BLINK - HORIZON TONIGHT BBC4 - 10PM. ABOUT WHAT SCIENCE HAS TAUGHT US ABOUT OUR TOOLS OF PERCEPTION.

[SAMBS]

It may be of interest to some of us. I've found with my vision worse since car accident in November, Even after the BI in March I had that happen I 'm not always seeing what I think I see. Last night when it was darker, with the outside light on, thought there were 2 cats in garden . This morning it was the shape of 2 bits of wood I could see in daylight! Not the first time I was not seeing what I thought I was, especially from a distance. Has this happened to anyone else? It must be about perception I think.

[RogerCMerriman]

Cheers sounds fascinating haven't had problems with vision, but did have problems crossing roads couldn't work out the speed/direction of traffic.

[Kirk5w7 in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Hi Roger, not seen your posts before, welcome

Love Janet xxxx

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Kirk5w7]

Cheers Janet yes i'm new to this forum, I'm have fairly minor in comparison, fractured skull two subdural hemorrhages, on the whole I seem to have been very lucky.

the Gorilla test is quite a old test but makes the point well we see often what we expect to see. any one who's had a mirgane with the tunnel vison to the point of nr blindness will be aware of how the brain sees or not as the case may be.

[Hidden in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Hello Roger,

I am new to this forum as well and not being "techy" I had very little idea about forums at all. I am interested in your injury(?) I had two Subdural haematoma caused by a car crash in July . I had surgery in Aug (2013) My recovery seems to have slowed down which is why I have been looking for info and the support that speaking to others who share and understand brings.

Perception can be weird at the best of times. The brain can play tricks at the best of times. This is not one of the best of times!

Lack of understanding on my part and even more by friends and sadly by family is hard to deal with and although I am a social type person it seems easier to withdraw and cope alone. All hail a website like this one .

Best wishes to you and anyone who reads this.

Turquoise

.

[RogerCMerriman in reply to Hidden]

hi Turquoise not really a huge amount to say.

I was found early December in one of the London Royal parks on the ground, I was taken to StGeorges where they found a fracture and two subdural hematomas in the end they didn't operate though it was a close run thing.

I was kept in St Georges for a while to be sure I was not still bleeding and was aware enough to go home. I have no memory of the accident and only little fragments of being in hospital, once home slept a lot, was rather wobbly and had a very worried wife, but I slowly week by week i've been recovering.

my wife helped me take a short bus/train ride to local town at first that wiped me out though it was exilrating!

In january Stgeorge's where very happy with my progress and I was able enought to make it on my own. and by then I was itching to get back to some sort of work I was still a little wobbly at times and tired quickly but but from mid Jan i've started doing a few hrs a week, I work for a large care companie/charity who have been great, I have on occasion wobbled at work and been surrounded by huge number of concerned looking young women, but I've become less wobbly and they have relaxed about me.

my balance and dissyness if I look up to say i high shelf have dramticly reduced so now, unless i'm very tired and on a bus my balance is fine.

I do still get tired quickly after 2hrs i'm tired by 3hrs I'm liable to just sit there and just smile.

But I still have no idea what caused me to fall, you name it they tested for it, I have unremarkable bowels apparently... So i'll probably never know, and it really doesn't matter.

my short term memory in some aspects is slightly worse but frankly I'm dyslexic with severe short term memory problems so frankly hasn't made any differnce, the ways I always delt with it still work, which is to keep a smartphone/tablet close by which I use as my memory as I always have done.

my friends and family and I have understood but i have the advantage of coming from a medical family and number of my friends work in or realated to the NHS etc.

[SAMBS in reply to Hidden]

best wishes to you as well Turquoise, I hope you will find over the coming weeks or months, or reading back over old posts, you are not alone in your comment about lack of understanding from family/friends, many of us have had that happen to us and I think it helps to share and ask when we know we are not alone in our experiences.

