New to the TBI Forum

[gabriela58blue]

Hi everyone,
I would like to tell my story and ask whether anyone here had a similar experience (which is probably the case).
In April 2008 I had a car accident and to this day I don't know what happened. It started with something that felt unreal, it was like waking up and before the waking up there was absolutely nothing. When I "woke up", I was in my car, screaming, trying to get the car under control, being all over the place. The car started to roll over to the left and then I must have passed out. When I came to, I was lying in the car, one leg sticking out of the windshield, the other out of the left side window. I heard people talking, "we need to get her out of the car", "watch the bone sticking out", and then I passed out again.
I don't remember anything at all about the hospital stay. I don't remember how or why the accident happened and whether somebody else was involved in it or not. My left arm was basically shattered, I had several surgeries and went through physical therapy forever and the arm is in pretty good shape now, considering.
Anyway, about a half year after the accident I received a doctor's bill, it was just for a few dollars, that haven't been paid by my health insurance, but the big shock came when I read the information on the bill. It said "subarachnoid and subdural brain hemorrhage".
I had no idea. My husband had made a choice not to tell me, because he thought it would be to traumatic for me to know. I actually had suffered serious TBI. And now I have cognitive problems that seem to get worse. It is very scary, because I'm only 51 and I'm wondering where I'm going to be in a few years, mentally. I have trouble writing, remembering words, substitute words with words that sound similar but have the wrong meaning. I am constantly looking for stuff. My memory sucks. I'd would like to hear from you guys. Thanks, Gabriela

[Ric J]

Good Evening Gabriela. Welcome to the forum. It's been just over 6 years from my injury, and it seems to be taking forever to be myself... again. I do know, after talking with other survivors and reading these forums, that I will never be the same person again. But I don't care, I'm alive, kicking and (in my humble opinion) 95% of my old self.  And that's all that matters. You say that you have "trouble writing, remembering words, substitute words with words that sound similar but have the wrong meaning", that is still really my problem. I think that is called aphasia. Speech therapy really helped me with that, but it still haunts me... especially if I'm tired or in meetings at work. I always have to talk slow to make sure I figure out what to say. I also write a lot of notes and/or daily "things to do" lists for my memory and for writing. Writing this reply has taken me 30 minutes. You are healing and that's a good thing, but unfortunately there is no such thing as a time schedule. Don't worry about "what will happen" in the next 50 years. You have to give yourself time to heal. Never give up, think daily progress not "what if" processes, think positive thoughts.  Believe in yourself.

[swimrx]

Hi! Welcome to the forum.  This sounds eerily familiar to me, although I have NO memory of the accident itself.  I'm a female around the same age too.  I was 52 when I had the accident.  Thankfully, my TBI was recognized, and my husband got me into a rehab facility as soon as I got out of the coma.  It's been a little over a year now and I seem to be OK cognitively, although memory is still a huge issue.  There are some websites that you could help yourself with if cognitive rehab in a facility is out of the question.  Let me know and I can forward the links to the websites to you.  And GOOD LUCK - I think that type of aphasia will improve with time (although "practice" will help).  Marty 

[parkerbrain]

Hi Gabriela,

My car accident happened 9 years ago and I was in my mid-thirties. I too had only flashes of scenes, one or two at the accident scene, and a couple while in the hospital for a few days. Because my fiancée was not working at the time, she was able to take care of me so they sent me home early; way too early. It took a couple months of major physical therapy before my treatment team concluded that TBI was behind my cognitive issues.

I have now made an art and science out of taking notes, updating to-to lists, keeping a detailed calendar and setting alarms on my digital watch. I carry my smart phone with contact/calendar capabilities everywhere and back everything up on paper and on a USB stick as well as on the Internet. I maintain constant triple backups. I would say that relentless note taking and calendar updates totally allow me to focus on the here and now; I seldom get wrapped up in what will happen tomorrow, next week, or 10 years from now.

Having a physical support team working with me was vital in the beginning, and even now, to a degree.

Be well,

Donald

[randysdad]

This is part of Randys' story.
I am working (still) on writing it down elsrwhere and will provide a link later.


May 13th 2008,6:32 A.M. got the phone call no parent wants to get. A young man was in a bad wreck last night,we believe he may be your son. Can you describe him. Yes,we believe it's Randy,you better hurry.  I don't remember the technical terms put his injuries were,
"Massive" damage,left side of brain
Nearly complete Brain Shear
Likely need to remove parts of his skull to relieve pressure (never had to)
"Massive" damage to the Brain Stem/Ganglia
Upper Palate broke in two places
Fractured T1-T2-T3
Left lung collapsed
Multiple bumps/bruises/cuts
On Paralitic drugs to stop the Neuro Storming/Thrashing
At first,he could not possibly live,then they decided he may live but will never do/be more than what you see now. Nearly brain dead,definate quadrapalegic. Would you like someone to do last rites? Is Randy a donor?
3 weeks I.C.U.
I have him home now and he's calling,so i'll have to finish later. Mark

[donnyw]

Hello randys dad im sorry to hear about your son but it sounds like he will make a full recovery!!

[moncler]

Having a physical support team working with me was vital in the beginning, and even now, to a degree.
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