Aging After Brain Injury: BrainLine Talks with Dr. Steven Flanagan

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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.

My 12 year old son has lived with moderately severe TBI for 10 years. You may want to consider taking supplements. My son takes CoQ10 30 mg twice daily, Alpha Lipoic Acid 100 mg twice daily, Vivaldi Fish Oil 2,200 mg twice daily, one New Chapter multi-vitamin called Perfect Calm at night, and one New Chapter multi-vitamin called Perfect Energy in the morning. To nite, my pharmacist chose each supplement and its dose for me. However, always cross reference safety with other drugs, and discontinue these for surgeries, anesthesia, and antibiotics.

I had a severe tbi almost a year ago, suffer nothing no seizures no memory problems nothing at all..will i maybe have a seizure down the road or something serious maybe in the coming years?

I am a 33 year old combat veteran with TBI. After reading this, I am convinced the VA needs to hire this guy since nobody seems to have a clue as to what's happening to me. At least I have an idea of what's in store for more in the coming years. I prefer to face my fight instead of being ambushed by it. Thanks, Doc. I really appreciate it. Semper Fi!

My husband is 53 years old. His injuries are from his youth. I skimmed over the comments to see if any resembled his situation. Dan in Ontario describes the same symptoms: the sensitivity to sounds and lights ( " flooding"), the depression, anxiety, focusing difficulties, short term memory loss, and some others. I am looking for current info to help my in-laws understand, but there isn't a lot out there. We do have an excellent neurologist. He has explained it clearly and has validated what my husband experiences. I noticed several comments describing the sensory overload, the term we were given is "flooding". We have found info on it and my husband says it is very accurate. To all of you, you are not crazy, it is all directly related to the brain injury.

I suffered a traumatic brain injury on The 1st of March, 2014. Mine was caused from a ruptured brain aneurysm. I was going to my doctor for continuous headaches. Asking for a referral to see a specialist. If I had known about brain aneurysms before mine ruptured I would've done more about getting checked. Now I'm living with a huge part of my brain dead but I have adapted or learned to use other parts of my brain for the function I've had lost. I'm walking talking & moving both sides of my body.

I am 29 years old with 2 children and a fiancee.  I was in a car accident June 2010. I lost control of my vehicle driving home drunk and went off the road and flipped five or six times.  I did not have a seatbelt on and I was ejected from the vehicle.  My mother was told I was unresponsive upon EMT arrival and had to be resuscitated. I suffered a TBI, broken neck, broken ribs, skull fractures, lung punctures and a severely lacerated ear.  I had a chest tube in each lung because of the lung punctures and I was in a coma for almost a month i think.  I recovered quickly and did not suffer many external injuries.  Thank you God I did not hurt anyone else in the accident but I still suffer from the injuries sustained that night...the one that haunts me the most is my tbi.  My main concern is my memory and the feeling of not being in control.  I do suffer from other things as well like poor balance, depression, body pains and social anxiety.  And I used to be the SOCIAL BUTTERFLY! One other symptom I'm beginning to notice is my progressive sexual behavior...anyway it's nice to read other stories of tbi folks and it make me feel not alone.  

