I just watched a BBC documentary on the television, 'Me & My New Brain', about a girl who received a TBI skiing (well, snowboarding), and her recovery. There were two other TBI patients involved, too. I *really* enjoyed it (as did my husband, who actually lived through me going through all those stages - a lot of which, i wasn't really aware of, at the time).
Thank you, BBC! It showed the TBI patient, her family and how they coped with it, lots of information from the doctors...
Lovely! Looking back, I don't know how the hell my husband coped - I mean, a wife in a coma, then a rehab hospital, with a toddler and a little baby; then an addled wife, incapable of looking after those kiddies, or even herself... Yet I eventually went back to my job as a university lecturer. oh, i am so lucky!
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Flumptious
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Morning Flumptious! Glorious sun and blue skies here in Sussex. Yes, also check out `Rupture, living with a broken brain` and try `Wild about Harry`a film based on Colin Bateman`s fab novel about a man who changes after getting amnesia. Its a comedy but you have to sometimes laugh, just to stay sane, although we all know, all too well, that it is not remotely amusing to lose your memory. I devoured books and stories about ABI when I first came home (there are a lot of them) ! Some are accurate but hey, maybe we should write a Health Unlocked book and tell it how it ACTUALLY is.
Hope everyone is well today. My daughter is just home from her trip to south east Asia and I feel complete again. x
Morning Flumotious. I watched that too and also really enjoyed it. Tried to get my son to watch with me but he is going through a phase where he just doesn't want to be reminded about his accident. Maybe another time.... It really made me realise though that at 22 months post accident it really still is very early days for us... Not for our son of course who wants everything back NOW! X
At the risk of repetition! I too watched the piece and it was as I thought it might be. Nothing wrong with the coverage and there were in fact four persons involved; Charlie, Hannah, Tai and Callum.
I found the idea of a neuropsychiatrist and his investigating interesting and informative; like the forensic manner in which Charlie was analysed.
I was impressed with Hannah who made good progress and worked at it as well as Tai who illustrated the disappointment of not getting work. [I might add the support when I had my TBI - 1967 - was non-existant. The only thing reminiscent from then was the physiotherapists stairs; I was taken to a flight and to climb 6, and count as I did it]! I have never seen word repetition as was shown with Hannah; I noted that had started to decrease when she last appeared and her hand was starting to work in a more positive manner. She was working hard at her recovery.
Callum was rather peculiar to me. Poor memory by own admittance and was allowed to drive. Nonetheless, well done.
Now, my previous posting because if there was an underlying theme it was privilege.
" ................................ as someone with a 48yo TBI: Just watched my recording; DVD marked and not for recycling!
Charlie wound me up to be honest; found her slightly arrogant, didn't like her mother either.
Tai and Hannah I could readily identify with and Callum? Well, he's a lucky young man as I suppose I was 48 years ago.
An interesting programme that reminded me of myself in some aspects.
I did have the idea that this was another account from someone with a somewhat privileged background to be honest - you never see an ex-lorry driver with a roll-up hanging out of one side of his mouth recalling that its difficult to go to the pub/pictures/theatre whatever and that all his mates disappeared overnight, never to be replaced, do you?
Was good though. "
Last night my wife mentioned the recent piece on recovery featured Maryan d'Abo and how privileged she was .... so its not just me.
I still feel BBC's 'Recovery' with David Tennant gave the best insight to the viewer about what recovery is actually about, the pitfalls, bad acquired habits and the long job ahead. An ex colleague from a Secondary School I worked at actually phoned me after the showing and stated he was sorry for mocking me in the staff room because he'd had no idea of what actually occurs. Well, I wasn't bothered when it occurred but I was rather astounded to learn that a colleague common to us both had also suffered a TBI which I found rather upsetting given that persons academic prowess.
So, there you have it the potted and rattling opinion of Paul whose mates actually disappeared overnight, haven't been replaced and who doesn't smoke and who doesn't want to appear on TV!
You were not alone in thinking that the privileged background of those portrayed in the program had something to do with who was chosen to take part. I doubt that an ex call center phone monkey would have fitted the criteria at all. Never mind though, it was good all the same
I watched it last night and thought it was really insightful and moving. I want all my friends to watch it! It's nearly 6 months from my accident so I realise it's early days for me but I was interested to see that you're back working as a university lecturer which is fantastic. How long before you were able to return?
