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.
There's a commercial in my area about the Shingles virus ( and I don't mean the roof ). The announcer says "One in three people will get shingles in their lifetime". Well, big deal.
For the fifth , yes fifth time, I have shingles. The first time was in Nov of 2009 , when my daughter was getting married. There was a lot of stress, but as soon as the wedding was over ( literally the next day ) , red spots popped up on me. They were diagnosed as shingles and lasted 3 months. The doctor said I got them from a combination of stress and my compromised immune system.
I have been shingle-free until about 15 months ago. Since then I have had them 4 times! Three times they just happened- no stress involved, I'd just get patches of them somewhere on my body ( each time they were diag as shingles).
Three weeks ago there was stress in my life when my father in law died. I fretted about housing for my children who were coming for the funeral, and other little things ( that seemed huge to me) . Like at Amy's wedding, as soon as Rachel and Jeremy arrived and decisions were made and stress alleviated, I broke out in shingles! Now, 2 1/2 weeks later , I have blisters on my hands and one foot and am waiting to get the shingles vaccine .
I"ve learned that tbi can weaken your immune system. This is esp true if the tbi caused a coma or additional trauma other than the head being hit. In my case both lungs collapsed and I was on life support for 3 weeks. So be aware that we are at a bigger risk for things like respiratory illnesses and the flu. If we are stressed, we are more apt to pick something up ( esp if there's a bug going around). For me, it's shingles . I've been told that the vaccine only makes the shingles less painful- it doesn't keep them from coming. So this will probably be my chronic disorder that will occur during stressful times , and "just for the heck of it". So the bottom line is Get Vaccinated for whatever is going around. We may think our brains are weaker since the tbi, but our bodies are weaker too. Have a happy winter, and don't forget your flu shot.
For the fifth , yes fifth time, I have shingles. The first time was in Nov of 2009 , when my daughter was getting married. There was a lot of stress, but as soon as the wedding was over ( literally the next day ) , red spots popped up on me. They were diagnosed as shingles and lasted 3 months. The doctor said I got them from a combination of stress and my compromised immune system.
I have been shingle-free until about 15 months ago. Since then I have had them 4 times! Three times they just happened- no stress involved, I'd just get patches of them somewhere on my body ( each time they were diag as shingles).
Three weeks ago there was stress in my life when my father in law died. I fretted about housing for my children who were coming for the funeral, and other little things ( that seemed huge to me) . Like at Amy's wedding, as soon as Rachel and Jeremy arrived and decisions were made and stress alleviated, I broke out in shingles! Now, 2 1/2 weeks later , I have blisters on my hands and one foot and am waiting to get the shingles vaccine .
I"ve learned that tbi can weaken your immune system. This is esp true if the tbi caused a coma or additional trauma other than the head being hit. In my case both lungs collapsed and I was on life support for 3 weeks. So be aware that we are at a bigger risk for things like respiratory illnesses and the flu. If we are stressed, we are more apt to pick something up ( esp if there's a bug going around). For me, it's shingles . I've been told that the vaccine only makes the shingles less painful- it doesn't keep them from coming. So this will probably be my chronic disorder that will occur during stressful times , and "just for the heck of it". So the bottom line is Get Vaccinated for whatever is going around. We may think our brains are weaker since the tbi, but our bodies are weaker too. Have a happy winter, and don't forget your flu shot.
Cannot remember the medication also given, was an old sort of depressant, my GP said it helps to deaden the ends of the nerves.
Don't envy you 4 times in such short period of time, let us know how you go after the shingles vaccination.
Hate to say it but in my little corner of the world it is sunshine. The news has shown the heavy snowfalls some of you are experiencing, incredibly deep, hope all are managing if you are affected.