My H. has just been sent for a brain CAT scan. He may have had a stroke or have "brain degeneration." This is terrible news any way you look at it. Right now, unforunately, I'm looking at it pretty selfishly.

Help me reframe this into a possitive.

Reframing now
"brain degeneration" could explain his behavior toward you and the M.
I'll call you.

Anne,

I'm sorry for you in this shocking situation.

I don't know what to say or if there is any way to help. Please keep us posted.

-AD

Thanks, AD and Newly. The CAT scan came back showing nothing obvious. The doc still wants tons of blood work and the MRI, EKG, and ultrasounds. I may have wrote EEG, but it's EKG.

I'm hoping for the best.

Meanwhile, my friends are getting very frustrated because my immediate response was "If he's really sick, I can't possibly divorce him. I'll have to take care of him."

Apparently, I'm the only one who feels that way. Note the use of the word "feels." When I "think" I come up with a different analysis of the situation.

Sorry GG and I hope and pray he is better. Yes, an ekg will show the heart and its electrial activity. My computer is still goffy but no virus, just some problems in general and not sure what they are. The darn ice storm has already started here.

I think it is good of you to work through this with him. I know, you want answers. I can tell you, if he has had some sort of a heart attack or a small mini stroke, these tests will be good. From my experiences with both patients and relatives who have had strokes, their behavior is usually affected for a while and sometimes could be more lasting. I hope not lasting. But if he has had some sort of event, he could be behaving wierdly.

Have you noticed anything different about him lately? Have their been any health complaints? Could this be an attention/sympathy gaining tactic?

GG,

Sorry you need to go through this. Yes it is terrible news that noone ever wants to hear.

I do believe that it is showing you that you do care for the guy who's head you wanted to bash in <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="images/icons/shocked.gif" /> .

Not everyone would have the sense or willingness to take on the obligation of caring for someone with a health problem. Even if it is nothing, which I hope it is, you're "Immediate response" says alot.

WIWH

Cinderella,
My first assumption was that this was an attention-grabbing effort. B. told me about his limp the day after I learned my step-brother had mostly likely driven his truck into Lake Erie. (That's for certain now.) B's reaction to the news was far beyond what I expected. I ended up comforting him, not the other way around. I didn't know my step-brother well because we were both adults when our parents married, and he lived far away. Even so, it's a huge mess.

So, I was surprised when B. called and had to get a CAT scan. Luckily, the scan got read Friday and the radiologist couldn't see anything. The internist still wants an MRI and two ultrasounds and an EKG even though that's for the heart.

Now, B. thinks the Internist is wrong and it's something else.

Wish, I do not habor hidden reserves of love for this man. The emotions I do harbor are rage and dislike. However, I did promise for better or worse. It's one thing to divorce in times of "better" and another entirely in times of "worse."

Still, I hope for B's sake, the girls' sake and my own sake, it's all a mare's nest.

Thanks for your concern.

Oh, and Peachy, if it were something that could explain away 9 years of behavior, I'm sure it would show up on a CAT scan, don't you think?