My son is Post-TBI 20 years. He was 19, in a vehicle accident, 2 weeks in trauma center, almost 6 months in a good rehab facility. He was comatose for 3 months and we were told that after 6 weeks, the chances of him even waking up was slim. The Rehab staff immediately suggested we apply for SSI. Supplemental Security Income. What a godsend that advice was. After 3 months, he opened his eyes and moved one finger. Life moved very slowly for us. My son had many visitors who talked to him, played his favorite music, touched him, brushed his hair, gave him manicures, and talked about things that friends talk about. After 'waking up', it took another 2 months for him to swallow. He was encouraged to write, but wrote in vertical columns. We brought him home at 6 months. For 3 years, I took him to physical, occupational, speech, and aquatic therapies 3 times a week. To be honest, he really 'woke up' at about 1 and half years. At this time, he became aware of who he was, what he was doing daily. He announced that he no longer wanted to use the wheelchair, but wanted to walk. We continued to receive therapies only once a year, for 12 sessions. He never shows enough improvement to warrant more therapy.Today, he is 40 years old, living with us at home, has all the conveniences he wants, like computer, tablet, tv, stereo, nice bedroom overlooking the woods (with deer and squirrels). He receives Medicare and Medicaid, sees his PPC every 3 months, His case manager every month, the dentist every 4 months, and weekly visits with his sisters and families, and attends church monthly.My point is that it is very important for medical professionals to give the most correct advice to the TBI patient and family members. Gather ALL paperwork associated with his case, keep up to date records of ALL procedures, and be pro-active. Of course, I understand that not all TBI survivors have this whole package. This was all possible because I chose to also change my life. I do all of this for my son. His diagnosis is left-sided hemiparisis, severe cognitive and balance issues, and needs 24/7 visual supervision for safety. He plays computer games, watches American Pickers and Cops, loves to go to yard sales and Walmart. He is on 6 different meds daily that give him the patience and coping needed to have a 'good' day. He takes 2 different sleeping pills to go to sleep. It is important to get help early! My son may never 'get better', but he has a fair life. Research and visit a neurologist. In October, changes may happen for the medical billing code for Post TBI Syndrome. Can't wait! joarossigmail.com

it feels so good to be validated! my neurologist just made me feel like i was craizy and alone. i was assaulted a bit over two years ago and suffered a mild tbi. i have not been the same person ever since. i have all sorts of problems and i oftentimes feel like i am losing my mind. i have problems remembering things, its hard to talk or sing, and even to feel emotions. i am sensitive to bright lights and loud noise. i get dizzy a lot, especially when i need to track things with my eyes, and driving has become impossible. i can no longer exercise for more than a few minutes at a time and i gained weight. my visual and auditory processing has been affected, and sometimes even my sense of taste. i have digestive issues and developed hemorrhoids from being in the bathroom for so long i suddenly developed arthritis a couple of months after the tbi and my gut tells me that that too is related. i have slowed down physically and on bad days, every movement is a chore. i feel depressed sometimes and i see that my depression is causing anxiety an depression in the rest of my family which makes me feel worse. i'm sorry for all of you who are going through similar experiences. i hear you

TBI is a lifelong condition and how I wish we had a doctor following up on us. My spouse's injury due to a car accident happened 30 years ago and we were too naive to understand the full consequences. It changed our lives forever and not for the better. What a struggle it's been. You would think the medical profession would be interested in following severe brain injury patients. We have stories to tell!

