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Adult Life after a Traumatic Brain Injury
Hi, My name is Dawn and I am an RN. Just over two years ago I received a work related injury. This injury has left me with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Even though two years have passed, I still suffer with lingering tbi symptoms. I have some issues with memory. Some things I remember with no problems, other things I just don't remember and I can't explain why... I also suffer with issues related to mood dis-regulation. I can be angry at times and not understand why or end up having explosive outbursts. This has greatly impacted my life. I still work but no longer with patients. Also, this has been a huge turn around for my family. I'm no longer the mom who has everything under control. I used to work full time, manage my kids' schedules, pay household bills, and keep my house clean. Now I struggle to remember to brush my hair before leaving for work. My husband pays the bills and my kids write their schedules on a large calendar (that hangs in our dining room) so I can visually be reminded where they are and what they are doing. I am a "new" me and I never would have imagined this journey for myself.
I know there are things out there for youth that suffer from concussion/tbi, but I don't always find a lot of discussion/support for adults, like myself. I get up every day and work to live my life to its fullest. If you would like to know more about my life and journey, you can listen to a podcast that I did with my family. Its called "Terrible, Thanks For Asking". We're season 1, episode 5. Its brutally honest. If any of this rings true to your life please join this discussion with me. Thanks for your time!
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do you have any other weird symptoms besides the head pain?. It damaged my left eye and hearing. Left me with a dent on my forehead. And now I'm sweating under my arms and have to use special deodorant that stings like crazy. I also started sneezing but exaggerated sneezing, sometimes a dozen times in a row. driving my husband nuts. My doctor is going to explain this to him next week. So many of your involuntary motions come from nerves located at your brain stem. So now I have to worry that the lesion is getting bigger pressing on those nerves. In the meantime trying to get reimbursed for my medical bills from the people that caused this is adding more stress. They seem to think that even though they admit they are at fault, I'm getting the blame for not realizing the walkway was a hazard...You just can't win!! Keep in touch if they find something for your head pain. Im tired of getting no sleep....
Time for another MRI and get some answers from your neurologist !
You have to be your best advocate and tell the doctor you need another MRI done or else need to see a different neurologist when nerve pain like numbness in extremities begins to happen it is never good and run the risk of not reversing it !! Time to get a MRI done stat !
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1 Reactionyes I really should not wait until December but the waits to get tests done in Georgia are months out. When my BP was in the 200's after my accident the concussion clinic couldn't treat me and said to see a BP specialist at Emory University. They sent the referral to her but the earliest appointment was almost one year out. You would think they could have called her and said this lady needs to be seen sooner than a year from now. It's nuts. At this point I'm just disgusted with it all...
Thanks! I had a traumatic brain injury as an infant and am just now researching the possible connection to health issues I’ve had and that I have now. Its quite overwhelming to learn that even chronic stress, ADHD-like symptoms and gut issues may be connected to my brain injury! Thank you for sharing your experience! Gillian
@gillianu - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm so sorry to hear about a traumatic brain injury you had as an infant. It sounds wise that you are now researching any possible connection between this and health issues you've had.
Wondering if you'd share more about what occurred with the traumatic brain injury as an infant, if it's something you are comfortable sharing? Also curious what your primary care provider or a neurologist may have said about any connection between the injury as a baby and subsequent health issues you've had?
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1 ReactionHi @sadivari - wondering how your sleeping is going? Also, was your doctor able to explain the exaggerated sneezing to your husband so that he understood what was going on?