december 6
Here is my day:
Dan, who I normally live with is away for 5 days. I don't usually stay by myself, but he needed to get some stuff done at his parent's place.
The only thing I needed to do was go to my doctor's appointment. On Saturday, my sister took me xmas shopping. On Sunday, I had trouble figuring out the modified bus schedule, so I figured I'd practice the bus on Monday.
I had recently started to drive again, but with the snow I'm back on the bus. I haven't taken the bus round trip from the doctor's before, so I wanted to rehearse the trip a day before.
So today, I successfully took the bus to and from the gym (which is beside the medical clinic.) While on the ride home, I was feeling pretty good about it. I am supposed to be working on celebrating my small successes.
But then, a thought slams into my head: My appointment was today. I missed it. The only thing I had to get done in a 5 day period, and I flubbed it.
Since my accident, this happens to me frequently. I am sure about something, but really I have it wrong, and usually figure it out too late. It can be a time, or date, or place. I have a daytimer, and a schedule, but I still manage to do this a lot.
So then I'm crying, and feeling really dumb. And once I start crying, I have trouble stopping.
I am struggling to feel good about my small accomplishments, when my mistakes seem bigger.
Dan, who I normally live with is away for 5 days. I don't usually stay by myself, but he needed to get some stuff done at his parent's place.
The only thing I needed to do was go to my doctor's appointment. On Saturday, my sister took me xmas shopping. On Sunday, I had trouble figuring out the modified bus schedule, so I figured I'd practice the bus on Monday.
I had recently started to drive again, but with the snow I'm back on the bus. I haven't taken the bus round trip from the doctor's before, so I wanted to rehearse the trip a day before.
So today, I successfully took the bus to and from the gym (which is beside the medical clinic.) While on the ride home, I was feeling pretty good about it. I am supposed to be working on celebrating my small successes.
But then, a thought slams into my head: My appointment was today. I missed it. The only thing I had to get done in a 5 day period, and I flubbed it.
Since my accident, this happens to me frequently. I am sure about something, but really I have it wrong, and usually figure it out too late. It can be a time, or date, or place. I have a daytimer, and a schedule, but I still manage to do this a lot.
So then I'm crying, and feeling really dumb. And once I start crying, I have trouble stopping.
I am struggling to feel good about my small accomplishments, when my mistakes seem bigger.
Replies
I had massive memory loss for a period of time after my accident. What you\'re describing is pretty common - memory problems are pretty much standard for all of us who have suffered a TBI. I can tell you that in my case my memory has gotten better over time (I\'m 10 months post-TBI). And everyone I\'ve met that has suffered a TBI seems to improve in that particular area.
It\'s very hard for us to do new things and that takes up a lot of our brain\'s energy. It makes sense that you weren\'t able to remember the appointment - you were just trying to get through the day managing the bus system.
You did REALLY good.
thank you.