I am new to all of this related to TBI. Our son was born 1 month early due to placenta abruption, his oxygen was slowly deprived for an unknown amount of time. Immediately following his birth he demanded attention. He would not stay alive , after several different attempts to keep him here a blood transfusion was the fix. He received moderate to severe brain damage global , meaning all over his brain. He suffered a stroke after birth and seizures causing cerebral palsy To date he is nearly 19 months old. He is severely delayed in all areas however Not to be entirely held back. From the beginning his doctors urged U.S. to begin many therapies and explore anything at all that benefited him. I think and learning that everyone and anyone who doesn't understand a brain injury are scared of it, their quick to pass the effects off to something else. Be it a bad day, behavior issues all of their own or just not enough information to go on. That makes it 100% hard on you , who lives and fights through it daily. Our little man is still just a tiny baby man growing into a boy, but I see how harsh the world is even to him. A baby. Cannot imagine being an adult, a teen or any age for that matter trying to fit into this normal world however you can. My very best advice is to NOT stop challenging yourself daily , forgive yourself when you don't perform to the so called normal levels , remember to praise yourself when you overcome or achieve something or anything because You are your biggest advocate as an adult. I see already early on that if we didn't fight for him or push him in ways he doesn't know how - NOONE would. That's not fair when your an adult , who is looking out for you but you. Do not give up on you. You don't have to be a very tiny baby or nearly 19 month old yo matter to be heard. Don't hesitate to tell your story or ask for a minute , you deserve it. After all your fighting an every single second battle against your own brain, your actions or outcomes are not always yours or your own intentions. Hard wired for battle is what we say for our little man. Because everything is and will be a battle but amazingly beautiful when achieved. Stand in awe of yourself occasionally. You survived something terrible that left you half or less or maybe a little more in ways. Look for the ways to be more. These are all the things I believe someday when my son will understand more that I will say to him. I don't know much about long term, really just learning to take it day by day as his mama on this terrifyingly gratifying journey we are on. Together. These next things may sound silly but I have to think all brains are created equal in ways - we started a water mobility program for him. Mostly because he can't walk or crawl and we want to increase his strengths without pain. In water your weightless , flightless but it's amazing sensory input. If you can find some safe water places to do your jan activities in or find a program. Our area has a program for it called mobility. Find soothing things that fit into your lives - yoga , running , writing, horses or any animals. They bring joy and know us humans pretty well. Good luck to you all. Would love to hear of any others similar to our boy , born with a TBI and outcome. Take care.

Hello my name is Dan and I'm scared to death, at 53 years of age I don't know where to turn for help. Suffered multiple concussions when I was younger (I think 7 or 8 bad ones along w/several mild ones) playing football, hockey and every other contact sport you can play. Diagnose w/ABI in 2010 now 5 years later I'm getting worse and my Doctor is doing everything he can but the tests I need cost 4-5 thousand dollars. I have concentration problems along w / comprehension, short term memory, balance, dexterity, and most of all Depression. I no longer play ANY SPORTS at all, have problem with employment because of noise, lighting (bright lights give me headaches) and no longer able to work in a fast paced environment ( was a forklift operator for 30 years). I have lost 5 jobs since Sept 2014 never making it past my probation period ( about 2 1/2 months in they let me go) because of repetitive mistakes. My wife and kids are afraid of me ending my life. Is there anybody else out there with similar problems like mine? If so I would love to hear from you to compare our symptom. I live in Toronto, Ontario ,Canada email address onefour@sympatico.ca  Thank you for reading this, there is a lot more I could of type about what my family and I are going through but I think I have taken up to much of other peoples time

Sincerely Dan

 I had severe TBI 23 years ago and now at 42 years of age, I am given medicine to fix "life cycle change i.e. change of anxiety levels, insomnia, migraines and cluster headaches, change of cognitive functions" and wonder if I am not missed diagnosed because there is not enough information on the impact of TBIs and aging. I always have had headache and migraines since my accident where I was a Jane Doe for a month and unconscious over 24+ hours and had swelling on the brain along with brain stem injury with the prognosis of permanent memory loss and no short term memory ability. Well I just graduated nursing school and it has been very hard to stay focused and keep the knowledge current long enough to take the test. My next hurdle is the state boards. I guess I am seeking knowledge to why it has been so tough. I was a straight A student in high schools with a high IQ and graduated 2 years early via accelerated educational program where I never had to study for a test. The scientist in me needs an explanation if there is one. I don't want to believe that at the age of 42 I am forgetting stuff like my daughters middle name or the spelling of my street address of 10 years because it is a "life change thing" and lack of sleep. Cindy

In 1987  was involved in a head on collision car accident.  It was almost tragic.  I was in ICU for 5 days with a tube in my chest due  to a  rib puncturing my lung.

i was in a coma for several weeks after the accident. It was 1 December and I do not remember 5 days before and the first thing I remember is being transported from room to room on a gurney.  It was 2 days before Christmas. i was in one Hospital for a month and the Rehab Hospital for a month.  

