Traumatic Brain Injury: Come introduce yourself

I wonder if support group members further along in their recovery journey recall what it was like the first year when symptoms are often more prevalent and prominent. Any tips anyone could share about early recovery vs. later recovery?

As for headaches, I'll steer you some postings under the Resources tab for this group and will reach out to you directly.
- Post Traumatic Headaches https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/traumatic-brain-injury-mrfi/newsfeed-post/headaches-1/
- Chronic Pain after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/traumatic-brain-injury-mrfi/newsfeed-post/chronic-pain-after-tbi/

Hi @heather1carland, welcome to the TBI group. Pull up a chair and tell us a bit about your story. When did you have your injury? How is recovery going?

You got it - I will send you a private email.

Yes I agree that line is hard to define until your brain is like "Woah what are you doing to me"? Interestingly, my psychologist I see at rehab told me the same thing today that I should separate my brain from me to explain why I can't do something. Also two days after I posted my difficulty with family gatherings, I was indirectly exposed to covid and had to quarantine, so now noone wants to be around anyone. It was a good save only since I did not get covid. So I feel like I have a chance to distance myself and reset limitations and boundaries when covid calms down and we can be around each other again. I agree the fatigue is very extreme and real and I am finally seeing that I l need to be selfish so to speak because over doing does hinder healing, and we are the ones that have to live with our brain. My mother gets it and told me the same thing. She took care of my father with Parkinson's so she sees similiarities with a brain not working properly.

I actually go there for my rehab. They are excellent. Each therapist I work with has greatly improved my life one step at a time. You are right some of the exercises are so hard. I completed physical therapy and just started occupational therapy which to me is so hard compared to the rest. I never get up in the morning excited to do occupational therapy. That is for sure!!!

Hi, thank-you for the great information. I am doing some of it. I love your idea to journal and celebrate improvements and do something enjoyable each day and keeping a list. Most of all to be thankful for the chance to go on. I thought my time on this earth was up the first day I started blacking out after my accident. I remember telling a nurse I worked with that day that I thought I was dying, and here I still am and I am truly grateful. I am grateful for the great team I have at centracare too. Your list is very well-organized. I am looking forward to trying some of it. Thank-you again!!!

Thank-you Wendy. I would love to have the information for any support group meeting now.

Hi everyone - what a beautiful and supportive group this is. @totto as you can see there are some really amazing people here. The advice from @hevykevy is spot on - (and I hope they don't mind if I borrow some of it as well) Most support groups across the state are not meeting right now. There are some in the metro area that are meeting virtually and I would be happy to help you get that information. This group has been stepping up to the challenge in our very changed world. I am excited to hear what others might have to add to this conversation about their strategies. What amazing people you all are.

Welcome to this group Totto. Sorry to hear about your struggles. In one of my previous posts I mentioned that our limitations are difficult because often we don't know where the line is until we have crossed it. Then we pay the consequences.
With your family gatherings, it is difficult to say no, but sometimes we have to. A simple "right now my brain can't take it" should work with understanding, caring people. COVID also gives you a good excuse. If you do go to a gathering, can you do what my wife does, off to the side with just 1 or 2 others, away from all the noise. Hard to do for an extrovert, but you have to think of your whole self. Also, there are no rules about how long we have to stay. Very hard for Minnesotans, but going for part of the time will let them know you enjoy being part of the family, but leaving early will help them to know your limitations. I'm finding out that these limitations are not short term. It's been 2 years now for me and my energy level and stamina are not what they used to be. You are much younger, but that is all the more reason to listen to your body and get your needed rest. Over doing it really hinders the healing process.

Centracare in St. Cloud has a clinic that has programs that have provided support for improving balancetunnel vision and memory aids. They provided skilled support from personal with expertise in ballene improve ment, neurooptometrist, and cognition. All was payed for by blue cross and Medicare. The exercises were not easy but worthwhile. I also developed my own exercises using devises such as a bossy ball, medicine ball and a small device that returned a ball to improve my periferal vision. Call me at 320 2178888 if you want more details.
Mike Garrity