Beware ofthe foil decorations
 

Since having PCS is very new to me, I am not sure if this has been covered before, I found out the hard way.

I went to a craft store earlier today, and it was loaded with Valentine's Day items. In a bin they had all these lovely bright, foiled (very shiny) Large hearts, and other very shiny items. BEWARE, DO NOT look at them. Whoa, that's all I can say, "whoa." They sent me for a loop, my brain was not happy.

I can understand your experience. I have similar problems. I also struggle with checkerboard patterns and some prints. The PCS visual processing can struggle to filter out the chaotic information.

Wow. Who woulda thought? My advice... stick to the candy hearts! lol

Heal fast...

Hey, try stepping out of the little warming/waiting booth at the train station when the train is still whizzing into place 4 feet in front of you.

Or rather, don't. Trust me. Yikes.

Now I understand why I felt the way I did during my testing...!!!

The MD placed a sheet of paper filled with small numbers in front of me and told me to put a strike out on all of the 6's....

I looked at the paper and immediately felt like I was going to vomit...I became dizzy and nauseous and told him to take the paper away...

He did...(just thinking about that darn paper makes me anxious now!!!)

At least I understand WHY that happened...now I need to know what to do about it so that it doesn't happen again :)

Just saw some exceedingly bright, fluorescent purses at a store. My friend kept remarking about them... I couldn't even look at them. It was like trying to look at a very bright light - a quick peek was all my eyes could handle.

Someone showed me some optical illusions - that gave me the whole "gonna throw up" feeling!

The opening credits of the Big Bang Theory :eek:

I winced and shivered everytime I read one of the things things that bothered people. Not even seeing , just thinking and picturing them sent my head reeling.*

* I could be having spelling issues today.:confused:

This thread makes me think of this song... (Warning - it's a hard song to listen to if you're having sensory issues... very "busy" sounding). To me, the lyrics and feel of this song come the closest to describing sensory overload to the stymied non-concussed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUwd737mioM

"Too much information running through my brain
Too much information driving me insane..."

I just watched this and had no head weirdness :cool:

I think I have found a new outcome measure to replace the impact test :D

I've been "released" to drive again by the MDs. Show's how much they know.
I've decided to use my best judgement (for what that is currently worth) as to when I should attempt to drive. Not when it's too bright. Not when I'm too foggy.
Generally on my best days when necessary for doctors appts. etc.

I decided to meet my son for dinner on one of my "good" days. Halfway home I encountered heavy fog. The headlights were bouncing around in the fog to a point where I felt like I was driving in a "fun house" nightmare. I made it home and had several "bad" days afterward.

Things that healthy people take for granted can absolutely wreck me now.
Caution becomes my first thought to whatever I attempt to undertake these days.

wdl6591,

Good for you regarding the driving. Driving is a critical issue and most will over-rate their ability to drive. I have been limiting my driving for 11 years. I even went 2 years without driving at all when I had too much stress in my life.

It is also important to learn to find times and roads that are easier to drive and those that are not.

This is subject is frequently discussed at my Brain Injury Support Group meeting. Those with the greatest disability tend to be less willing to make good decisions.

I think a lot of people forget that driving is in fact operating heavy equipment. If you are unable to keep focus 100% of the time, if you are easily distracted, if you can only focus on one thing at a time or cannot multi-task, you are not ready to get behind the wheel. If you get dizzy suddenly, if you get disoriented, are limited in how you react to things in your environment that have changed, you aren't ready to get behind the wheel. I think Mark is right on the issue of impaired judgement and brain injury and should be taken into account when considering driving. We frequently don't know our own limitations. Much better to be conservative on this one than hurt yourself or someone else.