Jeffn
 

Where are you - you are very quiet - hope you are ok. Lynlee

Hi Lucy
 

Been very very busy this week. Just got back in town. Needed to go visit a friend of mine from Seattle and get lined out on some moving issues. Yes I'm OK but I did take a nasty fall today and this concerns me.

Went to see my PCP and have a little information on the fatigue issue to tried to type anything up right now, but I am making some progress.

Hay I saw a sprint commerical on TV out of NY with 25 bike messagers with pink bike helmets, but no racing stripes I'm thinking about buying one if I continue to fall. Looks like the falls are on a 3 week cycle as this has been the 3rd one in the last 6 weeks.

Take Care Jeffn. :)

Thank you for your concern are you making any progresss with the herbs??

HI will comment on the Nitrate sulph later , feeling really awful today, Lynlee

sorry Jeffn
 

I forgot to say sorry about your fall - isn't it nuts talking about falls at the age most of us are on here - you are meant to have falls when you are in your 80s+ .It is hard for others to understand the effect of a simple fall.

Lynlee

lucy
 

To Lynlee, I think I'm going to buy a pink bike helmet or my a pink football helmet, not sure. I have some infor to send your way but don't have the mental energy to write it up.

There is hope and I believe that these issue can be resolved in a positive way but it's going to have to come from within. THIS IS ONE OF THE PROBLEMS with tbi/pcs.

Thinking outside of the box.

Take care Jeffn and Thankyou for your reply. :winky:

Jeff
 

Wow- sorry to hear about your fall. I'm petrified of falling now, because after being on this site I now understand that hitting your head again is NOT a good thing.

I have to go up and down three flights of cement stairs to get to and from the train station when I'm downtown and when I'm feeling a little wobbly, I can just see myself falling all the way down.

I probably look like an old lady going down those stairs because I hold on to the railing very tight and take it very slow.

Pink helmet, huh? Hmmmmm...........:You-Rock:

I hope you don't suffer too many repercussions from this fall. Take good care!

Hi Risible GIRL
 

To Lori, Ya I like the pink bike helmet idea. As it's time to make a statement to people who don't understand the TBI/PCS issue, I prefer wearing my Scottish BERET as it makes the statement that I am here to take care of the business at hand. I think I'll buy a pink bike helmet and wear it to my next Dr. visit. YA THINK?
He's a cool person and a real Dr. he took my 3 page summery report home to read and study as it wasn't in my file on my last visit. This guy is smart as he's been a Dr for 40 plus years and he listen to you. He has an open mind so if you make a suggestion he says let try that and see if it works. I like that.

I'm a little concerned about falling down as this has happen 3 times in the last 6 weeks or so. I'm going to change out my glasses as I don't like bifocals and I think this maybe part of the problem, so I'm going back to driving glasses and reading glasses.

How are you doing Lori, are you making progress?

I spent some time with a buddy of mine from Seattle last week we had a good visit. Very thankful I have real friends.

Take Care Jeffn :)

Falls & Bike Helmets
 

Hi guys, I watched a show on PBS few days ago about brain fitness and they said that when people are afraid of falling they train themselves to look down at their feet while walking, instead of looking ahead, and that throws off the balancing system and they tend to fall more often. Therefore, they need to retrain themself to look ahead. Don't know if there is anything to this, but might be worth paying attention to. Lori - I feel the same way about stairs, still get kind of dizzy going up and hang on for dear life going down. Five years ago I climbed 94 floors at the Hancock Center in Chicago - even beat my sister who has always been better in cycling, ha.

Jeff, you have a great sense of humor! Sorry about your fall. The best bike helmets are the ones with a rating of 90 or 95.

Hi Lucy
 

To Lynlee

Had a good visit with my new PCP and gave him a copy of my 3 page summery report. Listing out the symptoms and my Goals. I think this is the person I need to work with as he has an open mind, he's smart and he listens to what you have to say and he's a real Dr. as he is more concerned with my health and well being then my ability to pay. His attitude is what can I do to help you get back on your feet.

