Traumatic Brain Injury Basics

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Please remember, we are not able to give medical or legal advice. If you have medical concerns, please consult your doctor. All posted comments are the views and opinions of the poster only.

Wow!  I can completely relate to so many of ur stories. Most particularly from the person that split her head open on concrete at a concert. It is so similar to my own story! I woke up on my garage floor bleeding everywhere. i was unconscious for 45 to 1 hour! Thank God i woke up. spent 5 days in ICU, 10 staples, seizures, on and on... I have also lost too much weight, been at my job for 21 years and fear losing it too! I also broke my back and am currently in a brace, but remind myself how lucky i am to be alive!  Also now i am experiencing ALOT of the same issues all of u have. Emotions, anger, irritable, memory and just NOT being ME... Thank you all for sharing your stories. it has helped me immensely! It helps to know i am not alone.

I completely relate to your situation.I fell down my basement steps 18 months ago landed on concrete and was knocked out.I spent a few days in the ICU and had to stop nursing school, I am 40 years old and decided to go to college and then I got the TBI.I was at the Drs a few days ago and he corrected me when I said I had a TBI with a cerebral hematoma the Dr then informed me I had 2 cerebral hematomas, I felt foolish cause I don't remember, I have lost memories of my children can not work outside my home at times I will be driving and not know where I am and I grew up in the area we live in. My children remind me of dates, what time they get out school and the list goes on.At times I mean to say one thing and something completely opposite comes out, my kids understand and I try to play it off but it really bothers me.I have good days and bad and when there are multiple things going on in a room I can not focus and get headaches.It took me 5 times to pay 1 automated bill today....I take medicine daily and see neurologist. I don't know if I will ever get better. One doctor said after 1 year, the recovery phase is over, and that's just it???

When I had my stroke in 2003, they told me that the recovery period was 6 months. I'm glad that it has increased since then. Luckily I never put much stock into what the doctors told me about what is possible. The brain has a characteristic called plasticity meaning it will adapt and change to meet the insual's needs, basically it can rewire itself making new neural pathways. Combine that with our desire to heal and we can make great improvements.
Here's a brief synopsis of my shear will and determination vs what doctor's tell us is possible. After brain surgery I was in a coma for a month or so. While I was in the coma I was fully aware of what was going on around me and what others were saying. I heard the doctor tell my father that there was a good possibility that I may never regain consciousness, and that even if I did I might be a vegetable. Okay, I did wake from that coma and wasn't a complete vegetable. After finding out that I was paralyzed on the left side of my body, I was told that I may not ever regain the use of that side -Wrong again ( I'm pleased to report). When goal setting I told myPT that I wanted to get back to lifting weights and especially to once again bench pressing over 300 lbs ( I used to compete in powerlifting). She never believed that could happen until I called her over to spot me while I attempted 300. Hearing her change her point of view was as rewarding as actually achieving the goal. My next goal to to drive again. Of course I should forget about that and that can't be fixed. My OT told me to look online since there was no therapy for my homonymous hemianopsia (where one side of my vision is affected in both eyes). I researched and didn't find much, in fact I created my own therapy. I studied the DMV requirements and worked at it until my field of vision met those requirements. After I met those I took some driver training and then road test. You know what happened? Right I got my license in 2007. The rehab facility I was accepted and lived at for 3 years also offered vocational training.
I told them that I wanted to enroll in computer training. After being tested for placement suitability I was told that I didn't have the capacity to study that and that I should consider something in either the foo service or sanitation industries. One day I went to the computer lab to ask the teacher a question about an issue I was having with my laptop. We then got to talking and I told him I wanted to be in his program. He told me that he had openings and that he'd talk to them to see if I can take the classes on a 3 month trial basis. this course was a 2 year program. Which I completed in 6 months. I became A+ certified as a computer repair technician. Not only that I was the first person from the Brain Injury Services department to ever complete the course, and in record time! Enough of the boring details of my struggles.
The takeaway here is that we are limited by our own imagination and beliefs in our abilities. Don't blindly accept what others tell you as being dogma. Each stroke is different, so there's no one size that fits all of us.
I have wondered why the doctors couldn't tell me I would never be a millionaire , I would have enjoyed proving that one wrong!
One last general message to everyone reading this; is not to expect changes to happen quickly. They may take a very long time. So it follows that looking for improvements since yesterday or last week may not be as effective as looking back 1-3 months or where you were last year this time to see how much better you actually are. You may have to learn to self-advocate as I did, but set achievable goals for yourself starting small and then getting more aggressive. Use the lonely times to work on yourself. As a child it took a year or so to learn to walk why expect it to happen in a week? Remember your not a stroke ( or Tbi) victim, you're a (insert word here) survivor!
I wish everyone the best.

