Brain Injury Support Group
Traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. Outcome can be anything from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. A coma can also affect a child's brain.
Hi everyone,
I sustained my TBI over two years ago, when I was 17. A 40 lb saddle decided that falling two feet onto my head was a good way to add some excitment to my life. My parents have been after me to find a support group where I can talk to others who are going through, or are going through what I am. I've felt alone the past few years because no one else in my life has been through something like this, not even adding in the fact that I still have medical care to this day.
It's very rare to find someone who has gone through my same situation as well. I was putting some clothes in my trunk when we were moving to our new house. The clothes started slipping and I let go of the trunk so I could catch the clothes. I was holding it up because the hydrolic shocks had stopped working. Anyway, the trunk fell, full force, onto my head knocking me out. It detached my brain from my skull and my brain sloshed to the other side and slammed against it making it bruise.
I've had the absolute worst year of my life and they tell my that it has just now finished reattaching itself to the skull. Now the real healing begins. In the past year i had a total of 14 days without a migraine headache.
During the process of testing, the found out I have a good sized brain tumor! Luckily it's just sitting there not doing anything. We are just going to watch it and make sure it doesn't grow rather than stir the pot there.
I also have Multiple Sclerosis which I have battled since 1993.
My head will need at least .5 more years to heal. I honestly don't know if I can stand it all that long. With all that I have going on, that's a whole bunch of doctor appointments and meds, etc. I'm just tired of it all.
How many years ago was your injury? Do you feel it is still healing?
We are here for each other. Don't feel alone.
No one understands; you look fine and you seem fine for the most part.
Even the doctors. Unless a doctor has gone through this they are clueless for the most part
Best help so far was my occupational therapist who told me to become a list person and share your list with those people you live with and who you are close.
The List - or - SIGNS I HAVE A CONCUSSION
My room is messy when normally it is not
I leave everything everywhere, when normally I do not
I have headaches
Light bothers me more - as in "Where are my sunglasses, it is so bright"
It takes me longer to get ready
It takes me longer to find what I want to wear
I put my shirt on inside out
I forgot to brush my teeth
I forgot to take my vitamins
I forgot to take my meds
This is just the basic stuff, as you go through your daily life start writing things down, that you realized you forgot.
For the most part we are a happy lot because we live today, we don't think about the future because we are just trying to get through today and our brains don't process future stuff.
We have to live with this. Yes, it is depressing. Yes, it is better because we are not as bothered about the future.
Yes it is harder because we may be more emotional - that's a tough one for me - cry in public, get mad at family and friends, get on the pity wagon because no one understands
We have to take care of ourselves; we have to ask every time we are mad or any time we experience a strong negative emotion, "Is this a valid response? Would I act this way before? What is positive in this situation? How do I take control and make it positive?
I use post it notes on the bathroom mirror to remind me:
Brush my teeth
Brush my hair
Take my meds
Take my vitamins
Good to go
If your surroundings are in chaos then you have a concussion.
All this stuff helps me.
Biggest help is doing cross-motor exercises - walking for at least an hour, lifting a knee, tapping it with the opposite elbow. Then mixing it up when it gets easy. Walking backward.
Whatever your balance can tolerate in regard to lifting your knee up, skipping, looking right to left.
Your Physical therapist should give you some exercises.
Do them every day that you have a head injury until you see that your life is working smoothly.
When your life is gone chaos, stressful, start the exercises again.
We are challenged, not defeated.
Figure out a motto that works for you that inspires you like a catch phrase and use it when you start getting overwhelmed.
Best of luck!