My partner and her head

sakasper802 · July 12

Hello there I’m new to this world of TBI and 19 years later I’m faced with my partner who has not been diagnosed yet but I’m seeing some major changes in her behavior especially over the last month and a half. Just a little back story in 2005 she fell down a flight of stairs and cracked her skull had 3 brain bleeds. Fast forward to 2024 and she has fallen and hit her head 5 times in the past 5 years. And no ER visits. For a month and a half she has been taking Vraylar. Her psychiatrist put her on it to maybe boost her mood. She suffers from headaches daily and she is showing signs of dementia. I have been with her for 13 years and she’s has totally changed with her mind and it has been very prevalent for the past month and a half. I’m not sleeping or eating much I have no appetite. I’m just trying to figure out what to do day by day.

M1 · July 12

Welcome to the forum. TBI is a less common cause of dementia but not unheard of. however i wonder if the Vraylar could be making her worse, i would definitely report your concerns to her docs. I know Abilify can cause headaches and wouldn't be surprised if Vraylar does also, would have to look it up.

JDancer · July 12

The early signs of dementia can be very subtle.

Did she go to the ER following the last 5 falls?

If the change has been sudden, did it start with the new med? Has she been checked for a UTI?

Iris L. · July 13

One cannot make a diagnosis of dementia without investigating all other possible causes of the signs one is concerned with. Repeated head trauma is a cause of decreased cognition. The course may not be progressive, like Alzheimer's Disease, but may be cumulative. Psychoactive medications cause side effects in addition to the intended effect. And yes, check for UTI.

Iris