy. it took a couple of months for them to correct my Social Security benefits and just now get jurisdiction for child support enforcement moved from Michigan to Tennessee so that I can pursue my sons dad for back child-support and hopefully eventually a modification. Just when I thought I had found his current address he has changed jobs again. without child-support and the missing 2 months of Social Security benefits I ended up losing my phone service with BellSouth. Luckily with a deposit I was able to get Comcast for phone and Internet services it actually will be cheaper. I was hurt to have to give up a phone number that I had had for over a decade but I'm thankful to be able to communicate. I was also facing utility cut off but an angel appeared in the form of an old classmate that I hadn't spoken to for 25 years. upon hearing my circumstance he immediately paid off my $500 balance. Otherwise I have some very good news. That I couldn't wait to tell you about. I've finally finished my weeks of neuropsychiatric testing and got a final report. his report was very detailed giving much more information than just establishing an attention deficit. But the main point is that I do have a serious attention deficit and problems with concentration primarily caused by the areas of the brain that involve processing thought. Basically the intellectual or IQ and verbal areas are still very high. 96 percentile. Superior even. but the performance areas which include thought-.processing was very low well like 25 percentile. The 2 main areas that are given me trouble are working memory and auditory processing. That explains why I can keep track of things or hold very much information at one time. For instance I can never hold a full phone number long enough to dial it. And because of the auditory processing problems that I often have difficulty comprehending what others are saying in conversations especially business phone calls. I could go on and on with the deficits that I've that. I just feel so much better having them acknowledged and documented. the neuropsychiatrist I've been seeing specializes in neural feedback that is an Alternative to drug therapies. Unfortunately I would still have a co-pay of $22 per session and I would need to go at least once a week in order to be effective. my current financial situation won't allow me to do this right now. I'm waiting for the results to be forwarded to my neurologist and then I will see what he has to say. Hopefully these results will at least give me something to use to show my vocational rehabilitation counselor in order to get some accommodations if I can ever get it together enough to go back to school to complete my Web development diploma program. I have 3 classes to go but maybe they will allow me to just take one class at a time instead of full time.

Prayers Answered! Start Neuropsyche Testing Right Away!

I continued to have a diminished neurological status the past week. Normally, i wouldn't go out especially not alone with such impaired thinking, but i didn't want to miss discussing neuropsychiatrist with my psychologist who'd been away on vacation. As storm loomed, I started morning off with fibromyalgia pain and nausea. The matAplus bus went about 30 miles in opposite side of town before getting me to my appointment half hour late. My neurology became so impaired i got lost in hall before getting to correct door to waiting room. Luckily my walker kept me from falling over as seizure descended on me just as i approached the receptionist counter. They recognized me and responded remarkably well. In minutes, I was being calmed by my doctor in her office. Once i was able to communicate she assessed all the problems that had contributed to my overload. She contacted an attorney for some advice. They informed me of nonprofit community legal assistance. She even went through the trouble of getting releases faxed etc. in order to talk directly to the neuropsychiatrist on my behalf to make sure i understood everything involved. She helped me outline a brief plan action for solving some problems in my personal business. She also helped me with script for discussing the insurance and fees for neuropsychiatric evaluation. Having such guidance relieved a great deal of my anxiety. Feeling more confident i called the neuropsychiatrist office the next day to discuss costs. I ended up talking with doctor directly. He was extremely cooperative, willing to bill medicare and allow me to work out any balance afterwards. He seemed genuinely excited about starting, saying to me "its gonna be like searching for clues to solve a mystery" I start next week, tuesday & thursdays for 8 sessions of neuropsychiatric testing!! Prayers answered! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Special Thanks! to everyone that emailed me prayers and scripture that got me through this difficult week!

New Neurologist: Anxiety turns Hopeful!

I awoke aprehensive and anxious about appointment. I barely got MATAplus scheduled, I was not expecting it to cost $10.50 one-way for this Cordova office. I was feeling crappy nauseous and still slightly pained, but especially neurologically akward and irritable. I stayed up most of night reading highlighting info about right brain problems, autism, and communication disorders I've been collecting. I wanted to have words to describe what Ive been going through. I wanted to make sure I didnt waste any of the precious minutes I get with this specialist. After just 10 tense minutes with one of the supposed best neurologists in town I cried because, he was so intimidating I didn't remember anything I wanted to ask. He glanced at my chart and quickly disposed of me after confirming the same test results I've been getting since 1996...I'm not epileptic. Then proceeded to dismiss me because he only dealt with "epileptic" petit mal seizures. He offered no other recourse other return to the rheumatologists that sent me. That said I felt like I was on the defensive, as if on the way to the IRS. I was snappy with my son who seemed to be moving with too much liesure for someone escorting me today. I couldn't find my bag and the bus was already outside. But it was okay, for the first time in history they were actually 20 minutes early. Everything took a turn for the better as soon as I stepped into the Memphis heat, my favorite driver was already coming to the door to assist me. Carefully helping me along despite the fact that my son was behind me. We made it too the office early but I got worried when I realized it was 2pm an hour past 1pm appointment. Only 90 minutes before my pick up time. I notifid the receptionists, who called the nurse to get me back quickly. My first impression of the doctor was mixed. He wasn't cuddly for sure. And at first his questions were getting in the way of some of my answers while I was trying to hold on to the points I wanted to make. Soon I realized he had a method in the way he wanted me to answer. He didn't want me to express my "neurological problems" as symptoms. He wanted me to relate what I was actually having problems doing. After I gave a discourse on all the tasks that frustrate me and the lack of control over my own thoughts, he gave his initial assessment. He said the lack of evidence of any lesions on previous scans was good...no permanant damage due to lupus imflammation or stroke. He surmised that the physical damage of major lupus flare was compounded by stressful conditions and agreed that the multitude of drugs potentially created a serious biochemical imbalnce. His first impression, adult onset ADHD from what I briefly decribed. He would not guarantee any pharmaceutical cure, but drugs may help. What made me happy was that he didn't jumped to get the RX pad. He's arranging a comprehensive neuropsych evaluation he said would be much more in depth than previously done, before he even attempted to give me a DX or RX. I was done by 3pm, my son was waiting with a bag of Subway and my same driver was early and waiting to take us home. Thank God!