Coronation street

Has anyone been watching the events on corrie? How close to your experience do you think they have got it? I've always thought they have been on the money and are cutting edge when it comes to stuff that is relevant but this is such a massive subject with every case being absolutely individual. I'd be interested to know everyone's take on it....

[Annef68]

Hi I've been following the storyline. Some of the storyline I can reflect to with some aspects my son went through in his rehab after his accident, but suppose everyone's different. Becoming fatigued, disorientated & confused. It will be interesting how long they continue exploring topics with regards to Nick , even when others ask how the family (character) member how he's doing, not understanding the changes a TBI has on the individual & family & how these can be long term.

[Hidden in reply to Annef68]

I have to say I thought they had it on the money last night when Nick lost it in the bistro, it all got too much for him. I shudder to think how many times hubby has just got to that break point, head in hands, not able to take any more of whatever the situation is.

[Kirk5w7]

I, too, have been watching with interst and have picked up on the little things that may have escaped "normal" viewers, I don't look in the mirror much either. I have to say I was disappointed in his quick exit from the hospital but you have to understand they have to keep the viewers interest, but I'm afraid, yet again, it's an opportunity lost. Janet

[Hidden in reply to Kirk5w7]

I wasn't surprised by this and I think you would be shocked at how many survivors don't get ANY follow up care. Hubby was on life support for 12 days and I was told he would suffer some brain damage but once he was on his feet - literally days after coming off life support - they let him go with no neurological follow up whatsoever! We had to work it all out for ourselves. It would be interesting to know how common it is actually.

[Kirk5w7 in reply to Hidden]

I was in hospital for 2 months, then lucky enough to go into rehab for 5 weeks cos I cut that short, they had done what they could and the strain on my family visiting me was huge not to mention the strain on me being away from everyone, they wanted to keep me for another 4 weeks but I felt my bed should be given to someone else. I will be forever grateful for what they gave me and I know I was lucky, more people should get that initial aftercare. Too many are left to struggle and fight, I hope all is going well for you, keep checking in on here, this site is a real help Love Janetxxx

[Annef68]

Your right, understand they need to keep viewers interested for the storyline. But hospital & aftercare rehabilitation is huge. My son was injured July 2010 was an in patient until April 2011 then a day patient in a rehabilitation centre until November 2011, he only came home during weekends & evenings as we his family were able to care & support him. I'm now his full time Carer & had to give up my job.

[Hidden in reply to Annef68]

Again like Kirk5w7, I guess everyone's experiences are different and it wholly depends on how bad the ABI/TBI is, we had no aftercare so I can relate more to how the storyline is unfolding. I just hope they don't just stop showing any of the outcomes and it's a long running thing. It would be an opportunity missed for the shows producers not to make sure everyone knows it doesn't just go away. We watch and hope eh?

[Annef68]

From the very start we were told by the neurological team that research has shown that the family input/involvement has a huge impact on how well our loved ones 'recover' My son started of in hospital in Birmingham & we fought to get him to continue with his aftercare in Scotland closer to his family, so as to have a wee bit of 'normality' in our life's to. In hospital he not unlike others with TBI responded to family, it's like nurturing them again, relearning all sorts of things that we often sadly but not intentionally take for granted. X

[headchild]

When my daughter was sent home after her brain tumour diagnosis I got no help at all. she was written off! I cared for her for years as you would a baby, fed her crude black mollases (which she hated) I had a book which told of the benefits of this for cancer sufferers. Hadn't got anything to lose as the neuros were not going to do anything. The tumour stopped growing???? i continued to look after her and over the years she began to recover. I encouraged her to go out to a day centre to mix with people and yes she got tired but they had big comfy chairs so she would take a nap! Of course as i have said in previous posts it has left it's damage but hey - she has lived 20 years on from that diagnosis - i have been told by professionals it's the care she got at home that got her through. so never give up folks - we can only do our best.

[Kirk5w7]

One of my GPs told me to be under no illusion that I had recovered so well because of what I, and my family had done, not the professionals, all they do is provide the environment, and medication or surgery if required, to aid the healing process, there can be no prediction as to outcome, I was expected to die because my brain function had sunk to such a low level, but that was not to be thank fully, so you see lessons are still being learned, the brain is an enigma, and well done to us all xxxx Janet

[Hidden]

I should have googled a bit more background on this - seems Headway have been involved from the start!

headway.org.uk/news/coronat...

Now I understand why it's coming across as being so true to life.... Thanks Headway