I was told by the Insurance therapist that I should deny the offer of SSI because I would be back working in 6 months.  I have not worked for more than a few weeks at a job because I  had cognitive issues.  I spent my meager insurance money.  I was talked out of receiving the Workman' Comp  monthly because I was told by the therapist that I would get in a rut. and stay there.So, I have spent ALL my insurance money, I have not contributed to SS since 1987, I have not been able to hold a good job and I have NO money in the bank.  I am married to a man who cares for me and he works out of town 250 days a year. For a;most 2 years I have been telling my Neurologist about this Regression to post trauma that I am experiencing.  She says she has ot heard of what I am describing to her.  I don;t know what to do right now.   I am going to VocRehab right now and I am having cognitive testing to find out where my  head is right now.  I have a high IQ but that is not what makes your brain work.properly.  I will give my Doctors this site and let then read what you have said.   I need some help.

I am 53.  I fell off a 20 foot platform, while taking a photo of my daughter and her friend.  I lost my balance and stumbled forward doing a back flip over the edge.  I was in the hospital nearly paralyzed.  I have rods going down my whole thoracic spine.  I do have a mild brain trauma and still getting tested to see what the tests show.  It has been a year and a half of hell psychological, emotionally, physically and now discovering my of brain injury effects.  It has been a process of complete tears, depression and over-whelmingness.  I am lucky I can work, as I am can work out of my home.  I suffer from severe fear, depression, and worries about my future.  I feel incredibly alone as no one really gets what you are going through.  I have sensory problems, sleep problems and memory problems.  Also, multitasking problems.  I also struggle with chronic pain from my spinal injury.  It is all very very very frightening.  I found once I was released from the hospital, no one told me what to do.  I always wondered what if I could not afford health insurance.  I lived in Manhattan to keep my 15 year old daughter close to her dad, but can barely keep up with the business, the cost, etc.  I know I am doing pretty good, but I tend to need people to come to see me, and need to keep my weekends simple.  I was always active athletically, a traveler, and fun to be around.  It all has changed me even though I try to hang onto the positive and keep pushing forward.  What else is there to do.  I try to go easy on myself and remember what I can do and how I do solve problems that come up unexpectedly.  I never felt so vulnerable in my life before. I wish I could find someone who has had a similar example to mine in terms of injury.  

Sept 5, 2010 we got the call your son has been injured in a drilling rig accident may not live. Fortunetly the piece of drill stock broke his skull which allowed some room for initial swelling. Next Craneiectomy.  coma,new teeth,screws and new front of skull. 4 years later workers compensation does not feel the seizures are related to the TBI .With everything I have just read I will push for life long medical coverage. There was no follow up after initial treatment and 2 weeks of rehab.He does have some menal processing issues minor now. Can not play base ball any more vision issues. Some over reaction and none appropriate responses.Currently he is 34 so say a prayer he has hired a workers compensation attorney and his first appointment with workers comp is Aug 5th.

I like most other here am post TBI 28 years and I just turned 46. I wish I hadn't been stubborn about disability and following up with a neuro guy. I'm hoping I'm on the correct path now though. I have started group counseling with a TBI program and I will be doing cognitive skills. However, they also have me in PSR classes and I'm not really sure I sure be there yet. I'm finding myself overwhelmed after the first week. Oh, I forgot to mention, I have Fibromyalgia (I believe was from my accident) and now some type of ulcerative issue in my GI.

I would recommend if anyone asked, make sure you follow up from day one! File for disability early, accept that you need this help. Unless you have someone in your life with an endless supply of money for you, you will need the disability. I waited 28 years, and just as most others, I'm divorced and penniless. I'm lucky to have food stamps.

Always remember, you are here, you are a survivor! It may be a little more difficult and things may appear different, but we as humans are built to adapt. I try and remind myself that this is another one of life's experiences. Don't you think they are meant to teach us. The difference for us is, we have to relearn things over and over. I like to compare it to the movie "Fifty First Dates." Watch it if you haven't.

Good luck and God bless!

