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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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03-31-2014, 01:55 AM
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Just a quick note to all the wonderful folks I "met" online and who were such a great support to me. (if you recognize my user name, then I'm talking about you. I can't possibly list everyone because I'll forget some names)
It's been 18 months now since my injury that caused PCS. I think of all of you, quite often actually! I've been back at work for 10 months, and coping quite well over time, with some workarounds for memory. I have more flags and post its on my work desk than 3M... but a sense of humor keeps me from taking myself too seriously. I changed jobs in January of this year, and now no longer work in a noisy casino filled with lights and demanding hours. I'm loving my new career for the municipal government working on special events and sponsorship marketing. Can you believe it... I went from stuttering through sentences at the worst of my PCS to landing an interview for a new job and nailing it! I remember thinking I'd have to figure out a new way to make a living since the casino life seemed impossible... well I did casino life for 6 more months before being offered this new job! My new office has a gorgeous huge window, and I have plants for the first time in years... instead of a closed in, dingy place that I was used to. It is quiet, and I've learned to really love quiet. Turns out I love my thoughts when I can hear them. LOL... Symptoms... well I have some of those from time to time... but I have longer stretches of forgetting I have PCS and feeling quite "normal" which is about 90% of the old normal. I am thankful every day, and I don't share that to brag... I'm just in awe of what happened through no merit of my own. Still on Elavil 15mg at bedtime, trying to wean off because I've gained over 20 pounds, it seems to make me crave carbs so badly! No Lucky Charms cereal box is safe around me.  Regular physiotherapy and acupuncture, and massage seem to help keep aches manageable. I'm done with Workers Comp so that has eased a lot of stress. I'm glad that part is over. Being back to work full time took me 12 weeks of rehab and 8 weeks of gradual return, and I've been putting in full time hours for 7 months now. My faith (meditation, prayer) seems to help keep my thought life manageable... most of the time. If you are reading this (and if I'm new to you) and you are suffering; please know that MANY times, it gets better, and that time is your very best friend. Time teaches us, as well as heals us. On the other side of my injury I've become so grateful for my blessings, I think of my TBI as a gift. I know that sounds impossibly weird but for me it's true. I'm kinder to myself now than I've ever been. I turned 40 and I feel more worthy of my self care than I ever did before. I wonder how you're all doing, the ones who were in the long haul with me over a year ago now? Feel free to respond, I'd love to hear back from some pals! 
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About it: October 26, 2012 I fell backward on an icy parking lot at work. I was on Workers Comp for 9 months. My PCS : everyday headaches became once in a while headaches, and neck pain became manageable. Still have occasional mild dizziness, sometimes fullness in the ears, convergence insufficiency, sequencing struggles, short term memory struggles, verbal processing delays. CT neg, MRI neg. Therapies: prism glasses, acupuncture, icing neck, resting, supplementing, Elavil 20mg at bedtime. NEW: Completed 12 weeks of physical therapy and returned to work full time. About me: I'm a marketing manager, a mom with a blended family and wife to a heart attack survivor. I believe my brain injury taught me more than it cost me. I'm grateful to still be me! |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | budeb (04-06-2014), EsthersDoll (04-04-2014), Lightrail11 (04-01-2014), Mark in Idaho (03-31-2014), Mokey (03-31-2014), MommaBear (04-09-2014), MomWriterStudent (04-02-2014), music-in-me (04-01-2014), NormaW (04-02-2014), poetrymom (03-31-2014), Theta Z (04-14-2014) |
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03-31-2014, 09:22 AM
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MsRio
I do recall your name and your struggles. So glad to hear of your improvments. I agree. PCS has changed me for the better. It's (almost) a gift for me too. Thank you for your story and why not add this to the hope thread? Take care poetymom
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[SIZE="1"]What happened. I was in a car accident 2-23-2013, and got a mild concussion from it. I had some time off for brain rest, got somewhat better, but slipped into PCS in March 2013. Symptoms I had: dizziness, light and sound sensitivity, fatigue, tinitis, occasional headaches and migraines, Symptoms as of 5--2013: poor sleep, tinitis, some confusion /short term memory blanks, balance. The other symptoms are mostly gone, but flare up if I OVERdo something. Therapy I had: vestibular 3 months in: I could drive more and for longer distances. I felt like a younger, happier version of myself and I feel so blessed to have this feeling. 9 months in and I am working full time. I do get tired, and some sound and light sensitivity from time to time, but mostly I am over most of my symptoms. I pray every day and I m praying for your recovery. Over a year in: I can multi task (limited) and have humor in my life. But when I am tired, I am very tired. |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | MsRriO (04-06-2014) |
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03-31-2014, 07:07 PM
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Glad to hear from you and that you have a quieter job! I am working too...not up to full capacity though. But at least there is hope!
Thanks for sharing your story of hope. M
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What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺). Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky! Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance. |
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04-01-2014, 04:00 PM
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Well done!
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PCS following head injury November 2012. Experienced dizzyness, light and noise sensitivity, hypercusis, fatigue, insomnia, migraines, facial pain, problems concentrating, irritability, sensory overload, exercise intolerance. Symptoms mostly resolved, working full time and I am now mostly better. I wake 6am daily since my injury. Was experiencing daily Neuralgia which was controlled with Cymbalta 30mg, Lyrica 200mg daily. Now only on 30mg Cymbalta. |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | MsRriO (04-06-2014) |
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04-02-2014, 07:07 AM
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We share(d) a lot of the same struggles through this process. So glad you came out on the other side a much stronger soul. Continue improving with your healing and congrats with the new career path
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What happened - MVA Multiple injuries - here for support of mtbi, chronic headache and cognitive deficits. |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | MsRriO (04-06-2014) |
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04-02-2014, 11:32 AM
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I am somewhat new, so I didn't meet you before. Your story made me cry for some reason. Thanks for sharing.
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | MsRriO (04-06-2014) |
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04-02-2014, 02:26 PM
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Sorry MsRrio,
I probably should remember you, but I probably should remember many things that I don't. However, I am very glad to hear that you are doing so well. That's great news. I'm very happy for you that you were able to land a new job that you love. Great update! I hit my 2 year anniversary since my injury back in February and I've made very little progress in 2 years unfortunately and am still in outpatient rehab and am waiting to see the neurologist in July. Unlike many people, my MRI actually shows damage in 2 places (never mind the damage that still can't be seen) and probably accounts for my slow / non existent progress. After 2 years, my rehab team is not very hopeful and we are now focusing on how to move forward as I am, should I not recover any further, rather than focusing on recovery. Everyone journey after brain injury is different. Glad yours has a happy ending. Starr |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | MsRriO (04-06-2014) |
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