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**c0urt** · 10-29-2007, 11:22 AM

went to the dr. today found out since they cant really pin point my issues and havent seen any real improvements they are going to make me wait six more months. And they are assigning me to more doctors to see and more drugs to take.

he thinks my memory may not ever improve, really not what i wanted to hear. he also suggested a therapist for the depression but i declined this time. if it gets worse i may take him up. i just dont know if one more person else telling me that every thing will be ok will really help.

since june i have spent over 2k on meds

**pinknic38** · 10-29-2007, 12:46 PM

sorry to hear your news court. have they had you do any "physical therapy" (for lack of a better term) for your memory? my aunt was in a serious car accident several years ago and had some head trauma, and they had her doing some exercises to help improve her memory retention a few times a week. she had some sort of amnesia for almost a year and one morning she just woke up and everything was back to normal. I don't know if it was becasue of the memory tricks she did or if that's just how it ended up working out, but hey it's something.

the price of meds is so ridiculous, and it's something I get so fired up about. especially with insurance companies. it's to the point of where what you pay in insurance premiums is almost the same as paying the retail price of meds if you don't get sick a lot. my stepdad is a physician and he has his own practice...he hates the whole pricey insurance thing and makes sure that if possible, instead of writing a perscription he'll give his patients samples. all doctors have samples of a lot of the meds they prescribe, which they get free from drug companies who want phe endorsement of physicians to prescribe their medication over their competitor, and my stepdad always tries to give those out when possible to save people a buck. so if the cost gets a little up there, ask your doc if he has any samples. the worst he can say is no.

**joe7f** · 10-29-2007, 03:33 PM

Sorry to hear that Court

Do you forget major things or just minor things? For example, if you go for a walk, do you forget that you did that, or do you forget how long it was, maybe a call you may have taken along the way etc.?

--Joey

**c0urt** · 10-29-2007, 11:58 PM

depends on what it is, i tend lose my place in conversation a lot, i forget faces and names alot, I have had the same manager for over 3 weeks and I ask his name or who is he when ever i get to work. sometimes I forget what i have done during the day or I have to write things down, or verify things a few more times when asked to do things. my blog post are a lot less detailed than they used to be unless i take notes

**Sijuki** · 10-31-2007, 05:02 AM

That sucks man... yeah I would definitely try a memory exercise or something. I would be frustrated as hell too if I couldn't remember things like that. I hate it when I forget little things.

Best of luck to you man... I hope things get better.

I agree with nicole, get some samples of those drugs. If not, try a free clinic. I know the one my stepmother works at their scripts are really cheap or free. Some stuff they don't carry, but they have most of it.

**LiveFreeorDie** · 10-31-2007, 05:53 AM

This may sound stupid but they have those brain games you can do. They have video game versions and also book versions I believe. Not sure if it will be helpful but I have read a lot of stories about how when the brain is traumatized it can forge new pathways to compensate. I guess in my simplified world I would look at it like physical therapy where you have to work through scar tissue and pain to get back to normal functionality. I realize the brain is more complicated than that but maybe spending a little time training your memory each day with specific exercises might help? Maybe you are already doing that. Whatever you do stay strong and keep fighting. The biggest part of recovery has to do with having the will to overcome whatever obstacles are in your way and never giving up.

**my retro career** · 10-31-2007, 08:50 AM

jamie may be right - there's ways to sharpen the memory.

and then there's soduku too....

but seriously, sorry to hear about the ongoing problems. i hope all goes well in the near future...

**joe7f** · 10-31-2007, 07:57 PM

The video game Jamie is referencing (I think) is Brain Age for Nintendo DS. Which also comes with Sudoku

--Joey

**lauren313** · 11-01-2007, 04:33 AM

Sorry to hear this Court. It sucks that you have to pay so much for healthcare in the US. I hope they can come up with something of an value to you soon.

**benna2** · 11-01-2007, 07:36 AM

I hope after this six months the docs are able to figure out what's wrong! It must be really frustrating for you. The price of medication is ridiculous...I don't know what it's like in the States but even here in Canada (the land of free health care) unless you are on a drug plan, the cost of these meds is really hard to deal with sometimes. Good luck though and know that we are all pulling for you.

**joe7f** · 11-02-2007, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by benna2

The price of medication is ridiculous...I don't know what it's like in the States but even here in Canada (the land of free health care) unless you are on a drug plan, the cost of these meds is really hard to deal with sometimes.

They are cheaper in Canada. That is why Americans order from Canadian pharmacies. Unfortunately our government is trying to stop the practice by claiming they aren't FDA assured. Stupid nanny state philosophy creep.

--Joey

**c0urt** · 11-02-2007, 06:37 PM

well after spending 6 hours in a waiting room today and less than 15 minutes being interviewed. (i think the note dr's note that says i have seizures if you stress me out got me rushed) i now have county insurance. so dr's visits only cost 5 bucks. and er visits 25. but the scheduling is a bitch. i have to call make a request for a pppointment, then they mail me an appointment time back. so who knows when i will see my neuroligist again.

this all seems a little late since i have already run up well over 75k in debt since june

**MeTurk** · 11-02-2007, 07:32 PM

To use a local phrase, that's cuntish! For a fit and active man. (I am ever so slightly pished so forgive the language). I'm supposed to be on anti-depressents but just had to stop taking them because they just made me worse, I don't like taking perscription (i don't trust them to be honest) drugs doctors perscripbe them too easy.

Being stuck in an enviorment you don't want to be in will affect your health but I don't know what the storie is so I don't know what to say. It's a strange one??

