Monday, July 16, 2007

Sometimes, it's hard to tell what people are thinking.
Such is the case on Unit 41 where I work periodically where people have sustained TBIs (Traumatic Brain Injuries). Because the brain is the main control center for the rest of the body, differential damage to the brain will have varied effects. Some people lose their ability to coordinate movements, some to recognize colors and shapes, some to understand speech. My scariest (and most interesting I guess) patients are those who have sustained damage to the frontal lobe of the brain. The frontal lobe is the area that houses your "personality" if you will. Those who have compromised frontal lobes can still function perfectly fine in a very practical sense but will be overly aggressive, or disinhibited, or will burst into tears at the slightest emotion, or be completely blank. They may crack inappropriate jokes or be completely rude when they were the sweetest, most reserved people before the accident.
Mrs. S scared me today. I was walking down the empty hallway when she popped out of the door of her room and tried to grab my arm. It was the look on her face, and maybe that glint in her eye, that made me quite uneasy so I pulled away and started walking toward the nursing station, hoping that someone would be around. She followed me and as I sped up, so did she until I was speed-walking and she was jogging after me down this eerie empty hall. I was afraid she was going to run faster and hit me and I heard her grunting noises behind me and to the left (because she didn't talk) as she came after me. Needless to say, I was gasping with relief when our security guard appeared and came around to grab her.
And now, even when I'm downtown, I jump every time someone comes too close to me.
I really need to ask for a panic button.