fourcatmom
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Posts posted by fourcatmom
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Just thought I would post an update after seeing the Neurologist today. They are going to do an EEG to rule out seizures, so I am happy about that. It's a sleep deprived study so she is happy about hat, as of right now. She is referring her for a neuro psych evaluation but she said it could take a year but they do try to get concussion patients in quickly. I wont hold my breath on that one. She is putting her on medication (peractin - ?) for headaches and anorexia. She lost more weight despite that the fact that she has really been trying and taking the zofran to help with the nausea. She also suggested she see a counselor for possible depression and/or PTSD. She encouraged her to be out and around horses if she wanted to, just not riding. Overall, I think I am satisfied for now I just hope they can do the EEG quickly and then we go back in two weeks. Her concussion "score" was pretty high but she agrees that it sounds like more then just PCS. Maybe multiple things going on? I guess we just rule things out one at a time and try to keep moving forward.
Thanks everyone for all the advice, it certainly helped me prepare for today's appointment and gave me some questions to ask.
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That's a great idea. I don't have any plans to take her back to the old barn but when she is ready and the doctors agree I think going someplace like that could be really helpful. Her doctor doesn't want her changing her activity level at this point. Until i know what is causing the shaking epusode she won't be going anywhere near the barn or horse I guess my comment was really wondering how she would react if we went somewhere rather then being serious about actually taking her.
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I'm glad the tests are good but I would wait until she gets into the concussion clinic before changing her activity level. :grouphug:
Oh yes, I didn't mean to imply I would do it quickly. I just wonder at some point if getting back out there will help her heal. I would want to discuss everything with them and make a plan if they think that is what is going on.
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So all the labs have now come back normal as well. I know they ran a comprehensive, a CBC, thyroid and an urinalysis. And everything was normal, no signs of infection. We see the Neurologist on Wed as she has to make the referral to the psychologist.
I really don't know how to proceed with her. I gave her the last few days of school off and was thinking I would let her have this week too but it it is PTSD everything I have read says keep the normal routine. She is eating better with the medication that he prescribed to help with the nausea so that has been great to see. She has actually come out of her room asking for food and saying she is hungry so that has made me very happy! But, she still feels sluggish, depressed, not right...all of those things and the shaking episode really worried me.
I don't want to push her to get back into riding too quickly but I half wonder if taking her to another barn might help her. She has never in life just been okay with not being around horses. We have talked about leaving the old barn and maybe the transition of doing that is just really hard. I don't know. I feel better knowing the MRI was normal and the labs were to but now what do I do to help her?
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Good idea. It can't hurt to check everything why we wait to get into the clinic. She was at the barn that day cleaning out water bowls. And that was the day that things seemed to change. Maybe just triggered an emotional response or maybe something more. Can't hurt to check. Thanks!
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So the MRI was normal. So that's good.
However, about 5 to 10 minutes after we got home she was sitting on the cough relaxing and she started shaking uncontrollably. She said, "she I told you I get the shakes and the chills," I have never seen her do this before. This went on for a good 5 minutes (hard to say really how long it was, felt like forever) and it took some time for her to fully relax again. I just have never seen her whole body just shake uncontrollably like that before. It was quite alarming.
I sent an email to the doctor but I think he already left for the night and he's off tomorrow but the plan was to refer her to the concussion clinic where she could see a psychologist.
What causes these episodes of uncontrollable shaking? As she mentioned this was not the first one and she feels they happen at random times.
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Thank you Stephanie, that really helps. The more I think about it, the more I think it is PTSD. I hope the MRI is normal.
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Thanks. She was very honest with the doctor about how she was feeling. An hour after we got home she went into her room to do math and I found her in there just sobbing saying how terrible she felt emotionalky and physically. I am glad it's getting done tomorrow.
