Traumatic Brain Injury: Come introduce yourself

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.

@westd

Thank you! I’m wondering if it’s okay to post in chat group what medications others take and share what is working for me?

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Welcome new members @m2murphy256 and @westd
Mike, regarding the I.D. Card, please read the information in this discussion on how to get one:
- Brain Injury Identification Card https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/brain-injury-identification-card/

Dan, yes it's okay to post what medications your taking and share what is working for you and find out what has worked for others. I might suggest that you start a new discussion, specifically about the topic, giving it a distinct title so that others can find it easily. Here's how to start a new discussion:
1. Go to the TBI group page: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi/
2. Click the grey START A DISCUSSION button.
3. Enter a title, like "What medications work for you?"
4. Write your message.
5. Click POST DISCUSSION.

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I really couldn't have said it better myself.

We use the term "brain breaks" often, and for a reason. Pausing, taking short rest breaks, placing no demands on your brain for a bit, walking away from the computer (or even a good book) as soon as you start to feel tired or headache-y or overwhelmed vs. "pushing through" will almost always work in your favor. The breaks can be short, 5-10 minutes, and though it may sound disruptive, pausing and re-setting when there's a hint of a symptom flare up vs. waiting until a headache is severe or irritability has morphed into anger and frustration actually saves time in the long run. Learning to pace and embrace "brain breaks" is a simple enough concept on paper. But. We find it takes practice before it becomes a habit.

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@m2murphy256

My PT had to do that eye business for weeks - looking at an x in the wall and moving my head up and down, back and forth. Didn’t prove long lasting. There are days when I feel like Im sailing through rough seas all day long. Where did you get the I.D. Card? I’m an ex-Sheriff Deputy and I keep my old badge in my car because I know if I get pulled over for any reason I’ll fail a field sobriety test! A card would sure be usefull!

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I got my ID card from the MN Stroke and Brain Injury Alliance in Roseville. All I had to do was call them and they mailed me one. Phone 612-378-2742, and 1-800-669-6442

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Hi I’m Jean19 I live in Saint Paul. I have had 4 TBIs, the first was in Washington DC on May 18, 2002 at approximately 11:20 am. It was about 10 minutes before going into my daughter’s graduation from GW University. I didn’t get to the graduation I spent the day in the ER, I passed out, I don’t remember what happened, but I ended up with a fractured Right Orbit (blew out the bones of my eye socket) so my Right eye sits slightly lower but no one notices it. For the longest time it was’t a problem, but I will get back to this later. So I had an appointment with the eye doctors later that week. I was in DC for business that week anyway. I was told to ice my face and take pain meds. I flew home the end of the week saw an eye surgeon on Friday I needed to get the bruising and swelling down before eye surgery could be scheduled. The beginning of June surgery was scheduled for the next week, a plastic strip would lift up my eye. I continued to have pain in my eyebrow, mid cheek, and jaw, the surgeon kept refilling the pain meds. I got connected to a pain clinic for both my my facial pain and migraines. I had a lot of problems with my sinuses, so I went to my kids ENT, explained my fall, a CT was done and I needed to have surgery but the CT also diagnosed a problem with the plastic under my eye - one screw on the back of the socket, appeared to be coming unscrewed, so I was directed back to eye surgeon. Showed him the CT, explained the issue and I couldn’t have the nasal surgery until the eye was resolved, he could not agree with solution so I told him I would go to the UM for a second opinion. The doctors suggested surgery to remove the sling. My eye surgeon still wasn’t sure. I told the ENT all of the eye issues, he said he would call back in a few minutes. The eye surgeon called, he could do the surgery the next Monday. I put the surgery off by two weeks. 6 months later I had nasal surgery, I could breath again. It was almost 5 years to the same date as my first brain injury. I tripped on an uneven sidewalk in Saint Paul this time a fractured nose with a few lacerations. I had 2 TBI injures in 2019, the first was a MVA a truck lost control in snow then hit the dry pavement coming across the interstate perpendicular to the road, I hit him broadside, I lost consciousness, checked out by paramedics and told I was fine didn’t need to go to ER. I had the worst headache and neck pain, so I went to the ER the following morning. I had a subdural hematoma and spent the next four days in the Neuro ICU. Two follow up CTs and resolved hematoma in 4 weeks. Six months later I passes out walking into Rosedale Mall. This time a right sided subdural hematoma, another 4 days on the same unit as before. This time the hematoma had significantly enlarged after discharge so another CT, bleed was stable, so 6 weeks later another CT again resolved. I have spent weeks with physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Still missing words or forgetful thoughts. I still have chronic pain due to damage to a nerve in my cheek, significant increase in migraines, and other headaches. Chronic neck pain due to damage of my cervical spine. I still have balance issues but all in all I’m still here, getting up each day and keep putting one foot in front of the next. I’m retired now with days one after another.

