soccer,

I am glad I don't live in South Dakota. I had too many close calls before I stopped driving. I drove onto a sidewalk near my home. I have become aware that I am headed toward the ditch or opposite lane or some other place my cart should not be headed. Finally, my wife was following and saw a few of my scary moves and pulled me over. My daughter drove my wife's car and my wife drove my truck. That was May 27, 2001. Shortly thereafter, I confessed my close calls to my wife and ended most of my driving.

Now, I only drive on my best days and only on the slower country roads without traffic congestion. I have an old beat up truck that I drive. I doubt I drive 300 miles a year. When I tried driving into Boise, I could easily get confused by the congestion. I even tried a brain rehab therapist to see if I could get back on the road.

In 2003, an elderly man in Santa Monica drove through a crowd of people and killed 10 people. He may have been 86 years old but his dementia caused driving problems that are very similar to PCS with zone out tendencies.

Here in Idaho we had a head on collision a few weeks ago where it appears the driver had some sort of seizure. She crossed the highway median into oncoming traffic and destroyed a whole family except for an infant. Fortunately, she did not survive to live with the devastation she caused the other family.

I cringe when I think of the speeds that car pass each other. We have 65 mph country roads with just a single dotted line between oncoming traffic.

Hopefully, where you live in South Dakota is not congested.

So.... Please be very careful with your driving. Get some answers to your condition.

With your history of five concussions, your brain is in very weak condition. All of the research shows that even those who claim to not be in denial usually grossly minimize the impact of their symptoms. It is a symptom of the injury.

If you were a soldier who had returned from Iraq, the Army would be assessing you carefully because they know how much denial is a part of PCS. As a young woman, you likely fill your void with the interaction on this forum. That way you can have two worlds. On-line, you have a real brain injury. In your home and school life, you just have some minor issues.

If you are struggling at all now, college will blow you away. The change of study intensity and loss of support structure will position you to fall on your face. I've done it. I've seen others do it. There is a group in California that focuses on getting help so PCS subjects can make it through college.

Be sure to have good health insurance and don't let it lapse. I became uninsureable when I moved to a new state. I had to keep my old health insurance and travel 650 miles for routine health care (Idaho to California). I was very fortunate that my policy was not canceled for living out of California.

Hockey, Dmom, Snowylynn and others like me all know the risks you are subjecting yourself too. We want you to have a better rest of your life that we have.

Just sending you some hugs

Hi Soccer,

Yes, a TBI can be isolating. Until I met my neuro-psychologist, I never met anyone who understood or who could be made to understand what I was going through. Then I found NT.

I can post stuff here and I know the rest of you are nodding (gently) your heads, going, "Yeah, I've been there." Heck, I'm just thrilled to be some where that people don't jump all over you and discount what you say if you make a spelling or grammar error. NT really makes me feel less alone.

However, NT does more than that: it allows me to benefit from the wisdom of people who've been dealing with this for longer than I have. I've learned all sorts of important things about supplements, alternative treatments, coping strategies, diagnostic tests, etc... I would never know this stuff without Mark, Vini, Mrh4, Lucy, etc... handing it to me, tied in a bow. Frankly, I now lack the attention span, initiative and organizational skills to find that stuff on my own.

I am also inspired by accounts from those who have improved and comforted by the stories of those who have accepted their limitations with grace.

I know it's hard for you to walk away from contact sports. Look at my avitar; I was a hockey playing maniac. I started in a diaper, played varsity and then went into adult league play. I scored two goals in a game the night before my accident. Heck, I can't tell you how much I loved playing hockey.

What I can tell you, is that it is much harder to wave goodbye to your child while the neighbours take her sledding or skiing or to all the other activities I can't share with her anymore. Spare yourself that pain. Think of the wonderful future that's waiting for you. A future, that even without the TBI, probably wouldn't have included basketball.

The vast majority of female players don't participate into middle age. They move on to other interests and responsibilities or their knees are shot. Would you be playing with a torn ACL?

Cheers

i definitely know i wont be playing in my middle age but i dont want to quit because i want to get a scholarship to play either soccer or basktball in college. ive been playing soccer since i was 4 and started basketball in 4 grade and have played on 2 teams a season since. and ive always wanted to play in college. i know i probably wont be good enough but i hope. especially now ive noticed im just not the same player i used to be in basketball. i dont know about soccer yet i havent played in over 6 months but i guess well find out. ive already looked at some colleges i maybe hope to play at.

Soccer,

Will you make a simple promise to us?????

Will you promise to not head the ball in soccer?

You sore brain will not tolerate heading a soccer ball, even when the ball is not going fast. The research shows that soccer players who routinely head the ball have a 10% lower IQ score. It also shows that a header drill with multiple light headers is more damaging that the occasional corner kick header to the goal.

Please, promise to not head the ball.

i will definitely promise that i usually dont anyway. and i play goalie most of the time so i usually dont have to worry about doing headers which is good.

were all here for you. An injury is never fun but I do feel you, and wish you the best. And I aint gonna lie its downright terrible to be as young as you are and be dealing with this. Im 29 and feel way to young to be cripled by this crap. But there are people in their 80's that feel way to young as well.
We are all in the same boat pain is pain and love is love.

Being a bit older though you deal feel terrible when you see kids hurt. It just aint right. It's like with my kid when he falls and gets hurt I wish it was me.

What mark said about him wanting you to have a better life than weve had takes a man to say that and mean it. Thats mad deep and hocky is telling you that alot of us were atletes and full of zest for life until the wires got tangled.

Take care of your self now and become a teacher and mother and friend to help others in need. In giving we can recieve.

I traveled all around the country skateboarding and living life until I hit my head. 16 years after I started my soul searchin. I dont know if I can ever skate again. And most people only love a few things in life. Family freinds and somthing else. Skating was and is my heart and to hear the doctor say youll never be able to do it anymore is hard.

I get through by lisining to a song by Dan Reeder called youll never surf again i hope the link works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8gXMhOHdWg

If you want to play it's your life you can play. Can you just wait till the symptoms are manageable. When your young its hard more and be careful rushing things. Ultimatley its your life and you gotta make the most of it nobody is telling you you cant do anything their just looking out for you and trying to help. use your age and your time to your advantage so you can enjoy a healthy life. All we have in life is our health. money awards cloths is nothing. Be happy and heal now so you can live now.

yea thats a sad song the one i usually listen to is fix you by coldplay. i just kinda feel like i can sorta relate to a lot of the lyrics. heres the link if you want to see if you like it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI-o25K6B-E&feature=fvst

its a good song that can be sad and somewhat inspirational at some times. all i know is that its gotten me through a lot. actually music in general has. when i first got my concussion all i did for 3 weeks was lay in my bed in the dark and listen to my ipod because everything just made my symptoms worse. i dont know what i would do without music.

Hey, soccer14

I liked both YouTube videos. I certainly liked the shark in the wave. How close we come sometimes. Let's you know God loves you.

Being young, I don't know if you've heard this before.

"When one door closes, another door opens." You may want to see what the other door has to offer.

Life is about change. NOTHING stays the same, at least for me. No brakes, no net. Sometimes it is scary. It is a good idea to have a Plan B and C, because there will be many snares, upsets and hurdles you must cross and overcome. Our decisions will mold our future and reflect our past.

R U having fun yet? You have today to live, to love, to laugh, to make the best of, and then the day will be over and that is your past.

I've also learned through experience, that when you're not up to it, for whatever reason, you won't be able to pull it off anyway.

It's good you're beginning to open up and be honest with yourself. you need to work on that.

what do you mean by having a plan b or c like if im not able to play sports?