Thread: Is it all in our minds?
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Old 06-10-2014, 10:13 AM
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Lightrail11 Lightrail11 is offline
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Lightrail11 Lightrail11 is offline
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Phoenix AZ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Willgetbetter View Post
Sometimes I wonder if this whole PCS thing is all in our heads. Things like brain fatigue, tiredness, etc are all part of daily life. I think at times we may be just reaching on these symptoms and over-exaggerating them.
Interesting question.

One thing that I consider is that I can't say for certain what I really felt like before my TBI. There are about 5 weeks I don't remember anything, and human memory is subjective and continuously influenced by new events and stimuli. All I can say is the way I am today is the "new normal". I'm fortunate in that I am able to work and move forward with my life. The occasional vertigo and other obvious symptoms are things that I just have to deal with. My emotional state varies, and I have no objective comparison to the way that was before.
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What Happened: On November 29, 2010, I was walking across the street and was hit by a light rail commuter train. Result was a severe traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures (skull, pelvis, ribs). Total hospital stay was two months, one in ICU followed by an additional month in neuro-rehab. Upon hospital discharge, neurological testing revealed deficits in short term memory, executive functioning, and spatial recognition.

Today: Neuropsychological examination five months post-accident indicated a return to normal cognitive functioning, and I returned to work approximately 6 months after the accident. I am grateful to be alive and am looking forward to enjoying the rest of my life.
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