Here's an example of why just one time out drinking can have some big effects. I went to the bar with some friends to decompress after a long week. We all had some beers and a few shots. Later that night, we ended up at the beach down the street. Somehow at the beach I came away with a bruise and some blood on my forehead; I don't remember exactly how it happened and no one around was watching me. None of us were blackout drunk but I have no memory of the injury or the preceeding hour or two. The next evening I was extremely nauseous, had a constant headache, and had some mild confusion. I thought I was just hungover from the previous night (even though I felt different than any previous hangover I've ever had). The symptoms continued into the next week and in some ways got worse, such as having "off" vision and balance. In addition, since then I have felt mentally slow. I have a harder time keeping up with movies and TV shows, and I feel like I have to read many things twice in order to comprehend what's written. I have a pretty constant and mild headache with pressure on both of my temples too. It's been almost two weeks but it scares me to think that any of this could be permanent.

I was in a terrible accident. Nobody will really hire me, I can hardly do any schooling it really stinks the way this has happened at the age of 18... I would love to write a story about my life because I'm pretty pathetic now...

You were given Life by GOD...See yourself as he would see you....The people that JUDGE you.....Are REALLY worse off than you, for they are sick in their soles. Take the HIGH Road....NEVER.....NEVER GIVE UP! Mental Attitude and LAUGHTER are GREAT healers, as well as, READING ! Did you know, that every time you learn something it stimulated the cells in your brain....they can GROW and you WILL GET THERE. Must be patient with yourself. a daily organizer HELPS! You are young and God made your body to repair itself in time.....try STEM CELL THERAPY OR BIOMEDS....REPAIRING your genosomes. THEY can even use just yours in many cases....God Bless You....your parents NEED to see you being strong because it rips out heart out when our children get hurt.....You are loved...Count your blessings when negative thoughts come over you. Smile...IT makes your body and you feel; better .

I relate. my sister had a granitic brain injury when she was a baby. she is not normal. she is 17 and has the mental capacity of a three year old. the kids at my school say they have it rough because they have siblings. how about you having a sister that is basically a baby in and adult body? I just wish she could have a normal life.

FYI:  Not all TBI diagnosis is from accidents. I am diagnosed with TBI and it is caused from  Neurosyphilis. It was in my system for over 10 yrs. as I never I knew I had it so did not seek treatment until it reared up yrs. later and caused TBI. Thank God a very alert neurologist did a spinal tap which it showed up on.  

Yes I can totally relate. My head went into the windshield at 45 mph. All of the safety equipment failed because the car dealer never inspected the car before he sold it. My life as I new it has for ever changed. It will never be the same. Then almost a year later I was hit by a drunk driver who had now taken any hopes of a full recovery away. Now I'm angry all the time. I hate being alone. I say things I can't control. Usually very rude. Its like I'm trapped in my head. I can't find a way out! I won't remember writing this and won't care. I had a nice life and a beautiful plan for my future. But that's all gone. I've lost everything. I live in my van now. I spent last winter I. It and no one even cares. Good luck to you.

I suffered a massive cerebral brain hemorrhage at 23 my whole life has become frustrating nightmare. I've been housebound for 21 years

I had a skull crushing blow after a drunk driver hit my mom i flew headfirst through a window my body was ran over by an old station wagon and a ford f250 ran over my head.. I have the attention span of a goldfish ... I have had migraines almost 30 years I can't sleep and when I do its not relaxing.. I'm so fatigue id give everything to feel rested.. I can get lost at times even in areas I've known my whole life!! I feel crazy at times.. I have so much pain and I try to think positive that thankfully im not the quadriplegic vegetable they said I'd be. I can be very defensive and snappy at times so I mostly keep to myself.. I avoid looking in mirrors because of my facial scars and dislopia of my eyes.. And I avoid drs. So I'll never qualify for a ssi check... Every TBI is different I hope u can overcome yours

My husband was hit in the head and few times in high school and college. In his mid 20s he was struck so hard in the head with a baseball bat. He was treated and released. Now he is in his mid 40s and I'm starting to notice changes in his behavior. He has been moody, depressed, he says he feels stuck, he is just not the same. Can somebody give me some advice. Thanks

I was shot point blank in the forehead in 1993 survived with the bullet still in my head went through 6 months of physical therapy learned to walk talk again etc... But still suffer seizures somewhat regained the use of my left arm and leg have worked on and off does anyone know of the best way to re enter the work force? I am 42 still living with my mother and tired of being a burden on her I would appreciate any advice anyone has. Matt pmatt31@gmail.com thank you in advance.

