Making a difference through my PCS
 

One of my biggest struggle with being out of work, is feeling like i am not making a difference in anyones life on a daily basis. As a nurse, i've always found my work very rewarding and uplifting and i miss it so much! But lately, i'm finding that i am making a difference in the smallest ways through other people.

The other day, one of my coworkers (and a very good friend) told me how she is so much more aware of her patients complaints of headaches or odd neurological symptoms because of what she has seen with me. This friend was one of the first people to help me after my accident when i was at my worst (stuttering every word, hallucinating most of the time, very weird visual changes, dizzy and falling every hour, obviously awful headaches, etc). She said because of me, she is a better nurse after watching me deal with my TBI and PCS. I never thought of the impact i would have on my nurse friends.

Also, my last therapy session, my therapist said she spent 2 hours studying intensely about my PCS right after our last session. She has some experience with it, but watching me struggle for the past 6 months made her want to understand the psychological component more so she could understand what i was going through, and so she will be wiser with further PCS patients.

Trying to find a positive out of the negative that is our conditions. Hoping positive thinking can get me through all this!

That is awesome!!! So glad you could feel like you are helping people again :)

As someone who did direct care with children with behavioral and emotional problems, I feel like this experience will really help me understand my students with sensory problems if and when I am able to return to similar work.

However, I too struggle to find ways to impact others on a daily basis. I felt so needed at my job and that I was really making a difference in the lives of others. It's hard to do that when you only interact with others when you go to the Drs. or therapy appointments.

That is so amazing. Without knowing it you are making a significant impact in these medical professionals lives, which will in turn benefit the countless patients they will care for. You might not be making a difference in someones life the way you are used to, but you are still making a difference, just in a different way.
This is defiantly a silver lining!

Nightnurse (and any other nurses out there) I just want to say thank you to all of you for all the compassion you have for patients (which is most often lacking in doctors). My son was in the hospital when he was 3 for 3 months and I have such a high regard for nurses as he was so well taken care for by most of them. Most nurses know just as much as the doctors and without them...yikes..god only knows!

I'm so glad your able to still help people. I know how satisfying it is. I miss my patients so much. The more I deal with other specialists I realize that my dedication and determination just isn't normal. I used to feel like I had a purpose in life. Helping other people made me feel good. I grew up in a traumatic toxic household and I think it taught me compassion.

It's nice to see that even with everything you have to deal with your able to take the time and help others. Kudos to you!!!!!

Keep up the good work and I hope your having a pain free wonderful day!!

that just made my day. I'm reading a book now about a Dr who had (has) TBI and her struggles.

I decided after the accident happened that I would pay better attention to my friends who are sick, etc. You don't know what someone is going thru if you've never been in their shoes.

What is the name of the book....I would be interested in reading it...

Is it "over my head"? by Dr. Claudia Osborn? I have this book in my list of books to read and it seemed like i could relate to it. Thanks everyone for all of your heartfelt messages. We are all in this together and we are all making a difference in each others lives through helping on this site and teaching our friends and family about our condition. Go PCSers!

It is Over My Head by Claudia Osborn!!!! So far, so good. Apparently she suffered a pretty nasty TBI. As I've read thru her book I've nodded in agreement several times, and also thanked my lucky stars that I didn't suffer some of the problems she did. She has had a good support system in the book, but hasn't kept her from making some pretty big mistakes (nothing medical). I'm about 3/4 of the way thru it. I would recommend it. Bought it on the Nook the hub got me right before my accident. I'm a big reader and it took me a couple of months post accident to even want to read.

awesome! cant wait to check it out.