Chronic Fatigue: My Dr put me on a thyreoid medication to increase my metabolism. This seems to be helping as I can stay awake all day and not have to take a nap at 3:00 pm. The medication is also helping with my mental alertness and there doesn't seem to be any negative side effects.

It take 30 days for the medication to get into your system and you start with 100 mcg for a week and then to 200 mcg, but after 6 days I'm already seeing some positive results.

I'm also using Flex Seed Oil and Brewers Yeast supplement. Both of these supplements are brain food and are helping with the mental clarity. I'm starting to feel like my old self for 2-3 hours at a time. I plan to start using my energy drink 2 times per day for the next month and then increase to 3 times per day to see if this will help with my physical endurance. I am so out of shape right now, but that another subject.

I talked to one of my mentors last week. He was impressed with the progress report. Jack and I have been having coffee once a week for the last 4 years
since the accident happened, so he know what a mess I was in and has seen me at my lowest of lowes. Jack is also one of the members of my master mind group, so his opinion and feed back hold a great deal of weight with me.

Still in the process of setting up a master mind group for the neurofeedback. I'm very excited about this type of therapy, but right now I have to pick myself up off the sidewalk. Baby steps will get you to the bus.

How are you doing Lynlee are you making progress ?

Take Care Jeffn:)

Sissy
 

To Sissy, Thank you for the feed back on the bike helmets. I'm going down next week to see what I can find 90-95 rating ok.

There's alot of people who post here that continue to re injure themselfs Lynlee and PCS Mc Gee and end up going backwards in there recovery, being at the 4+ year mark I can't afford this kind of set back.

Prevention is the key right now.

Take Care Sissy Hope your headaches are getting better and you find a solution. Jeffn:)

To all, about the looking down.

I've been being trained in Physical therapy to look up and not look down.
It does cause more accidents. I'm having better luck because I'm being
very consciencious about this.

I still fall, I fell just this week too. But my fall was because I'd just mopped
my dining room floor. And I couldn't stand on it.

But I've got new worries tonight. My 16 year old has fallen twice today.
I have to keep a close eye on him now for seizures. He is not accident
prone. And this is a concern.

Donna

Sounds Good
 

Jeffn it really sounds like you are making progress - well done!!! Are you now managing to stay awake all day - I am so so jealous!! You have certainly put the work in!! I hope you continue to make progress. How did you manage to fall?? Somewhere on here I think I read about you having bifocals?? I have just got rid of my glassess and contact lenses. I found that when I wore my glasses going down steps was not good, then when I wore my contacts I had to use reading glasses. So I made a decision - I had laser eye surgery about 5 weeks (I think) ago - courtesy of my mother. (My mum died in April of this year and I think she would have been really pleased) I now have 20/20 vision with both eyes, however one was slightly under corrected so that I don't need reading glasses. - though I may well later as I get older. I am hoping that I will be less accident prone.

Donna and Sissy- I agree we try to be more careful and look down - I know that I do especially on stairs - and I have those at work and go up and down them at least a dozen times during my 3 hours at work.

Donna - Gosh I hope your son is going to be ok - you will be so worried and worry is not the best for any of us.

Lynlee
There is a lot more I want to say but I am still feeling totally lousy/yuck/horrid.

Lucy
 

To Lynlee, Yes the thyroid medicine is working good for me. Able to stay awake all day no nap at 3:00 pm and my mental clarity is starting to return.

This is the second week starting at 200 mcg and I'm starting to have 2-3 hours a day of feeling like my old self, he's starting to come back and the bruising pain on the left side of the brain is starting to feel like it is healing.

The healing process is starting. I still have alot of work to do but I feel the next 90 days will produce some promising results.

I am being very careful about the balance problem and looking down at the ground with bifocals as this is part of the problem. I'm also looking for a pink bike helmet, sissy say a 90-95 rating is good.

I fell over a gas line while I was filling my Blazer. I must say the concert is very hard and when your 50+ and you don't bounce very well. The good thing is that I did not hit my head, a little over protective about this part of my body these days.

The thyroid medication takes 30 day to get into your system but I'm starting to see some good results. The Flex Seed Oil and Brewers Yeast [ brain food ] are also helping with the mental clarity and my mental awareness is starting to return little by little.