I was 20 when I was in a car accident and in a coma for 2 weeks. I am now 52 and when I say anything about issues dealing with my TBI people act like I need to get over it, that it's all in my mind, so to speak. ; )

Now I am married with a son 8 yrs and MS Education. I am reassured that my issues are real. I try to stay calm with yoga, meditation, eat right, go to bed on time, stay involved in stimulating activities, read and be socially as active as I can and forgive myself and try harder. <3

Dr. Flanagan states that "...for most patient they remain my patients for life. I never discharge them." He should add to that,"....unless their insurance runs out and they're too hell bent on recovery that they refuse to apply for SSI or Medicaid." I suffered a TBI in June of 1988. I was in a coma for 5 days, in the hospital of S.I. for a month, and treated at the Rusk Institute/NYU Medical Center for about 5 to 10 years or so. Pardon me for my bad memory of exact details due to TBI. I had a excellent memory before my accident, but I lost that along with many other things. I do remember that I used to go there every day for a long time. I use to see all kinds of doctors and therapists. There was Dr. Ahn, the head neurosurgeon I think, then Dr. Protomastro, Dr. Kaplan. And therapists including Dora Blacker and Bob something or another, (forgive me for messing up the names a little bit, there were other doctors and therapists I seen, but my memory fails me. It was a long time ago, and I was mentally Lost in Space at that time) I thank them for their help, and I did come a long way when I was treated there. I also made a couple of friends in group therapy sessions that I still keep in touch with till this day. But except for maybe a email or two from Dr. Promastro (Who was the best!) I think, No staff at Rusk has ever contacted me. What it seemed to me that once my insurance ran out, I was just told that there was nothing more they could do for me, there's the exit, good luck and goodbye!
It's so interesting to read other people's experiences and recovery observations regarding TBI. I was 17, in a car accident, thrown into rock ledge face first. Massive hematoma at base of brain, 25 burr holes drilled into head (yes, they shaved my long, long hair!) 5 weeks in a coma, paralasis on my left side, left eye nerve damage (legally blind in left eye)and I lack a visual focal point, so I see two of everything. My biggest challenge was denial. I simply didn't want to be disabled. Luckily, in about 5 years I recovered to a relatively normal 22 year old. Graduated college 4 times, married, had kids, opened a business. Fast forward to 57, I'm divorced, unemployed, on disability, and struggling. It's difficult to concentrate, difficult to read, difficult to write. My memory is amazing, and I practice memory challenges. I see the diminishing ability I have with multi-tasking, concentration, learning new things. I'm very healthy, take zero meds. I do supplement my diet with Fish oil, vitamin D, magnesium, and Lysine. My balance is a little skewed, but I manage. My email: one_dove@live.com, and I welcome anyone to contact me with questions or share ideas, experiences. HUGS>Melanie
Thank you so much for this Q&A Session. How I wish my father had you for a doctor. My father's doctor discharged him as soon as he completed rehab. It would be so nice to have a doctor that stuck by him and made an effort to prevent "back sliding". The idea of letting a person "backslide" when therapy stops for lack of mark-able progress is giving up. I have studied, research and collaborated with other well educated people. The consensus is those with TBI can prevent and/or slow the loss of progress as long as therapy is continued and on-going. Telling a grown man with tbi to exercise daily for his own good and him actually doing it are two different things. Again thank you for this article!!
I had my first major tbi at 18 mos. it impacted my vision, as a child I was always called irritable and was made fun of a lot. The appeared to be no concern about head injuries and the effect they have on the brain. At 34 yrs I had my second major head injury. Again, not much concern was taken. I did have a good Dr. and was referred to a neurologist. It wasn't until decades later that I was given the correct anti-depressants and sleep medication. My current doctor does not seem to be able to connect the dots between my health problems and the tbi. It is good to see there is a place to turn. After, many years of complaining about feeling tired I asked my doctor to check my thyroid. His tests came back as normal. I almost had to demand to see an endo doctor. His tests show my thyroid was not working correctly. I tried to explain the head injury and if my health problems were caused by the injury. No one seemed to hear me. Now, I have the correct medication and I am slowly getting some energy back. I have arthritis in several places and had to have a knee replacement, which good have been avoided if I was given the hormones I needed. So thank you, for bringing the tbi out in the open. Now, if I could get my family to understand, I would be much happier.
