Neuropsych Tests that take all day?

[Valkyrie568]

I posted this on the MS Forum, too.

I am still in the process of Dx, but am trying to go back to work part time. My company has me jumping through a lot of hoops in order to do that. I can kind of understand that because it is a dangerous workplace with no set schedule, so you pretty much live in a constant state of jet lag. I don't think I can ever go back to full time, but one day a week will allow me to keep my health insurance, so it is definitely worth some hassle.

They now have me scheduled for some sort of Neuropysch tests at 9:00 am and told me to plan on being there most of the day. I have been trying to research this and I can't imagine what they have planned for me that could take all day! I am sure it will involve a  BROCAAS Test:
Behavioral
R:  Spontaneous recall      
R:     Cued recognition        
O:      Orientation            
O:       Organization            
C:       Concentration          
C:       Calculation            
A:      Apraxia                  
A:       Agnosia                
S:      Speech              
S:       Sensory Motor Reflex.  

Has anyone else been thru this kind of testing over such a long period of time? I am trying to decide if they are going to make me keep at it to simulate the fatigue of a realistic workday or what? I would really appreciate any input from people who have done these sorts of tests. I think I will do okay, I am feeling a lot better than I was a few months ago, but I have to admit I am a little worried about a 90 mile drive (one way) and then testing all day!

Valerie

[MrsAristotle]

I cannot tolerate the heat, and yes it makes me irritable to the extreme.

I was listening to a video with Montel Williams chatting to some doctor Oz i think and He said that with MS if you get the heat intolerance it can keep you prisoner inside in the summer if you live in a hot place.

I find the central heating kills me too. My best time is outside in the winter lol. I feel GREAT.

You have a long road yet and a long day will be thinking about you.

MS is supposed to be rare but not anymore there are so many people sick right now.

I read a document by two specialists in the states and they think M.E. is the benign form of MS...and they predicted there would be a rise in people being diagnosed in the next 10 years. They dont seem wrong yet.

How can so many people have the same symptoms. Its quite bizarre.

Good luck though Val on 28th shall be sending you lots of good thoughts.xxxx Maria

[Valkyrie568]

I worry about my cognitive function, too. I don't think I am THAT bad off, but I am not normal FOR ME either.

I think I would be more interested in taking these tests if my company wasn't going to have full access to the results. It is just such an invasion of privacy. The company doctor said he felt that these tests were warranted because of some odd patterns in my test scores and a "tripping accident" that could be hot weather related. That just stuck me oddly, to have some doctor I've never met snooping around in my work records.

The worst thing is, is that I know exactly what he is talking about and they both probably ARE related to my issues. We have to take periodic tests over things like FRA rules that are written like a legal contract the size of an encyclopedia (so if you get hurt at work they can say you specifically broke rule 4:8:1b or something like that so it is all YOUR fault that you got hurt or killed so we are not responsible!) I normally score very well on those tests and even hold some system-wide high scores. But the last one I took, the guy doing the test wanted to get through it quickly and so he decided that since we only run coal trains that haul coal to power plants all over the country and don't use the Hazardous Material stuff and a lot of people fail that part of the test, to do that part of the test as a sort of group project. It is VERY complicated with multi-level charts and exceptions to the rules etc. But I have never had a problem passing it UNTIL it turned into a big, loud chaotic group discussion. That kind of thing is something that seems to short out my brain! (or overload my CNS?) I thought I was keeping up with the group answers because there was too much noise to just do my own work and ignore them. I guess I wasn't following along at all well, because I failed my HAZMAT test and had to retake it. The guy giving the test didn't know me and told some guy to help me (I normally help other people!) I declined the assistance and zipped right thru it with a perfect score. If they are able to simulate a situation like that, with that level of difficulty, I will not score well! It might be interesting to know if that is meaningful to this type of doctor as long as it not 'employment conditional' for me. One thing about it, I am pretty sure that "group HAZMAT" tests are not following the rules, so he probably just thinks I flunked my test and then aced it and hour later?

And I tripped down some stairs after dealing with a 4 hour train breakdown in 100 degree plus heat. Someone left a big live mouse trap on the stairs and I tripped over it in the middle of telling my manager off over a disagreement over interpretation of one their innumerable rules. Quix mentioned that one aspect of her heat intolerance takes the form of extreme irritability; so does mine, so it was a bad time to argue with me! One of the good things about my job is that most everyone is very opinionated and under no constraints to kiss up to management (strong union protection and the company claims it costs them $50,000 to train us so it is hard to get fired:)

I am normally VERY mellow compared to my coworkers to the point that no one even knew I have a terrible temper. But after pursuing the manager up to the offices to continue an argument he started outside, I tripped on that big mousetrap and loudly threatened to sue for a "Slip, Trip and Fall Hazard" (one of their cliche safety slogans) I told him if my back hurt in anyway by the time I got  back to town I would stop by the hospital and let him know about it. OMG! I was actually embarrassed by the time I cooled down, literally and figuratively! But I got a cheering section as I walked out the door and a public verbal apology and acknowledgement that I was correct about the rules from that manager the next day and a written apology in my mailbox. What a weird company!!

But this is more information than I wanted to share with the company doctor! More than you guys wanted hear? I hope I don't have to do any cognitive testing while overheated, lol!

My appointment is Feb. 28, and I have a follow up appointment with my original neurologist on Feb. 20. I would really prefer to go to a MS specialist, but I am still waiting for an appointment from the Rocky Mtn. MS Center, they say they are getting over 150 referrals a week! So I will just keep this appointment and see what he has to say while waiting for my referral to go through.

Valerie

[MrsAristotle]

http://www.brain-injury-therapy.com/services/neuropsychological_testing.htm

I think its great you are having this done. It can show up abnormalities in the brain and could point them towards a proper diagnosis.

It is going to be a long day but I think you are a lot stronger then you think.

With your job it is better to be safe then sorry. I really hope it goes well for you, and even that you might get some answers too.

P.S. I know someone who had one of these recently because her neurologist was convinced she was putting it all on. She passed with flying colours showing that she had actually got some form of brain damage and is undergoing a lot of testing to find out why. I would have loved to have seen the neurologists face when the report landed on his desk. IDIOT. Not everyone is trying to cheat the system.

The Big hugs Mariaxxx.

[sarahw244]

I've never had it done either, but have heard of it taking all day.  In fact if I'm not mistaken, I think I've read of people having it and it taking more than one day.  Like they would go for 6 hours one day then return the next day for 6 more hours.  It probably depends on what they will be doing.

When are you having it?  Tomorrow?  Please let us know how it goes.  On the plus side, you will have this out of the way so no neuro can say you have psycho-somatic problems (can't think of the word I'm looking for, lol!)  I think I need this testing as well.  I definately have had cognitive decline over the last year.  My kids make fun of me, lol!

Good luck and let us know how it goes!
Sarah

[Sidesteps]

I have not but I have heard it is a long day. I would love to have one though... I'm concerned about my cognitive functioning most of the time.