Guest guest Posted September 7, 1999 Report Share Posted September 7, 1999 > From: " Jacques & Nelly " <janel@...> > Yes, but are the test required to " look seriously at brain > function " any > easier to get than the ones which might look for a " root cause " ? Ah yes, well there you are. Tests for brain function are probably even more difficult to obtain from the docs than other tests. I wasn't being very clear. I meant we need to " get smart " about brain function. Read up on it and get familiar with how neurotransmitters affect the body and vice versa (e.g.: some cytokines act as neurotransmitters). I myself have sort of avoided reading in this area because I thought it was too complicated. Currently I'm trying to slog my way through Goldstein's book " Betrayal by the Brain " . > I sort of see what you mean though, it seems the medicos are > much better at > " measuring " things than at " thinking things through " once > they've measured. Too true! I worked on a research project with the director of a very famous medical institution here in Denver (sorry, I don't feel at liberty to divulge the name). He was disgusted by the inability of his interns to think things through, to deduce the problem/solution based on facts. He complained to me that all his interns seemed capable of doing was parroting back info they had memorised, but were absolutely incapable of synthesizing info to form a novel (not previously memorised) treatment plan. My professor (who is well known in the field of cognition and learning) was involved in directing the project. We tested med students at several well known med schools across the country. Without going into details, we found that MOST med students were unable to make deductions from data. In fact, most were quite angry at being asked to do so! Their most common comment about the program was that they " just want to memorize something " , not have to think about it. The director found this very disturbing, but wasn't surprised. This is when I knew for sure that if I have something other than a " cookie cutter " problem with a " cookbook " answer, I must work it out myself. I cannot depend on people who are only good at regurgitation. Perhaps we need a sleuth more than a doc! > For them measuring seems to be the end, not a means to an end (ie > understanding what is going on). Sadly true. WE ARE PEOPLE, NOT TEST RESULTS! > I was looking through some old tests which showed very low > ferritin. it had > a handwritten comment next to ferritin 7 it said: " needs > supplementation " . I > think it says it all. It didn't say: try and understand WHY > ferritin is so > low, (Heavens no, it might give us a clue as to what is going on!). Sigh. Patti -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 1999 Report Share Posted September 8, 1999 Along the same line as Steve, I was wondering if anyone can remember where the scans of the brain that show the changes in the nuro pathways were, or are? Mike In Delaware. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 1999 Report Share Posted September 8, 1999 Steve, Social Security MADE me go through the cognitive functioning exam. It was administered by some " Ya-Hoo " who coaxed me through 90 " of questions/answers/puzzles. He even put the stupid puzzles together FOR me where I failed. I was IRATE! It's not like I was " faking it " I honestly couldn't do it! Fortunately (well fortunately for getting disability, I mean!) when the results came back, they did show moderate impairment in several areas, so whatever " Yah-Hoo " was doing...maybe he already decided and was rushed for time-who knows.... On another note, I also had a full-on neuro-psych work up done for my long term disability Insurance Coverage. That actually took a few days to complete and seemed much more fair and accurate re: defecits/strengths etc. Good Luck! Ann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 1999 Report Share Posted September 8, 1999 Mike, I believe you are referring to S.P.E.C.T. Scans. The other name is the P.E.T. Scan. I believe they are either the same, or pretty darn close re: visualization and detail versus the C.T. Scans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 1999 Report Share Posted September 8, 1999 In a message dated 9/8/1999 11:52:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time, S@... writes: << I have thought about getting tested for cognitve functioning to prove disability -- have anyone been through this type of testing? Steve >> But how demoralizing. I don't think I could do it. I have a hard time admitting to anyone (myself include) that I have neurological problems, like memory loss and confusion. I guess I'm not brave enough to do something like you suggest. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 1999 Report Share Posted September 8, 1999 I have thought about getting tested for cognitve functioning to prove disability -- have anyone been through this type of testing? Steve RE: Re : Re: Brain Damage From: " Skari, M " <SkariPM@...> > From: " Jacques & Nelly " <janel@...> > Yes, but are the test required to " look seriously at brain > function " any > easier to get than the ones which might look for a " root cause " ? Ah yes, well there you are. Tests for brain function are probably even more difficult to obtain from the docs than other tests. I wasn't being very clear. I meant we need to " get smart " about brain function. Read up on it and get familiar with how neurotransmitters affect the body and vice versa (e.g.: some cytokines act as neurotransmitters). I myself have sort of avoided reading in this area because I thought it was too complicated. Currently I'm trying to slog my way through Goldstein's book " Betrayal by the Brain " . > I sort of see what you mean though, it seems the medicos are > much better at > " measuring " things than at " thinking things through " once > they've measured. Too true! I worked on a research project with the director of a very famous medical institution here in Denver (sorry, I don't feel at liberty to divulge the name). He was disgusted by the inability of his interns to think things through, to deduce the problem/solution based on facts. He complained to me that all his interns seemed capable of doing was parroting back info they had memorised, but were absolutely incapable of synthesizing info to form a novel (not previously memorised) treatment plan. My professor (who is well known in the field of cognition and learning) was involved in directing the project. We tested med students at several well known med schools across the country. Without going into details, we found that MOST med students were unable to make deductions from data. In fact, most were quite angry at being asked to do so! Their most common comment about the program was that they " just want to memorize something " , not have to think about it. The director found this very disturbing, but wasn't surprised. This is when I knew for sure that if I have something other than a " cookie cutter " problem with a " cookbook " answer, I must work it out myself. I cannot depend on people who are only good at regurgitation. Perhaps we need a sleuth more than a doc! > For them measuring seems to be the end, not a means to an end (ie > understanding what is going on). Sadly true. WE ARE PEOPLE, NOT TEST RESULTS! > I was looking through some old tests which showed very low > ferritin. it had > a handwritten comment next to ferritin 7 it said: " needs > supplementation " . I > think it says it all. It didn't say: try and understand WHY > ferritin is so > low, (Heavens no, it might give us a clue as to what is going on!). Sigh. Patti -- --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 1999 Report Share Posted September 8, 1999 >From: " Jacques & Nelly " <janel@...> " root cause " ? >I sort of see what you mean though, it seems the medicos are much better at > " measuring " things than at " thinking things through " once they've measured. >For them measuring seems to be the end, not a means to an end (ie >understanding what is going on). >I was looking through some old tests which showed very low ferritin. it had >a handwritten comment next to ferritin 7 it said: " needs supplementation " . I >think it says it all. It didn't say: try and understand WHY ferritin is so >low, (Heavens no, it might give us a clue as to what is going on!). > Hi, Yes, low ferritin could indicate internal bleeding as it did with me. Fortunately it was GI bleed so I knew that I was actually bleeding! I have access to a research scientist who teaches medical students and I KNOW he knows more than most DR's I've seen! Take care, Christie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 1999 Report Share Posted September 9, 1999 I completely agree with you. I am a University Professor & I would hate to have to go through something like that. At the same time if an insurance company is facing the prospect of paying out 100s of thousands of dollares I can understand that they will want clear documentation of the disability. Has anyone gone through this process???? LOL Steve Re: Re : Re: Brain Damage From: HALLEVAL@... In a message dated 9/8/1999 11:52:46 AM Pacific Daylight Time, S@... writes: << I have thought about getting tested for cognitve functioning to prove disability -- have anyone been through this type of testing? Steve >> But how demoralizing. I don't think I could do it. I have a hard time admitting to anyone (myself include) that I have neurological problems, like memory loss and confusion. I guess I'm not brave enough to do something like you suggest. A --------------------------- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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