[SAMBS in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Hi Roger was treated for migraines about 30+ years ago, and had the tunnel vision, it was like looking down a kaleidoscope. My Dr said it could have been chocolate or red wine was the culprit - stopped both but also used to take migraleve. Was a chocaholic but not alcoholic as rare occasional glass red wine only - then! Never had a problem with them since. Shirley x

[RogerCMerriman in reply to SAMBS]

Mine came like a bolt one year on my 34th birthday had a number that year but none since, I do find flickering lights uncomftable I suspect if I hung around under badly flickering light I might get one but I haven't had one for over 4 years give or take.

[Kirk5w7]

Hi, I have the same problem, worse in some instances. Apart from peripheral vision problems on the right, I find that if I don't put things away, sometimes even if I do I can't find them my brain just does not see them. I think it's called visual neglect, your rain fills in a lot of detail for you but in certain BI cases that part must be damaged or not connected up right, so in my instance, my eyes are working ok my brain is not interpreting the messages correctly. Makes it interesting when I go out on my own, I'm getting better at coping when crossing the road. Doing jigsaws and paint by numbers and sudokus and things can be quite challenging too, I find that if I go back to things like that my brain has started to interpret them and put things in better order, very fascinating, I just have to be patient, it can take 2 or 3 weeks of sitting looking at a jigsaw before I can manage to put a piece in, then 2 or 3 weeks later it all slots into place no problem.

I find when I'm tired, like now, my sight gets worse but if I sit quietly with my eyes closed for 10-20 mins when I open my eyes my vision is much sharper.

Love Janet xxxx

[SAMBS in reply to Kirk5w7]

sudoku, or is it soduko? i don't remember but I wasn't very good at them before! I used to love doing jigsaws, so must try again soon.

[Kirk5w7 in reply to SAMBS]

Worth a try, I started them in the rehab unit and my daughter brought me a children's one, ! I was disgusted but she was right, I soon progressed to the more difficult ones I do 1000 piece ones now, they still flummox me at first but with perseverance I can conquer them xxxx

[cat3]

So this is another programme I need to watch on BBCi player 'cause I hadn't looked at Radio Times........ I'll watch it tomorrow morning.

I know I should be slapping myself on the wrists because I do accept that visual anomalies can be a real problem, and one that I often encounter myself but ( and I apologise Shirley) the description of the two lumps of wood being mistaken for two cats has left me with tears streaming down my face...........sorry, but I'm quite helpless here............no accounting for humour !!

If you'd like a little revenge, this is something which happened to me on Sunday night. I had arrived back to an empty house, placed my jeans on the bed & trainers on the floor, neatly pointing outwards, and jumped in the shower. Coming absent-mindedly back into the bedroom, I saw in the half-light what appeared to be the legs and feet of an intruder sitting on my bed and, I'm not joking, my own legs gave way with the fright.

Yes, I'm sure it's a perception issue or, as Janet says & to be even more precise, one of interpretation.

I look forward to watching this programme tomorrow and thanks Shirley for yet another useful alert. Love to all xxx

[vjones2 in reply to cat3]

im glad you all put all this im not going total bonkers then its our eyes and minds playing ticks i wish theyd stop theres only so many doors and walls , i also hear converatation then i am talking with that person but ive added what i think ive seen heard i no im messsed up before my sah i had ba accident on scans you can see that bleed 2 i got 3 bleeds holes in my head dont no which 1s playing tricks on which bit but thank you all its not just me not nice for all its going on with just im not alone thanks all

[Kirk5w7 in reply to cat3]

Hi Eileen, I can picture you jumping with horror, sorry to laugh but I've done similar myself and you feel so silly but funny nonetheless .

Glad you are getting out

I'm persevering, pinning great hopes on this trip to center parcs, got to be better walking through the woods even if it's raining, I'm getting sick of the walk up to the supermarket!!

Love Janet xxx

[cat3 in reply to Kirk5w7]

I can't honestly imagine many things more appealing than walking through woods in the rain. I know it's inappropriate at the moment but I do love walking in the rain. Just be sure to take your wellies !

Lotsoflove Eileen xx

[Kirk5w7 in reply to cat3]

Thanks for the reminder, they're out of reach for me in the garden store, I've asked Vincent to get them for me so many times and he keeps forgetting, I'll write it down on my " things to do" list.

