Well I'm alive, but is that enough?

Lightrail11 · 08-30-2013, 12:43 PM

Good deal.

I would second the recommendation about the neuropsych assessment. This evaluation can help identify specific deficit areas and can better focus rehab therapies. Hopefully your health insurance will cover this.

The physician list may also be valuable, TBI/PCS is still not well understood my many in the medical community, a good doctor specialzing in Physical Medicine/Rehabilitation (also listed as physiatrists) can be very valuable.

You may also find a TBI support group helpful, a list will likley be in the information from the BIA.

Blossom25 · 08-30-2013, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OwlinFL84

on July 9th, 2013 I was in a severe auto accident where I rolled my SUV 3-4 times and ended up in oncoming traffic. While I avoided even minor physical injury to my body, my car had roof collapse and I hit my head really hard.

I got the concussion exit sheet from my ER physician and within three hours of my accident, walked right out of the ER. I felt fine, but knew that I definitely escaped the clutches of death by a miracle. I went to bed that night thankful for my life.

I woke up a different person. I had severe cognitive deficits right upon awakening. I couldn't do math in my head at all and I was having trouble with word searching. I was extremely foggy and it was immediately apparent that my injury was more severe than anticipated.

I had an MRI two weeks to the day after my accident and it was shown that I had a focal point contusion to my right parietal lobe. I found it surprising that my injury showed so long after my accident, but I can't find anything to say if that is significant or not. Also, I'm a left-handed person, so I have to deal with some issues related to that.

While I have improved slightly, I still have a very difficult time with math and my word-search difficulty is made worse depending on the type of day I'm having. I do finance and accounting for a living! D'oh!

I just reached out to the BIA for my state. I wonder how they can help me.

So the title of my post: I am alive, praise be to God. But, I suffer so much

I desperately want a full night of sleep. I use a pink-noise generator app on my tablet, which I keep bedside. Thankfully that helps to reduce distractions in the middle of the night but I still find myself waking up frequently. My Neuro gave me an RX for xanax to help with panic attacks, which popped up a couple weeks ago, and just last week he gave me a RX for lexapro. I so desperately hope it helps...

I can't get my mind to calm down. I am being tortured by forgetfulness, lack of focus, fog... It is refreshing to know that I am not alone in my suffering. That is primarily why I am posting here now. I want to say thank you to all of you who share your experiences. I know I am being whiney but I had to get that out

I went throught the same thing in 1989. I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag!!! My Dr. sent me to cognitive therapy. I went for a year. I went through the whole program. It did help me through one of the most frustrating, fearful, years of my life. My car insurance paid for it. You might look into it. They will help you cope and do things you've done all your life just different enough to help instead of frustrate. Good luck. I certainly have empathy for what you are going through, but their is help out there! Blossom25

PCS-Recovering · 08-31-2013, 12:10 PM

Your message spoke to me this afternoon and I just had to say it does get better. I am 8 months from my accident and still experiencing daily problems, memory laps, migraine headaches - lasting days and weeks, mood swings and just not being myself. I keep waiting for life to become normal, my family keeps reminding me that this maybe the new normal and I do just not want to accept that. I came to this site looking for answers and I am finding people just like me, frustrated by the lack of progress but encouraging each other through their own experiences. I will say the right Neurologist does make the journey easier. Take care, good luck, be patient with yourself.

OwlinFL84 · 09-04-2013, 10:26 AM

Well just an update for everyone. I had a great weekend! I allowed myself to sleep prodigiously and not worry about any of the things that stress me out. I relaxed by the pool briefly, read a book, watched some movies (didn't finish a single one though...) and napped. I haven't taken a nap since my accident and it felt great!

My spirits couldn't be better, truly. I returned to work today ready to tackle anything in my way. And then I realized that despite all the rest, I will continue to have difficulties. BUT - and this is big for me, it doesn't bother me. I don't care that I have difficulties with math and finding patterns in numbers. I don't care that I talk in circles and forget why I'm saying things. I don't care that I forget most everything that I don't write down or make a very concerted effort to remember. I'm just so glad to be alive.

Yes, I do believe the lexapro is working. I am soooo happy to be less anxious about everything. I even have a date Friday evening and she is aware that I have an early bedtime and fully aware of my difficulties. Her comment to me was "if you are this sharp and you are having difficulties, then I can't wait to see what you are like when you are fully healed." What a gal...

I am still hour to hour, and I don't know what I will be like with a bad night of sleep. All I know is that I've had 5 consecutive nights of sleep and I feel great. Thanks again for all the encouragement everyone!

OwlinFL84 · 09-09-2013, 07:15 AM

another update. Still feeling pretty good. I'm getting quality sleep consistently, given that I follow a very strict schedule for bedtime. I'm down to a 1/4 pill (.25mg) of xanax per night (doing a slow draw-down just in case) which will end in a week. I still have ups and downs throughout the day but I am consistently better over all given that I am sleeping more.

My sister, who is a Speech Pathologist, ran through a few diagnostic tests with me a couple days ago. She said that I have difficulties with planning, sequencing and such and more noticeably, auditory processing issues. She suggested that I take prolific notes about everything, especially for conversations. She also said that I would do better if I had a list made out for tasks ahead of time, although she said she knows me and that will be a struggle for me at first. I've never had to make lists! Very frustrating....

At any rate, I am doing a lot better and am learning to adjust to my new self. Every day is a new day with new challenges - it is how we deal with them that defines us.

Lightrail11 · 09-09-2013, 11:18 AM

Sounds as if you have made a great amount of progress over the past couple of weeks. I understand the frustration with the list making and other adjustments, but considering your accident was just two months ago you have a lot of progress to celebrate.

Having a sister who is a speech pathologist is great! She would also have a good insight as to whether an assessment from a clinical neuropsychologist would be helpful.

anneo59 · 09-10-2013, 08:48 AM

Hi all,
had a good experience with cog ther individually some years ago, then not so good a while back with VA sexual trauma PTSD, which was in a group setting. I know there are a lot of variables at work, and overall, it's a great tool for so many things, tho. Be well, all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blossom25

I went throught the same thing in 1989. I couldn't find my way out of a paper bag!!! My Dr. sent me to cognitive therapy. I went for a year. I went through the whole program. It did help me through one of the most frustrating, fearful, years of my life. My car insurance paid for it. You might look into it. They will help you cope and do things you've done all your life just different enough to help instead of frustrate. Good luck. I certainly have empathy for what you are going through, but their is help out there! Blossom25

OwlinFL84 · 09-16-2013, 07:32 AM

Every week has been better than the last. Currently having trouble with getting up on time for work

I hadn't been sleeping for so long that I treasure it a little too much now.

Trying to focus on setting daily goals and achieving them, and also to not let things stress me out too much. Otherwise all is well in Owl's world.

OwlinFL84 · 09-24-2013, 11:28 AM

another update:

Had a set-back starting a week ago. I haven't been sleeping again

I really thought things were going super smooth, but I should have known better. I still stick to my very strict sleep schedule but it is to no avail. I am going to call my neuro tomorrow if I don't get a full night's rest tonight. Might be time for some Rx assistance...

Besides sleep, I do continue to feel improvements week to week, despite this set -back. My thinking is getting clearer, I can articulate my thoughts better, and I am not as tense as I once was. Now, if I can just get some rest....

Mark in Idaho · 09-24-2013, 12:52 PM

Do you have a 'get to sleep' routine ?

I need to start slowing down my activity level about 2 hours or more before trying to sleep. I also take gabapentin 2 hours before sleep. It helps my mind and body relax.

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