Son suffering from traumatic brain injury.
Posted By: b on 2006-05-12
In Reply to:
My son was hit by a car 7 years ago and sustained a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma and went through over a year of rehabilitation. He was 15 at the time and finished high school, went on to Junior College and has just finished a year at a state university. He has struggled with learning disabilities and short term memory problems since the accident and has barely passed his classes. It looks as though this was his last semester at school because his grade point average isn't high enough to let him continue school. He will be put on academic suspension. He wanted to go away to school so badly and worked so hard to make it and I know he will be so disapointed when he finds out he won't be going back in the fall.
He is definately a miracle and I thank God everyday that he is alive but I don't know what to do to help him anymore. My question is "Is there anyone out there with a similar situation who can give me some advice on where to go from here?"
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My son also had a traumatic brain injury
Please let me know if you do find the answer to your question. My son, who lives with his father, has become a drug addict. He will not return to school or work; he is only interested in getting his SSI check and whatever else he can get from the government and everybody else. Please let me know if you have any answers. I do know that I went to college with a learning disability (ADHD), and I not only asked the professors to put me in the front and center seat but also had free tutoring for math classes when I needed it (I kept losing my glasses). They offer free tutoring through Student Services for a variety of handicaps. Good luck!
Open Casket can be very traumatic
I was only 8 when I was forced by my mother, Catholic family, to "go see greatgrandma" - it was an open casket and to this day I've not forgotten how she looked or "felt"; my mother insisted I touch her hand one more time, ewwww!! It was horrid and I never took my children to any funerals; in fact my son is 26 and has yet to attend a single funeral.
I believe at 11 years of age your daughter is entitled to her opinion and you should abide by her decision.
Death is traumatic and it does affect different people in different ways. If she does not want to attend the funeral, maybe graveside after everyone else has left?
I agree with the previous poster there are always other ways to pay respect.
Blessings on your family,
I can't take the suffering person out of it sm
I generally take a moment and say a prayer for them. I don't feel that this is violating HIPAA and I don't consider that this is invading their privacy. I have no idea whether they believe or not, but I do, so I pray.
I have to say that these sorts of cases have colored my own view of cancer and its treatment. I believe, at this point in my life, I would refuse all such treatment and believe that God had a hand in it, it was my time.
Worse than cancer treatment are death summaries on children. I did one once where it was obvious to me that the doctor didn't do his/her job and this resulted in the child's death. I quit that job right after that report. There is a limit to what I can stand to listen to.
And they say divorce is less traumatic on adult children....
Unfortunately, this is NOT the case. Adult children whose parents divorce quite often end up just as you have described. They are old enough to form their own opinions which are quite often colored by their life experiences and how they relate to each parent as an adult with adult biases and opinions. Divorce, regardless of the age of the children, always affects the children and people who are "waiting until the kids are grown" are only deluding themselves.
Anything traumatic dealing with young children gets to me (nm)
x
Suffering from occipital neuralgia too (sm)
Started seeing a chiro again and it really seems to be helping. Four treatments so far and I am finally lightening up on my meds....
my dad was debilitated and suffering and watching this
h
Ask yourself is it worth your health suffering....
xx
sounds like post-traumatic stress disorder!
Sounds like you're suffering more from job boredom than anything else.
.
You could take him to small claims to get expenses and pain and suffering.
:+
Mass affect on brain or mass effect on brain?
dd
while recovering from an injury, (sm)
I purchased and used Dragon. Cost me about $1000 by the time I purchased the nice microphone and software. If you don't mind the time it takes to "program" your voice and other features, re-listen to each dictation and copiously edit, and put up with all the quirks of the voice recognition, it is so-so at very best. It did allow me to keep my job and work while injured, but I certainly would not purchase it again if I were healthy and didn't have a real need for the product, as it probably took me 11 hours to complete what I could in eight by transcribing the old-fashioned way ... um, the one with all the wonderful Expanders we have available ;)
insult to injury
It is just the Pits! I would not want to work for them if I had any other choice at all. If no one works for them, they will have to change or do it all themselves! Yahoo.
