[McMonkey08]

OH! There's non alcoholic wine/fruity champagne type stuff that we love... it's just at the supermarket here.

I saw your post and felt compelled to say "hi"....this may be a long hello

September 2010 I slipped backwards out of a free-standing shower (had removed the shower mat and was shampooing and conditioning my hair = slick). As I fell backwards I hit the vertex of my head against the toilet and then on the floor, no loss of consciousness as far as I am aware. 2.5 years later and I still experience symptoms. I am a positive, goal-setting individual and definitely do not accept that my life can't get better. I guess, my issues have been underestimating and minimizing my symptoms and not receiving on-going medical support.

I've seen 2 neurologists-- first one diagnosed me with Alice in Wonderland syndrome, migraine variant, sensitivity to light and sound and whiplash and a few other lovelies. Never been treated for the whiplash and I have terrible spine and neck issues that keep blighting my attempts at getting fit again. I now have an appointment for an MRI on the neck and spine in a few weeks time.

I think your post stood out to me as your circumstances and symptoms are similar. I still slur my speech if I over exert myself, and feel shaky standing. I'm amazed that I'm still recovering. I have learned that healing from a head injury is not a linear process, which has impacted on my level of frustration at times -- thinking that because I have had a good few months means I am in the clear . The migraines have subsided, but my speech, cognition, short term memory and fatigue still cause me issues.

I haven't spoken with other people who have experienced similar issues and just reading your story made me feel like I am not alone.

I also had a pretty serious head injury when I was younger with a loss of consciousness and external injuries. The last neurologist I saw explained that, because of that my head injury symptoms have had a cumulative effect. He likened the effect to my brain as having a heart attack.

[Mark in Idaho]

McMonkey,

Your situation sounds familiar. I have accumulated too many insults to my brain. You said "The migraines have subsided, but my speech, cognition, short term memory and fatigue still cause me issues." The migraines lessening hopefully will allow you to learn the many work-arounds and accommodations for dealing with the cognitive issues. Learning to moderate stress and stop to think will be your most important skill.

Tell us more about how you manifest your neurological symptoms. We can then share our tips for dealing with them.

When you get the neck MRI, ask if they can do a series with your head turned sharply to the right and left. The straight position of a normal cervical MRI can mask the instability of C-1 to occiput (base of the skull).

Tell us more and we will try to help.

My best to you.

[MiaVita2012]

And make sure your getting your REM sleep which me and above poster are up we hours so I can tell you that we might not be getting our REM sleep.

[McMonkey08]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

McMonkey,

Your situation sounds familiar. I have accumulated too many insults to my brain. You said "The migraines have subsided, but my speech, cognition, short term memory and fatigue still cause me issues." The migraines lessening hopefully will allow you to learn the many work-arounds and accommodations for dealing with the cognitive issues. Learning to moderate stress and stop to think will be your most important skill.

Tell us more about how you manifest your neurological symptoms. We can then share our tips for dealing with them.

When you get the neck MRI, ask if they can do a series with your head turned sharply to the right and left. The straight position of a normal cervical MRI can mask the instability of C-1 to occiput (base of the skull).

Tell us more and we will try to help.

My best to you.

I'm sorry I never got back to you. I was overwhelmed with how I felt and how my life had changed and I definitely suffered from depression. Life also continued, as it does, and my mother died, unexpectedly, at only 59. Anyway, I found an excellent neuro. I went for physical therapy and I'm doing so much better. I can read a book like I used to. I can workout. My stamina is much better. My speech issues only come up about 2 weeks before my menstrual cycle and I can laugh at the gobbledegook I come out with at times. I still have problems with pronunciation and breaking words down so that I can recognize them, but everything else seems good. My neuro said the speech centre can take the longest to heal, especially as I had a prior head injury to the one in 2010.

I had physio for my neck and it's amazing how much better all of that is. When it starts to get tight and stuff I concentrate on the exercises we did and I can heal it myself.

I came back on here, because I wanted to give people hope.

Thank you so much for caring.