delicate topic: abuse

[CtResident]

It has been suggested that after I leave the MS neuro in a few weeks (first some ferritin therapy and then bloodwork to see if that helps my symptoms), I go to a local neuro.

I was checking out the new neuro group's webpage and saw the patient questionnaire.

One of the questions was "Have you ever been a victim of violence or abuse?"

I am sorry to say that YES, this has happened to me. My first marriage broke up due to abuse and alcohol.

Forward to today: no other neurologist has ever asked this question. I think it is an important one.

Is it possible to have symptoms of brain problems due to being hit in the head?

BUT, would these show up on MRI's? Negating MS as the diagnosis? My MRI's appear to be fine, and I suppose after all this time, I have done reasonably well in life after the abuse.

Just kind of a jolt to the system to see THAT question........

Sincerely, Suzanne

[essdipity]

There could be other reasons for this question. One that comes to mind is that they might be looking for psychological sources of neurological complaints. I'm thinking of that one because the term 'abuse' is used, which could cover a lot of territory. And unless it's in another question, they don't mention physical trauma.

ess

[young at heart]

SWEETIE,

I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I WAS ASKED THE SAME QUESTION LAST NIGHT AT THE ER.

I ALSO WAS ASK WAS I EVER PHYSICALLY ABUSED AND IF I FEEL SAFE IN MY HOME AND IS THERE ANYONE IN MY HOME VERBALLY,MENTALLY OR PHYSICALLY HARMING ME.I WAS FLOORED.

I WAS PHYSICALLY ABUSED AS A CHILD BY MY MOTHER AS SHE WAS ADDICTED TO VALIUM AND WHEN SHE DECIDED TO STOP THEM COLD TURKEY,SHE GOT PHYSICAL WITH ME AND MY TWIN SISTER AND I WAS HIT IN THE HEAD REPEATEDLY,YA KNOW I'VE NEVER DISCUSSED THIS BEFORE.

MY FATHER WAS AN ALCOHOLIC,SO HE'D GO INTO A DRUNKIN FIT AND WOULD TRY TO HARM MY MOTHER AND I WOULD ALWAYS GET BETWEEN THEM,ONE TIME MY DAD DARN NEAR KILLED MY MOTHER,I'M SO GLAD I WAS HOME.BUT I TOOK MANY HEAD BLOWS THAT NIGHT.

I DO FEEL THAT BLOWS TO THE HEAD CAUSES DAMAGE.

MY FIRST HUSBAND WAS ABUSIVE ALSO,OUR MARRIAGE LAST A YEAR AND THAT WAS IT.

I THINK ITS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION,HAVE YOU HAD A MRI ON A T3 MACHINE?THIS MAY HELP YOU AND THE NEUROLOGIST TO GET ANSWERS AND I'M SORRY THIS HAPPENED TO YOU.

I KNOW I HAVE SUPPRESSED THE BIGGEST PART OF MY LIFE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

SENDING YA LOVE,HUGS AND PRAYERS

T-LYNN

[monotreme]

Suzanne,
  The American Medical Association has, for a long time, recommended to their members that they routinely ask their patients, especially women, if they have or are a victim of abuse.

  It should be routine, but I think many physicians feel uncomfortable asking the question.

  Unless you suffered concussions from your abuse, I doubt if it would be a cause of an abnormal brian MRI.  I am very sorry to hear of your experiences.

  Elaine

[CtResident]

Ess, you have a good point about the psychological component. I know they are not mutually exclusive. And the word abuse is indeed a broad one.

T-LYNN, SOUNDS LIKE YOUR MARRIAGE WAS LIKE MINE, SHORT. YES, I ALSO SUPPRESSED IT, THAT'S WHY IT WAS LIKE A JOLT WHEN I READ THAT QUESTION. GHOSTS FROM THE PAST THAT RISE UP TO AFFECT YOUR FUTURE.  