Repetitve Stress Injury
Thanks so much for the help and advice. Yes, I do have the screen eye level but I might be able to adjust a few things. I think the doctor is my next stop however. One thing I notice is maybe I need to get to stretching more between dictations. I have a tendecy to focus on the work for too long.
And adding insult to injury,
I have a few that dictate like they're trying to keep it all a big secret; ironically, it usually sounds like they are trying to keep their voices down so they don't disturb the people having the LOUD conversation 5 feet away! Hello, get a clue! Gaaaah!
Adding insult to injury,
it's IC (independent contract) work with an insultingly low line rate. If I were going to take THAT big a pay hit, it had BETTER have one KICKER of a benefits package attached to it. No, thanks. Don't call me and I won't call you.
In addition to the various fees charged if you don't jump through all their hoops (and they were a bit fuzzy about whether those fees would still be assessed if the failure to complete the required work was THEIR fault not yours, there was also some verbiage in their contract that sounded like they might require you to use a dedicated computer--i.e. you can't use the computer you use for their work for anything else. Naturally, they do not supply this dedicated computer. Excuse me, if I own the computer, I can do whatever I bloody well please with it.
R hand and R rotator cuff injury..but I did it
Well, I broke my right hand years back, around 1986, and still went to work, without a cast, cause I had to work..Would work till it hurt too much and made me nauseous, then would go to the ladies room, get cold water on a towel, put it on my hand and go back to work.
In 2003, I tore my R rotator cuff. Opted for no surgery as I do not have insurance..Had to still work, Im the only *bread winner*..Put my R arm in a sling..took lots of ibuprofen, rubbed my shoulder with Ben Gay..Sometimes had to pick up my R arm and place it on the keyboard cause my arm couldnt do it..When I got on the keyboard, I was find..it was just lifting to my keyboard..It was hell..but what could I do..I will not rely on a govt program, never have, and I had to make a salary, have no family to depend on, would never ask my friends..So I did it myself..R shoulder still hurts sometimes, especially when I sleep..but I was able to get through it and you will too..
Repetitive Stress Injury Neck
I am in bad shape with my neck and I thought maybe I could come here for some advice before I go to my doctor. I have an injury there already, but I thought it healed. I do 8 to 10 hours a day of typing and computer work. I do sit in an ergonomic chair, but I have very bad neck pain still...primarily on the left and it is a sharp intermittent pain.
Repetivie stress injury neck
I had fusion at C6-7 15 years ago, with release of nerve entrapment. Now I also am getting the same pain back in my neck and arms from transcription. I have been on muscle relaxants and pain killers. My desk is ergonomically correct as is my chair, level of screen. My screen is eye level. I may need another MRI, as it is now affecting my neck/shoulder. I am going to try a back cushion to see if that will help me. There are several stores that sell these and they are not too expensive. I know the pain, it is horrible and I feel for you. I would just try to see what your doctor can offer you. Cortisone injections do work as does physical therapy. Good luck and I hope your pain is gone soon.
Last year I got repetitive stress injury..sm
have been working on and off as an MT for 20 some years. One year I worked radiology and I can remember actually putting out 200 reports one day. I never got carpal tunnel with the keyboard but could get it with the mouse. About two years ago, I had a busy stint where I was probably working 6-7 straight hours, then my fingers began to hurt. First it was the thumbs, then it was all my fingers. Just ached. Not arthritis, because joints were not red or swollen. I even bought a parafin bath, tried NSAIDs. Finally investigated on the internet to find out I had repetitive stress injury. I stopped typing (fortunately I own a small MTSO) and just let my fingers rest. To this day, two years later, of almost NO typing, all it takes is about 3 hours straight typing and it's back. I've decided I've hurt my fingers irreparably and any further damage I do now, I will just pay for later with arthritis or something. Sorry to hear about your disability.