Some good news I talked to my friend Mary yesterday she just got back from Costa Rica and one of her friends is a Dr. from India who specializes in natural healing and the brain. She invited me down for a few months and thinks this Dr. maybe able to help me in the rebuilding process of the brain.

I talk to her briefly about the neurofeedback therapy and she thinks this Dr maybe able to help me set up the protoco's for this treatment.

So it looks like I have 3 members for the master mind group for this treatment
program, but I feel that there are 2 more people that need to be involved in this group that I haven't meet yet. There on there way.

Taking it slow and easy and trying to stay balanced. Baby steps will get you to the bus and I'm realily trying not to set myself up for failure by pushing it to hard.

Sorry to hear about your mom that's a hard one and I haven't had to deal with that one yet. This would not be a good time to have to process that type of emotional grieving for me or anyone dealing with TBI/PCS.

Hope you are doing well and that the herbs are helping you. How's that going by the way?

Take Care Jeffn:)

Lucy

My son is doing pretty good. He is having some small seizures but that is part of him anyway. So that is something that isn't new. And we just have to watch.

I am doing okay too. Had a rough morning in physical therapy with my vestibular/balance therapist. But it was odd, I was doing so well, really
looking forward to a good day. Then I was asked to make my head go side to side. And it just wasn't good. So it through my therapy off. Then
I had more trouble. But I survived. I know have a good and bad days list.

Which I'm really glad to have. Its just part of me.

So life goes on.

Donna

Lucy
 

Hi Lynlee, havn't heard from you in a few days put some of the post I've seen it does not sound like your feeling to well.

I hope you get to feeling better,and strat enjoying the holidays.

I like Egg nog . Do you have Egg nog in NZ. ?

Drop a line when you have a few minutes.

Peace Jeffn:winky:

Hi Jeffn - I am still around - maybe our posts have crossed. Was quiet for a few days - couldn't really concentrate enough to put together anything worth saying - simply ran out of steam and my brain hurt to think

I had my last session with my psychologist today. She has told me that I should focus on maintaining my current schedule to have better quality time in my current awake time - in other words stop thinking about trying to stay awake all day as all that does is tire me. I just feel so .................dunno......... the words to describe it. She is also anti the "stay awake drug" - provigal - she hadn't heard about it but thought that anything artificial will end up with a crash as the physical self can't maintain the pace. I guess that does make sense but at least it would give me an option.

Work is also not great at the moment as I can't keep up with the new technology - like the registration of the transfer of property ( when land and houses etc is sold) is now computerised and is done by solicitors and no longer goes by paper transactions to the Land Transfer Office - in my short working day I don't have time to keep up with my work load and learn - I am now a very slow learner. I have managed to fob it off to my secretary but should be supervising as I am responsible for the transaction - I keep thinking this is an accidend waiting to happen -

Anyway enough of my moans - I actually don't think that I have had egg nog - some do have it over here - but Christmas is in the summer for us - we tend to have strawberries and barbeques - sparkling wines - though I must admit we (my family - what's left of it! ) tend to stick with the traditional roast turkey, ham and Christmas pudding.

I will be having approx a month off work as our Law firm closes on 21 December and reopens 21 January - kind of compulsery holiday - can't wait, but this year I am going to be smarter and plan my days so that I know what I am doing - or it will be like the weekends with me unable to decide what to do today the entire time!!

I don't think we have heard from Lori for some time

Lori = where are you and are you ok??????

Lynlee

Natrum Sulph
 

Forgot to tell you about the effect of this - I don't think it actually did anything aside from a stomach ache!! I have been told to wait and see, well I guess I am good at that - that is about the first thing my neurologist told me - she used to talk about while I am waiting to get better - as I have said before - mighty long wait - haven't I waited long enough - surely there is a limit - funny really when we were all at Primary School used to be waiting for the school holidays, then waiting for Christmas, waiting for your next birthday............ never thought about waiting to get better. I am not very good at waiting any more I no longer like waiting nor do I like surprises. No doubt our PCS McGee could add to that!!!

