[fireflyLPN]

Does any have experience treating PTSD patients? Can aphasia accompany this in a "crisis" stage? Is it part of the disease process?

Thanks in advance!

[jnette]

Originally Posted by fireflyLPN

Does any have experience treating PTSD patients? Can aphasia accompany this in a "crisis" stage? Is it part of the disease process?

Thanks in advance!

Absolutely... that and other profound symptoms.

Will eventually ease.. but could be awhile.

[fireflyLPN]

Originally Posted by jnette

Absolutely... that and other profound symptoms.

Will eventually ease.. but could be awhile.

I appreciate your quick reply! I have always been interested in PTSD but had never heard of aphasia being one of the symptoms.

If you don't mind could you elaborate more on your experiences? Could you describe effective interventions for the pt in PTSD crisis with aphasia? I am very interested in the subject.

Thank you much!

[jnette]

I am far from an expert on ptsd......... and no psych nurse.

I'm sure there are many here who could elaborate from a professional perspective.

I speak from personal experience only.

But have been assured that this was definately pstd in crisis.

[fireflyLPN]

Originally Posted by jnette

I am far from an expert on ptsd......... and no psych nurse.

I'm sure there are many here who could elaborate from a professional perspective.

I speak from personal experience only.

But have been assured that this was definately pstd in crisis.

Jnette,

I'm not an expert either, just a small potatoes neuro-LPN. I had a situation like the one I described... The pt came in through the ER, sent up to my unit, and got a dx for possible stroke. Something didn't sit right with me about the situation... I looked through his chart, no family contacted... Pt was unable to relay any family info, so I started going through the white pages. Got ahold of the family & they stated a pmh of PTSD. They ended up pink slipping the pt, but again, I was still very surprised that this is what it actually was!

To me it seems like PTSD is very under-diagnosed. I think its incredible that this situation happened, especially while undergoing tx.

I felt rather helpless while trying to communicate w/ this pt. It was very distressing for me. Because of my lack of knowledge I do not feel that the pt received the top notch care I like to provide.

[jnette]

Originally Posted by fireflyLPN

Jnette,

I'm not an expert either, just a small potatoes neuro-LPN. I had a situation like the one I described... The pt came in through the ER, sent up to my unit, and got a dx for possible stroke. Something didn't sit right with me about the situation... I looked through his chart, no family contacted... Pt was unable to relay any family info, so I started going through the white pages. Got ahold of the family & they stated a pmh of PTSD. They ended up pink slipping the pt, but again, I was still very surprised that this is what it actually was!

To me it seems like PTSD is very under-diagnosed. I think its incredible that this situation happened, especially while undergoing tx.

I felt rather helpless while trying to communicate w/ this pt. It was very distressing for me. Because of my lack of knowledge I do not feel that the pt received the top notch care I like to provide.

I agree, Firefly. It IS distressing... to both the nurse AND the patient.
But in a hard to describe way, for the patient it is also a "self protective" defense mechanism.. too traumatized to be able to, or perhaps WANT to verbalize quite yet. It's somewhat of a psychological "denial", self protective mechanism to keep one's sanity... while at the same time, not on a conscious level, nor deliberate, nor even in one's control.

TIME...as always, is the healer here. And learning to trust those who are there to help... which ALSO requires TIME and patience.

Far worse is the catacomic state. Much deeper. Almost slipped into that, but thank God never did.