MY hubby had a stroke (aged 36). He is now 44.
I have seen his stroke progress to being diagnosed major depressive,paranoia/schizophrenia and social phobia.I have read the medical reports. The stroke affected his corona radiata.(right frontal lobe)His GAF score is 37.Is it at all possible that he could have been misdiagnosed?
I have been researching on netand keep coming up with FTD.(frontotemporal dementias) His psychiatrist has advised me not to make him do anything he doesn't want to.(he is currently is on buspar 15mgs QID,fluoxetine(prozac)40mgsAM/20mgsPM,and olanzapine(zyprexa)5mgsAM,15mgsPM. He has tried all the other SSRI's.He has been on these same meds for over 1 yr.nothing has helped him. Now, I notice that he is staying in house more(5 days this time) retreating back to his "safety" room.He is also going back there very early in morning.(used to be afternoon)he has a flat effect,no emotions except tears and apologies. Nothing to contribute to conversation. He will tell me the reason he sleeps so much, is he can't stand to hear the voices and think these gloomy thoughts. No interest or motivation.He has finally been recognized by the VA 100% disabled.Prognosis is poor.Should I call his psych and see if he can get earlier apointment? (Next appointment isn't until March) I feel like he is putting up that wall with me (like everyone else)he has completely shut himself off from society and also all people in general.He will go to docs.Any input would be greatly appreciated. Could this possibly be FTD?

Frontotemporal Dementia affects only 2%-5% of the 7 million Americans affected with dementias. Out of those affected with FTD, there is usually some degree of dementia existing in what is called a "first degree" relative such as parents or siblings. Because of this, FTD is considered by some doctors to be an inheritable disease.

But if you feel that it is possible your husband might have this, diagnosis is easy enough. A brain scan or an MRI will show if there is cerebral atrophy in the frontotemporal regions. An EEG will not reveal anything, however. And there is no medication to treat or prevent FTD.

I know you want the best for your husband. And I can imagine that you want answers. But often times it is not the best idea to start researching things on your own because you might stumble across only a portion of a disease that seems to apply. But that will be enough to scare you silly. So leave the diagnosing to the specialists. But it certainly never hurts to ask them if it is possible that he could have FTD. They will probably sit you down and say "no" and then explain why.

Thank you for responding to my question,Georgia85.
I called his clinic today and spoke with secretary for his psych.Hubby now has earlier appointment.(next week) He is agreeing to go and knows that he is not the same.
I have no support groups and try to educate myself on his conditions/disorders.
I feel like knowledge is power.I am trying to learn how to deal with his many problems, since stroke.Thanks again!

You are most welcome, and I agree that knowledge is power. Just make sure you are getting the correct knowledge

Glad you got an earlier appointment for your peace of mind. Perhaps there will be a different diagnosis this time and then you will have something definitive to research.

You mentioned that your husband is complaining about hearing voices as the reason for his trying to sleep to escape these voices. I feel that if you can together from time to time tell these voices to calm down and be quiet, believing that they will do so, that there will be some sort of relief.

You and your husband are in my prayers.. I hope that the physicians can help. He is a young man to be sick like this, God give you the strength to be there for him. but remember, you need to take care of YOURSELF too. ok?

Let us know how things are going.

Hi Tsaeb and Sherasi. Thank you both for replying.Hubbys appointment is for tomorrow afternoon.I have written down most of the things that I "see" are different. He is usually honest as he can be with Psych. Most of the time, he just forgets what he feels and doesn't know how to explain.
Thanks again..I will keep you updated.(probably by asking more questions..lol.)

Questions are good! You keep asking the doctors until you are satisfied with your understanding of the answers.

Hello Marguerite

First of all let me tell you that I am really sorry about what happened to your hubby.

However, I feel that he is very lucky to have someone like you who is willing to help him through these difficut moments.

One good aspect of this whole situation is the fact that he is aware of his personality changes. Trying to work with a person who wants to collaborate makes a big difference.

