[Astrid2803]

Hi guys,

This is my first post. Seems strange reading some of your posts as it feels, oh shall we say, déjà vu
I lost time during a car accident in 1997 but didn’t seem to suffer any obvious concussion. It was only some time after the accident that I really started paying attention to the fact that things were far from what they used to be. The fatigue, blurry vision, lack of concentration (previously would be completely engrossed in my work while studying – then it changed to reading the same sentence over and over, completely unable to comprehend.) I even had to try and figure out if people were actually speaking english to me and my delays in responding seemed to utterly irritate! The shortened temper of course, which being a teen at the time, didn’t really alarm my parents to anything excessively unusual. I’d even mentioned to my mother that I really did not feel well. She decided that I had a UTI, perhaps the fever was causing me to feel unwell. Eventually I took myself off to a doctor who organised a MRI for me, although it came back with no real evidence of a TBI. So according to those around me it was “all in my head” (no pun intended). Let’s just say it’s been an incredibly hard road, but still kicking and I'm really glad to have found this site!

[jinga]

I just read your post - Were you ever dx with ahead injury since the accident? Were you rear ended or other? I am going through the same thing but docs are under the impression that if you dont lose consciousness then you cannot have suffered a head injury. A lot of good info here to prove otherwise.

[Mark in Idaho]

Astrid,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your long and hard road.

Feel free to tell us the specifics of your injury and your ongoing symptoms. We are here to help.

It would help many of us if you would put a double paragraph space after ever 5 lines or so. Many of us struggle to follow from the end of one line to the start of the next. Short paragraphs make this task much easier.

You symptoms of rereading the same line over and over sounds so familiar. I did this routinely until I learned to recognize this behavior and find a work-around.

My best to you.

[Astrid2803]

Hey, thanks for your replies.

Mark, sorry for the ginormous paragraph. I actually can’t believe I did that considering I also can’t navigate properly from one line to the next sometimes!

Was that line “Sorry to hear of your long and hard road” meant to be sarcastic, because now after reading your story, I think it should’ve been! (I feel kinda sheepish.)
Keeping marriage together at the best of times is difficult, so I totally salute you.

Jinga, indeed I’ve found the same thing with a lot of doctors, they follow protocol and you’re pretty much just a number. I’m really sorry you’re going through all of this (especially the headaches), considering that it probably still feels relatively new.
Your symptoms are pretty much tell-tale signs, I can’t believe doctors would still say that!

In the accident, I was sitting behind the driver’s seat. The other car T-boned ours, which meant that my friend driving the car was injured really badly. The rest of us were seemingly unharmed in comparison.

Over the years I’ve just tried to adapt, based on the fact that I wasn’t taken seriously. Eventually when I thought I was losing my marbles I sought out the help of a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, but I’m still unconvinced as I don’t experience any seizures.

Just tryna make sense of it!

[Astrid2803]

Hey, thanks for your replies.

Mark, sorry for the ginormous paragraph. I actually can’t believe I did that considering I also can’t navigate properly from one line to the next sometimes!

Was that line “Sorry to hear of your long and hard road” meant to be sarcastic, because now after reading your story, I think it should’ve been!
(I feel kinda sheepish.)

Keeping marriage together at the best of times is difficult, so I totally salute you.

Jinga, indeed I’ve found the same thing with a lot of doctors, they follow protocol and you’re pretty much just a number. I’m really sorry you’re going through all of this (especially the headaches), considering that it probably still feels relatively new.

Your symptoms are pretty much tell-tale signs, I can’t believe doctors would still say that!

In the accident, I was sitting behind the driver’s seat. The other car T-boned ours, which meant that my friend driving the car was injured really badly. The rest of us were seemingly unharmed in comparison.

Over the years I’ve just tried to adapt, based on the fact that I wasn’t taken seriously. Eventually when I thought I was losing my marbles I sought out the help of a psychiatrist who diagnosed me with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy, but I’m still unconvinced as I don’t experience any seizures.

Just tryna make sense of it!

[Mark in Idaho]

Going undiagnosed for so long is a long and hard road.

When you seek out a psychiatrist because of your struggles, it tells me you have been having a rough time. I went through a time like that 13 years ago.

What are your current symptoms? You may have a temporal lobe injury, so your psychiatrist may be on the right track.

What are you doing to help your brain?

[stormcloudfire]

NOv 10 1968 Kead onColision with a 3800pound Car I was on a motorcycle . the issue was begining to become evident I had a poor attention span 6 month s after the accident I returned to UBC 9 months after the Accident still in Casts and on Crutches but wanting to return to learning my Life Began to disintegrate from my first Mid term Exam on . I passed Psychoogy and Physics 130 2 courses I didnt bother to show in class for. English I was So so But math And Chemistry the Subjects I chose to Honor in 10% This was a disaster From the highest marks in the Provinve the year before to the lowest in the same courses . WHAT Reading the page over and over and over when asked what I was reading My reply "What!" I had not 5 seconds later comprehended I was reading the book in my hand. This worsened as theyear continued . soon Days dissapeared weeks then years. I struggled for 12 years to find the best way to combat What was now FULL BLOWN AMNESIA! not only short term memory loss. Yet In my Work OF Research IN industrial Chemistry I wrote 28 Patents and 139 Federal Pesticide Aplication Laws for the Preservation of Lumber . I developed the Formulas of Chemicals used in Pulping that in 1973 were KInk of the class and still today 40 years latr are still unbeaten in performance or Environmental Value . In the years 10 tp 12 I began to grow out of this mentaly desdtructive state of mind . LIke You NO evidence of Brain injury only my Crushed Crash helmet.
HOw did I recover I guess God is the only person to answer that. I wrote my day down in detail and MY plans for tomorrow as I generated the next days schedule an offchute of todays work. I survived NO more .