I'm a Vietnam vet and for years after the service I'd get what I thought and was treated for, were "sinus Headaches" but have since been defined as migraines.I hit a mine driving a tank in Vietnam and have a slight hearing loss.In the last 2 years or so I have been having daily migraines and have gone through a pyramid of medications,one of which,gabapentin temporarily took my memory away to the point psychological tests determined that it appeared I had a lesion in the right hemisphere of my brain. I also had a colloid cyste removed from the foremon of munro in 2003. I'm wondering if these migraines could be delayed TBI symptoms and where do I go from here.
I am 23 post injury and I had questions this is and will be very informative about my injury.
I myself am a 33 year TBI; accident on 12/06/1978; comatose for 5 weeks; Author of the book, How I Became A Fearless Woman. http://pamelajansen.com
A family member is now 27 years post severe traumatic brain injury (incl. 72 hrs in coma, seizures, a second hospitalization, dilanton therapy, etc). While I continue to urge appropriate medical followup, I am witness a serious LACK of such by medical professionals. There has been NO MRI since the original injury in 1984, there has been NO referrals for specialist care, and no provision of resource materials. Now 27 years post injury and manifesting various commonly identified behavioral issues such as cognitive decline, suicial ideation, peristent depression, lack of ability to multitask, frequent agitation, my family member has also lost marriage relationship, home of 17 years & ability to work full time. The greatest irony here is HIPPA laws prevent the family physican from hearing/discussing my concerns while my family member remains hindered and even medically neglected as congitive declines hinder persuit of necessary followup. More antidepressants and sleep meds are the only prescriptions given. I am enormously concerned and I do not understand this system or the lack of appropriate treatment.
My husband was 50 when he had his colloid cyst resection. He's now 52 and has cognitive deficits from permanent brain damage. He goes to a psychiatrist for mood and sleep disorders. It is trial and error with the medication and what does/doesn't work. I stumbled upon this article and found it to be most helpful and supportive. I have had people tell me to put him in an institution. I think these people are wrong. He has good quality of life in his home with me being in the community and having his friends and family around.
im 42 and my TBI happened at 16...i feel that the lack of awareness on my part; playing rugby in college (a few concussion), multiple car accident, drug n alcohol abuse; may have a more significant impact to my future than i imagined. Honestly speaking i never thought i'd still be alive today and never really managed to create a map for my life. Thanks to this article i am more aware of my situation for the future.
I had a severe TBI 22-years ago and find word finding problems getting worse and concentration. IT just made sense to me when I got hurt that the natural aging process and the confusion that goes along with getting older would come harder and sooner. I am 52 years old now, my physichiatrist prescribed valproic acid for me to help me cope with my 9-year old son and it has made a signifacant difference in my ability to think which lowers my frustration. This has made it possible for me to be the father I am trying to be. With out the research common sense tells us if we have the cognitive ability of a 60-year old at 30 becasue of a TBI. I remeber the first time I drove a car at he rahab hopital, I was as confused at the intersection just like my 60-year old father.
I came across this site seeking answers some kind of movement forward. I read this one gal being 53 and 17 months since her tbi occurrence, I was thinking how close in age we are and the same months have passed since this happening to us. I'm 54 and now its been also 17-months. The truth is the Doctors say 70% is a good comeback, well since I'm always in pursuit to ce day one I have said NO you see I want 110% :)
It has almost been 18 months since my major TBI. I have not been to a doctor for a year now. I keep looking for answers. I am healthy! I am 53 years old & stay happy running! I am also looking for answers. Please send me any tips to keep me getting better. What should I be doing?
similar to the 1st comment I too have had two incidents of brain injury - the 1st a car accident at 17 and the 2nd meningitis when I was 52. I am very fortunate in that I have a loving family and am gainfully employed. I too get frustrated now and then. I would be interested in talking to the person who wrote the 1st comment and had 2 incidents of TBI.
I found this article interesting in that my husband has suffered two headinjuries in his life, at 19 and then again at 39. He is now 61. We have had little support so it is interesting to read things from time to time. He is happy enough but I find things quite frustrating at times!!