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@jean01

Hi I’m Jean19 I live in Saint Paul. I have had 4 TBIs, the first was in Washington DC on May 18, 2002 at approximately 11:20 am. It was about 10 minutes before going into my daughter’s graduation from GW University. I didn’t get to the graduation I spent the day in the ER, I passed out, I don’t remember what happened, but I ended up with a fractured Right Orbit (blew out the bones of my eye socket) so my Right eye sits slightly lower but no one notices it. For the longest time it was’t a problem, but I will get back to this later. So I had an appointment with the eye doctors later that week. I was in DC for business that week anyway. I was told to ice my face and take pain meds. I flew home the end of the week saw an eye surgeon on Friday I needed to get the bruising and swelling down before eye surgery could be scheduled. The beginning of June surgery was scheduled for the next week, a plastic strip would lift up my eye. I continued to have pain in my eyebrow, mid cheek, and jaw, the surgeon kept refilling the pain meds. I got connected to a pain clinic for both my my facial pain and migraines. I had a lot of problems with my sinuses, so I went to my kids ENT, explained my fall, a CT was done and I needed to have surgery but the CT also diagnosed a problem with the plastic under my eye - one screw on the back of the socket, appeared to be coming unscrewed, so I was directed back to eye surgeon. Showed him the CT, explained the issue and I couldn’t have the nasal surgery until the eye was resolved, he could not agree with solution so I told him I would go to the UM for a second opinion. The doctors suggested surgery to remove the sling. My eye surgeon still wasn’t sure. I told the ENT all of the eye issues, he said he would call back in a few minutes. The eye surgeon called, he could do the surgery the next Monday. I put the surgery off by two weeks. 6 months later I had nasal surgery, I could breath again. It was almost 5 years to the same date as my first brain injury. I tripped on an uneven sidewalk in Saint Paul this time a fractured nose with a few lacerations. I had 2 TBI injures in 2019, the first was a MVA a truck lost control in snow then hit the dry pavement coming across the interstate perpendicular to the road, I hit him broadside, I lost consciousness, checked out by paramedics and told I was fine didn’t need to go to ER. I had the worst headache and neck pain, so I went to the ER the following morning. I had a subdural hematoma and spent the next four days in the Neuro ICU. Two follow up CTs and resolved hematoma in 4 weeks. Six months later I passes out walking into Rosedale Mall. This time a right sided subdural hematoma, another 4 days on the same unit as before. This time the hematoma had significantly enlarged after discharge so another CT, bleed was stable, so 6 weeks later another CT again resolved. I have spent weeks with physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Still missing words or forgetful thoughts. I still have chronic pain due to damage to a nerve in my cheek, significant increase in migraines, and other headaches. Chronic neck pain due to damage of my cervical spine. I still have balance issues but all in all I’m still here, getting up each day and keep putting one foot in front of the next. I’m retired now with days one after another.

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Welcome @jean01. Wow, you've had more than you're fair share of TBIs. What tips would you share with others about recovery, how to get around missing words or dealing with headaches?

