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PAnswers to your personal questions from someone who
cares........ 
DEAR PAT:
I was in a car wreck last September in which I went through the windshield. I
have an inch-long gash and a large dent in my forehead. I did not feel anything
weird until this January when I started having shooting pains behind the
affected area of my forehead. When the pain comes, my vision is messed up and I
cannot think very clearly. I went to the doctor and he just said I was having
migraines. It's starting to scare me and I don't know what to do. Who should I
contact to find some answers?
PAT'S RESPONSE
I'm not sure what type of doctor you have consulted but you may want to
consider seeking the opinion of a neurologist and/or a physiatrist. A
neurologist is a doctor who is trained to assess central and peripheral
nervous system disease and illness. A physiatrist is a doctor who
specializes in rehabilitation medicine. The physiatrist both diagnoses and
treats neurological, muscular, and skeletal problems. Look for someone who
is very experienced in assessing and treating headache -- someone who will
identify the cause of the pain and then suggest a variety of treatment
options. Headaches can have many physiological origins -- muscular,
vascular, joints, etc. -- and pain can be alleviated a number of ways,
including medication, physical therapy, diet, and visualization. Any
intervention will be more effective if it addresses the cause of pain, not
just the symptom, in a holistic manner. For help in locating a physician who
can help, contact the following resources:
- Brain Injury Association, Inc., 105 North Alfred Street, Alexandria,
VA 22314. Phone: (703) 236-6000
- American Council for Headache Education, 875 Kings Highway, Suite
200, Woodbury, NY 08096. Phone: (800) 255-ACHE / (609) 845-0322
- National Headache Foundation, 428 W. St. James Place, 2nd Floor,
Chicago, IL 60614. Phone: (800) 843-2256
DEAR PAT
I am currently attending a 2-year college for individuals with learning
disabilities. I am learning a lot here, but I am looking for a school or program
that deals specifically with students who have brain injuries. Do you know of
any?
PAT'S RESPONSE
To anyone with a brain injury (or other disability) considering college,
Pat has the following advice: (1) You will need to think about the same
things everyone does, such as educational and career goals, financial needs
and assets, living on-campus or off, taking classes full-time or part- time,
etc. (2) In addition, you will need to think about your special needs, such
as classroom accommodations, courseload alterations, personal assistance
using the campus, etc. (3) In resolving these issues, seek advice from
someone like a school counselor or teacher at your high school or at one of
the colleges you are considering. (4) To decide which college is right for
you, talk with as many people as possible, such as your high school teachers
and advisors, as well as college graduates whom you know. Get college
catalogues and pamphlets, and look for colleges which meet your academic
needs. The pamphlets also will give you a general idea of the accessibility
of the campus layout, the transportation system, and the surrounding town.
When you contact the colleges and visit, you will get a better idea of how
your special needs will be addressed. (5) Visit prospective colleges and
while you are there, meet with the person in charge of making special
arrangements and accommodations for students with disabilities. There should
be an office of "student services" or "student support" or something
similarly titled. The person in this office who handles disability issues
will take care of arranging untimed tests, books on tape, interpreters,
personal assistance on campus, and other accommodations. You want to feel
confident that this person will be on your side and help you get your
college education. Without a strong on-campus advocate, you could face a
continuous series of roadblocks. (6) Once you choose a college, be prepared
to provide the college documentation regarding your disability (e.g.,
intellectual test results) in order for you to receive accommodations. You
must be prepared far ahead of each semester's registration period to
identify and secure the appropriate accommodations (e.g., interpreters must
be recruited and hired months ahead of time).
People with disabilities who would like information about post-secondary
education options and issues (including financing college) may contact the
HEATH Resource Center. HEATH provides answers to individual questions and a
variety of helpful publications, including guides to choosing and financing
college.
HEATH Resource Center, National Clearinghouse on Post-secondary
Education for Individuals with Disabilities, American Council on Education,
One Dupont Circle, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20036-1193. Telephone: (800)
544-3284 or (202) 939-9320.
DEAR PAT
I am a 29-year-old woman who recently suffered a mild stroke. Is it normal to
go through severe depression after a mild stroke?
PAT'S RESPONSE
Wait until you turn 30 and tell us how depressed you are.
On to your real question. After a traumatic event such as a stroke, it is
not surprising that you feel depressed. A stroke can result in major life
changes. You may not feel like your old self. Perhaps your abilities are
impaired now. Or, maybe you are just having a hard time getting back in to
the routine of life after such an unexpected upset.
You need to consider two possibilities. First, you may have sustained
organic injury to your brain which is causing this mood alteration.
Neurological and neuropsychological tests can reveal that. For example,
someone with frontal lobe damage may be expected to act different than he
used to prior to the brain injury, since the frontal lobe controls much of
our personality/behavior.
Second, you may be reacting normally to a traumatic event. In this case
you could be told by a psychologist or psychiatrist that you are
experiencing a major depressive episode. If you have 5 or more of the
following characteristics most of the day, nearly every day, for a
continuous 2- week period, you could be diagnosed as clinically depressed:
(1) Depressed mood; (2) Diminished interest in almost all activities; (3)
Significant weight loss or gain; (4) Cannot sleep or need much more sleep
than usual; (5) Psychomotor agitation or retardation; (6) Fatigue or lack of
energy; (7) Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt; (8) Diminished
ability to concentrate; (9) Recurrent thoughts of death, or suicidal
ideation, plan or attempt.
In any case, Pat would feel better and probably you will too if you see a
psychiatrist for an evaluation and possibly medication; there are many
medicines that can alleviate depression. At the same time, you should see a
counselor. This piece is critical to your examining your life and feeling
good about it again. This combination of psychiatry and counseling should
help (and then maybe 30 won't be so devastating either).
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