I got my injury over a year ago. I am under a whole lot of stress right now because the military is prepping my physical evaluation board and I am really worried about what sort of compensation I will get. Do I need to sell my house? That sort of stuff. I have been getting electric like jolts in my head if I move it too fast. I went for a run today and I felt them in my arms too. Vertigo is back. Can stress do all of this or is it TBI? Does TBI ever go away or is it just managed? I feel like I have always done the right thing, or tried to. Went in the military so I could serve like everyone else in my family and have the same level of financial comfort that I have always had. Nothing extravagant but just enough. Now I will lose that. Everyhing has been uphill, I am so tired of it.

As far as my med board goes, they say it brought on bipolar disorder. Is that possible? I still see my TBI doc and a psychiatrist and a psychologist, and biofeedback back. My TBI doctor says that he will make sure that my case is properly documented but I am not trusting the process. Any advice in any of the above would be great.

I haven't found anything that I can do work wise yet. Office setting are no good, I tried working in DC but I can't ride the metro due to the people, clausterphobia, and paranoia. What do people like us do for work?

I get the electric shock sensations too - in my neck, upper back the back of my head.

Not that it will be of any comfort but I am in a similar position - I am awaiting compensation and have no idea how much I will get. I'm terrified the doctors won't document it correctly or the insurers won't believe me. I may have to go to court. Meanwhile I am running out of money and need to start thinking about where I'm going to live. It's so stressful...and stress is the last thing we need.

I have agoraphobia and can't deal with trains that have no bathroom, or big stations. I've found ways round things, like avoiding all the big stations even if it takes me x2 as long. Is there any sort of outdoor work you could do?

WIsh I could be more help.

We are so in the same position and it is horrid. I really have similar fears about my case too. I have OCD my mind will not stop. I am depressed and just miserable. I sure hope your claim gets settled fast and in your favor. Thanks much for posting. I have such a headache from this I am in a dark room waiting for time to pass. Pathetic.

I have just been through a 3 yr law suit after a bad car accident.
Make sure before you go to the GP that you write everything down that you want him to document. The insurers pay the GP for his time so use it.

3 years? I'm only 4 months into mine. After starting out with a very bad solicitor I seem to have switched to a very good one. He's arranged for me to have treatment at the Harley St. Medical , so I'm hoping that they will be better at documenting than the GPs who just look confused and helpless whenever i tell them my symptoms.

TBI/PTSD

You need to trust your doctor. It sounds like he has an understanding of your condition. Military docs have a lot of real understanding of the long term effects of TBI. You are fortunate because private sector docs tend to discount concussion and mTBI injuries because they do not understand the long term consequences.

Be sure that they list your struggles with claustrophobia and the over-stimulation of noisy crowds and echoes, etc limit your ability to work in many situations. I have the same struggles. I am on full disability.

How are your memory functions? have you had a full NeuroPsych Assessment? The VA has done extensive research at using qEEG to diagnose residual brain injury. The work was done by Robert Thatcher Ph.D and Bay Pines VA Medical Center in Florida. Your TBI doc may benefit from checking out his work. A qEEG is a simple test and the reliability of the Thatcher discriminate analysis database is well known.

If you will list all of your struggles, I can interpret them into a more medically understood terminology. It can help the doctor present your case.

My best to you.

Mark in Idaho,

Thanks for your reply. My struggles include: memory problems, confusion, anger, irritability, fear of people, headaches, anxiety, depression. I was given a global axis functn score of 55, I don't know what that means but will find out today. The three diagnosis' on my med board form are bipolar, anxiety, cognitive and TBI. My ears ring and head hurts most of the time. I am a hermit and stay at home by myself most of the time when I used to be so social and outgoing.

I feel fortunate in that they have let me go to my doctor appointments and do things to try to relax. I go to the docs usually four days out of the week. I tried working in an office two days a week three hours a day. They had me doing real menial work on the computer which was too much. I built my resume in prep for getting out but I feel that is BS. I am not that person anymore. I can't use my degrees or experience as a 15 year supply logistics officer, none of it makes sense. I tried working with the Park Service up in DC but I can't get there on the train or driving. By the time I got there I was exhausted. I asked to be moved to the park. I wouldn't mind picking up trash whatever out there. I loathe being around people. I want to sell all of this stuff that I once thought was important and get a small house in the mountains.

Blah...that was more than you asked for. Oh I am on Depakoke, Lamictal, trazadone, and buspar.

Thanks Mark,
Hilary

That's what happened to me. I'd rather be alone on any given day now than with someone...I used to be pretty much the opposite.

This is a very bad thing to sacrifice your social connections. You may need a smaller circle. To disconnect too much is to sacrifice a piece of your humanity. Yes it may be a small comfort to not face the fear.

But the alternative of not even being able to connect is much, much worse. Once lost it is very difficult to reconnect if at all. Seek help or tell your loved one/s. You don't want to end up with no support, no one to talk to and unable to even love yourself because you can't love others.

Don't go there for must it is a one way trip.

In my case, many of my friends I haven't seen since before my accident, either they have deserted me completely or have sent one or two messages since...not even a phonecall. The rest have gradually stopped calling and coming to see me no reason given. Friends like that aren't what I call friends, especially when I never asked them for support. Ever. I'm just not the same person, they say. Which translates to "I'm only interested in spending time with you of it involves drinking, partying or some sort of exciting activity."

But I'm pretty confident I'll meet other, better friends. I don't want to be a hermit forever.