My 18 yr old son was shot point blank in the forehead... He laid in the woods, scared for 6 days and nights... I reported him missing 3 days after shooting... Another 3 days later the sheriff heard him moaning across the gravel road in woods after bringing a k9 out to search... He was conscious, severely dehydrated, paralyzed on his left side... Airlifted underwent surgery, icu for 7 days... Couldn't remove bullet from frontal lobe... Up to recovery 3 days.. Back in icu for 7 days draining excess fluids from head through spine.. I'm here by his bed at hospital as I write this.. He has some sensation and limited movement on left arm/ leg... Unable still to sit up alone for more than a few minutes, can't walk , dramatic weight loss, loss of muscle and strength... But he's a survivor, a miracle but a long road ahead.

Our prayers for your son and your family.

I'm getting emotional just talking about this. I have mild TBI . I tripped at a concert venue and fell backward on concrete and split my head open. I was out for awhile until I was brought back by the paramedics that eventually wrapped my head up to stop the bleeding. I ended up at the er where they dug bits of concrete out of my head and put 11 staples there I was kept all night for concussion observation and released the next morning. That was 5 months ago. My life is a complete hell! I still suffer from headaches,nausea,and balance problems. I was recently let go of my job that I have worked for 24 yrs. I broke my tailbone so it's hard to sit and I know I damaged my back as it hurts all of the time. I have had 2 cat scans and a chest X-ray to clarify no broken ribs. I am 56 and I have lost 30lbs from nausea and my life is not the same. Can anyone relate?

Multiple TBI survivor here. I need a more solid, pertinent support system . 

In 1998 I was ran over by an s10pickup and attained broken neck Basel skull fracture medulla oblongata severed all but a strand of hairs width. I was diagnosed with the exact injuries as Christopher Reeves. I can walk and talk write etc though. I have dizzy spells, moments of complete black out, I forget a lot short term wise. And a lot of times I do not know how to react to situations due to carelessness. And I will always try to care but a lot of times I am unable to. I was not supposed to live through the accident. Difficulty daily is very real.

I fell off a three story building 4 decades ago, my long and short term memory was bad. And also my temper and hearing. As I have gotten older my memory, temper, and hearing have gotten worse.

I ran into a glass door walking at a very fast pace. I knew something was wrong when I was becoming quite forgetful. I went to see my PCP and after a CAT scan not only did he confirm a concussion he found ano arachnid cyst at the base of my cerebellum. Two months later I had a chest cold and after one particularly hard cough I passed out in my kitchen. A visit to the hospital and an MRI later found that the cyst had increased in size and was literally tilting my brain into the front of my skull. Surgery was successful but now I'm prone to bursts of anger and I'm not the happy go lucky I used to be. Anyone out there have anything similar and if you do what steps have you taken to improve your quality of life?

My husband also hit his head on a steel beam. He was able to see his own doctor, who sent him to a neurologist. He has a TBI and is getting treatment, even though workers comp doesn't want to pay, they have to! Please get that second opinion from a doctor YOU trust! It will be in your best interest! Take care and good luck!

I need help. Can anyone give me advice? Struck my head on a steel beam in February of this year (2016), and workman's comp is dragging this out. Meantime, I saw a 'neurosurgeon', that happens to be on the company payroll, and he says nothing is wrong though he wants to test for seizures. In the meantime, I've had most of the symptoms here, and even what are possibly seizures, but still not receiving treatment. I've been told all I can do is wait, possibly get a second opinion out of pocket.

