Mild traumatic brain injury

Posted by carnes @carnes, Dec 22, 2018

Good morning friends, it is so frustrating to forget my point in the middle of a sentence. Forget or can’t find the right word to express what I mean to say. Can’t remember what I did or said 5 minutes ago. It is quite scary. Anyone have professional help on what to do other than puzzles, using the brain when it’s so difficult to think? Thank you for any help . Cognitive therapy helped but insurance won’t cover now.

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

@carnes
Hey there,
Jeepers, I’d say that’s a wizbang of a memory. I’d be happy with 5 seconds.
I went to a couple speech pathologists. Give it a try.
Jake

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I had subarachnoid brain hemorrhage and attendant concussion. My medical records show that I was using my blackberry (it was 2009!) while in ICU. And I never stopped tapping, typing and texting ever since. My advice- as a layman not a doctor or health care professional —is perhaps do something that helps eye hand coordination. Such movements have been shown to affect brain. Also keep hydrated. Foggy brain, memory lapse, even unsteadiness have been attributed to dehydration. Just some thoughts. Wishing you a complete healing.

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@frangreen1143

I had subarachnoid brain hemorrhage and attendant concussion. My medical records show that I was using my blackberry (it was 2009!) while in ICU. And I never stopped tapping, typing and texting ever since. My advice- as a layman not a doctor or health care professional —is perhaps do something that helps eye hand coordination. Such movements have been shown to affect brain. Also keep hydrated. Foggy brain, memory lapse, even unsteadiness have been attributed to dehydration. Just some thoughts. Wishing you a complete healing.

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Thank you for your reply. I really am grateful. I will give it a try. Stay well and we have to try and live in the solution.

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Yes, go to Speech therapy. This is what they do! They are amazing! Try to find a neuro or brain injury specific clinic.

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Hi. First: do not dwell on an inability. Second: I have had to develop recovery skills: these include saying aloud thingz like : it begins with a .., or closeing my eyes or looking away from person I am speaking with to narrow # of inputs.Third is to name your topic before starting: even if it is making a list of what your days schedule is; "This is my Schedule" ... Finally there is thatt challenge of being loooong on thought and slow to speak. I wish for you every grace. I have 4+ uears with a TBI

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It's been 18 yrs since my brain injury and St.cloud mn can still not figure it out.

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@jodster85

It's been 18 yrs since my brain injury and St.cloud mn can still not figure it out.

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Hi, @jodster85 - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. You'll note I moved your message and combined it with this existing discussion on brain injury, as I thought it would be beneficial for you to be introduced to some members who have recently discussed this topic. Though the degree of the injury may vary by member in this discussion, I thought you might gain some valuable input from members like @hedjhog @uldiver @carnes @jakedduck1 as you deal with the challenge of your brain injury. @johnbishop @lakelifelady and @jenniferhunter also may have thoughts for you.

If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

You mentioned, @jodster85, that St. Cloud, MN, still cannot figure out your brain injury that occurred 18 years ago. Will you share more about your injury and what is still to be determined about your diagnosis or treatment?

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Hi, @jodster85 – I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @lisalucier and other members. I'm sorry you have not been able to get some help with your injury. 18 years is a very long time to deal with something traumatic. I did find a little information but I'm not sure how helpful it is.

Recommendations for Diagnosing a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A National Academy of Neuropsychology Education Paper
-- https://academic.oup.com/acn/article/24/1/3/3457

NIH - Mild traumatic brain injury: a neuropsychiatric approach to diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2424119/

@jodster85 if possible can you share what is the most difficult symptom you are having with your injury?

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I suffered a TBI in a car accident three and a half years ago. Every day since then I have spent some of the day or all of the day being dizzy. Bright lights, noise, many people speaking at once, too much visual or auditory stimulation such as in a Mall ( cannot go to Malls anymore without getting sick), unfamiliar grocery stores....and a lot more......gives me the feeling of having my head swell up, my ears get plugged with tinnitus, it is hard to focus my eyes, and I need to get away alone in a controlled space of quiet and calm. I am not antisocial ....just cannot handle a lot of people at once.
Riding ina car makes me car sick and extremely anxious with exaggerated startle responses. A close call will send me into a screaming panic for just a bit.
So how do I cope? Read...a book not a tablet ...lights and movement of electronics worsens symptoms. I read music by playing flute and piano and I sing in choirs. I paint, I play Bananagram....a game like Scrabble to help with finding the right words. Yes, trouble finishing a thought happens and words fly away.....I just stop and go slower. Organizational skills are very difficult to come by for me. Forgetting is big so write it all down. I talk out loud to myself when trying to complete a task. Keeps the focus.
I exercise every day even though I feel lurchy and nauseous often. If I can do just a little one day, that is what I do. I fix nutritious meals and drink a bit of wine at dinner, but do not party. Parties are very difficult and I can only take just so much talking and laughing.
Well that is a lot to read for now. Good luck......just keep on plodding. You are not alone.

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Hi carnes@carnes
I believe it happened to most of people who their daily schedule is full. One more here I believe (If no brain accident affects your situation which means neurologist session would be advised to be attended) so dizziness, inability to sleep enough or thinking about many things. All these reasons could lead to some issues in the cognitive ability of the person. That what I believe and not a must to believe it as a reason of your situation and good luck!

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