1. < Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Adult Life after a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Posted by Dawn Pereda @dawnpereda, Sep 27, 2017

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!

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

cjackura | @cjackura | Jun 6, 2018
In reply to @lakelifelady "Dawn, I am 73 yr old woman. II listened to your pod cast and have experienced..." + (show)
@lakelifelady

Dawn, I am 73 yr old woman. II listened to your pod cast and have experienced similar difficulties after a car accident in 2015. My life too, has not been the same since the accident where I had two brain bleeds most likely made worse by my taking a blood thinner after having an MI and stent placement five months before.
It took a long time to recover because I also broke my neck, six ribs and had compression fractures down my spine.
At first I had anxiety attacks daily which soon became PTSD. Being immobile in a turtle shell cast with a neck brace made my emotional reactivity worse. I had neurologists do cognitive testing and my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology where I had led a busy professional life was not so evident. I still have trouble with complex life tasks like filling out forms, figuring out the steps to take to finish a task and I refuse to read through insurance or tax documents because it is just overwhelming and I am likely to cry.
Loud noise, a room full of talking people and bright lights give me trouble and I am likely to get dizzy and light headed. Stage plays overwhelm and events like weddings, funerals are so hard to attend and I am exhausted after.
Seeing a car accident sends me into a high anxiety state and I am likely to cry uncontrollably. Sometimes something is mentioned that sends me into a flashback state of sobbing and shaking. Nights can be full of waking up with high anxiety.
Riding in a car is nerve wracking because I over react to situations. I get car sick now and am dizzy when driving or riding.
When going for a walk I sometimes lurch to the right or feel like I have a bobble head.
I have to write everything down or I forget. You know the routine. Yesterday, I left my purse in a shopping cart. Luckily for me an honest gentleman turned it in.
There is more but that is enough for now but I need to tell you my coping skills.
I walk daily and use a stationary bike daily. I listen to soft music and do visualization of happy, healthy, holy. Grateful, gracious and grounded.
I sing in a chorus, play the piano and flute and read. I could not finish a book at first but now I am able. I follow athletic events. Go to church and sing in the choir and have taken up water color painting. I get exhausted easily and must rest often.
Lakelifelady

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Hi, thanks for sharing. I was in a head-on car collision 2 years ago, and I'm struggling to live a normal life. I broke so many bones we never even counted, and have undergone 9 surgeries in the last 2 years.I have rods and screws in my back and my life is full of pain from the various injuries. I walk, ride a stationary bike, and swim. I also struggle everyday with the thought of what I used to be like. I was a junior high school teacher and a marathon runner. Now I'm a disabled middle-aged woman. I also suffer from depression. Going to weddings is very difficult for me also. Riding in a car can be difficult, and I really limit freeway driving. Because of the chronic pain in my back my doctor has limited how much sitting I should do. It is comforting to hear that there are others that have such similar symptoms, and it makes me feel a little less crazy.

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jun 6, 2018
In reply to @lakelifelady "Dawn, I am 73 yr old woman. II listened to your pod cast and have experienced..." + (show)
@lakelifelady

Dawn, I am 73 yr old woman. II listened to your pod cast and have experienced similar difficulties after a car accident in 2015. My life too, has not been the same since the accident where I had two brain bleeds most likely made worse by my taking a blood thinner after having an MI and stent placement five months before.
It took a long time to recover because I also broke my neck, six ribs and had compression fractures down my spine.
At first I had anxiety attacks daily which soon became PTSD. Being immobile in a turtle shell cast with a neck brace made my emotional reactivity worse. I had neurologists do cognitive testing and my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology where I had led a busy professional life was not so evident. I still have trouble with complex life tasks like filling out forms, figuring out the steps to take to finish a task and I refuse to read through insurance or tax documents because it is just overwhelming and I am likely to cry.
Loud noise, a room full of talking people and bright lights give me trouble and I am likely to get dizzy and light headed. Stage plays overwhelm and events like weddings, funerals are so hard to attend and I am exhausted after.
Seeing a car accident sends me into a high anxiety state and I am likely to cry uncontrollably. Sometimes something is mentioned that sends me into a flashback state of sobbing and shaking. Nights can be full of waking up with high anxiety.
Riding in a car is nerve wracking because I over react to situations. I get car sick now and am dizzy when driving or riding.
When going for a walk I sometimes lurch to the right or feel like I have a bobble head.
I have to write everything down or I forget. You know the routine. Yesterday, I left my purse in a shopping cart. Luckily for me an honest gentleman turned it in.
There is more but that is enough for now but I need to tell you my coping skills.
I walk daily and use a stationary bike daily. I listen to soft music and do visualization of happy, healthy, holy. Grateful, gracious and grounded.
I sing in a chorus, play the piano and flute and read. I could not finish a book at first but now I am able. I follow athletic events. Go to church and sing in the choir and have taken up water color painting. I get exhausted easily and must rest often.
Lakelifelady

Jump to this post

Welcome to Connect, @cjackura. You certainly have found the right group. It is comforting to hear from others in similar situations as I'm sure @dawnpereda @lakelifelady @carnes and others will agree.