I just shaved my mohawk off because my hair hurt though, and I'm losing it over everything, I cannot handle the smallest amount of frustration. I haven't had a paycheck for almost five months now and my husband is trying to get a second job to pay for all our bills, we have nothing extra for therapy or a second opinion. Does anyone have any advice for me? Am I really stuck until workman's comp gets moving?

lydiadanea86@gmail.com Please, I need help, I see the disclaimer about medical or legal advice, but I need help.

Do have a lawyer? And did you have short/long-term disability? Apply for unemployment? Get a lawyer importantly!

talk about repeating my  self, i just read what i wrote a year ago, sorry guys, lol melissakelley

hi, my name is Melissa Kelley, maiden name Long, i was in a car accident when i was 3 yrs old, that was back in July or august of 1973, my mom, me and my stepdad was in a head on collision, we got hit broad sided, the accident knocked my mom and i unconscious on impact, i got a depressed scull fracture and a broken collar bone, unconscious for six day's, was in the hospital for a little over a month, mom got fractured ribs and a concussion, she was in the hospital for 2 days, my step dad got cut's and bruises, i had to relearn how to talk and walk, my frontal lobe was damaged but i had head surgery or i would of died, the surgeon had to laterally take my scull off of my brain and pick pieces of my scull out of my brain, i am a slow learner with cognigitive  disorder, mild depression and it has affected my life tremendsly, i tried to work but couldn't keep a job, i had no problem getting a job, it was keeping it, i tried to take care of myself financially but ended up getting on disability, made just enough work credits to qualify for disability and SSI, any way, i make friends pretty good but i'm not a big social person, i take meds to replace that chemical imbalance, without the meds, i would be so upset at times that i would cry, i enjoy life, it is precious and i stay away from people who judge me, i graduated high school with a c, cut hey at least i graduated, i am a very sensitive person and i respect all forms of life, i get mad if there is something i can't do right, but i never give up, my Momma raised me that way, she had me walk again before the hospital sent a nurse out, she knew i didn't need her any more, lol, i can't think quick enough, it takes me awhile to get to where i am trying to go when it comes to figuring something out, i don't drive but i deal with my disability in a positive way, i was above average before the accident, i was let go from jobs because i couldn't catch on in two days, and sometimes things have to be repeated to me, but over all i am glad we made it through that accident, i guess the car was so totaled that the sheriff couldn't believed we lived through it, our guardian angle was with us that day, thank you :)

Omg this sounds like me! I fell at a concert and split my head open and had staples in my head and I have not been the same since! I have no appetite and my head aches entirely! I have lost too much weight and actually my doctor has ordered another cat scan because i have hemorrhage in my left ear which was not detected a month ago in the er...

On September 29th, 2014 my stepdad got into a serious motorcycle accident. He had on all his protective gear... But the way the lady hit him, it flipped him off of his motorcycle, and the plastic/glass part broke and I think It got in his forehead. He had internal bleeding, his heart stopped beating, and he brain was swollen. He had been in the hospital since September and came back in January. He also received some serious brain damage and the part of his brain that is damaged is the part that controls his personality and he was a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON when he came home. He has done some unspeakable things and his attitude is different, he used to yell at people instead of speaking to them regularly, he got angry quicker, had a short temper, etc. The person that really felt this the most is my mother. She's trying to have hope and hold on to the person that he used to be hoping that he will come back. It is now May 2016 and he is MUCH better, but he is not all the way there yet.

I suffer TBI to this day after 23 years. I was struck on the left side of my head in front of ear right under left eye. I was surprised not to hear more about memory. My short term memory has made me appear silly at times and has also been embarrassing. I definitely can relate to disruption of sleep patterns. If I can come close to sleeping at all I feel blessed. I also talk different. I was once pulled over by police and accused of drinking. My equilibrium is bad, so needless to say, I flunked sobriety test, but passed breathalyzer. My biggest loss is my creativity. I was a professional musician and songwriter. I can still function a little, but its easy to recognize that things dont flow like it used to. I have sympathy and compassion for anyone dealing with TBI. I know it changed my life and still is.

I had my TBI 30 years ago this August.  When I talk with high school students today through the PARTY (Prevent Prevent Alcohol and Risk-Related Trauma in Youth) program, I have a student ask me how long it took me to recover. When the question is posed to me, I reply with the question, "What day is it today?" When the date is given, my answer is, "I'm still recovering".

30 years ago, little of what is known today was available.  I was just lucky.  I want to help those who have not been so lucky.  Thank you for the information and research now available to us.

