So I haven't written in a while its been crazy these last couple months. My husband came back from deployment early due to a IED. We spent months battling for a diagnosis that actually fit all his symptoms. The doctor just kept telling us he had overwhelming PTSD, which I didn't agree with. I know what PTSD is my husband was diagnosed with it prior to this last deployment. Needless to say I fought for us to go to NICoE. NICoE specializes in PTSD and TBI. Along with doing research and learning more about the conditions and how it affects the soldier and the famlies. Well while we were at NICoE they actually listened to me about what I deal with on a daily bases with my husband. They did so many test that they say its 2 years of appointments packed into a one month period. We found out that my husband had hearing loss and needed hearing aids. Also that he had photophobia and vision loss, so he needed special glasses.
Honestly I am just going to list all the things that they found out:
Sleep apnea
Scarring on his eyes
Photophobia
Vision loss
Hearing loss
PTSD; nightmares, anxiety, social anxiety, loud noises and lights bring back memories of tramatic events
TBI: memory loss, blank outs where he doesn't know who anyone is or where he is at, headaches all day long, balance issues, collaspes and blacks out.
Vasalvaga
Peripheral vertigo
Both shoulders have surgery and need more surgery
His neck has a bulge/herinated disk
His hips are messed up uses cane to walk
Speech problems: stuttering
Well thats all I can think of for now. Needless to say its been a very weird and interesting year. My husband received his purple heart for his injuries on that fateful day that changed our lives forever. Everyday is a new day that I just don't know how it will turn out. We went and picked the kids up during Christmas break since it is taking so long for us to get out and Matt's dads health isn't doing to good. So he can't take care of the kids while we finish getting out of the military. Its great having the kids back. The kids are adjusting to having a father that is different than he was before. Both kids are now in speech so its been a busy year of appointments. Hopefully only a few more months here in the desert then we will be back on the East coast.
