Thank you for that. About 5 months.

I awoke in neuro rehab about 5 weeks after the accident. I did have a few scattered memories from the month in ICU, but most of the things I “remember” never actually happened, at least not the way I remember; my neuropsychologist called these confabulations.

The first week in neuro rehab is also a bit blurry. I remember some of my first speech therapy appointment. I didn’t know what year it was. I got my age wrong. I didn’t know who the president was. I didn’t know what hospital I was in or why. I did remember my name, and the names of my wife and kids.

I had speech, occupational, and physical therapy 5 days a week. After a while I began to piece things together. When discharged from inpatient after 4 weeks, a NPA indicated I still had deficits in spatial orientation, executive functioning, and working memory. I continued with outpatient therapy and things kept improving. I had a second NPA around the 5 month anniversary of the accident. That evaluation stated:

"On examination, the patient demonstrated intact cognition in all domains assessed including learning and memory, attention, processing speed, language skills, and executive functions. He has shown an excellent recovery from his severe injury only five months ago. From a cognitive standpoint there are currently no concerns with respect to the patient returning to work full time or returning to driving."

I am truly grateful. Wishing all of you continued progress.

Wow! I wonder if the difference is that you were hurt so severely that you were put in the hospital and ICU and got the right treatment right off the bat. I somehow flew under the radar but was severely hurt. I am just so glad that you are doing so well. You have done a great job.
I do not know how much recovery I can have at this point. I am just hoping the neuropsychological evaluation people can come up with something that can help me. I have my (hopefully) last session with them at the end of the month. I will see what they have to say. Holding on to hope.
Brain

Yes, I believe the early treatment was key to my recovery. I was fortunate in that the accident happened about a mile from one of the top 10 neurological hospitals in the nation. They performed the craniotomy the evening of the accident.

Don't let go of that hope. Hopefully the NPA will give some direction on the best course of treatment. Best to you.

I was one that did not get early treatment and now I have PTSD you have brought hope to me I appreciate your story.

I only had mild tbis, thank god, but too many of them. I am amazed by how much those of you with severe tbis have had to deal with! I will try to remember that whenever I start feeling sorry for myself! I have a good friend who had a severe TBI and she's living a full healthy life now! It does happen!

I was wondering since this was very traumatic do you have PTSD?

Hi Mia.

Actually no, I have no PTSD symptoms. I think this is because I have no memory of the accident. I have 4 days of retrograde and about 5 weeks of post traumatic amnesia. I still ride the train from time to time with no sense of anxiety.