I am very lucky. I live alone and went to bed on a friday and woke on sunday to find I had fallen and had many injuries that did not hurt. I had been falling all over the house and had a broken arm, a large hole in my hip, and other varies injuries including a brain bleed. The doctors told me I had a large mass on my brain and I was going to die. They operated the next morning and found it was a bleed instead of a mass. I went home in three days to recover. It has been four months and the only things I notice wrong is I forget some and I am not able to do things fast. I don't know what really happened to cause the first fall. My brother was here on the Sunday when I woke up. When I woke up I was up walking. I had been up and doing things. It was as if all my lights were on but no one was home. I was seeing things that were not there. My vision was very bad. Waking up after the surgery my vision was much better but my eyeballs were jumping. That is back to normal. I was very lucky to get back to 95% in 4 months. I feel I may get back all the way to normal. I had a very good surgeon.

Hey sorry to hear that hope things will get a lot better for you I will keep u to in my prayers. I just want to how long was it before u woke up and started to kinda get back to urself? I have a cousin fighting for his life right now to that was involved in a car wreck he had swelling on his brain and bleeding. They did surgery and stop the bleeding and swelling end up going down but this the problem they're saying he's motor skills is damage and nothing else they can do. But how if he is opening up his eyes and squeeze your hand and even drop a tear I'm so confused

I was in bad car crash & i was in the hospital for 4 weeks 2 I spend on a ventilator fighting for my life an the rest in rehab . An now I'm suffering head trauma , I don't sleep for days ,I don't eat most days , I'm very depressed , I've lost friends and family . I don't wish this on anybody , this is very hard to live with I'm only 21 an life has been rough these last 2 weeks since I've been able to come home . The pain meds don't work really , I'm in pain most of my days this just all seems like a dream to me . I pray for anybody going through this an there family's .

I don't know if I have a, TBI but my husband has beat me in the head many many times !!! I have had many black eyes and other bad bumps to the head . I suffer from headaches, and I cry very easy and suffer from really bad depression !!!

Thank you for this information on TBI. I was in a Sand Truck Accident back in 1998 that busted the skin open but not the skull on the right side of my head. The doctor just stitched me up and sent me home. My Head hurt so very badly for for 6 months to the point I could not even turn my eyes or my head. I have had Chronic Daily Migraines ever since. I have just recently been diagnosed with Hemiplegic Migraines as well. Since that accident I have not even been able to work math at all and have anger outbursts that are so not me. Mixing my words up when I talk.  Could it be that I have actually been suffering from TBI and not even knowing it?

Aug 2015 had car accident 36 year old male ejected from vehicle, came crashing down, requiring brain surgery, open head wound. Lost 100% right hearing in right ear with added severe tinitus ringing in that ear. Regained myself from double eyesight, loss of taste and walking thinking. I spent 6months getting help from my Mother to use different parts of brain to thing thoughts again expand on those thoughts, remember old brain pathways to function day to day. I am 2months back at work now accountant, learned to drive again and coping best I can with all the data processing and analytics. Mostly reinventing myself, using other peoples brain to do things I can process without the added stress. The moving brain I think is a reality overlooked. I can be fine sleeping and wake up feeling like I am not fully cognizant for days, floating around, the sensation is like flying through a tunnel in space, feeling like everyone else has gravity to process the environment and my sense of it is fleeting. Its difficulty finding methods to cope, wish I had my old life ability back but this challenge is that a challenge. I don't know what tomorrow brings but I don't bank on it. I am simplifying my life finances etc. Short term memory loss a daily reality, but being very careful getting around. Keep praying for assistance in my daily routines.

My tbi was 4 yrs ago i had a subdural hematoma and crainiotomy i still suffer with headaches tracers ringing ears poor balance short term terrible memory loss irrtability chronic fatigue ect. I have found what helps me is meditation constant prayer and my love for jesus and my family. I concentrate on what i can do not what i can't do. It is literally a hour by hour day by day healing i enjoy what i can and try to stay busy and positive and rest when i need to. I'm blessed with a wonderful husband who is just happy I'm alive. May God bless anyone who is reading this. Walk with your head up and be happy you can read this. God bless c.z.

