My entire life feels like a dream. Everything seems gray and fuzzy, with lapses of lucidity now and then. After my TBI, everything seemed okay in here. Some food tasted a little funny, but I still enjoyed life, and was a competent person. I had a couple jobs, I had friends, I had things I liked to do. Now I don't even know what I'm thinking most of the time, I quit my jobs, and I've isolated myself from most of the world. Take this post for example. I've been working on it for 20 minutes. I don't know what to write, I just write for awhile, then read what I wrote, and delete most of it.

Hi Fuzzy...

While I don't have TBI and I am NOT a doctor....I have no first hand knowledge of what you are dealing with... I did some looking around and found some symptoms of TBI... on this site: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm

"Disabilities resulting from a TBI depend upon the severity of the injury, the location of the injury, and the age and general health of the individual. Some common disabilities include problems with cognition (thinking, memory, and reasoning), sensory processing (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), communication (expression and understanding), and behavior or mental health (depression, anxiety, personality changes, aggression, acting out, and social inappropriateness). "


So from what you describe... and what I found on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke site.... i would say most likely, what you are experiencing are symptoms of your TBI.


I wish you strength and hope....

Abbie

I can relate --blame TBI that occured last year; Cognitive and other problems have persisited including many you refer to.
from things like food not tasting right to problems thinking & doing - to that surreal gray fogginess and more....things that weren't problems before TBI....

so much that's difficult to understand; express... I still struggle to get my racing thoughts into written & spoken words. go back & make corrections & deletions... struggle with other Cognitive & mental process--memory, recall, problem solving, decision making; emotional volitility, hypersensivity, and too much more to detail...
I too feel confused , and isolated....

i do Blame last TBI for most of the brain related dysfunctions that compromise my Life now
my Losses & many medical problems began when I was hit by car 10+yrs ago. TBI then seemed to resolve while chronic pain & other neuro issues worsened. "smaller" head injurys/concussions that occured in between, mostly from falls, 'drop attacks' -players, but proverbial straw that broke the camels back seems to be last years whack in head w/ loss of consciousness.
--whether that or cumulative affects of several TBI or other "pre-disposing" factors--including my situation & personal stressors as primary Livein Carer for terminally parents-- or all together-- very challenging....

wondering what your story is--when, how did TBI occur?? other affects?? questions??


while we may not have [all] the answers, folks here have shared experiences & empathy; caring support; research, info-- to educate & advocate..
Learning, educating self, and others, about TBI is vital.
many LINKS cited thuout Forum can help.... understanding how the brain can be injured & affects and more about TBI...

.

In october 2006, I was longboarding down a hill I probably shouldn't have. I was new to the sport, and it was a big hill. I didn't know that when you go down such big hills, you're supposed to carve to slow down, but I just went straight down. I don't know exactly what happened, because I have no memory after starting down the hill. When I crashed I was probably going about 25-30 mph, and I hit my head on the pavement with no helmet. I woke up 4 days later in the hospital, and learned later that I had had open skull surgery to remove a blood clot that had formed when I landed. I was out of the hospital in less than a week, and back to work in a couple months. But the last few months things have been getting worse, short term memory and disorganized thinking. Take that question for example, 'other affects??,' just trying to think of any makes my mind go blank. I was thinking about seeing a doctor, haven't seen one since my 6 month checkup and CAT scan, when everything seemed to be fine. However, real life seems to be getting in the way of that.

your accident was radical- amazing that you were out of hospital in a week and able to go back to work w/in few months --
then hit w/ those delayed reactions, affects... months later. and persisting.


simple questions also cause my mind to go blank, or short circuit from so many disorganized confusing thoughts..... Sorry if my questions or comments caused this for you.


I wish there was a simple answer, solution.... perhaps others can/will better address... I getting lost now....and overwhelmed.

too many impaired brain processes and other dysfunctions..... i know are not "Right" --that I wasn't like this before, and have become so compromised that daily living.life is challenge. Chronic pain & neuro disorders play a big role but the brain dysfunctions .... too much.
how to address, and find help for these -- invisible disabilities-

you said haven't been back to DR since 6 mth f/u appt. with worsening problems, perhaps it is time to see someone. Perhaps a NeuroSpecialist, like a NeuroPsych . I'm not saying that your crazy, only that I know how crazymaking this has become for me.
with all you've gone thru and are now experiencing, would it hurt to see a DR get other opinions, or suggestions??

One DR i saw said there were some meds that may help --meds similar to those used for Alzhiemers. I didn't try & not advocating RX meds but for some are the answer. I've had problems w/ RX meds -allergic & adverse reactions. but concept of a pill that "fix" these dysfunctions is attractive.
things like NeuroFeedback, Brain re-training, and other self help & "alternatives" have been reported as helpful.
I've heard of some other therapys but can 't recall names !! I need to stop now . Having problems writing, thinking & using computer....

I hope you find what's needed...
wishing ALL the BEST...

Fuzzy,

Please go see a doctor. Do you have a friend or family member who can help you? There is a ton of information on the internet and doctors out there who should be able to help you, but it is not easy finding the exact answer for anyone's TBI problems...lots of trial and error. Sounds like you'll need some help.

Try and write down the date and your symptoms when you can, that way you won't have to remember everything when meeting with a doctor.

I'm in the process of advocating for my 10 year old son suffering from post concussive syndrome. He's improving and recovering from his headaches, but anxiety seems to be the issue of the day now. I can't tell you how much time, effort and energy I've spent finding the best doctors and plan of action for him.

Sorry, I'm trying to keep this short for you. Please reach out to someone and get some help. Your quality of life is at stake and you deserve for it to be the best it can be.

Hang in there!

Hi Fuzzy - please go and see a doctor and get in touch with the right specialist and don't give up until you find the right one. And be kind to yourself. The hardest part of this kind of injury beside the fact that it is invisible is coming to terms with the fact that when your force yourself to carry on when you truthfully don't feel like it you are making yourself worse. Please read back through the posts and you will realise how many of us are like this - scarey and find lots of helpful information.

Lynlee

Hey Fuzz,

I too had a skateboarding accident. I think I was very lucky though, no real permanent damage. I was going maybe 15-20 mph down a hill on the sidewalk when I hit an edge and the board stopped moving while I continued forward. I think my shoulder hit the pavement about the same time my head did so I'm lucky for that. I do remember seeing all kinds of colors explode in my mind, and being shocked by the realization that heads can actually bounce off off a sidewalk.

It sounds like you're super depressed right now. Hey, I've been there myself. Isolating is about the worst thing you can do when you're depressed. Also, with a TBI, the more you involve yourself in things, the more likely your brain will adjust.

It sounds to me like you're in need of some positivity, so I direct you to my friend Mike Wilkinson's blog. He has chronicled his own TBI recovery amazingly well, and is probably the happiest and most positive guys I know. Check out his site, and if you feel like it, shoot him an email. I guarantee he knows where you're coming from and would be more than happy to give you some advice about it.



Hang in there! There are tons of people who have been where you are right now, and many more who care. If you ever want to talk with me, I'm here. Shoot me a PM any time.