I'm going to hire a trike and try that, in the safety of center parcs I should be fine, I used to love in line skating too but that's a no,no with my balance at the mo.

I'm so excited, I'm like a child again!!!!!

[Hidden in reply to cat3]

ME TOO. DON'T SHOOT ME BUT I LOVE THIS RAIN. I HATE SUN IT SETS MY EPILEPSY OFF! I WANT TO LIVE IN A RAIN FOREST, HAVE BEEN TO A FEW IN MALAYSIA, INCREDIBLE BUT FOR THE SPIDERS!

[SAMBS in reply to cat3]

oh Eileen that sounds so scary, but yes it made me laugh after I read it again! Imagine thinking there is a stranger in your bedroom! Good job it wasn't a pair of boots then with the trousers - lol xxxxxxxx

[Danslatete]

I seem to have more difficulties with depth. I was looking for a new book to read, turned it over to read the blurb ans was fascinated to see the wavy book cover, I called excitedly to my daughter to come and see this really cool wavy cover... It was a black background with alternating colours on every two or three lines, a shade of pink then a pale blue. To me one looked very raised the other sunken, giving the the cover a wavy effect ! My daughter thought I was quite daft and asked me to run my hands over it, so disappointed to find out it was flat!

I walk into door frames and patterned floor can be very disorienting. Dependn on the patterns I have been known to look like I'm walking on a ship in high seas, clinging to railings to stop me falling face to floor etc.

Annoyingly I can't see those hidden pictures, we have a large one at home and it just looks like a big coloured mess!

My main trick depends on colour used on stairs, I am equally adept at falling both up them and down them!

[SAMBS in reply to Danslatete]

can relate to the hidden pictures, never could see them before but saw one just a week or so ago and immediately recognised that I could see it! I can't explain that! Don't like the sound of the stairs, if there is not a handrail hen its one hand flat on wall beside me. I always come downstairs favouring my right foot being the 1st one down to be able to do that.

[Kirk5w7]

It's so frustrating isn't it, I'm even better at the hidden pictures now than I was before, I used to be able to see them after some concentration now they just jump out at me, weird isn't it. I'm useless with black clothes, problem cos I wear a lot, but if they are in a heap, it takes a lot of sorting to work out what's what, and if they are in a pile, they don't stay neat cos I get so frustrated looking for what I want!

Janet

[Hidden]

I OFTEN LOOK AT THINGS AND CAN'T WORK OUT WHAT THEY ARE. I WAS LOOKING AT A PAIR OF EARRINGS IN A MAGAZINE THE OTHER DAY & I THOUGHT THEY WERE OYSTERS IN THEIR SHELLS UNTIL I READ THE CAPTION!

LIKE YOU I HAVE PROBLEMS WORKING OUT WHAT THINGS ARE IN THE DARK. I HAVE A STREET LIGHT DOWN THE ROAD & EVEN IN IT'S LIGHT I GET CONFUSED.I THOUGHT I SAW A PILE OF SLUGS LAST NIGHT BUT THIS MORNING I SAW THEY WERE LEAVES.

MY NEURO DID GIVE ME THE NAME OF THIS APHASIA?? OR IS THAT WHEN THE WORDS WON'T COME OUT,I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH READING. IHAVE TO READ THE SAME THING OVER & OVER AGAIN TO GET THE SENSE OF IT, AS SOON AS I'VE READ IT I FORGET WHAT I'VEJUST READ. REALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN I'M TRYING TO USE THE TV GUIDE ON SKY, I RE-READ THE SAME SYNOPSIS OVER & OVER AGAIN & STILL DON'T RECOGNISE THAT I'VE EVEN READ IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. HAVING NO PERIPHERAL VISION ON THE LEFT DOESN'THELP, ABI DAMAGED MY OPTIC NERVES. IT MAKES THINGS LOOK PRETTY UNINTELLIGBLE SOMETIMES.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

[SAMBS in reply to Hidden]

oh Zeblet you did make me smile, no disrepect, about the earrings - but not the slugs, I hate them! My 1st and funniest experience was last June when I took a friends dog for a walk - in those days I was driving totally ok, so parked up with said dog at his favourite walking area. Walked down a path with fields either side towards a river. In the distance near the river, there was an elderly couple standing watching me approach, the man had a white trilby on and his shorter wife was standing in front of him - talking france here and very bright, hot day, so I thought perhaps they also had a dog, mine was off lead galloping ahead of me.