I have had my head beat in, punched, head butted to the point I have permit black eyes and my left nasal cavity is a mess... This is from 5 years of abuse... Well now I know what you call this hell in my head.,

I would like to bring to peoples attention in this country that doctors do not understand brain injury. I have suffered severe headaches dizziness collapsing brain pressure seizures and being ignored all the time. Now got a living body and a brain that is dead

Was told I'm a TBI case by the Dr today I was hit with an excavator on the construction site its been hard I'm reading educating myself to this traumatic brain injury stuff its scary how I relate to every story some more than others its scary to me and very frustrating on a daily basis I don't know how ppl have lived this for yrs or decades y'all must be strong I'm hurting everyone around me and hate life ass I type here don't know what to do my neurosurgeon I feel isn't doing the best job or doesn't work hard enough cuz I'm a workman's comp case other wards discounted its only been a month since my accident I'm forced back into work I shake uncontrollably head aches are constantly non stop lost hearing on my right side on top I jerk and shake or tremor in my sleep my back hasn't been addressed yet never had back issues before days I don't want to get out of bed and feel like saying F these drs and everyone including my job who is probably only keeping me employed cuz its the law here these ppl are so horrible when I was hit they thought it was more important to get my bosses on the job site before any one one called 911 so I remained on the floor convulsing and bleeding badly on the floor till another guy Frm another company said my coworkers were so wrong and called 911i never asked for this it wasn't my fault Sorry just want to say thks to my company sarcastically I was a single father who was going on my second yr of a awesome marriage its been upside down the past month and think I'm them too because of me and this accident I feel so broken and I don't want to be traumatic in every aspect this experience

I am 24. I was standing in a parking lot on my phone for a minute and next thing I know I woke up in the hospital. I didn't understand what happened. Everyone was crying. I first seen my new son he was about 4 months. I said hi and everyone was freak out. I talked and I was like what? My mom then said do you know me and who you are and why youre here? I said I know your my mom and I'm your son but did I get in a car wreck? Then the doctor explained it to me. He said I wouldn't wake up for three days and we weren't expecting you to be able to speak correctly or remember a lot of things. He said someone hit you in the back of your head with a car fracturing it and causing severe brain damage. I was bleeding out of both ears and spinal fluid. Long story short I don't remember me coming home. I could walk but I was really off balance. I couldn't move my right side of my face and speech was slurred. I slept for about a week straight and realized I needed to start fighting this. I'm a very strong person mentally. I fought and fought and fought. I got everything back to normal in about 2 months. Physically I lost my right hearing and I have horrible headaches. I hear ringing all the time. Still it's over whelming when I'm trying to be with my son and it hurts so bad just to hear him cry. I can't handle it and gives so much anxiety when this happens. It made me anti social. I'm always saying it's going to get better then I fail again and I hate myself. It's really shifty. I cry because I still can't handle hearing loud stuff. I want my son like used to play all day with him. Now I get flustered and that's not me and it's just mentally challenging. I then turned to alcohol to stop thinking. It just caused me alot of suffering mentally. I'm still dealing with this but I am fighting it for my son and I won't stop. I hope everyone recovers from your injury just don't give up stay positive.

Hi everyone. The father of my children was in a mva in august. I'm pretty sure he is considered to be out of his coma at this point but he still can't talk. He follows commands consistently and answers yes and no by pushing yes and no buttons on a phone or tablet. He isn't walking but can bear weight on his feet. I know everyone's experience is different and he has made amazing progress over the period of 4 months but I just feel like his is so much different than everyone else. I understand that his standing and hopefully walking will come with time. I just can't understand why he isn't talking. He has progressed in every other way. I was wondering if anyone else had a similar experience or had any advice or helpful words.

Thank you for this information. ..I couldn't do my job as a nurse for many months after my accident...My short term memory has been affected and I need special glasses for focusing because my focus goes in and out..very tiring..I don't feel like I ever go into REM sleep and BP is much higher..I stumble with words and say things that don't make sense some times...Must be so frustrating for my family and friends at times..I do feel alone sometimes.. It's difficult to explain a TBI to someone.