There's an insightful discussion in the neuropathy group about Acceptance (https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/acceptance/). How does one get to the point of acceptance to new normal? That's a big question and perhaps even rhetorical.

While you're not running marathons, it must be helpful to be physically active. I can't imagine after such injuries and 9 surgeries that you're able to walk, ride and swim. Kudos to you for building and adapting your abilities to be physically active. I'd like to hear more about your journey to get to this point. What rehab did you do? What kept you going?

REPLY
carnes | @carnes | Jun 6, 2018
In reply to @lakelifelady "Dawn, I am 73 yr old woman. II listened to your pod cast and have experienced..." + (show)
@lakelifelady

Dawn, I am 73 yr old woman. II listened to your pod cast and have experienced similar difficulties after a car accident in 2015. My life too, has not been the same since the accident where I had two brain bleeds most likely made worse by my taking a blood thinner after having an MI and stent placement five months before.
It took a long time to recover because I also broke my neck, six ribs and had compression fractures down my spine.
At first I had anxiety attacks daily which soon became PTSD. Being immobile in a turtle shell cast with a neck brace made my emotional reactivity worse. I had neurologists do cognitive testing and my Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology where I had led a busy professional life was not so evident. I still have trouble with complex life tasks like filling out forms, figuring out the steps to take to finish a task and I refuse to read through insurance or tax documents because it is just overwhelming and I am likely to cry.
Loud noise, a room full of talking people and bright lights give me trouble and I am likely to get dizzy and light headed. Stage plays overwhelm and events like weddings, funerals are so hard to attend and I am exhausted after.
Seeing a car accident sends me into a high anxiety state and I am likely to cry uncontrollably. Sometimes something is mentioned that sends me into a flashback state of sobbing and shaking. Nights can be full of waking up with high anxiety.
Riding in a car is nerve wracking because I over react to situations. I get car sick now and am dizzy when driving or riding.
When going for a walk I sometimes lurch to the right or feel like I have a bobble head.
I have to write everything down or I forget. You know the routine. Yesterday, I left my purse in a shopping cart. Luckily for me an honest gentleman turned it in.
There is more but that is enough for now but I need to tell you my coping skills.
I walk daily and use a stationary bike daily. I listen to soft music and do visualization of happy, healthy, holy. Grateful, gracious and grounded.
I sing in a chorus, play the piano and flute and read. I could not finish a book at first but now I am able. I follow athletic events. Go to church and sing in the choir and have taken up water color painting. I get exhausted easily and must rest often.
Lakelifelady

Jump to this post

Hello Colleen, Carnes here. I find it not so easy to accept my not being able to find my words to express what I really mean. Me trying to teach now is frustrating. But I won’t give up, I’m going to continue to study and do what I can for others. Exercising I find difficult, but going in the water ti exercise I don’t feel the pain. So good to hear from you.

REPLY
carnes | @carnes | Nov 22, 2018
In reply to @lakelifelady "Yes, the word thing. Sometimes an out of context word will pop out. I do a..." + (show)
@lakelifelady

Yes, the word thing. Sometimes an out of context word will pop out. I do a lot of posting on FB just to keep writing and thinking and replying. We live out on a lake so conversational opportunities are somewhat limited. I play Bananagram a word game much like Scrabble with a dictionary close by to help me. This game can be done alone, which I prefer because I have trouble keeping up with others.
You have family still at home which I envy a bit. I know how difficult that must be. When our three grown sons come back for lake life activities in summertime everyone knows that Grama cannot keep up. We also have adult grandkids now who step up.

Jump to this post

I’m a 72 year old woman who lives with my husband. He is only home in the evenings, I’m grateful for that. My traumatic brain injury happened in a car accident in 2015. My life has not been the same since. I work with others mainly on the telephone since I have trouble walking and getting around. I go to the Y to senior swim when I’m blessed with someone to take me. But I find all of what you said, certainly helps with memory. I get exhausted so easily, trouble staying asleep. I find it difficult to explain all the things wrong with me but pretty much all on this page, is me now. It is so helpful and kind to read about others going through what I never thought would be of me. What I do on the telephone takes a lot of working brain so it is hard but helps keep what still works and prayerfully progress. I’ve always disliked talking on the telephone, now I’m grateful for it. I over-react when in a car also, but I cannot help it. I find meditation, prayer, helping others gets me out of self; which makes a happier person. I study quite a bit but since the accident it’s more difficult to concentrate, pay attention, etc. I find myself reading the same thing over and over, it does get a little better. Thank you and everyone on this page for being there. Sharon.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Nov 22, 2018

@carnes Thank you for your lovely post, Sharon!

