More Geriatric Medicine Answers
Question Library
Ask a question about Geriatric Medicine
Volunteer
Experts of the Month
Expert Login
Awards
About Us
Tell friends
Link to Us
Disclaimer
|
| |
|
|
| |
| | | |
About Margot RN BScN GNC
Expertise
GERONTOLOGY (NURSING ISSUES RELATED TO THE ELDERY) I have 15+ years experience working with the elderly. I would be pleased to offer any assistance I can. My areas of expertise include: Gerontology / Geriatrics, Long Term Care, Community Nursing, Palliative Care, Private Nursing Services, Intermediate / Extended Care. I also have a personal interest in Homeopathic and Eastern Medicine. If I can not answer your question I`ll do my best to direct you to an appropriate resource. Thank you.
Experience
I have fifteen years experience in Gerontological Nursing both in the community, and in Long Term Care. I have worked as a General Duty Nurse, a Nurse Manager, and a Nursing Consultant in Long Term Care and Community Nursing.I have a great deal of experience working with, assessing, and educating in the field of Gerontology (Nursing the Elderly). I am familiar with the challenges associated with Dementia (Alzheimer's), Chronic and Terminal illnesses.
Experience in the area
20 years of Long Term Care and Community Nursing, specialising in Geriatrics, Gerontology and PalliativeCare.
Education/Credentials
Registered Nurse , Certified Gerontological Nurse, Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
| | |
| |
You are here: Experts > People/Relationships > Senior Health > Geriatric Medicine > After stroke
Expert: Margot RN BScN GNC
Date: 7/26/2007
Subject: After stroke
Question
I had a stroke 10 years ago. I am 60 years old right now and even though I have Rheumatoid Arthritis I still consider myself very healthy. I take very good care of my health.
My problem is weird and embarrassing. I can cry at the drop of a hat.This happened after the stroke that I noticed. Before that I was not an easy cryer. I can barely go to weddings or funerals because it seems like I have so little control over my crying. Believe me, when I say that I am not depressed.
This started after my stroke and now I am hoping their is a medicine I can at least take for when I am the most vulnerable to crying.
I never considered this a problem before but now it's embarrassing.
Answer
Hi Maryanne and thanks for writing,
I am familiar with people having similar issues with loss of control of their emotions after brain injuries and strokes so the good news is you're not alone. I do not know anyone personally who was treated for the issue so I did some research and found the following which I hope is helpful for you.
Everyone who has had a head injury can be left with some changes in emotional reaction and behaviour. These are more difficult to see than the more obvious problems such as those which affect movement (a physical effect) and speech (a cognitive effect), for example, but can be the most difficult for the individual concerned and their family to deal with.
Headway has produced publications to help and advise on many of the problems outlined below. There are more than twenty titles covering subjects such as Psychological Effects of Brain Injury and Personal and Sexual Relationships Following Brain Injury
Headway's network of local Groups and Branches are an excellent source of advice and support for the head injured person and members of the family by people who have experienced these difficulties at first hand, and can advise on coping strategies and treatment methods.
This subject is very large, and not everybody will experience all of the problems below. The severity of the problems will also vary.
from: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/The_Cognitive_Effects_of_Brain_Injury.html
**************************************************
Emotional Lability
This describes a person's tendency to laugh and cry very easily and to move from one emotional state to another very quickly.
Loss of control over emotions means the person has lost the ability to discriminate about when and how to express their feelings. This can be very tiring and embarrassing for family members to deal with, but in time a person can begin to re-learn emotional control.
from: http://www.headway.org.uk/sitePages.asp?step=4&contentID=1333&navID=122#emotiona...
**************************************************
http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=IEED
This site is quite helpful with great explanations and treatment suggestions like the following:
Try these things to cope with an episode of IEED:
Be open about the problem; that way, people are not surprised or confused when you have an episode.
When you feel an episode coming on, try to distract yourself by counting the number of objects on a shelf or by thinking about something unrelated.
Take a slow deep breath and continue doing this until you're in control.
Relax your forehead, shoulders and other muscle groups that tense up during an emotional episode.
**************************************************
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best,
Margot
Add to this Answer
Ask a Question
|
|