Lynlee

Lucy
 

LYNLEE, My simple prayer for you this CHRISTMAS is that you find Peace.

Jeffn.

Jeffn
 

Good grief do I sound like I need peace???? Thank you for your Christmas prayer - however don't you think that I have enough peace in the hours that I sleep during the day = like my motto is "peace calm relax" Ok ok I am only winding you up! Though I am allowed to stamp my feet and stomp around every now and then!!! An occasional tantrum is good for you - might be a waste of energy but there must be psychological benefits!!

Have a good weekend every body we are off to a wedding 3 hours drive down country - who would want to get married a week before Christmas for goodness sake - so inconsiderate!!!

There you all know that I am grouchy today!!!! By the way the fruit shops are full of fresh strawberries and a client came in with a box of cherries today!

Good night and grumps

Lynlee

Lynlee,
You do have a right to a good moaning session and you are in a rough place, having to be patient and wait! Especially since most things in your life were improved with a little effort and focus and now you only feel worse with too much effort and focus! This is a very tricky, everything in moderation stradegy with PCS! Those that just let things go and spend less time worrying probably are better off here. It's a rough time of year for all souls who are unhappy with parts of their lifes and hopefully January will bring you some relief. I hope and pray for a healthier 2008 for you!!
Nancy

Good Morning
 

Good Morning Lynlee

Your Holiday starts today that's cool, it's nice to get a break. Hope all goes well for you during this time and that it is productive, so eat lots of good food,enjoy a good cup of coffee, time with family and friends and do all the things you like to do in life.

I'm making progress Lynlee, the brain is starting to heal. I don't understand it but I'm strating to feel the brain healing itself.

Thank you for your help and your post they have help me a great deal

Take Care Jeffn

PS: PLEASE,PLEASE, PLEASE DO NOT BUMP YOUR LITTLE HEAD.

Your Psychologist sounds well grounded maybe taking a little thinking break might help.

Jeffn and Lori
 

Well done Jeffn - what a lovely feeling for you - knowing that you are getting better!! Tell us how you know!

I picked up the provigal yesterday. I have looked at it and looked at it again. You know what - I am scared - I am scared that it might not work and I am scared that it might bring back the bad headaches. I never used to be scared of anything pre head injury. I would like to think that I was a tough smart know all - hopefully a nice one though!

Anyway I am going to take the first tablet on Boxing Day as we have decided that we are all going to go to the one day cricket test which is going to be here in Auckland. NZ playing Bangladesh - don't think you play cricket in the US. I shall also take something that I can use as a pillow as there will be plenty of spare seats for me to sleep across if I need to. My daughter and I made the Christmas pudding today complete with 1/2 cup of rum in it!

Not heard from you for a while Lori and PCS McGee - hope you are both OK - PCS McGee you are very quiet - are you alright ?

Lynlee

You know what? If it does bring on a headache, you can just quit taking it. I'd suggest messing around with the dosage before you quit altogether. But this drug won't have long-term affect on you from what I understand.

PS- I'm fine, just had to get a project out the door at work by Friday (and I did!) so was putting in some extra hours.

I'm beat! :)

Hi Lucy
 

Good Morning Lynlee I hope the proyigal works for you.
Jeffn:)

Lori and Jeffn
 

HI. I am a wimp aren't I????

Anyway, fantastic news.

My step daughter is a Dr of Neurology at a UK University, and I have had her looking into the provigil and she has had the HOD looking at it as well AND - she thinks it is made for me.

Lori she thinks that for your headaches - just as you thought - maybe you were on the wrong dosage.

She also said this morning after studying up a little more that some research had shown that it may actually assist repair!!!! Wow!!!

I would hug you Lori if I could!!!!

And Jeffn you are so amazingly calm and rational - are you always on your best behaviour when posting?

Lynlee

Lynlee
 

Wow- your stepdaughter is a neuro? Lucky you! You don't have to worry about trusting what any ol' neuro tells you. You can confirm it with your stepdaughter!

Gosh I'm so glad that my experience might potentially help someone else. That makes me feel just great. I hope that this drug gives you EXACTLY what you need.

Hugs,
Lori