How are people doing with TBI recovery?

Posted by FrontRunner @frontrunner, Oct 29, 2021

Here I am 3 years TBI and I am just starting to be able to try to connect with others. I still have memory problems and mental fatigue which provide a hit to my self esteem. But despite that, I would have to say I have improved.

How are others doing, wherever you are in your very interesting journey?

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

Do you have a daily mental n physical tutor or coach?

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@hevykevy

I will be at 3 years next month. I still have memory issues, mostly for names and finding the right word when I need it. Also, multi-tasking is a thing of the past. If I set out to do one thing and see something else to do, thing one is gone.. If I go to a store, I need a list.
However, when I spend time with friends my age or even younger, I find that I am often quicker at coming up with the word or name. So, this is normal for my age, just not for me. Very frustrating!
I'm still very useful and productive. Fix lots of things at home and for others. Installed a new(not replaced) window in my dining room, Bought a used 16' boat, replaced the floor and remodeled the whole interior and trailer.. Installed a new combination on demand water heater/furnace for a friend. People know I can fix everything and can't say 'no'.
I depend on the To-Do list on my phone and tablet as well as my Outlook calendar for appointments.

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Hi,

What are your most severe repercussions you deem most integral? I have my notes, over a thousand pages being edited and tutors daily notes of two hundred and twenty eight weeks. Recovery isn't difficult if proper steps are taken but it is time consuming and requires work, dedication and commitment.

Craig

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As for mental fatigue, exercise, if you can, jog for distance and not time. Build a base of cardio and strength (weights), a healthy mind deserves a healthy body and being physically fit will help atone for what the brain can't do.

Craig

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Holy cow, last Friday was Oct. 18, 2024 which means it's now been 184,209 hours, 7671 days, 21 years since my TBI Brain Day. I'd like to say "thank you" to my family, friends, co-workers for everything they did, especially during my 1st year, and are still doing to help me continue my recovery. I am also here to say, especially for any "new" survivors that we do get better all the time. Sure there are bad and good days, but everyday is a gift and that is why it's called the present.Take care of "your" brain it's the only one in the world.

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@ricj

Holy cow, last Friday was Oct. 18, 2024 which means it's now been 184,209 hours, 7671 days, 21 years since my TBI Brain Day. I'd like to say "thank you" to my family, friends, co-workers for everything they did, especially during my 1st year, and are still doing to help me continue my recovery. I am also here to say, especially for any "new" survivors that we do get better all the time. Sure there are bad and good days, but everyday is a gift and that is why it's called the present.Take care of "your" brain it's the only one in the world.

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I too had a brain aneurysm 25 years ago went back to work. It is a slow journey but worth the work I have seen two grandchildren I a. A volunteer inmy community and work hard at keeping my mouth shut after traumatic brain injury you become unfiltered with your comments snd words. Thanks to my friends for understanding my road

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@ricj

Holy cow, last Friday was Oct. 18, 2024 which means it's now been 184,209 hours, 7671 days, 21 years since my TBI Brain Day. I'd like to say "thank you" to my family, friends, co-workers for everything they did, especially during my 1st year, and are still doing to help me continue my recovery. I am also here to say, especially for any "new" survivors that we do get better all the time. Sure there are bad and good days, but everyday is a gift and that is why it's called the present.Take care of "your" brain it's the only one in the world.

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My moderate TBI was 31 years ago. Most of the recovery was in the first 1.5 years, including rewiring filters (fixing overreacting, emotional walls). "Complete" recovery took 8-10 years. My recall and memory for words is still a bit dented. There is commonly a lack of initiation with head injuries; it is important to keep learning and growing because rewiring does take time and work. The brain does (slowly) heal and grows new connections through life.

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@ricj

Holy cow, last Friday was Oct. 18, 2024 which means it's now been 184,209 hours, 7671 days, 21 years since my TBI Brain Day. I'd like to say "thank you" to my family, friends, co-workers for everything they did, especially during my 1st year, and are still doing to help me continue my recovery. I am also here to say, especially for any "new" survivors that we do get better all the time. Sure there are bad and good days, but everyday is a gift and that is why it's called the present.Take care of "your" brain it's the only one in the world.

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I’ve been there, 12 years ago, but I’m alive. 12 years ago I had a bicycle accident, one block from my house. I was now a TBI member and lost on my brain, but every day became better if my memories, understanding, knowledge, doing. It’s hard, even today and my family, special my wife that helped for the last 12 years ago. But my ability passes of my lost inside my mind leaving me to the last 25% is back. But they other 75% gives me some long times and get part of it.

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@nanna1948

I too had a brain aneurysm 25 years ago went back to work. It is a slow journey but worth the work I have seen two grandchildren I a. A volunteer inmy community and work hard at keeping my mouth shut after traumatic brain injury you become unfiltered with your comments snd words. Thanks to my friends for understanding my road

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I had a TBI and I know what you mean about "unfiltered" language. I lost a few friends that way. Any political correctness I had went out the window and sometimes I used old fashioned words which you can't use now. It got better with time but I was always an honest, straight forward person. I must admit, outspoken as well. I have epilepsy now and truth be told, I think some of my friends stayed away because they were terrified that I might have a seizure in front of them. They are Abscence Seizures and are controled by meds. My lover of 6 years saw me have one and kicked me to the curb 2 months later. I had never been ditched before and I did not like it. I felt embarrassed and humiliated. So much for trying to be sexy.

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@crawford

I had a TBI and I know what you mean about "unfiltered" language. I lost a few friends that way. Any political correctness I had went out the window and sometimes I used old fashioned words which you can't use now. It got better with time but I was always an honest, straight forward person. I must admit, outspoken as well. I have epilepsy now and truth be told, I think some of my friends stayed away because they were terrified that I might have a seizure in front of them. They are Abscence Seizures and are controled by meds. My lover of 6 years saw me have one and kicked me to the curb 2 months later. I had never been ditched before and I did not like it. I felt embarrassed and humiliated. So much for trying to be sexy.

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Hi, @crawford - that sounds challenging to have your language go unfiltered involuntarily.

You talked about having absence seizures, and just wanted to mention that you might check out the Mayo Clinic Connect Epilepsy & Seizures support group https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/epilepsy-2bb359/ and some of the discussions there.

You mentioned sometimes you used old-fashioned words after your TBI. What are some examples of words you used, and how did others respond?

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@ricj

Holy cow, last Friday was Oct. 18, 2024 which means it's now been 184,209 hours, 7671 days, 21 years since my TBI Brain Day. I'd like to say "thank you" to my family, friends, co-workers for everything they did, especially during my 1st year, and are still doing to help me continue my recovery. I am also here to say, especially for any "new" survivors that we do get better all the time. Sure there are bad and good days, but everyday is a gift and that is why it's called the present.Take care of "your" brain it's the only one in the world.

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Hi, @ricj - I believe today it's been even more hours and days since your TBI Brain Day, which I assume is the time you experienced your traumatic brain injury (TBI). I noticed in another discussion you talked about falling off a ladder cleaning gutters.

It seems that you've had many kind and helpful people around you to help you with your recovery, which is great.

Thanks for your encouragement to anyone new to having a TBI that they will get through this and get better all the time, though they will experience good days and bad days.

@ricj - What things, medical or otherwise, do you feel have been critical to your TBI recovery to the point you are at now?

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