1. < Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
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Traumatic Brain Injury: Come introduce yourself

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Nov 7, 2019

Welcome to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) group on Mayo Clinic Connect.
This is a welcoming, safe place where you can meet people who know first-hand about living with a traumatic brain injury. Together we can learn from each other and share stories about challenges and triumphs, setbacks and the things that help.

Pull up a chair and connect. Why not start by introducing yourself? What is your experience? Got a question, tip or story to share?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Support Group.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 13, 2019
In reply to @icydecember "Hello, I am Jim from Minneapolis. Last December a little after Christmas, I stepped from a..." + (show)
@icydecember

Hello,
I am Jim from Minneapolis. Last December a little after Christmas, I stepped from a stair onto an icy landing and fell, striking my head on the bottom step. Mostly I don't remember, but I was taken to HCMC where a CT scan showed I had fractured my skull. I had no other injuries thankfully. The next day I was sent home.
Three days later I was back at the ER after having fainted at home and making a loud crash that got my wife's attention. I spent the next six nights in the ICU at Methodist with low sodium, called "syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion", big name for something that's fairly common.
A couple weeks later I was starting to return to work part time when it came time for a follow-up CT scan. The scan showed I had a subdermal hematoma that was pushing my left hemisphere into the right. I was admitted the same day and had surgery the next day to remove the clot. Five nights later I was back at home again.
It all sounds very dramatic but I have recovered well and am back at work full-time. I feel very lucky and I'm very thankful for the skill of the surgeons and doctors and nurses who treated me.

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@icydecember, Jim, Did your second fall have any relationship with your first fall? Did you work reduced hours and work back up to full time?

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1 reply
hevykevy | @hevykevy | Nov 13, 2019
In reply to @icydecember "Hello, I am Jim from Minneapolis. Last December a little after Christmas, I stepped from a..." + (show)
@icydecember

Hello,
I am Jim from Minneapolis. Last December a little after Christmas, I stepped from a stair onto an icy landing and fell, striking my head on the bottom step. Mostly I don't remember, but I was taken to HCMC where a CT scan showed I had fractured my skull. I had no other injuries thankfully. The next day I was sent home.
Three days later I was back at the ER after having fainted at home and making a loud crash that got my wife's attention. I spent the next six nights in the ICU at Methodist with low sodium, called "syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion", big name for something that's fairly common.
A couple weeks later I was starting to return to work part time when it came time for a follow-up CT scan. The scan showed I had a subdermal hematoma that was pushing my left hemisphere into the right. I was admitted the same day and had surgery the next day to remove the clot. Five nights later I was back at home again.
It all sounds very dramatic but I have recovered well and am back at work full-time. I feel very lucky and I'm very thankful for the skill of the surgeons and doctors and nurses who treated me.

Jump to this post

It must have been very discouraging going home from the hospital thinking things would be OK, then having two more events/set backs. The anxiety caused by TBI is very real because no one knows what percentage of recovery any of us will achieve. Glad to hear you have recovered well. Sorry to hear you had to go back to work.

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1 reply
icydecember | @icydecember | Nov 14, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "@icydecember, Jim, Did your second fall have any relationship with your first fall? Did you work..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@icydecember, Jim, Did your second fall have any relationship with your first fall? Did you work reduced hours and work back up to full time?

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2nd fall was probably due to the low sodium, in turn due to the TBI. I did return to work on a gradual ramp up.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 19, 2019

Join me in welcoming @lolabelle1 and @littlepitzen (Nella) to the group.
@littlepitzen, I really like the bio that you added to your profile. I can imagine that you miss your independence, putting your studies on hold and not being able to drive. I bet Brady can relate about life interrupted in young adulthood. Did you see the discussion that @hevykevy started about baby steps? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/baby-steps/ What is your next baby step to recovery?

Lolabelle, I’d love to learn more about you. What brings you to the study, the group? And where are you in the path to recovery?

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1 reply
lolabelle1 | @lolabelle1 | Nov 19, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "Join me in welcoming @lolabelle1 and @littlepitzen (Nella) to the group. @littlepitzen, I really like the..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Join me in welcoming @lolabelle1 and @littlepitzen (Nella) to the group.
@littlepitzen, I really like the bio that you added to your profile. I can imagine that you miss your independence, putting your studies on hold and not being able to drive. I bet Brady can relate about life interrupted in young adulthood. Did you see the discussion that @hevykevy started about baby steps? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/baby-steps/ What is your next baby step to recovery?

Lolabelle, I’d love to learn more about you. What brings you to the study, the group? And where are you in the path to recovery?

