Hi everyone,

I found your site last week and have been reading and waiting for approval.

On April 12/2014 I was hit on the head by a 20# anchor that was trailing 60' behind my boat while I was doing 26 mph. I made a turn to the right and the anchor broke free of the water and was slingshot into my head. Fortunately I was the only one it hit, my wife, 2 daughters and 3 small grandchildren were fellow occupants.

My neuro surgeon says I am nothing short of a miracle. There was no brain damage done, just a bunch of smashed skull on the left side above my ear and at the hairline above my right eye. He gave me a Glasgow score of 13 and termed it a violent event that should have killed me.

I have had kidney stones and parathyroid surgery since the accident so it has been a very unusual year for someone who has never experienced any health problems or surgeries heretofore.

I have anxiety /panic going through the roof, sleep is a mess and my ears are so dang loud. I experience many other things as well but mostly I just feel weird and off kilter, I never know what to expect from hour to hour much less the next day. I didn't have any loss of motor skills but plenty of stuttering.

Is this normal? I try to stay positive and make progress but it sure seems slow and backwards at times. This is probably plenty of info for now and I am tired.

Bud

Bud,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your accident but glad to see you survived.

What you are experiencing is common to mTBI. You did suffer brain damage but probably just not the kind that is imageable.

Did the doctor put you on any meds ?

Have you had any help with the anxiety ? How does it manifest ?

Hi Mark,

My inlaws are Boise natives, they live in Ca. but spend a good bit of the summer in Lowman at the family cabin built in the 40'smy parents and brother live in Emmett.

I am 55 with 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

I am not taking any meds.

I have not seen my neurosurgeon since mid August. I have been on my own with this thing until finally finding this site this week past. I have been a little frustrated with it as I have no idea what has been going on with me. There are plenty of times where I wonder if I am making this all up for attention or if there is a legitimate medical reason for all the odd stuff happening to me.

I have had problems with panic attacks but never anything like this, panic assaults might be more descriptive and since my head I have started with the nocturnal panic attacks. I have never experienced anxiety before but this is unrelenting and I am fearful of everything. Even things as simple as going to bed or the battery going dead on my phone.

I don't get headaches in the common vein of the term. Stabbing pains happen. I get this weird sensation that comes over my head, don't know how else to describe it other than a weird odd sensation and by the time it shows up I will be down for a few hours, blurry vision and real noisy tinnitus accompany it.

I have been way beyond fortunate with work. My wife and I own a crop dusting business. My son and son in law work there also so they have filled in wonderfully. I have been there maybe 5 times since April... Location is 22 miles from home and I can't make the drive yet.

I don't think I am making all this up but with no experience around head injuries and no one to talk with I have sure wondered. Reading here has certainly answered some of my mysteries.

Take care, Bud

Mark,

I give up for the night trying to respond. This has frozen up on me three times and I finally have been able to finish one and it didn't appear. I will try again tomorrow.

Bud

Hi Bud,

Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

Just a tip when logging in to the site... make sure you check the "remember me" box next to your user name. Sometimes if one doesn't check it the page will time out and I think messages can get lost that way.

Welcome Bud.

Thanks for the welcome to you both.

Lara I did not check remember me so I think you must be correct.

Bud

Bud,

Believe me, we all know this is real for you. We have experienced many of the same symptoms. I am surprised you are not being followed by your doctor or a rehab doctor of some kind. The usual rehab doc would be a Physiatrist (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation).

You may need to be taking an anti-anxiety med. I have taken Klonopin when anxiety gets out of control.

So, are you in Calif. too? In the central valley ? I used to fly the central valley from time to time. I owned a '63 P-35 Bonanza for a few years when I lived in San Jose. After a few too many confusing events, I grounded myself. It turns out my concussion history makes me very susceptible to cognitive dysfunction when flying at altitude.

Please feel free to ask anything and share any struggles you have.

My best to you.

Mark,

I live 45 miles north of Sacramento in Yuba City, we are in the heart of California rice country and it is what makes the majority of our work.

I will have more questions coming, I want to parcel them out so to speak so I don't flood anyone! Hah hah, inside joke sort of!

I haven't flown since 3/27/14 and have felt so lousy I don't miss it, I hope that changes.

Bud

I have family all around Sacramento.

Let your questions fly. We'll try to answer what we can.