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So we saw the doctor today, he ended up calling and getting her in today versus waiting until Friday. He seemed concerned as well. He said neurologically she seemed okay but agreed that she was experiencing too many symptoms. He ordered an MRI stat which we already have scheduled for tomorrow night. He gave her some meds to help with the nausea. And she has lost 4 lbs since she went in 4 weeks ago although I think that she lost them in the last week and a half. He said if the MRI was okay then he would refer her to the concussion clinic and said he would recommend meeting with a psychologist over there that can help with PTSD which he thought was a possibility.
So we will wait and go from there. Thanks
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I don't think this has anything to do with an eating disorder. I'd want an MRI today. This could still be related to her head injury. (I don't remember anything about her concussion, so I don't know if it was a significant enough injury for this.)
If it's not related to the concussion, I'd want to know if she had a virus or an infection of some sort. This doesn't sound like an eating issue. Aggression and depression can occur when one feels really bad.
I think I should have labeled the title differently. I do not think she has an eating disorder right now. She has some eating problems, like nausea, that nothing taste good to her and just overall a lack of an appetite. I had all those symptoms last month when i was dealing with Pleurisy. I don't believe those symptoms constitute an eating disorder. I do think that all this is related to the concussion in some way, whether PTSD or PCS. However, I had read online that in some children who were/are predisposition for such things like ED, that in some cases there seemed to be a trigger (like a concussion) that seemed to initiate it. I believe it has to do with the inflammation.
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I would have her evaluated by a neurologist for post-concussive syndrome. DS20 had it, and nausea was one of the symptoms. He also had mood and sleep issues, and still has headaches four years after a grade II concussion.
Yes, she had that last time as well. Symptoms went on for months. This whole concussion has been different and that's what I originally thought as well. Maybe a combination of post concussive syndrome and PTSD? I don't know.
There are definitely issues surrounding the barn and once she is healed and healthy we will address those. I am pretty sure if she wants to continue riding that we will be switching barns. Heck, I am half tempted to go rent some house with property and buy her a bunch of mini's so that I never have to see her fall or get thrown from a horse again. :sad: I have relived that accident in my head so many times over the past month and a half.
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Thank you everyone. I appreciate the feedback.
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Just to clarify, I don't think in any way she has an eating disorder right now. My concern was that given these changes in her eating habits \ symptoms or whatever is going on doesn't turn into a problem down the road. That these symptoms don't become habits.
I had actually thought of mono but wouldn't she have a fever or something?
PTSD is an interesting thought. She has no memory of the whole accident but the first time I took her back after to visit per her request she stood by the car door for well over 30 minutes before she could go into the barn.
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Eating disorder might be too strong of a term for our case but certainly seeing some new eating behaviors 4 week post concussion. DD received the her second concussion on Dec 4th (one year after her first concussion). For the most part even though the impact seemed worse this time her symptoms have been pretty mild. Things changed almost exactly four weeks post concussion on January 3rd. I had allowed her to go the barn that day to help out and now I am wondering if that was just too much. She literally came home a different kid. I have asked her umpteen times if anything significant happened and she swears that nothing did, that she just worked a lot cleaning out water bowls. Even the barn manager said she acted different that day? But, it was her choice to go and she was really excited to spend time there. She had been doing regular school and activities for almost two weeks and she was not going to ride so it seemed okay.
Since then she has complained about being really fatigued, she says she doesn't want to eat anything and her appetite has changed. She feels nauseous, She says her arms and legs hurt, even brushing her hair makes her tired. She says she feels aggressive (I have not seen any aggression) and that she doesn't feel healthy. She has 0 interest in even being around horses or going anywhere. She says she feels depressed. She is shaky and says she gets the chills. She feels grouchy.
Overall I don't see most of these symptoms everyday and many of them I would say are from the concussion but the eating changes and wanting to throw up is really new. Tonight after dinner she ran to the garbage and spit a bunch of food out. She has never done this before. She says she has lost a taste for everything. She is not that big. She is 5'3" and weighed about 101 lbs at the last visit. But tonight even her face is seemed thinner to me. She doesn't have the weight to loose. She is not throwing up but feels like she needs to and wants to.