I spent 6-8 months in hospital (they eased me out, gradually - just home for Christmas; then home for weekends; then overnight at home, but back into hospital during the day during the week; then just one or two appointments a week; then just one a month...), and 18 months off work. They gave me a 3-month 'rehab' period - I had to see the Dean of Science once a month, to discuss how I was doing, and whether I could stay.
At the 6-month stage, I was still in hospital all the time, really. They were just starting my visits home. I still had an awfully long way to go. 6 months *was* 'early days, for me!
Hi my husband and I watched it too, he felt like me it glossed over many issues, he kept saying," you were worse than that " sad for him because he thinks they trivialise issues too much Janet x
I must admit, I often think that it was easy for me - poor old Mr Flump had to deal with a toddler, and a baby, and a wife in a coma. Gosh, it must gave been hell for him!
I think you are amazing Flumptious, it can't have been easy for either of you and look at you now, doing an amazing job too. You deserve the "well done" too.
I was an apprentice telephone engineer when my TBI came along. Sacked in six months after and then it was jobs here and there for a few months: Calculating machine mechanic [not electronic - mechanical], TV Tuner repairer, Wireman, Removal Man, Hearing Aid Technician and so on. I recognised at least that I couldn't carry on like that and sat my qualifications with good effect.
I agree about Hannah, she worked so hard at what she'd achieved but I wonder about Tai as well. I hope they both do well.
I am a university lecturer, but only because I was given the job back - I am perfectly capable of doing it, but I would never have go it, from scratch, if I had applied for it post-TBI.
There's a sadness about work after TBI, Flumptious.
I was given a piece of advice when I left hospital and one which I ignored the first few times when I applied [unsuccessfully] for work.
The advice? "Don't own up to Brain injuries depression and Epilepsy is an absolute no no." The best bit was the answer to my question, 'what to do if found out?' It was, "Tell them you forgot - make the brain injury work for you."
How true that was. I had a minor fit at one company and was sacked at the end of the week. They couldn't thankfully do that today. In fact my current employer [also a University] is very tolerant and I have scraped a colleague up after they regularly fitted. Doesn't matter [not like it did for me in 1967/68].
Be interested to see what the BBC have to say about work in this programme Miss_Dizzy has mentioned as being in the pipeline.
I watched it too, it was fantastic! Nothing sugar coated and making a point of saying the mental and emotion difficulties drop on you after you recovery from physical injuries. Just when you feel you are back on track you get a sudden realisation that all is not well. I thought it was just me!
I also watched it, and seeing their improvement really encouraged me I must say I have moments of deep depression, but I am managing to have 'ups' as well as 'downs'
I know that only time will eventually help me. My Physio told me I am doing plenty of exercise to stimulate improvement!
I watched it too. I was surprised that the snow boarder went back to snow boarding. After my iceskating accident, Which led to my brain injury, I can't believe I will ever want to iceskate again.
It's about acceptance of both what's happened and risks.
Snowboarding was her job and life. She also is clearly riding much more within her limits, which have deminished a fair bit, she isn't as skilled as she was.
I like bikes, My Brain injury was the mundane riding slowly to work, I have the GPS data! not riding over mountains which I did and do again.
For myself the old MTB was increadably important to my recovery, it provided a safe way to gain independence of movement again, when I found buses/trains much harder and at times frightening.
The fast though twitchy bike I crashed on, I sold after a year or so as I just wasn't happy with it. But I'm so glad I had the old bike which did so much for me.
I guess I had been quite naive with my love of iceskating. Since I always joked that I don't do falling over, I never considered the risks. Now I know that that one fall has turned my life upside down, my fear of the the risk of a repeat performance far outweighs any pleasure I once had. Maybe I'll feel differently in time
I can understand your love of your motorbike, my dad still rides his, as does my brother, my grandad and great grandad also had them. Even though my great grandad died in a motorbike accident and my brother and dad have both had accidents, they are prepared to take the risk and continue to ride.
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