According to what you have told us, he has had drastic changes in his way of beeing. The fact that he is aware of it is a good thing for treatment but can also be a strong source of stress (which can affect the paranoial behavior).

I recommend that he starts attending to psychotherapy, not only for the medication supervision (he is taking several medications) but also to help him (and even help you) cope with this new situation that has changed your lives so deeply.

Hope to hear everything is getting better. Please keep us informed.

Thanks Lucy and everyone for your kind words.As of now, we have still not seen hubbys doc.I called and got a new appointment, but when we got there,they told us that psych was sick and they tried to call.So it is back to the waiting game for 3/15.
Of course they tell you through recorded message that "if this is an emergency to go to hospital". Hubby is still retreating back to bedroom and not wanting to have any contact with people.He will drive and get out for about 30 minutes every day.(With me going in stores or post office)He says it helps him to feel like he is accomplishing something.
Lucy..what do you mean by psychotherapy? I know that he takes meds on time (as I am here to wake him up to take them).He is very compliant and willing to see doc and take meds. Do you mean support groups?
Thanks for listening and responding.
Yes...this has drastically changed our lives.I know that I can not let his disorder become mine, so I search for answers on internet (and anywhere) I can find reliable answers.
Friends don't understand, so I feel so alone in all this. Thanks again everyone!

Marguerite:
What I mean by psychotherapy is that he may need more than just medication. Medication does not help you deal with the emotional burden that this drastic change may have caused you both. Psychologists do not medicate but only give therapy (I know as I am one) psychiatrist may help you with medicine as well as with the emotional support.

right now you are both (and the rest of the family) dealing with something that is very different from your lives before the stroke. It is possible that you may be suffering as much as your hubby, but you have better tools to fight with this stress. Professional help for handling these issues is always recomended.

What I am trying to say is that medication will help only with the physical part of the problem (let´s say brainwise). Talking to a psychologist/psychiatrist may help in the emotional part, which cannot be forgotten or ignored.

Feel free to e mail me if you have more questions.

Margarite

Is it at all possible to get a second opinion? We also have Tricare/military medical and I know for us its not, but if it is for you I think it would be a good idea for him to be seen by someone else.

The reason I suggest this is that my grandmother was treated for years for major depression. She had this. Suddenly, she became very forgetful, even to the point of not remembering that my parents were married (she thought my dad was my mom's boyfriend--they've been married 33 years). Also she was totally not in control of her emotions. Finally it got to the point where she simply sat on the couch and did not move. She did not eat, did not go to the bathroom, nothing. Her psychiatrist continually upped her depression meds and eventually even had her treated with electroshock, but nothing helped.

Well it turned out that she has Alzheimer's disease in addition to the preexisting depression. If my aunt had not taken her to a different doctor, the psychiatrist would probably have just continued with the depression diagnosis.

Its wholly possible that your husband has more than one thing going on, also, which a second opinion--seeing him with fresh eyes--might recognize.

Good luck!

With this type of stroke, brain damage is permanent and not reversable. The SSRI antidepressants have many serious side effects. I wonder how he would act without this medication.

I strongly feel that you may be seeing serious side effects of SSRI antidepressants. A word of warning, they are highly addictive, no matter what you have been told. They don't have abuse potential, which is why docs hand this stuff out like candy.

If you feel that your husband is behaving worse, with SSRIs, taper them down slowly, very slow! There will probably be maybe a week of withdraw symptoms. Give him time to adjust, about three to four weeks, at least. Buspar is no problem at all. Let him take that one.

From your post, I do see flat effect and withdrawl from people and activity as definite SSRI intolerance, which docs don't get. They just increase the doseage. It happened to me.

Your husband may do better on bezos only and forget the SSRIs completely. It really is a trial and error sort of thing, with these drugs.

I wish you and your family the best. This is far from easy to deal with. Doctor doesn't always know best with SSRI use, patients and family see the changes, which may be negative and not to his best interest.