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Hi! Some 14 months ago, I fell down 12 feet of stairs in the dark one night. Very scary and very life-changing. I broke my hip, pelvis, sacrum, four ribs, had a TBI and damaged my 4th cranial nerve (in other words, had double and triple vision). A month in the hospital, many months of rehab and two surgeries. My eye surgery was the last one a month ago. I'm extremely fortunate to be in good shape now and am back working full-time but am struggling with memory issues at times and have profound sensitivity for those earlier on their journey. So while I look recovered now, I'm not always and have to keep my memory issues largely undercover given I have a professional job. Thank you for letting me participate.

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2 replies
icydecember | @icydecember | Nov 19, 2019
In reply to @hevykevy "It must have been very discouraging going home from the hospital thinking things would be OK,..." + (show)
@hevykevy

It must have been very discouraging going home from the hospital thinking things would be OK, then having two more events/set backs. The anxiety caused by TBI is very real because no one knows what percentage of recovery any of us will achieve. Glad to hear you have recovered well. Sorry to hear you had to go back to work.

Jump to this post

Thank you, yes the fact that I went in for the CT (drove myself) to find out I had this large bleed I was not aware of has given me ongoing anxiety about what else is going on in my melon that I'm not aware of! In retrospect I did have ongoing headaches and sensitivity to light, but I attributed that to the TBI. I am now taking a medication to address the anxiety, in addition to some counseling.

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hevykevy | @hevykevy | Nov 19, 2019
In reply to @lolabelle1 "Hi! Some 14 months ago, I fell down 12 feet of stairs in the dark one..." + (show)
@lolabelle1

Hi! Some 14 months ago, I fell down 12 feet of stairs in the dark one night. Very scary and very life-changing. I broke my hip, pelvis, sacrum, four ribs, had a TBI and damaged my 4th cranial nerve (in other words, had double and triple vision). A month in the hospital, many months of rehab and two surgeries. My eye surgery was the last one a month ago. I'm extremely fortunate to be in good shape now and am back working full-time but am struggling with memory issues at times and have profound sensitivity for those earlier on their journey. So while I look recovered now, I'm not always and have to keep my memory issues largely undercover given I have a professional job. Thank you for letting me participate.

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Wow! You must have a million stories. Glad to hear you are doing so well. I can relate to the "look recovered" but not really. On the outside we heal quickly, but the real serious damage is hidden and takes a long time to mend. Based on the fact that you are back at work, you must be younger than me, us old people heal slower. Keep making progress and do pay heed to your limitations, Over doing things can hinder or slow down recovery.

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1 reply
mkgarrity | @mkgarrity | Nov 20, 2019

I am Mike Garrity. l live in Sauk Rapids MN. My TBI was a fall into table with a sharp cornet which perforated my scull. From this accident I now have a metal plate, some vestibular impairment,some hearing loss, and tunnel vision. I have received excellent therapy at Cenra car and perform normal function with effort. I am happy to be connected with this support group.
Mike G

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2 replies
hevykevy | @hevykevy | Nov 20, 2019
In reply to @mkgarrity "I am Mike Garrity. l live in Sauk Rapids MN. My TBI was a fall into..." + (show)
@mkgarrity

I am Mike Garrity. l live in Sauk Rapids MN. My TBI was a fall into table with a sharp cornet which perforated my scull. From this accident I now have a metal plate, some vestibular impairment,some hearing loss, and tunnel vision. I have received excellent therapy at Cenra car and perform normal function with effort. I am happy to be connected with this support group.
Mike G

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Welcome, Mike. Just proves further, that life is uncertain. One minute you are fine and then the unexpected happens.
Glad to hear you are getting good care and have made significant progress. Hopefully that will continue. Keep up the effort and keep a positive attitude.
I ended up with titanium plates to hold my upper jaw together. Whatever it takes. Just glad to be alive and able to do our best!
I had some dizzy/balance issues at first too. fortunately that went away after a few months. Came back briefly twice, but have been good for months now. (Sure am glad I have spell check.)

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 20, 2019
In reply to @mkgarrity "I am Mike Garrity. l live in Sauk Rapids MN. My TBI was a fall into..." + (show)
@mkgarrity

I am Mike Garrity. l live in Sauk Rapids MN. My TBI was a fall into table with a sharp cornet which perforated my scull. From this accident I now have a metal plate, some vestibular impairment,some hearing loss, and tunnel vision. I have received excellent therapy at Cenra car and perform normal function with effort. I am happy to be connected with this support group.
Mike G

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Hi @mkgarrity, I extend my welcome to you too. Mike, I removed your exact address from your post for your security. While the TBI group is currently a private group, it will become a public group after the study period. We recommend not sharing personally identifying information like email address, phone number, mailing address or patient ID number. Sharing your town or state is fine. Should you wish to contact someone who lives near you, I recommend using the private message function. Find useful tips on how to use Connect, including private messages here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/get-started-on-connect/

What extent is your hearing loss? Do you need hearing aids? Or is it more of a balance issue?

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