When I nearly reach them, there were no people there - it was a square wooden weathered post with the top 6" or so painted bright white with gloss paint! If the dogs owner had been there she would have thought I was mad!

[Hidden in reply to SAMBS]

DON'T WORRY I THOUGHT THE OYSTERS WERE FUNNY TOO THOUGH I DID FEEL A BIT OF A FOOL! I THINK YOUR POST IS RIGHT UP THERE, IT DID MAKE ME LAUGH - WHAT A BUNCH WE ARE.

[Hidden in reply to SAMBS]

I'VE BEEN LOOKING CLOSELY AGAIN & THEY STILL LOOK LIKE OPEN OYSTERS. I JUST CAN'T SEE THEM AS EARRINGS AT ALL!

[SAMBS in reply to Hidden]

HI ZEBLET - I DIDN'T SEE EARRINGS OR OYSTERS SO DON'T KNOW AT ALL. I SAW WHITE CIRCLES AROUND BLACK SPOTS IN 1ST PIC THATS ALL.

[Kirk5w7]

It sounds amazing wanting to live in the rain forest, I never used to mind the rain and winter but I need the warmth of the sun now, and the accompanying high pressure. The nerves leading to the skin on my arms and back have been affected and I find jumpers irritate so it's best if I can wear t shirts, it's just not warm enough.

Xxxxx

[Hidden in reply to Kirk5w7]

I WEAR REALLY SOFT LONG SLEEVE THERMAL UNDERWEAR. SILK IS BEST BUT BURTON SNOWBOARD COMPANY MAKE SOME REALLY FINE SYNTHETIC ONES IN THEIR BASE LAYER RANGE. I CAN BARELY FEEL THEM AT ALL. THEY ONLY GET HOT IF YOU PUT A FLEECE OR SOMETHING ON TOP OTHERWISE FINE FOR BEING AT HOME.MAYBE YOU COLD TRY IT.

[Kirk5w7 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for that they sound great, will look them out and give them a try xxxxx

[SAMBS]

Another reminder to you all, Thursday evening is the next episode in the series about the brain surgery hospital at Liverpool, CH 5 I think 10pm.

[sospan]

Good Program,

I don't want to hijack your post but did anybody do the test with the black spot on the green Union Standard?

If so what did you see ? As I got a different result than what the expert said would happen

[RogerCMerriman in reply to sospan]

I did that test and I saw (very) briefly the pink union but then a black dot and white background.

[sospan in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Interesting, for those that haven't done the test don't read this ....

Once the screen blanks white. I see the bars of the flag but they move to a different position as if the my visual memory has misplaced their position -weird

[SAMBS in reply to sospan]

no probs with my posts - but missed the black spot bit, explain more, is there somewhere online to look at it - the union flag I mean!

[sospan in reply to SAMBS]

if you have a look at sapdesignguild.org/goodies/...

and you scroll down to colour afterimages there is one there without the black spot.

Interesting effect (and disturbing) for me that the image was distorted which I think indicates that the teaming between my eyes is way off.

[SAMBS]

HI SOSPAN, WENT TO WEBSITE saved it in my Headway folder under Favourites - will need to go back to it another day when not so tired, nothing I looked at made sense or changed. But then I have also just come back inside, calling Noir, my adopted stray cat in - she's still out there! and I ended up standing outside in the pitch black looking at the stars - because its middle of countryside there is no light pollution at all - but coming back inside with lights on must have altered my eyes - its only 8.30 here now but of course 1 hr ahead of UK. The stars were so bright and lovely.x