Hello fellow TBI sufferers. I joined the NeuroTalk community today so I could read other people's stories, and hopefully receive some support myself. It's nice to live in an age where you can be a part of a supportive community of people with similar ailments without even leaving the comfort of your home. Now, on with the story...

It was just over 72 hours ago that I received my trauma. It was a rainy day, and I had the bright idea of longboarding with some of my friends. My confidence was up, and I decided to take a sharp turn. Due to the damp conditions, my board began to slide in the middle of the turn. I then lost my balance and fell backwards onto the pavement (this is where it gets exciting.) Out of instinct, my left hand went down first in an effort to stop my fall. Then my lower back hit, whip-lashing the back of my head into the pavement. Luckily, I suffered no amnesia or unconsciousness. I got up immediately and was somewhat in shock. Feeling rather dazed after the incident, my friend gave me a ride home.

When I arrived at home, my vision and equilibrium were off. Walking felt a bit odd and I was seeing stars (you know, like in the cartoons.) I was concerned but figured I would just lay down for a bit and see how I felt. After laying down for about an hour or two and drinking a ton of water, I decided that I had better go to the hospital. Head injuries are something to take seriously, and I was not about to take chances with my health.

I arrived at the hospital with my girlfriend who was kind enough to drive me. My vitals checked out, and I proceeded to my own room. When the doctor arrived, he asked about my symptoms which I described. He told me that my head trauma was mild, as I was never unconscious and experienced no nausea. He did, however, recommend I get an x-ray for my wrist. The x-ray showed that nothing was broken, so I simply received a splint for my wrist. I went home feeling better, having had professionals examine me. I rested the rest of the day, and went to bed hoping that my symptoms would subside by morning. The next day, I was happy to wake up and not be in a coma. However, my vision and equilibrium were still off. As the day went on, my condition fluctuated between relatively fine and not so good. About 36 hours after the original incident, I decided to go back to the hospital as I was worried about my brain.

It was my 2nd time at the hospital, so the doctor recommended I get a CT scan. This was quite amusing to me...what an amazing $2 million piece of equipment. After a man in New Zealand reviewed the scan, the doctor told me my brain looked just fine. Upon checking out, he told me it is normal to experience symptoms for days, weeks, and sometimes even months after a concussion. This was reassuring, and explained why I still felt off.

It is now 72 hours after the incident, and my equilibrium and vision still feel off. It is hard to explain what it's like, but I just don't feel 100%. Today, I purchased some DHA/EPA supplementation from the health story. I have also been drinking water and taking multivitamins, as well as resting. I am definitely someone who struggles with anxiety, and I can't help but I worry about my symptoms. I wonder If my brain will ever be back to normal, and my vision and equilibrium will return to normal so I can just go on with my life already. Thank you for reading, and I hope my story wasn't too boring. I'd like to hear what you guys have to say.