NO, NOTHING ON A T3 YET. YALE HAS THEM, BUT I AM GETTING THE T-SPINE DONE LOCALLY, AND I THINK THEY'RE LESS THAN A T3. DON'T KNOW FOR SURE.

[CtResident]

I have never ever been asked....by any dr.

No, no concussions, but black eyes. And ringing ears.

Thanks for your shared concern, :-).

Suzanne

[essdipity]

I'm so sorry to hear about your horrible experiences as a kid. We really have no idea what other people go through.

Maybe this explains how you learned to be tough and to be a survivor. It's an awful way to learn life's lessons. I hope that even in the midst of your MS and all your misfortunes, your emotional life now is stable, and that your home (wherever it may be currently) is safe.

ess

[spirit0323]

Hi
I am new to site ,but I was also abused, as a child and had and alcoholic father the abuser,  I heard somewhere that so many of abused children grow up with autoimmune disease's and Neurological problems. I have MS, many years spent trying to get correct Dx.
I worked in the medical field, And that did'nt help .I was told it was Lupus until the lesions/plaque appeared on the brain and spinal cord. I at least know what it is,Now I deal one day at a time.
Carol

[CtResident]

Hi Carol, Welcome to the most supportive forum anywhere!

My father had alcohol problems but never hit me. My ex-husband did that. My present husband is a wonderful man!

I am sorry to hear you were also abused; seems alcohol is the underlying issue here.

Nice to meet you! :-)

Suzanne

[biowham]

It's been a pretty standard question on many questionnaires I've encountered. The funny thing is, I've answered honestly every time (yes--earlier in my life, not in my current situation), and NOT ONE SINGLE MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL has ever asked me about that information in my file. It's always a little test I have in my mind--will they review my file and see that and ask? And no one has ever passed.

I don't bring it up because it's never relevant (OB-GYN visits for pregnancy, thyroid surgery, etc.--not a lot to do with abuse that happened decades ago)...but I do find it interesting that it goes completely ignored.

Bio

[santana8]

I too was abused in my first marriage by my alcoholic husband. I took many hard blows to the head and places that could be covered by clothing. Funny how they are so out of control but have the composure to know how to hide the evidence of abuse.  The blows to the head almost knocked me out and my head had bruises on it for weeks after. He once chocked me until I almost passed out. I got sevier whip lash from that one.  I left him soon after this attack after 7 years and thank God I never had any children with him. I am with a wonderful man now and we have three wonderful boys.

I wondered about the abuse that happened almost 16 years ago causing the damage that showed up on MRI two years ago. I asked the first neuro about it and he asked if I had been hit so hard that I lost conciousness. I told him no, but I  almost did. He said that boxers and fighters sometimes get damage on the brain from blows to the head, but that it has to be hard enough to cause loss of conciousness.

I haven't asked my current neuro about this as I have also tried to supress the memory and still have nightmares about it to this day. But I think maybe I need to at least make him aware of the abuse from the past.

I just want to say to all of us who have been abused by someone else that I have learned that these abusers are cowards. I wish my ex- husband would try to hit me now, I would tare him up. I am  not the sweet little nice girl that I was when he was hitting me. I was stupid to ever stay with him as long as I did. But I was raised in church and taught that divorce was wrong.  I learned this lesson the hard way, but I know  I would n
ever let anyone treat me that way again. Oh by the way my ex went on to abuse his second wife and even one of her children. They don't change thier colors!

Santana8

[willowwoman7]

I, too was abused by my first husband. For a short time, got out after 4 years. I was never hit in the head. I was dx'd at 51, already on cane and fairly advanced. When I had my first majore symptom, I was about 28 and remarried to my late husband. This symptom occurred after his first brain surgery which also left him with a severe seizure disorder. My doctors chalked up my symptoms to stress and never looked any further. Symptoms were always related to stress after that until I finally went to a wonderful female family practitioner. Within seeing her for 6 months, she sent me to neuro. Perhaps that's why the question of abuse...to see if the symptoms are stress/psychological in nature.