Thank u for your story. I too was in a head on and fighting to be and feel normal. It's been one of the loneliest times of my life yet.

i was in a head on collision car accident with my mom and stepdad, we were on our way to fishing when a car came speeding towards us, we didn't see him  and he didn't see us, he hit us broadside head on(i was 3 yrs old at the time), the impact was so hard that my mom and i was knocked unconscious, my step dad got cut's and bruises, but the accident left me with a depressed scull fracture and a broken collar bone, my mom got a concussion and fractured rib's, she was unconscious for two day's, i was unconscious for 6 day's, the doctor had to do surgery or i would of died, mom got to go home in 2 day's, i was in the hospital for a little over a month, i had to learn how to walk and talk again, my mom had me walking before they sent a nurse out to work with me, when she got to our house, mom said i ran up to her and she said "Well i guess you don't need me".

i was afraid of the x-ray light when the doctor did x-ray's on me, mom had to practice with me laying on the kitchen table with a lamp and i had nightmare's galore, the accident damaged my frontal lobe but thank God we all lived, i have tried to take care of my self, i have been refused job's because i either didn't pass the test ori caught on to the job to  slow, but i did manage to take care of my self through alot of job's, i had no problem getting a job, it was keeping it that i had a problem with, i got kicked out of kindergarden when i was five in one school and had to go to another, i had alot of bad temper's, i used drug's and alcohol but i got help for that and i am alcohol and drug free, i have taken counceling all my life and still do, i take anti-depressants and exiety pill's but i don't have a problem socializing because i learned through my life how negative behaviour effects other people, i am on disability and i'm 45 year's old, the doctor's never asked my mom if she wanted to sign me up for social security, and one doctor tell's my mom i will never be able to take care of my self and a nother doctor tell's my mom i can with training, well, i have tried and now i'm here on disability at age 39 is when i started getting it, i have been a fighter all my life and still am as far as life go's and that is why i am here, My name is Melissa, and it is nice meeting every body, we all have come a long way fighting tooth and nail to get here, God bless you :)

Hello everyone, the challenges one faces with a TBI can be across the board.  I suffered a Frontotemporal hematoma due to a dirt bike accident in 1999.  I was 17.  I fractured my left orbit, temporal bone and frontal.  They put me in a coma for 2 weeks self induced.  I woke from the coma as i started fighting the vent tubes.  I dont remember being being awake for the first 3 days. please email me if you want to hear the whole store and how im doing.  Mike B michaelocword@gmail.com

To September 2015 comment: you are not alone, as I am far too much like you. Stick it out, so we each know the other is there.

wow, reading these comments have really shown me how many people are suffering.

I am a caregiver for my sister who was in a MVA when she was 9.  The accident took the lives of our mom and brother and she was not suppose to make it.      

She functions quite well, and if fact most people in public do not even know that she has major injuries.    Major Brain injury being the biggest problem, she cannot see anything to the left of her, and she cannot use her left hand.   It has been tough managing her affairs and sometimes I get frustrated with her conditions.   I am in charge of her finances, bills, appointments.....   She now has gotten married (25) and is pregnant (all of this without letting any of our family know ) .  We are concerned that she cannot raise this baby physically and mentally and are not quite sure what to do.

