Apologies

[Matt2584]

Apologies for the 'N. W. O' rant, I wish sometimes I would shut my trap, or fingers, and keep my thoughts to myself.

[cat3]

Apology accepted (I'm pretty sure). And the fact that you help out at the Headway meetings tells me you have a softer side too.

Hope you're coping ok on a day to day basis considering the challenges you've had to face health-wise.

Cat x

[Matt2584 in reply to cat3]

Thanks Cat :). I do have a softer side, I like to think, and what I posted before was not me.

I am pretty good in my overall general health at the moment which is very good, I have had a lot Of ups and downs in my past and have had a number of trips to the hospital. I am just feeling a bit tired right now, I get that a lot. I don't and haven't ever actually had a payed job and the volunteering I do at Headway, I like to think is my job. I spend a lot of time drawing as well which is taxing on the brain.

Hope you are well too :).

[cat3 in reply to Matt2584]

I'm ok thanks Matt ; just thinking of hunkering down for my winter hibernation . . . . . . . hate the dark nights & short days !!

Fatigue is probably the commonest after effect for people here, no matter what the cause of their brain injury. I could sleep for England. It's something we have to work around and not feel too guilty about.

Are you still having treatment Matt or has your condition stabilised to the point where you just need periodic check ups ? x

[Matt2584 in reply to cat3]

I also dislike the dark nights at this time of year. I don't see too well in the dark so I definitely should be with someone if I go out at all.

I mainly have periodic checkups at the moment, mainly in the form of Magnetic Resonance Imagery (MRI) scans, I like to sound smart :). I had a scan not too long ago and the results were excellent :). I have a shunt and that is the main problem for me right now. It could block up at any point and I would have to have another op to unblock it. My last ops were in 2010. So I have done pretty well to get here.

How did you get your BI, Cat?

[cat3 in reply to Matt2584]

Mine was a Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) in Dec 2011. I had my final MRI earlier this year so I'm on my own from here-on.

But from having pretty restricted mobility in the early days and high emotions, I've come a long way in the past three years and can pass for 'Normal' on a good day.

The main issues now are poor memory and balance which are extremely common in our community.

Do you struggle with anything in particular ?

[Matt2584 in reply to cat3]

That word 'subarachnoid', it always reminds me of an underwater spider haha. I'm sure it is nothing to do with that though. These things have very weird terms though. Sorry to hear of it though. You had your final MRI earlier in the year, so no more visits to the hospital? I bet you are glad of that. I know I would be, hospital visits can be a pain, especially when you have to take a 30 minute drive to the hospital.

I do have poor balance. I was diagnosed with an Astrocytoma (brain tumour), another weird name, sounds as if it is involved with space haha. Anyway, that did not weaken my balance but what did is the cyst I was then diagnosed with in 2008. A cyst is equivalent to a tumour. So I have had two tumours at he back of my head. I had radiotherapy on the cyst and docs said that scans were showing that the cyst was throbbing, getting bigger and smaller, bigger and smaller. because of the throbbing, this put pressure on the bottom part of my brain, the cerebellum which controls balance. Since then, I have had poor balance, it took my folks to hold me up. I had a further op in 1999 where a tube was attached to my shunt that also penetrated the cyst. Docs hoped this would also drain the cyst, it didn't though. It helped a small amount, enough for me to walk on my own. My legs got stronger and I found it easier but still have trouble every now and then.

[Matt2584 in reply to Matt2584]

Also, I do not usually have memory problems. Maybe a little at times but I would say that my hippocampus is in pretty good nick :). Due to my very first op in 1996, I gained a slight right sided paralisys, mainly noticeable in my face. I can't wink with right eye, my right eye has moved inwards as if permanently cross-eyed, my smile is not as strong on the right side.my eyes are more dry, especially right side. The taste in the right side was completely numb, I used to describe as a metallic taste. My teeth were weaker on the right. I cannot salivate as well on the right side. So for years I was chewing food solely on the left side.Mi am now starting to chew my food on the left, and then swap to the right side of my mouth.

[Alice5 in reply to Matt2584]

I thought subarachnoid sounded like spiders too!

[Matt2584 in reply to Alice5]

It is strange what what certain things are called isn't it.

[Alice5 in reply to Matt2584]

There are lots of words I've had to look up, vasospasm, pyrexia, think they're to confuse us, and they do...

[Matt2584 in reply to Alice5]

I haven't heard of those words you mentioned. I find myself looking up meanings to words, even if they're not confusing ones haha.

[StrawberryCream]

We all let off steam sometimes and BI means we often have less control and are more impulsive with those emotions. The great thing is you are recognising that you probably blasted a bit to strongly to us all and you've have done the right thing by posting an kind apology. It is great that you have felt you wanted to 2nd post to explain. x

[Matt2584 in reply to StrawberryCream]

Thanks Strawberry :),

I think with me, I hold in a lot of anger or annoyance but I don't always talk about these things that may anger or annoy me. it's OK though, I usually get over it. I know I blasted a bit strongly and I really shouldn't have.