I am glad that you shared your struggles as well as your coping skills after a TBI. Sometimes it is very easy to focus on the struggles and not realize how you can cope by being actively involved both physically and by helping others.

You have done a great job in keeping yourself active physically, mentally and socially. My thoughts and prayers go out to you today!

Will you share more in the future about your recovery process?

REPLY
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Jan 15, 2019

Many of you have talked about experiencing lingering symptoms after a TBI and the struggles you've faced, therapies you've undergone and how you have coped through this time. It would be great to hear how things are going for you, and I believe that your experiences will also benefit others in this discussion.

@kobeelya - how are you doing? Are you continuing with the homeopathic remedies you were using?

@dawnpereda - wondering if you ended up pursuing the intensive therapy program? Have you made more podcasts?

@carnes - how are things going with the exhaustion and difficulty staying asleep you were experiencing?

REPLY
2 replies
treyaj | @treyaj | Jan 31, 2019

Hello Dawn, your sympton story is so similar to mine. I am an RN CNS MSSW. My injuries came from being stopped at a redlight and rear ended by a large suv, the driver going 45 mph. On a cell phone. I was wearing a seatbelt, but the impact was so intense that I was knocked out and dx with brain concussion shear injury, brain stem concushion and severe injuries to my entire spine. Damage to my sight and hearing. I was in perfect health, never had any type of injuries in my life except rotator cuff tear. I am petit but had a good amount of muscle mass, that probably saved my life. I was 68 at the time. In a split second, I became old. Your cognitive symptoms sound similar to mine. I have memory problems, math and writing problems, speech word problems, intolerance of large groups, noise, and anxiety with being in traffic. And more. Reading what you shared helped me so much. I am very greatful to have found this group. Thank you all for your sharing.

REPLY
4 replies
treyaj | @treyaj | Jan 31, 2019
In reply to @lisalucier "Many of you have talked about experiencing lingering symptoms after a TBI and the struggles you've..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Many of you have talked about experiencing lingering symptoms after a TBI and the struggles you've faced, therapies you've undergone and how you have coped through this time. It would be great to hear how things are going for you, and I believe that your experiences will also benefit others in this discussion.

@kobeelya - how are you doing? Are you continuing with the homeopathic remedies you were using?

@dawnpereda - wondering if you ended up pursuing the intensive therapy program? Have you made more podcasts?

@carnes - how are things going with the exhaustion and difficulty staying asleep you were experiencing?

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Can you tell me more about the intensive therapy program? Thanks

REPLY
lakelifelady | @lakelifelady | Jan 31, 2019

It will have been four yrs in May since the car accident in which I suffered two brain bleeds and now have a focus of encephalopathy in my frontal lobe. Lights, noises, traffic, crowds, stores, malls, multiple conversations, concentration, organization, sadness, loss and grief, PTSD, exaggerated startle responses and always present anxiety are some of the symptoms I still experience. Dizziness, tinnitus and balance included. I cope by walking outside, riding bike mostly on stationary bike for safety reasons, playing my piano and flutes, singing in choirs and reading, playing word brain games reading , and meditating. I like to laugh heartily. Sometimes I fail at doing anything at all. Sleep is often difficult. In other words, I struggle but just keep on trucking, knowing that my life has changed for good.

REPLY
Lisa Lucier | @lisalucier | Feb 12, 2019
In reply to @treyaj "Hello Dawn, your sympton story is so similar to mine. I am an RN CNS MSSW...." + (show)
@treyaj

Hello Dawn, your sympton story is so similar to mine. I am an RN CNS MSSW. My injuries came from being stopped at a redlight and rear ended by a large suv, the driver going 45 mph. On a cell phone. I was wearing a seatbelt, but the impact was so intense that I was knocked out and dx with brain concussion shear injury, brain stem concushion and severe injuries to my entire spine. Damage to my sight and hearing. I was in perfect health, never had any type of injuries in my life except rotator cuff tear. I am petit but had a good amount of muscle mass, that probably saved my life. I was 68 at the time. In a split second, I became old. Your cognitive symptoms sound similar to mine. I have memory problems, math and writing problems, speech word problems, intolerance of large groups, noise, and anxiety with being in traffic. And more. Reading what you shared helped me so much. I am very greatful to have found this group. Thank you all for your sharing.

Jump to this post

Hello, @treyaj - just wanted to check in and see how you are doing? I know that the TBI symptoms you mentioned like intolerance of noise and large groups are similar to things that @lakelifelady has mentioned experiencing.

I also wanted you to get to meet @hopeful33250 and @dawn_giacabazi, who may be able to provide support. @hopeful33250 has some familiarity with speech word problems, as well.

How are things going with the memory problems and speech problems? Will you share more about what you are experiencing with your speech?

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