Hi kshort, You are not lazy. My injury was many years ago and something they call "severe cognitive fatigue" took me out of my job. I use to multitask at multiple computers...then suddenly I could not use any computer for even 10 minutes without such severe eye/brain fatigue and pain I would have to lay my head down. I describe it as if someone put tons of *heavy weights* on top of my head....there is no way to hold up that amt. of weight...so it forces your head down. It use to frustrate me so bad, and regular opthomologists did not help at all with the BI stuff, but it's good to have an exam for overall eye health or other eye diseases.

There are eye docs who specialize in rehab after TBI. Friends I know have been helped. It's called Neurorehabilitative Optometry (NORA) There maybe other eye docs who are up to speed now, but when I called the BIAA....they told me they get lots and lots of calls about this.

The smallest stuff can be overstimuating. I had to lower light everywhere in my apt and use sunglasses. The act of vision uses a large amount of brain energy too, so it's no wonder eye/brain fatigue can be a big issue.

I basically had to start slowly, super simple brain games/brain exercise each day, it was really hard at first, the fatigue was so bad, but I kept doing it each day and my coordination between hands/eye/brain started to improve...I could play longer, scores improved and by, I guess increasing the brain pathways/connections...eventually I was able to use a 7" tablet...the one I'm using right now. I have a special free app that lowers the brightness alot and I increase the font. I'm over 55 and need strong reading glasses. I often post wearing sunglasses. The touchscreen tablet I have found easier to use than a regular computer...less steps=less fatigue for me. I still can't use it for long periods of time, but it works for me.

I hope this helped, and you find what works for you. Brain Injury is sure difficult, we are all affected in different ways, resting often has become part of my life now. Take care and best of luck with your work!

Hey kshort49, I'm not as wise as you I'm only 35 but I still am truly in love with my naps. Its like the more stressed I get the faster I need that nappy. I'm 3 and a half yours out.

Warning: Pretty long post! Thanks for your replies. It seems my vision is my biggest problem (or one of the biggest) with this injury. Besides the fatigue, I get dizzy or off balance when I either watch things moving in front of me, such as a train going past, or something as simple as the leaves moving on a tree. Also, just moving my eyes can make me feel this way. For instance, when using the computer, looking from, say, the center of the screen up to the left hand top corner for "file" etc or any eye movements like that. My head is completely still, but I still have to shut my eyes because I feel dizzy. The same thing happens when I am shopping. Although my head is perfectly still, looking from a top shelf to a bottom shelf makes me feel dizzy and off balance. I've been seeing an ophthalmologist for many years due to lupus. She suggested I get my glasses (which I wear for reading and looking far and everything in between--they're the Progressive lenses) with the transitions lenses, that get dark automatically. Then she told me to get these glasses tinted darker so they would always tone down the light no matter where I am. It's kind of a pinkish purple tint, very light. This helps a lot with headaches from lights, etc. But still does nothing for the off balance, dizzy feeling. She says that there is nothing she can do because it is a neurological problem, not a eye problem per say.

Sorry this is so so long (I'm having a better typing day than usual, so I figure I should get all my questions in one post)

I am on Social Security Disability, but as many of you know, it is impossible to live off it alone. I am a freelance writer, writing articles for various clients through a company called TextBroker. I thought it would be a good way to make money--my son lives in Spain, and can make $100 or more a day. He is a very fast and accurate typist so can do many articles in one day (I usually get paid between $13-$20 per article. I used to be able to type very quickly and accurately too. But since the TBI, I need between 3-5 days to do one article-research and typing, because I can't keep my mind on what I'm doing, and just get tired so fast. My neuro has me on Adderall which does seem to work a little bit. Sometimes I get really bummed out over this, because under normal circumstances, I could be making enough to support myself. But now, I make maybe $20 a week. The only reason I keep doing it is because I'm hoping that the continued researching and typing will help make some new connections somewhere in my brain.

Well, I'm sure you are sick of this long post-I'm really sorry. But I never expected that the side effects of just hitting my head on the floor could have such profound consequences and long-lasting ones. I have many other questions, but will save them for another post.

Thanks for taking the time to read this and to offer your help. I live alone with no family near by, so I really don't have anyone to bounce my questions off of.

Thanks again!! Kathy

Hi kshort, no need to apologize here, we all share and help each other...and understand how hard this journey is, so vent, ask questions anytime!

One thing, I need glasses for distance also (weak) but can not do any kind of bifocal lenses, or I feel off balance/dizzy. The eye doc I saw recently, who consults with a NORA doc also said " no bifocal lenses" even before I did, so two pair of glasses, and I have found the stronger the magnification, the faster I get fatigue. I bet your glasses were $$, but have you tried using only reading strength alone when using the computer...and separate glasses for distance? I would try it, just to see if you feel any difference..sounds like a little thing, but it's like after BI so many things can change with our brain and eyes!

I checked out the NORA website, and there are different terms they use...eye tracking for one, prism glasses, it might be of help to you with what you are experiencing when you just move your eyes and get dizzy. It was explained to me that opthmologists deal with eye disease....neuro-optometry with eye trauma as a result of TBI.

I now wear reading glasses that my brain can tolerate...less than my prescription, and I compensate by increasing the font. I agree with you, it's very frustrating, I have improved over the years to a point, but my eyes, vision stuff, causes so much fatigue, that I have to plan whatever I do around it. I actually have to wake up in semi-darkness and with sunglasses on for @hour....I know my pupils are slow to react to the smallest amt. of light first thing upon waking up...I have nearly fainted a couple times, along with really severe nausea....scary stuff!!

Please come back and let us know how you're doing and if you found a good BI eye specialist. I hear you about the income...me too..it only goes so far doesn't it!! Take care and God Bless!