...to prevent carpal tunnel and other repetative stress injury. nm
s
anon - the almighty $ will show in personal injury/malpractice cases. (nm)
-
oh please. Put in a brain. Unfortunately your
type of thinking is very common in our field.
Brain surgery... ha....sm
when I thing of some of the doctors I've known over the years, we could probably learn brain surgery before they could learn transcription !
If he had a brain, he'd take it out and play with it
x
Who needs to use the other side of the brain?
Life is complicated enough for us guys! 
open your pea brain :)
he comes from the ghetto, his family still lives in the ghetto, he's trying to help kids in the ghetto......and you want him in a TIE, TUX, and TAILS? He is dancing for a charity. That's all he's there for. To get $$ toward his charity of helping kids in and around the ghetto.
Perhaps you want him to dress like the late Fred Astaire?
Get real.................
Brain spazzm...
Eh, those adapters really were ''gender changers'' (or gender *and* type changers). Maybe something more like this (what I'd do anyway, if needing to frequently plug and unplug any USB device ... an extender would make that much easier, too):
http://www.mptools.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=USBE4
Ischium now in the brain?!!!
Had to take my son yesterday for a CT of his right ischium, to check for osteomyelitis. I gave that info to the person on the phone when I made the appointment. Soooo - get to the imaging place, and get all the myriad forms to fill out; at the top, under 'Test Performed', was 'CT scan of the brain'. I went back up to the desk to question this of the secretary (who is a retired nurse!!), and she looked at me and actually said 'The ischium is in the brain' '!!!!!!!!!! Told hubbie later, and he said I should have told her, not unless my head was up my ***!
I'm sure the techs would have caught it when they looked at the script from the doc, but still!!!!
brain is not working, the 15% was only the SE tax- sm
still need to pay your state and federal on top of that. I have not sat down and actually figured that out by itself, need to do that though.
Don't know where my brain is today - sm
I am drowning in work, have 200 minutes due by Monday and I am not used to doing more than 60 minutes a day. But I guess 200 rolls of nickels is a bit much, $400, I think a roll is $2.00- but depending on the person they will need at least 50-100 rolls. That is a lot of nickels!
Thanks. The brain gives me problems too (sm)
(in Radiology), but Google helps. Stedman's Radiology book is great, with all the CTs, MRIs and PET scans of the head. I'm pretty sure it would help with some head-related Neurosurg.
Since when does anybody get respect for their brain?
I have always "felt unappreciated, underpaid, misunderstood, disrespected, ignored, or taken advantage of as a medical transcriptionist", AND as a typist or clerical staff. Its the way the cookie crumbles since I'm not a VIP with a suit on and a bunch of fancy letters after my name.
Oh, yeah, I've also felt all that as a wife or girlfriend, because I didn't have the wonderful appendage that causes one to think they're automatically entitled to the best of everything.
On the other hand, I always felt relieved that I didn't have the stress of being as high profile as the more important folk out there. Like, I'm not the first one they want to sue or pick a fight with, you see.
I don't mind being one of the powers behind the throne. When I first got into the medical field, it put me in mind of those birds that get on large animals like hippos and pick off their parasites and eat them. The hippo probably doesn't like carrying a bird on its back all day, but that bird improves its general situation, so it stays. I suppose that's how all the doctors and CEOs see us, as a necessary evil. These days, the hippos want to try electronic flea collars (think VR) and other methods to see if they can get the bird off their back. Sooner or later they will find that the bird isn't so bad, after all.
Once upon a time I thought there was an advocate for MTs - known as AAMT. They got greedy and bailed, huh?. Unions are greedy. Everyone is greedy. 