Today I now remember all I did during those days. even the details of my Chem,ical Formulas the treating parameters for each species of wood . Its amazing .
I also remember the Psychological pain I suffered every day of my life during those years .The times it became well beyond my ability to shoulder these pains. What I did and why . i still to this day claim my actions were what should have been and I was right in choosing them and wrong in failing. But life is cruel.
MANs Brain seeks to remember everything in his life in absolute detail. you will succeed in doing so . However the pain of this is beyond comprehension.
Post Traumatic Amnesia : What I suffered instantly after the Accident is however very different in that you will never recall those events of the incident. Please let this question Go . PTA is a Protective Form of amnesia to protect you from the horror of the incident . this is Best to leave within the darkness of your Minds Archives .and never re visited.

Your not alone and AS long as I live you never will be. I survived I am a survivor But I also learn about my issues in life. AMnesia is just one of many neurological issues man still has very little knowledge about .
IF you need Please keep in touch you can Email me for more details if you wish.
Peter

Originally Posted by Astrid2803

Hi guys,

This is my first post. Seems strange reading some of your posts as it feels, oh shall we say, déjà vu
I lost time during a car accident in 1997 but didn’t seem to suffer any obvious concussion. It was only some time after the accident that I really started paying attention to the fact that things were far from what they used to be. The fatigue, blurry vision, lack of concentration (previously would be completely engrossed in my work while studying – then it changed to reading the same sentence over and over, completely unable to comprehend.) I even had to try and figure out if people were actually speaking english to me and my delays in responding seemed to utterly irritate! The shortened temper of course, which being a teen at the time, didn’t really alarm my parents to anything excessively unusual. I’d even mentioned to my mother that I really did not feel well. She decided that I had a UTI, perhaps the fever was causing me to feel unwell. Eventually I took myself off to a doctor who organised a MRI for me, although it came back with no real evidence of a TBI. So according to those around me it was “all in my head” (no pun intended). Let’s just say it’s been an incredibly hard road, but still kicking and I'm really glad to have found this site!

[Astrid2803]

Thanks for your support Mark,

Apologies for the duplication, internet took a dip so couldn’t tell if the post
went through but hey it did!

It's great that someone takes the time to really see the struggle of what someone else is going through in their life.

I feel my relationships have suffered the most since the start of this experience and so I envy you for the fact that you've accomplished what you have regarding your family.

I still maintain that one of the best things about my life is that I don't have children because it would not be fair to them.

I was raised in a semi-religious family, but after the accident I was really into my faith.

After a while of not getting support I starting wondering about this supposed love I was to be feeling but was not receiving from those around me in the same faith.

Once I was diagnosed with TLE, I really started doubting not only my faith but also my experiences relating to it.

Although I've never had what they refer to as "the God complex" (feeling that I'm invincible, that I am God) I hate to say it but I have had experiences where at the time, I've seen what I would call, angels etc.

One night I woke up to my room seemingly lighter than usual and noticed two large neon blue/white "beings" standing next to my bed.

At first I was quite startled (obviously) so I prayed for protection. When they didn't just vanish that's when I thought they were part of the protection, that maybe there was danger and that was why they were there in the first place.

Other times I've just seen blue/white lights, like “orbs”, during the day or at night. Sometimes I think I've seen a dark figure, which freaks me out because I can't tell at first if they're of the human variety!

I truly believed that what I saw was real, and then after being diagnosed based on those incidents, including the serious déjà vu feelings, I really started backtracking.

Other symptoms I've developed over time would be, intense feelings of happiness then changing suddenly to intense sadness and silent migraines (which would actually be seemingly pleasant experiences if I wasn't anxious & confused at the time - looks like a pretty kaleidoscope!),

I'm pretty impulsive now which I never was before, I'd usually be weighing up the options long after the opportunity has passed!

If you've managed to read this entire post I'm really grateful as I haven't had the opportunity to vent for quite some time!

Astrid

[rmschaver]

Life is not what we want it to be, it is what it is. The difference is what we make of it. I take a bi-polar medicine to help with my mood swings. My wife says it has made an improvement. It does have some fairly serious side effects I have to be vigilant about.

Wishing you the best.

[Astrid2803]

Peter thanx for your info - PFA, that makes a lot of sense actually, cuz when I did actually "come to" I was sitting in like a foetal position. Great to hear your positivity.
I take it you don't ride anymore....

Thanks rmschaver, if I may ask which meds are you currently taking, would be interesting to know as I've been prescribed lamotrigine. It's helped a lot for the mood swings too, as well as the fatigue.