I want to share my story.... I had a motorcycle accident when I was in sophomore in college and I was 19. I had multiple skull fractures, 13 broken bones in face. Endured two surgeries and was given a 50/50 chance to live. I also wound up with no sense of smell. My latest neurologist labeled my brain damage extensive after reviewing my MRIs.

My recovery went well. I was able to resume all physical activities and my first college test I took after two brain surgeries, I scored the highest in my class. Went on to graduate with dual majors in accounting/finance, and graduated magna cum laude. I might add, I worked during my college years but I don't particularly attribute my success to any high intellect per se, but I was/am a driven individual.

Married at 26 and had two kids. The normal life, but then 2002 happened. At 5:00 AM in the morning, I woke my wife up by my screaming and shaking the bed.. Also, blood was running out my nose. I was going through a grand mal seizure. Since then seizures would continue in my life at a rate of 1-2 a year, all at night. I have been under the care of a neurologist since then, and I still see him today.

Other things have developed, after about 2013 or so, I began to have memory problems. Nothing pervasive or particularly worrisome, but noticeable to my family and friends. My memory was such that I could remember things well, but I had developed so called gaps, events that had happened that I completely forgot about. Also, I began to lose certain detail, and this was particularly true about trips or meeting people, things that had a one off type activities, done rarely, but I would tend to forget. Important things too, like I gave a eulogy at my Mom's funeral but do not remember it. Also I noticed, people would remember me, and I would not remember them. I then started to benchmark myself on things like that and noticed that I was deficient when I compared myself to others.

Apparently too, my productivity declined at work. I was doing a very technical job... accounting systems work, I would not remember some of the things I did. Also, from the company's perspective, my performance was declining because I was missing so much time at work after I had a seizure. I would be gone as long as two months. My absence was so that I could recover from the mental aspects, in that I was like in a fog and my friends would say, I was not clearly myself, and also, the seizure would take a lot out of me for awhile, in that I was tired for an extended period of time. On one of my more severe seizures, I actually cracked a vertebrae, T1. Work eventually resolved itself in that I was laid off in 2018, and I also was awarded disability.

Now for 2019, I had a new condition develop, neuropathy. This developed in the summer of that year, and it is like ants or being stung in my back, also sometimes feel it in the chest and even on my face. This would hit as I say, then dissipate over a period of a few minutes. It would seem to activate, when I had physical activity, or a stress item, and even taking a hot bath. I have been tested for a number of conditions, everything from infectious disease, diabetes, and even cancer. No luck on the source yet. With no work, and the lack of stress from my work gone, I have noticed so far my seizure intensity has dropped. I have not been hospitalized since 2017 regarding my seizures, but this maybe attributable to my new seizure medication, Kappra, I don't know.

Now, in this new chapter in my life, I have a new development and that is, and it is becoming apparent that my wife has developed a form of dementia. I can see the cognitive decline in her almost on a daily basis. My heart brakes for her, in that it is like watching a little of bit of her die each day... I bring that up in this context of this narrative in that I am beginning to have negative thoughts and I am finding myself not engaged as I once was. I don't know whether it is related to my wife's circumstances or something that comes with my TBI, or both..

I am interested in people's thoughts on the matter, and appreciate the forum to tell my story. It is good to know, we are not alone.

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