Neurological exam

[Andyman73]

Does anyone have any recent experience with neurological exams, the 8 hour variety?  My VA MH therapist is referring me to neuro to get scheduled.  He's quite interested in finding out what, if any, may be the cause of the holes in my memory.  Hmmm, wonder if maybe they can tell me why I experience deja vue (all over again) so often.

Apparently I was confused, when he told me previously that he wanted to go through a depression DBQ during our next session, which was Feb 29th. 

 

[Andyman73]

Anybody know where I can see what DX codes for neuro exams mean?  I saw on Blue button there were notes from the first part of my exam with a DX on there, but it was only the codes.

[iceturkee]

what was the code? can you say?

have you tried a google search?

Edited April 29, 2016 by iceturkee

[flores97]

Iceturkee took the words right out of my mouth, Andy, try typing in Google search VA Code xxxxxxc, (of course, insert code for x's), and see if that pulls it up. 

[john999]

I think they are looking for physical manifestations of damage to your brain or nervous system with a bunch of tests.  If you had a TBI it might show up on their radar.  They will probably check your reflexes.  I have had down and dirty tests and lots of times they are looking for the lack of a response you should have or some nerve that is not firing etc.    If they want to talk about PTSD they send you to a shrink.  A lot of head/brain/nerve conditions don't show up on MRI's or other testing.   It is experienced subjectively.  How can you tell if a vet's foot is really numb?   I guess you could jab him with a sharp needle if you want to risk a punch in the mouth.  My father -in-law had a terrible TBI but it happened in WWII.   They had no idea what was wrong with him except he got blown up with a bunch of other Marines.  He lived but was crazy for the rest of his life.

[Andyman73]

Ok, I went on myhealthyvet this morning, checked the notes, saw the codes, and googled them...(v71.09 and Z00.8) both came up as billing codes for observing for mental conditions.  Best bet is they marked this down just to track their time for what they were doing with me.

I finished up the exam yesterday.  At one point I got a little choked up about one part.  The examiner set an alarm and told me when it goes off, to tell him or ask him something that he said when he first set the alarm.  30 minutes later it went off and I couldn't remember what it was I was supposed to do or say.  Got choked up and teary eyed, told him that "this kind of thing gets me in trouble at home all the time".

When I first got in the exam room, I told him that the other doc had asked if I had any issues to bring up that may be causing some of the memory loss.  I said that I have sleep apnea, and she asked if I could bring in the test results/DX.  So I had a copy of that.  And I stumbled across a STR entry that notes I had (LOC) loss of conciousness.  That was when I fell down the stairs at boot camp.  I also brought a copy of that as well.

As I was giving them to the examiner, he said that they will be most helpful.  And he stressed how very important it was that I had the STR entry showing the LOC.  I could see the change in his demeanor as he was telling me this, as if this would/could be a nexus type of sorts. 

So....don't know what all this means, now, but would it be too soon to get just a little excited?  I know even mild concussions can effect your brain.

Andy

Semper Fi

[iceturkee]

i would be cautiously optimistic andy! :-)