**lauren313** · 11-03-2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeTurk

To use a local phrase, that's cuntish! For a fit and active man. (I am ever so slightly pished so forgive the language). I'm supposed to be on anti-depressents but just had to stop taking them because they just made me worse, I don't like taking perscription (i don't trust them to be honest) drugs doctors perscripbe them too easy.

Being stuck in an enviorment you don't want to be in will affect your health but I don't know what the storie is so I don't know what to say. It's a strange one??

"...ever so slightly"? REALLY?!

I know it seems a little late to be getting that financial help Court, seeing as you already have a pretty hefty debt, but at least you got the help at all. Just out of interest, how much would a trip to the ER cost without insurance? I still can't believe you have to pay for that...

**maracle** · 11-03-2007, 04:28 PM

The costs depend a lot on what they do...I had an MRI earlier this year and it was almost $2300, I'm guessing he's been getting MRI/CAT/PET scans, they are not cheap at all. And 15 mins with a specialist is about $150-175, all in all it adds up really fast.

This is exactly why health care is such a huge issue in the US right now, if you're uninsured and you get sick you run up such a debt that a lot of people will have to go bankrupt.

Court, hopefully you can get some of the debt knocked down...hospitals should be willing to negotiate.

**florencia9699** · 11-04-2007, 09:54 AM

Those prises are insane!! It really sucks... it's not like it's your fault that you get sick... and the government has not tried to work it out better?? That is one thing that you can rely on in Argentina. Of course some public hospitals underpay their staff and are in need of an upgrade... but at least people who are in need can go to the hospital when they really need it.

**Sijuki** · 11-04-2007, 10:20 AM

My issue with most politicians idea of gov't healthcare is to offer it to the poor. Even most Universal Healthcare ideas exclude the rich. We all know what it is to be considered rich in this country. A couple making $100k or more in a year. Basically any couple that have two relatively basic jobs will be excluded. Thus, who do you think will end up paying for the healthcare. The middle class.

But I do agree that healthcare is one thing that capitalism should be somewhat capped on. The only good thing is, as long as you make a payment, health related debts cannot be placed on your credit report. So even if you owe a million dollars, paying $10 a month is sufficient. Although some places will try to put it on there, and some places will charge you for the same thing from two different 'companies' so one will make it on there, it is illegal to do so.

That is about my one recommendation for you court, is make sure those fools aren't trying to stick it to ya. Bastards they try to be.

**joe7f** · 11-04-2007, 07:15 PM

Ironically the nature of insurance makes health care more expensive. If it is "free" in your mind you/your Dr will recommend a cat scan for a head ache (what if it is cancer?) instead of giving you tylenol.

If you don't think this is the case, when was the last time you ate less at an all you can eat buffet than you did at a regular restaurant

I am not sure if Universal Healthcare if the answer or not but people shouldn't be stuck with 10s of thousands of dollars worth of bills. I just signed up for a health plan (I'm an unemployed) that covers just the emergency situation (20 bucks a month for 100% coverage after 7k).

--Joey

**Sijuki** · 11-04-2007, 08:35 PM

That was the problem with people that had all inclusive medical insurance. Doctors took the liberty of padding their paychecks by having all sorts of tests done.

Unfortunately, the problem also is, that if you go into a doctor's office for something and they don't test for it, they can often times be sued for malpractice. Damn be for not having my books in Vegas, or else I would post a few examples. Trust me, they are about as stupid as the "I spilled coffee on my crotch and it was hot" deal.

Unfortunately, in the good ol U.S. we are all stuck between a rock and a hardplace and I blame the baby boomers. Our law system has been abused for years by a group of politicians that have no concept of what they are causing in the normal world. Are supported by people that just look at the candy wrapper of "benefits" they are getting without realizing the wide spread effects of these "laws"

**c0urt** · 11-08-2007, 01:15 AM

the year just got reset

2007

“I am ok. I promise”
Odds are that is going to be the final phrase to cross my lips, and odds are even better I will mean it.

There are several people whom a simple mention of their name cause a flare of my nervous twitch in some cases followed by a headache. I have been a little curious of what would happen if I ran into one of them, but on the same note, I have been bit afraid. Fortunately only one of them lives in my time zone, so they have all be easy to avoid until now.
Earlier tonight I went to the ticket pre-sale party of the musical “Spam-a-lot” based on Monty Python’s Knights of the Holy Grail at the Workplay theater. I knew some of my friends would be there but I didn’t seriously expect to run into Denise. Most people who know me, know her as a legend. Her reputation sort of precedes her, she was my first girlfriend and she still holds the record for the longest relationship I have ever had part of. So no matter what I hold her in fairly high regards even if I little memory of our time together.
I saw her sit down in the corner with a book in an effort to avoid the crowd like she normally does. I debated leaving or just making an attempt to avoid her, but I figured it would be best to face my fear and speak to her and get it over with. Because if I didn’t I wouldn’t. So I walked up we sat down and talked for a bit. It was nice but my twitch got rather fierce and I found myself explaining that she made me really nervous. We talked for a bit longer before they had to pack up to leave.
I had been twitching most of our conversation, but I tried my best to ignore it because I do it when ever I get stressed. A few moments later while talking to my friend John I had a mild seizure. Luckily I made it to a chair. But I was really afraid for a few minutes that I would be spending the night in the hospital, I couldn’t really move my left side or form a sentence I was just stuck there eyes close drooling and crying. It took a few attempts for me to form a complete sentence to answer the repeated question, “are you ok?” This is the first seizure I can really recall. All my other seizures are in that gap of my memory that is blanked out completely. I seized up a second time at work, but it was no where near as bad as the first

You know what, just bury me where ever I fall off my bike.