I emailed the doctor and he said that those symptoms were abnormal (I am guessing for the concussion) and I have an appointment on Wed. I found a few random things online where people thought that ED's (in their child) started after concussions.
So for those of you that have experienced concussions, did you have any type of change in your eating habits post concussion? She is at such a tender age to develop an ED and I just really worry that this could be a trigger that might develop into something more serious.
TIA!
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I have seen it at graduation parties too and most often the pictures include lots of kids that graduate together so the pictures had meaning to more then just one kid.
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I have five cats on three different diets. It has taken a lot of patience and practice but it is finally working. I have one on a urinary diet, two on a diet, diet and two on a sensitive stomach diet. I feed three times a day at 7, 12 and 5 and then a small snack at 10 before bed. I started feeding the big cat who is on the diet food in the bathroom but have since changed that and now he eats with everyone else. I prep all the food at the same time and he gets his first. He has a "table" set up in the kitchen and his food goes there. The other cat on the same food eats in the kitchen next to him. Then the two on the SS food get their food in the living room and the one on the urinary diet gets his in the dining room. Since we live in an apartment this is all relatively close together. I sit by them and watch them, I know this is a pain but it's the easiest way for me to know that they are all eating and eating their own food. When they walk away, I pull the food. When big cat is done I watch him and just tell him no if he tries to get to someones food or physically stop him. So far, this is working. I have tried doing it in multiple rooms but then they all follow me trying to get to the food I am putting down and then I have to pick them up and it just creates more confusion. They all have their "place" and they are fed in their place each time they eat. They know now where their places are and in what order I feed and they do really well waiting near their spot. In fact when I start to carry to bowls from the kitchen to the living room, they run ahead to where I am going so they really do know. They also each have a different color bowl so that helps me know which one belongs to who, especially in the early morning when I am tired.
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My biological father was not present for my birth (late 60's) or my entire life. Not sure if he could have been. My Dad (step-father) was born in 1919 and had his three biological children in the 50's and was not allowed in. He did however get to be present for dd1's birth in 2000. That was the first and only birth he was able to witness.
My dh was present for dd1 but missed dd2 as he was stuck in traffic.
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I love the show Fixer Upper. I love Chip and Jo. I think their designs are fantastic and I love the way they are with each other. ;)
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I didn't see the other thread about the leasing horse and the boy but I know when we leased her first horse we offered $100 a month since that is what we had and the horse wasn't a horse any of the kids really liked. The owner agreed and my dd loved that horse. Now, two years later that horse is used for lessons and many, many kids now love her. Somehow just having my dd on her and working with her gave her more exposure and she is now a favorite at the barn. So it was a win-win for both parties.
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Thank you all for the thoughtful responses. It was fun reading all the stories. Like I said, this was a hypothetical question as we don't currently have the money to buy but we are hoping to lease again this coming year. The last experience was wonderful and I would guess ownership is a lot of that same feeling you get when you lease but even deeper, plus more work and more money. :lol: I really enjoyed hearing how ownership differs from leasing for the horse and rider.
Thanks again!
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We did have that experience when she leased a horse last year, there was something really magical about their relationship. Thanks for the response.
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There seems to have been quite a few horse threads lately so I thought I would pose some hypothetical questions to you all with and without horse experience involving those kids that just LOVE horses. Not just love horses, but live, sleep and breathe horses.
If money were not an issue - do you think it is valuable for a child to own their own horse? Let's say a child around the age of 13 with horse riding experience and with horse husbandry experience and the will and desire to do all things that are required to take care of the horse.
Is there an advantage to the child having lessons on their own horse? Growing with the horse?
Is it possible to find a horse that would meet her needs at 13 and it would still meet her needs at 18?
Is there more advantage in riding many different horses at that age as each horse as something different to offer?
