hi peeps

good to see old and new posters I think I actually got worse for a time, that maybe due to scaring , because neurons heal at such a slow rate, if I get overloaded thats when the mix ups/ white outs happen' I adapt to try to limit this with limited success , so living in slow mo, like if I open up the throttle, the brain stalls, so finding it hard to apply the use it or lose it analogy, I hate ! not a word I like to use when mid sentence / action or thought my mind go,s blank like the inside of a table tennis ball ( or a stunned mullet as us kiwis would say ) the confused look on peoples faces , when they cannot understand why, I have taken to saying excuse me, I have a head injury an some times this happens, but this would mean nothing in the world of employment ? please remember we all have this in varying degrees, people can and do recover but unfortunately not to order

vini and others,

That "mind going blank like the inside of a table tennis ball" sounds so familiar. My wife can see these instances by the look on my face. Sometimes, I will get stuck in a stare, usually with a stern facial appearance.

Regarding the fatigue, make sure to eat a good morning meal and lunch. Maintaining good blood sugar is very important. Here in the US we have TV ads for drinks that support mental awareness. Most have DHA and other good stuff. Be sure to feed your brain even if you short change your body. Get to understand the Glycemic index. It relates to how long a food will take to be digested and absorbed. Refined sugars cause spikes, complex carbs and proteins take much longer. The alcohol is a known problem, but also MSG, aspartame, sucralose and other excitotoxins.

Let those friends who show concern know how to help you. If they understand why you need to leave an environment (noise, lights, chaos etc), they can be more supportive.

Download and rpint out Dr Glen Johnsons TBI Guide at www.tbiguide.com It is about as good as it gets for PCS support and knowledge.

Good luck as you consider these life changes. They are worth it in helping you have a more stable life.

thanks mark the TBI e book is good simple and to the point,

it sums up much of the problems we encounter day to day

my wife also so says, whats that face for! thinking I am angry

but its what you term a absence seizure I suspected

Hello! I'm new here. I'm so relieved to find you all, but I must apologize if I'm replying on the wrong page. I have never used a forum and am completely ignorant about where to put my first post. Sorry!

I sustained a concussion almost 6 weeks ago in a cement tunnel at a swimming pool. I was slammed up into the roof of the thing 3 times, blacked out and then stayed in a swirl of dizziness for an hour. I had a lot of pain and dizziness, but most frightening was the way I "shut down" and couldn't speak or respond, even though I knew that people were speaking to me

I had two CT Scans and X Rays...normal. I was diagnosed with PCS. I still struggle with headaches, dizziness and trouble concentrating, speaking and typing. I'm also quite irritable at times.

I'm writing to ask for help with the irritability. How do you get your family members to understand that you are still injured?? I am only 35-40% better. My symptoms get much worse with stress or confrontation. I think that my husband and one daughter are ready for me to do more around the house preparing meals, shopping, etc, but I can't even drive yet! (I feel like I'm drunk driving and am scared I'll have an accident.)

I told my family that the neurologist told me it typically takes 2 months to get back to normal but that it could take a year. I told them also, that he said my family might suspect I was milking my injury once they saw improvement. What else do you recommend?

Thank you so much for your help,
Tracy

hi Tracy and welcome

take it slow print off http://www.tbiguide.com/ that mark posted let your family read it

people often cant understand whats going on HOW CAN THEY head injury at headway in the UK is referred to as the hidden injury

my extended family cant or don,t want to see the changes in me but my wife and kids can

most of the anger is due to these main factors pain , frustration, information overload, and feeling isolated

I put it like this if someone has a tooth ache you cant see anything is wrong with them until they try to speak people may understand the irritability if they have ever had tooth ache huh ???

omega 3/6 supplements, hydration , coffee help me abit
post new thread to start a new subject

hang in there

Hello.

It is great to hear that others are in the same or similar positions as I am. Things go up and down for me but over all I am not who I was before my accident almost 2 years ago.

I have been unable to return to work since then and have become the "house manager" and my wife has become the soul bread winner of the family. I did try to go back to work a couple of times but misunderstood things and ended up making mistakes and being asked to leave.

My current problem is more how to deal with others not being able to deal with my PCS. I saw the link to the e-book and will be passing it on to my wife to read. She has reached a very frustrating point and is distancing herself from me. She feels that she is in charge of everything and I only contribute if asked to. I on the other hand have been done my my best to deal with as much as I can. I pay for every hour of work with tiredness that knocks me out for at least an hour or more. Needless to say I am not able to do 100% and lag behind at the end of the day.

I can understand the frustration on her part as she feels that I am not really helping out as much as she would like me to. She on the other side forgets my in ability to give more than I do. If I were in a wheel chair it would be obvious but I am not. When there is no stress one could say that I have not problems but add some concentration/stress/frustration and I become disconnected and have trouble with words and logic, well you all know what I mean.

I am having a hard time coping with my support system taken out from under me and I was looking for suggestions.

A bit long winded I know but that is also part of my problem.

Yes, making loved ones understand our invisible injury can be difficult. *edit*

I'm ailing today (pesky brain damage), but will make an effort to talk with our two newest members when I'm more able. For now, welcome.

Take Care,
Hockey

danall,

Are there any brain injury support groups available to you? Your wife will benefit greatly is she meets other caregivers. The support groups are sometimes connected to rehabilitation hospitals.

Try contacting
Brain InjuryAssociation Israel, B.I.A.I,
email: mugrabin@zahav.net.il

Hi,
I've had PCS for 9 months and still going. Had a horse riding accident and was bedridden for a month (could'nt walk, bath myself, dress myself, read, do symple maths such as 1+1... the list goes on). It took me 3 months to be able to do a full days work. I sometimes feel that there just isn't an end to this madness. I still suffer from headaches and this (weird feeling in my head which I'm sure you know what I'm talking about). But I have to say that it is better than it used to be. I'm still very careful of the activities I do cause I'm scared to bring on worse symptoms again. I guess I just wanted to say that you are not alone, and that you have to be strong. Everyone assures me that this does go away eventually. I guess we just have to be patient. Good luck

danall,

I have some tips for your wife. First, she needs to understand what your limits are. One of the big ones is the inability to be flexible with thoughts. Rigid thoughts can prevent you from coming up with the creativity to do the tasks that she has asked you to do.

She needs to give you simple instructions. Each statement should only address one simple activity.

Something like:
Load the dishwasher with the plates in bottom and glasses on top.

Load the plates in the bottom of the dishwasher.
Load the glasses on the top of the dishwasher.

She may think this sounds juvenile but I bet you know what I mean. You may not have come to an understanding of this need. But now that I have mentioned it, you understand.

I went to brain injury rehab last month. My wife complained about my kitchen behaviors. She has complained to me generically before but I have not responded correctly.

At rehab, she complained and was asked about specifics. She said, "He leaves cinnamon in the sink after making toast."

Now, I had a very simple task to address. I rinse the cinnamon out of the sink after making toast.

She needs to understand these simple needs you have. Also, she needs to write things down. Your brain is easily distracted so follow through may be difficult.

I can not process multiple step commands nor complex sentences. I get lost trying to link them together.

The key to living with a brain injury is getting everybody to the same level of understanding. You can still do many things, just not in the same way you used to do them.

You probably have much better capabilities at communicating to others that you can receive communication from them. This is often a big conflict. They hear what you can say and think nothing much is wrong.

I have had big problems in this area. My skills at the computer make it appear that I am fine. I use the computer screen as my short term memory. I can look back at what I typed and continue the thought.

I can easily get stuck trying to remember what I was saying when I talk out loud unless I have rehearsed my comments.

Hope these ideas will help you.