Almost 4 months post accident. EVERY single medical professional I have seen says the same thing. "You should continue to improve."

My improving has taken the form of putting clean socks in the kitchen drawer where I keep kitchen towels. Calling a broom an umbrella. Twice. Putting my finger on the pan I JUST pulled from the oven. No one else did it, I pulled it out of the oven, I prepared the meal. DUH. I can't remember where things that I've been putting in the same place for a year belong now. Oh yeah, that's an improvement, let me tell you.

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Barnum & Bailey? I need a job.

No that doesn't sound like improvement to me. I hear your frustration. To do things that you normally don't do must be very hard on you. I would seek yet another opinion if you are doing those things that can be dangerous like picking up a hot pan, ouch!. I hope that your injury does get better and if it doesn't go back in until somebody listens to you. I wish you all the best. ginnie

tamisue,

You clowning is very common. Before PCS, we could do many tasks from an almost unconscious level of memory. With PCS, we often need to become more deliberate with our actions.

Your problems in the kitchen are just a version of what some of us call 'brain farts.' I can't believe I did that. It stinks. How can I stop it from happening again because everybody is looking at me?

You just have to laugh.

Driving is probably the most problematic task if your are having these problems. They can manifest as reversals of common actions, like hitting the gas when you mean to hit the brakes. Stress or being hurried is a common trigger.

When I drive, I need to be very deliberate. In my wife's car, it is so cushy and easy to drive that I can easily forget that I am driving. I have learned that if I leave her lumbar support the way she likes it, I never get comfortable and stay more attentive.

When we learn which hills to have a battle on and which to ignore, we lower our stress and have less of these problems. Putting socks in the towel drawer is not a worthwhile battle. Touching a hot pan is.

My wife has noticed how I become very deliberate when doing anything with risk to it. I used to be able to fly through tasks with very little mental effort. After cutting a finger off and other personal injuries or broken things, I have learned to slow down and be deliberate.

I hope you can find ways to reduce your serious brain farts and laugh at the rest.

I still do burn my fingers from time to time. An ice cube on the burn right away and then holding it there for a hour does wonders.

My best to you.

OH NO!!! No brain farts while driving please. I don't want to be the reason someone else finds this forum.....

Yeah, you are all right....prior to this, there were NO socks in the kitchen! Thanks all!!! You know how to make a gal feel better.