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Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS). |
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02-07-2013, 08:21 AM | #1 | ||
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As many of you know, I am attending grad school part time. Although I am not working, I am taking a class that is like an internship. I spend 12 hours a week in a preschool classroom for kids with special needs. (3 days 4 hours a day per drs instructions). This class/internship and my other class require a lot of writing/computer time. The internship was one of the few classes I have left to complete my degree, so I didn't really have a choice to put it off.
I'm feel very overwhelmed. My professors and the classroom teacher have been wonderful and understanding and allow me to turn things in as I finish them, take breaks as needed etc. The problem is that friends and family assume since I'm back in the classroom, I'm must be almost better. However, my brain and body are struggling to adjust to the increased demands. I have seen a huge spike in symptoms. The days I am in the classroom, I come home and completely crash out. Which leaves the other 4 days of the week filled with computer time and homework. It seems everyone assumes I should be able to keep all with all the added responsibility AND all that I had been doing before, such as taking care of the house, spending time with friends and family, etc. This is really hard for me because I've always been one to take care of others before myself. It took a LONG time to accept that this couldn't be the case during my recovery. But now that people think I'm "better" (despite my increase in symptoms!), I feel guilty that I am not able to do all those things and keep up with my new responsibilities. How do you tell people that increased responsibilities, may mean you are able to do less (at least for a while), than you had previously been doing? No one seems to understand this. And it hurts, because it makes me feel like people think I stopped caring about them. That's not case. I just can't be superwoman.... how do I get people to undertand this?
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What Happened: On 3/8/11 I was stopped waiting to merge into traffic when I was rear ended by someone doing 45 mph. I walked away from the accident, to fall into the pit of PCS 5 days later... (I have had 2 previous concussions, but neither developed into PCS.) Symptoms 3 Years Post: Physical: migraines, infrequent vertigo, neck and back pain (from accident), tinnitus, visual field deficits in left eye, problematic light sensitivity, (including visual seizure activity), noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, semi-frequent disrupted sleep cycles, Cognitive: semi-frequent Brain fog after cognitive strain, limited bouts of impulsivity, unable to concentrate for more than short periods of time without fatigue, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory; Emotional: easily overstimulated, depression, anxiety; Treatment so far: Vestibular therapy; Physical Therapy; Vision Therapy; Vitamin Schedule; Limited caffeine; Medications; attempting to limit stress and overstimulation; Yoga; Cognitive Therapy |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | MiaVita2012 (02-07-2013) |
02-07-2013, 08:35 AM | #2 | ||
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<shivers>
Just your title alone hurts my stomach. I go 1,000 mph at work, I work through my lunch and break, and in the evenings. Just the thought of that pace scares me into a brain fog. I'm not sure how you tell people, but I know boundaries are important for your well being. Retire your cape superwoman. Even Michael Jordan came out of retirement from time to time...because he chose to. Chose what's best for you, other people don't have to live with your symptoms. Oooohkay...rambling now. Symptom of my brain injury. Best wishes, MissingMe |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | SmilinEyesMs305 (02-10-2013) |
02-07-2013, 09:21 AM | #3 | |||
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I am sorry you are going threw this.It is the hardest thing to get people you love and care about to understand the complexity of this complex syndrome and for others to understand that pushing ourselves to far will come with relapses....I would tell them that you are feeling better from initial accident but you also feel yourself relapsing from the stress and being overwhelmed that this could turn into a negative relapse....
I would also remind them that you are very grateful of their support and you are trying your hardest but your brain is starting to bring back symptoms and this is a indication that you need to slow down for your recovery and not relapse. I feel your pain and I hope this helps you Quote:
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What Happened: In 2011 I was in a MVA . Symptoms: Physical: I am always cold in any season!!I cannot tolerate anything pressure on my head(sun glasses,hats)longer then a hour,Lock jaw/Displaced TMJ, Dropsey, Hands go numb, Arms go numb, back of head numb (when asleep),Muscle spasms in face & upper body,migraines, concentration headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck and back trauma (from accident), tinnitus, extreme light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, impaired vestibular system, balance off, Pupils NEVER equal, disrupted sleep cycles,speech problems. Cognitive: Cognitive Behavior, Brain fog, impulsivity, speech problems, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory, impaired complex attention Emotional: Unable to handle stress or overstimulation without getting extremely irritable or angry, easily overstimulated, MAJOR depression, major anxiety, Panic attacks Treatment so far: Treatment for PCS,PTSD,Depression & panic,Vestibular therapy, Physical therapy, Vitamin Schedule,Walking,No Dairy, No eggs, No caffeine, No artificial coloring, Sleep with 2 pillows, Very little sugars consumed, Eat healthy,No alcohol, Medications, limit stress and overstimulation. ~*~Learn to treasure yourself and your Divinity. Be willing to accept yourself completely. Be yourself, be graceful, be kind, be wild, be weird ... be true to yourself~*~ |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | SmilinEyesMs305 (02-10-2013) |
02-07-2013, 03:26 PM | #4 | |||
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You poor thing. So much stress!
I would just tell them that being back in the classroom is taking a lot of your energy right now -- maybe even more than you expected -- and so you are finding that you are going to need some extra help or understanding with XYZ. Don't apologize. The work you are doing is hard for people WITH a fully functional brain!!
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mTBI and PCS after sledding accident 1-17-2011 Was experiencing: Persistent headaches, fatigue, slowed cognitive functions, depression Symptoms exacerbated by being in a crowd, watching TV, driving, other miscellaneous stress & sensory overload Sciatica/piriformis syndrome with numbness & loss of reflex Largely recovered after participating in Nedley Depression Recovery Program March 2012: . Eowyn Rides Again: My Journey Back from Concussion . |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | SmilinEyesMs305 (02-10-2013) |
02-07-2013, 09:25 PM | #5 | ||
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You tell them you are injured on the inside of your head. It maybe hard to tell because you can look the picture of health. The brain can take a longer time to heal than say a broken limb which will have a visual que when the injured is better. If that does not work tell them to go to You Tube and watch the series, " you look great parts 1 thru 6." If that fails to get the message across look them straight in the face and say, I am sorry my brain injury is your inconvenience! It is amazing how little value friendship is to some people. When you are truely injured is when you find out who your true friends are. Lose the guilt you are injured and it is reasonable to expect people to respect that fact!
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49, Male Married, PCS since June 2012, headaches, Back pain, neck pain, attention deficit, concentration deficit, processing speed deficit, verbal memory deficit, PTSD, fatigue, tinutitus, tremors. To see the divine in the moment. |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Mokey (02-08-2013), SmilinEyesMs305 (02-10-2013) |
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