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@jean01

Hi I’m Jean19 I live in Saint Paul. I have had 4 TBIs, the first was in Washington DC on May 18, 2002 at approximately 11:20 am. It was about 10 minutes before going into my daughter’s graduation from GW University. I didn’t get to the graduation I spent the day in the ER, I passed out, I don’t remember what happened, but I ended up with a fractured Right Orbit (blew out the bones of my eye socket) so my Right eye sits slightly lower but no one notices it. For the longest time it was’t a problem, but I will get back to this later. So I had an appointment with the eye doctors later that week. I was in DC for business that week anyway. I was told to ice my face and take pain meds. I flew home the end of the week saw an eye surgeon on Friday I needed to get the bruising and swelling down before eye surgery could be scheduled. The beginning of June surgery was scheduled for the next week, a plastic strip would lift up my eye. I continued to have pain in my eyebrow, mid cheek, and jaw, the surgeon kept refilling the pain meds. I got connected to a pain clinic for both my my facial pain and migraines. I had a lot of problems with my sinuses, so I went to my kids ENT, explained my fall, a CT was done and I needed to have surgery but the CT also diagnosed a problem with the plastic under my eye - one screw on the back of the socket, appeared to be coming unscrewed, so I was directed back to eye surgeon. Showed him the CT, explained the issue and I couldn’t have the nasal surgery until the eye was resolved, he could not agree with solution so I told him I would go to the UM for a second opinion. The doctors suggested surgery to remove the sling. My eye surgeon still wasn’t sure. I told the ENT all of the eye issues, he said he would call back in a few minutes. The eye surgeon called, he could do the surgery the next Monday. I put the surgery off by two weeks. 6 months later I had nasal surgery, I could breath again. It was almost 5 years to the same date as my first brain injury. I tripped on an uneven sidewalk in Saint Paul this time a fractured nose with a few lacerations. I had 2 TBI injures in 2019, the first was a MVA a truck lost control in snow then hit the dry pavement coming across the interstate perpendicular to the road, I hit him broadside, I lost consciousness, checked out by paramedics and told I was fine didn’t need to go to ER. I had the worst headache and neck pain, so I went to the ER the following morning. I had a subdural hematoma and spent the next four days in the Neuro ICU. Two follow up CTs and resolved hematoma in 4 weeks. Six months later I passes out walking into Rosedale Mall. This time a right sided subdural hematoma, another 4 days on the same unit as before. This time the hematoma had significantly enlarged after discharge so another CT, bleed was stable, so 6 weeks later another CT again resolved. I have spent weeks with physical, occupational, and speech therapies. Still missing words or forgetful thoughts. I still have chronic pain due to damage to a nerve in my cheek, significant increase in migraines, and other headaches. Chronic neck pain due to damage of my cervical spine. I still have balance issues but all in all I’m still here, getting up each day and keep putting one foot in front of the next. I’m retired now with days one after another.

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Welcome, and thanks for sharing your journey! Luckily I didn’t have any problems with doctors; it was the $&#@*! Health insurance that is still giving me trouble.

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Hi @kk2019, welcome to the TBI group. Pull up a chair and share a bit about you. What brings you to the group? How did you get your brain injury? How's the recovery going?

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Received brain injury plastic ID card! Has name, emergency contact, & emergency phone contact info! On the back is “symptoms of a brain injury include:” & an awesome list of all of our symptoms! Awesome card! I recommend this to us all on Mayo Clinic Connect! Thank you. Dan

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Hi, this is Bob. I fell 53 inches backwards onto a concrete slab.

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@robertvirnig

Hi, this is Bob. I fell 53 inches backwards onto a concrete slab.

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Welcome @robertvirnig Ouch! that is most definitely not a soft landing. How long ago was your injury? Can you share a bit more about your recovery and rehab? What helped? What remains a challenge today?

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