Are the people with cognitive and overstimulation issues screwed for life?
 

It ticks me off cuz there is really no cure or treatment for this stuff. Those of you with only physical symptoms like headaches and dizziness are lucky. You can pop a pill that will give you at least some relief. People like me, with huge cognitice deficits, have to alter our lifestyle and live like hermits. I'm 28 and my life is pretty much over. No clubs, no music, no TV, no movies, no video games and no social life. What kind of 28 year old lives a life like that? Lol.

I do, apparently. I don't know what I'd do if my girlfriend of 3 years left me. How the heck do you find a chick when you can't do anything fun? I'm glad my girl doesn't mind sitting in the house with me and being a hermit.

What can I do to improve my cognition? I've tried lots of different things over the last 19-20 months and nothing seems to work. How do I train myself to be able to watch TV again? That one really frustrates me. It's embarrassing when I go to a friends house and he/she asks if I want to watch a movie/show with them. Or, if they even say hey watch this part it's funny. Even just a brief couple seconds will mess up my cognition. I miss watching football :(.

Maybe I'll just move out in the middle of nowhere by myself and live like a hermit. Watch all the TV I want and play countless hours of video games until I become retarded. At least I won't have to deal with anyone!!!

Life has definitely sucked for over a year and a half now and isn't getting better at all. I feel like I've been living under a rock cuz it's been so long since I've been able to watch the news, or new movies or video games...so people will ask me "Hey, you heard about what happened in Wichita?" or "Hey you seen that new movie?" and I'm like noooo cuz I live under a rock. I try to read the news online but can't retain anything.

K...end of my rant. Just reread and it's kinda funny but sad.

You won't be able to find a new "chick" if you keep calling women "chicks"! :winky:

In all seriousness.. I just wanted to ask if you've seen a neuro psychologist or any type of physiotherapy? They might be able to help you work on that.

Just a thought. You've probably tried everything. ....
I'm sorry you're going through so much for this long and at such a young age.

CC

Well, if a chick has a problem with me calling her my chick, then she's definitely not the chick for me. Lol.

I seen a neuropsych and took a neuropsych test in April of last year. The results showed strengths and weaknesses in different areas. Since then, my cognition has gotten MUCH worse and I'm actually scared to take another one. I know the scores will be lower, which means there is something wrong.

I haven't tried any type of physio therapy. What symptoms does it treat? What is the procedure like? What kind of doctor/therapist do I ask about it?

Thanks for your response.

I've live with various PCS symptoms successfully for decades. I dropped out of college because of PCS. I sold my first successful business because I was not handling the stress well but went on to have many other successful businesses.

I know plenty of successful people who could never tolerate the environment of Las Vegas or even a smaller town like Reno. There are plenty of people who do not need to go clubbing or to The Fremont Experience to have a good time.

Small town America has lived this simpler life for eons. Maybe you can find a smaller town and both learn to be small town people. Your kids will love it. btw, Do you have another coming yet ?

Nevada has a good number of small towns. Find a town that is not near a major highway. They tend to be quieter. Middle America has lots of these towns. Find one with a fishing lake or river and kick back under a tree.

As I have said before, The glass can be half-empty, half-full or simply too big. You may be living where your glass is just too big.

My best to you.

Mark, I could live without going to the club, casino, the strip and Fremont St Experience but I can't live without TV, video games and the other stuff my brain can't handle, like reading, music and more. My brain can't follow along with audio books. I've tried that many times before and I had to keep rewinding to understand what they said, or my brain doesn't retain anything from the previous chapters and I get lost. It just feels like I can't do anything to enjoy life.

The only real enjoyment I get out of life is hanging with my son. That can become too much for me, too. Last few days have been hell taking care of him.

Still lookin for a hobby that is fun and easy on my brain. I'm thinking about learning recipes and becoming a cook.

I plan on moving out of Vegas soon. Money is real tight and my family is worried about me moving away from them with the problems that I have.

BTW, Tara is due in May for our 2nd child.

Thanks ;)

I completely understand what you are going through and your fear of the future. I love music, dancing, playing squash, skiing, skating, going to parties, eating out, etc. 16 months post injury I almost always sit in the car when travelling with my family while they go into a restaurant. The noise of a Starbucks is still too much. No watching sports (nhl lockout just ended...my family is happy but it doesn't affect me because I can't watch it!). No movies. Music festivals. Work (university prof...i LOVE teaching but havenot been able to do so for 1.5 years)... And the list goes on.

but! It is SLOWLY getting better. Wee bit by wee bit. And i think it does for most people. Very slowly with lots of setbacks.

If you haven't seen a neuro- opthamologist yet, i would do that ASAP. Many brain injuries affect vision....not just your eye vision but how the brain tells your eyes to work.

What i am also learning is to take breaks. I never took downtime or a nap or a break from life in the past. So this is hard. But go with the signs.

Great news about a new baby. It is so hard to have kids with this condition, BUT when I cuddle my kids all else disappears for a brief moment.
Good luck!!!!!!

No, we are NOT screwed for life. We may need to slow down to give our brains some space to strengthen and heal. It doesn't mean living like a hermit.

The average American lifestyle is very brain unfriendly, especially in towns like Vegas and Hollywood. What passes for entertainment is basically a gigantic assault on the brain. Average daily nutrition, sleep patterns, and even thought patterns also weaken the brain and especially the frontal lobe.

You just have to make a decision if you want to continue exposing your brain to that or not. There are lots of healthier alternatives.

Maybe just like, if a chick doesn't like you calling her a chick, she's not the chick for you -- if a friend can only be your friend by assaulting your brain, they are not the friend for you?

I agree that you should get your vision checked out if you haven't already. That can make a huge difference.

But you also need to give yourself some space and get your brain into optimal condition with nutrition, exercise, water, avoiding harmful substances, fresh air, and all the rest. After several months (MONTHS) of that, you may be able to slowly expose yourself to TV or something again. This is not a process that takes place over a few days.

If you can beg or borrow the money, I do highly highly recommend Dr. Nedley's program. He will do individual nutritional counseling and help you identify specific lifestyle factors that are affecting your brain health. Even if you can't go there, there is a quiz on his website that you can take that will show you areas you are negatively impacting your brain health.

But what I also should add is that a year ago I couldn't even sit in a meeting at work without getting overwhelmed. Now I can. Now I can teach and be in charge of a classroom full of kids again. You can improve. You just have to be kind to your brain and give it the tools it needs to heal.

Thank you everyone. I really really appreciate it.

An old saying that is worthwhile to memorize or write down and post on the refrigerator.

I cried because I had no shoes then I met a man who had no feet.