In another incarnation, I had a high-paying job where I was a unionized clerical worker. I paid big dues to the UAW. When I needed them, they pretty much bailed, just like an insurance company or the government will do. They want to take from the group, but they don't want to give to the individual. I don't really believe in any organization any more, they've never done diddly for me but made a bunch of empty promises and found loopholes when it was time to make good on them. I'd rather just be a free bird, flying to the hippo that can feed me best.
brain cramp!
Thanks!
half a brain...
Again... I am not trying to win any friends or make any enemies. If you are happy and have no complaints, that is wonderful. I was observing and making comments. Half a brain was not meant as a cut to anyone, simply a figure of speech.
Debbie Matenopoulos. She was no brain. nm
x
dead brain regarding digital!
Trying to switch all my clients to digital, but first I need some help with it! Using the free ES wav player. One of the drs are going to email me the files and the other is going to use a FTP site. I dont know the first thing about transcribing files "digitally" Any instructions would be really appreciated!
Thanks ya'all!
What is "O" work? I'm racking my brain trying to
think of what it would be..???
Thx.
You're right. Brain fahrvegnugen.
Thanks.
brain freeze....< is Left......got it? nm
:)
my brain... the older I get I can't remember
anything....
you're right, my brain foot, will need to buy
a cable that will convert 9 pin to USB successfully.
sorry - it's bellsouth.......*lol* - brain stalled..nm
cause is brain going faster than fingers
I don't think there's anything we can *do* about it - except perhaps proof better as we type and/or not type as fast as we are.....it's our own flaw..I think.....and every time I re-read - I find something omitted - so I'm re-reading it all :)
Your brain does not turn to mush?
I find that if I type and type without taking breaks, my brain feels fried. I get so terribly bored. I think it is how repetitive the reports are. How do I stay focused when my brain is dying of boredom? ::bangs head:: I also find when I add speed I make a lot of petty spelling errors and/or typos, no matter how hard I try not to. Those are my 2 challenges.
I would love to be able to do it, as it would certainly meet my financial goals and then some. However, I don't want to have mush for brains all the while turning out crap reports.
I guess that is why I wonder if you are reading behind what you type or if you are watching each word or letter. Do you just think of a word and mindlessly type it? Or do you think of the correct spelling and each letter of the word as you go? I am curious about the details of it. @.@ I know, I am weird. ;)
Thanks for the advice. :)
My brain gets tired at times too, but --sm
I wouldn't call it mush. What I try to do is to really *get into* the report. I take an interest in what the doc is saying about the patient. It helps alleviate any boredom, at least for me. Some of these reports are pretty interesting, if you really listen to them. and no, I don't watch each word or letter I type, but I do watch for errors. I also find that when I try to FORCE myself to be faster, I too make mistakes. Just let that come natural. you do pick up speed over time. Sometimes I even play a little game with myself to see if I can type and keep up with what the doc is saying without taking my foot off the pedal. It is a personal challenge, or sorts, which is another thing to alleviate the boredom. But again, we all have good days and bad days. Sometimes these things don't work for me either, and I find myself coming to this board more often, looking for entertainment. Sometimes you just have to discipline yourself to it, I guess. When I get really bored and don't want to type anymore, sometimes I create a *reward* for myself for when I get done...like, maybe I will think about rewarding myself with a beer when I get everything done and if I get it all done by, say, 6 p.m. That works too, and you know, that beer tastes really good at those times! When things get repetitive, I guess you have to find your own way of alleviating it. these are just some things that work for me. Hope it helps.
wow, my brain is spinning with this info!
i will go over it and read through again when i have more time.
thanks for the info!
Holy cow, 11? My brain would explode.
Here's a neat website that's all about productivity:
http://www.productivitytalk.com/forums/index.php?act=idx
LOL - been there! I hate it when my brain reverses, and
*
Half a brain?? You are not speaking for everyone here
I have no problem with the work I do and I certainly would not join in any walkout or the like. As far as the statement about half a brain, that was unnecessary if you want to get people on your side. You sure wont win friends that way.
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