Thank you to all who have posted their experiences.  I feel so isolated and alone.  I suffered numerous severe head traumas in childhood (the ones I can remember) due to abuse and family dysfunction.  My father was by all appearances a loving man but could fly into uncontrollable rages.  One of these resulted in a hard slam to my back when I was 10 years old.  I may have suffered broken ribs as when I remember waking I was on my stomach and crying because of the pain and the fact I couldn't breathe.  My Mother told me that they couldn't take me to a hospital because my dad would go to jail.  I know that I didn't finish out my last 3 months of 6th grade and don't remember that summer at all.  However, in 7th grade I got straight A's so of course everyone wanted to believe there was no damage.  However about this time I started being what my family referred to as a "spaz" with jerkey weird motions.  I continued to appear to excel in school but nothing really worked inside of me.  I became a strange hyperacheiver with severe social difficulties.  My family made fun of me and my achievements were resented by my siblings.  I now know that I was trying to win affection and approval but all of my achievements were very shallow if that makes sense. I think because emotionally and cognitively I couldn't really comprehend them.  Before this incident my oldest brother who myself and my other siblings (7 children) were left in his charge pulled me by my foot at about age 7 from a high bunk bed where I was trying to avoid him (he consistently sexually molested me and beat me up).  This fall I remember because my head hit the floor violently.  He then drug me through the house by my foot to a back room.  My memories of what happened then are blocked until I remember my mother beating me for "asking for it" by staying home instead of going with her.  He was 7 years my senior but his activities were passed off as children "playing" so any trauma there was discounted and is still so to this day. This results in my family tsking, tsking me for being erratic and unforgiving--further isolating me.   I do know that as young as 3 years old I remember desperately trying to hide from something/somebody all of the time.  The combination of abuse resulted in me being odd socially.  I guess I was considered attractive and would have people that wanted to be with me but I was unable to maintain relationships.  I think this was alot due to the brain injuries and my erratic behavior.  I still succeeded in many ways so people found me confusing and often would eventually tire of my "behavior" although initially being drawn to me.  Then in 1986 I was doing very well professionally (also not tolerated by my family as they thought I was a strange person to not be married, etc) when I was involved in a severe accident.  A drunk driver pulled in front of me (2.75 bac the next day) and I hit him full on.  I now understand that I suffered a very severe closed head injury although went without a proper diagnosis (I believe to stem my rightful lawsuit--bad lawyer/bad choices/erratic behavior/no support system-I quit my high level job because my self-esteem would not allow me to accept my new normal.  Oddly, my company begged me to stay but I quit.  I went from handling 11 major apartment complexes and several businesses (I was a high lever asset manager managing large budgets and a lot of people) to not being able, literally, add simple numbers.  It was me who quit after years of success.  I was 32 at that time and haven't been able to maintain a job for any length of time although I always initially do very well.  I just wear out and start getting confused.  I try to hide my disabilities (like a good girl-plus people think I am making it up because I can be very high functioning so I try to avoid "explaining" to people--they don't get it).  I am constantly making and losing friends because I initially appear to be one person and then inevitably I act out (sometimes I don't even know what I did wrong) and they don't like me anymore. Or they get annoyed during the periods of time that I cannot function due to severe fatigue and confusion.  I have never had a support system of a partner/helpmate so I have struggled to constantly rebuild a life.  I suffered a serious fall/concussions 3 years ago (also numerous other accidents--they seem to follow you once you have one).  I tried to rehab myself as I am never really been  listened to completely and unfortunately I was living in a place with severe toxic mold (my life circumstances have been difficult for all of the time since the accident and I make extremely erratic and impulsive choices and my income and insurance has been deeply impacted-which further irritates people in my life)   I am still trying to have a life.  On good days I am still very optimistic and try to still have the best life I can but it is very scary.  I am at the point of a pretty small life but I keep trying.  It is embarrassing because I know people look at me at my age and imagine I am somehow a big screw-up--that I had it all and messed it up.  Compassion is hard to find after all of this.  And I still often appear competent and attractive.  If I had a broken arm it would be easier.  I guess I just needed to vent here and hope that is okay.  For all of you caregivers, God Bless you for sticking by the injured person. Just acknowledging that their injury is very real and knowing their challenges is so important.   It is so confusing from the inside of it.  I wish I did have someone but I feel like I would be such a burden to anyone.  But I would love just having someone keep track of when the bills are due and some groceries bought.  And some human touch.  Again, I have many blessings and keep going but it is depressing that this has gone on so long and affected my life so dramatically.  I am so happy that brain trauma is finally getting recognition and hopefully our society is changing to a more understanding and compassionate stance.  It is not a simple thing and I believe it is so misunderstood.  Even by those of us on the "inside".  I constantly want to deny the very real effects and I have lived with them for years now.  (I am 61).  But I am still in here.  thanks for listening.  sorry to go on so long.  Please just love that person and no matter how crazy they might be making you know that you are helping them by just being there.  It is a heroic thing to give up so much for someone who needs you.  And yes, you are probably giving up a lot. I wish I had someone like you in my life that cared enough to stay even when I am so hard to understand. 

the brain's way of healing by Norman Doidge is a book that will give hope and cutting edge treatments that help heal or at least improve tbi

Hi in 2013 my husband and I took our 18 month old grandson into our home because his mom wanted to live homeless. My grandson went from house to house living every where but in a safe home. But while living with his mom, he use to throw tanturms all the time when he never got his way. When he did that, he always threw himself down and banged the back of his head on the ground. His mom never took him to the doctor to check is anything was wrong with him. When he moved with us, he hardly could walk, never talked just mumbled or pointed to what he wanted. 11 days later he had a seizure and past away. took 8 months for the autopsy to come back and they said that he died from Diffuse Axonal Injury. What are the chances that my grandson was injured before he came to live with us? and the police called it a Homicide.

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