I am assuming that most girls (or kids) that are passionate about horses probably have the same dream as my dd to own and have their own horse. We are not a horse family so my experience with horses is limited. I image that if we were a horse family it would much easier to justify her having her own as we would have the knowledge and experience to work with her.
We don't have the money right now so this is really just food for thought for me. There are a few girls at her barn that talk about nothing else and I wonder if I had the money what decision I would make. I am just really interested in hearing thoughts and experiences from others, especially from those parents who are not horse people themselves.
This is also assuming the horse was boarded at a facility where she took lessons and had a trainer to work with her and the horse on a regular basis.
TIA!
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I think I will chime in here and say that I thought at first that my daughter would need to ride several times a week for her to be a capable rider. That was cost-prohibitive for us. One lesson a week is a stretch. She has stuck with the one lesson a week, year round, for 2 1/2 years. She is a beautiful rider with a great seat and the ability to get on any horse in the barn and ride well. Slow and steady has really worked out well for her. She was at a non-competitive barn for 2 years and has now switched to a more competitive, but not pushy, large barn. (Her first trainer retired. :( ) 67_others has some great advice. The one thing that I dislike at the barn that we are at now is that students tend to progress faster than they are ready for. So, you may have kids who are riding at a canter, but don't have the experience to control the horse as well as they should. This is no fun when you are in a group lesson with these people, but we are at the only barn in the city that teaches our discipline, so there you go.
I would probably add to the advice that I really dislike it when trainers are not fully focused on the lesson. It seems to be a common theme to talk to parents, on the cell phone, etc. while the kids are riding. I know riding in a circle over and over to warm up is boring, but there are tons of things to work on. Every instructor she has had does this, even during special clinics with top level instructors. So, if you can find a teacher with great focus, that would be a huge plus.
Good Luck!
This has actually been an issue for us as well. Too many kids in the arena and too many levels of riding at the same time. Her last concussion (dec 2014) happened in my opinion because of this. We haven't started back up with lessons yet but when we do there will be no more then three at the same time and they will be kids at her level. We have also had some trainers who lacked the attention as well and it takes just a split second for something to go wrong. We actually pulled her from lessons due to this for quite some time and waited until they had the trainer that was capable of teaching and not talking to me. We had one that would come and sit down at the table by me, or go smoke :confused1: and give her directions from there. Um...NO. Even with this last concussion the trainer was paying attention (in fact there were three trainers plus a barn manager and me that witnessed it) when it happened and it really helped to piece together later what happened and where things went wrong so that we can work on preventing it.
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Ah, now my DD is that hard-working kid who is not afraid of dirty work! She is small for her age but outworked five other kids at day camp last summer on the horse camp day when they cleaned tack, mucked stalls, washed horses, helped the farrier etc.
Now if only I could get her to apply that energy to cleaning her room or math!
Oh, how I wish this were true! She would choose horse poop over those two any day of the week! :eek:
Concussions and Eating Disorders, can they be related?
in The Chat Board
Posted
The EEG is finally complete and we saw the Neurologist again today. A bit confusing. They say the EEG was normal but then also say that they can't rule out seizures completely. Diagnosed her with depressed mood; headache with aura; and Pseudo-seizures.
The part of the EEG that was confusing was when it says, "there is mild asymmetry over the posterior temporal regions in both hemispheres with less then 50% difference, which is probably within normal limits. This appears to be within normal limits" In addition it says, "She had higher amplitude over the right temporal-occipital region than left". I don't know that is kind of confusing to me what that is. Didn't get a lot of info about that today.
However, she is doing much better. She has mentioned a few things out of the blue about the old barn so I am pretty sure this is stress related and they still want her to see a psychologist to evaluate. We found a new barn that she seems to enjoy although she hasn't ridden there yet. I think just making that decision that we were moving on has helped some. I am sure time will help as well. The periactin that she is on is helping her gain weight and she is almost back to her pre- concussion weight of 101. Overall, she is happier and eating and much more herself.
Just wanted to give one last update. ;)