Lorraine

[sabin2015]

I made my husband watch Lorraine kelly today as James cracknill was on talking about his tbi and .everything they said I could relate to .It's so reassuring I am not the only person to feel like I do x

[MXman]

Hi Sabin,

Your not alone very far from it. I found this out when I came on here in May this year.

[Mads1975]

Hi Sabin, he wrote an autobiography with his wife Beverly Turner about his TBI and I was able to draw so many parallels with my own ABI.

It was particularly good at showing me the difficulties my wife experiences caring for me as Beverly wrote very emotionally about how it affects her.

I recommend this book to you both xx

[Alice5 in reply to Mads1975]

I'm definitely going to get the book...

[steve55 in reply to Mads1975]

my wife read it and yes it helped her

[Hidden]

Cracknell undoubtedly suffers what the rest of us do and good luck to him for upping public awareness as to his and others like him experiences and outlook.

Then we have the charlatans who have a 'fast car' accident, claim brain damage and be right in a matter of weeks. I think we all know 'it just doesn't happen like that.' Sadly. the gullible public don't and such nonsense does genuine sufferers no good whatsoever.

Missed the show as at work, but I'll look on catch-up later.

[steve55 in reply to Hidden]

no it doesnt brainedat17 its a continuous fight same as cracknell. it wasnt a case of him being knocked off his bike spending a few days in intensive care and back to normal. his wife found herself married to an entirely different person

[Hidden in reply to steve55]

My view Steve55.

I seem to remember said person claiming a full recovery; reason I remember it so well we had visitors and I declared it was a load of b*ll*cks and my wife snapped at me for swearing [common problem].

Continuous fight? I've got 48 years of it under my belt so I think I'm a little qualified to state my thoughts not only on this 'continuous fight' but also on recovery.

My comment wasn't aimed at Cracknell either.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I might add the entire compliment at my Headway Group thought the same --- wonder why that was?

[sporan]

Hi Sabin,

I recorded the programme and my wife and I sat down and watched it together.

It was usefull in helping my wife understand that we aren't the only people struggling from the complications of BI and also helped her, I think, to understand that the 'new me' isn't just a figment of either of our imagination and that I am not being deliberately awkward or deliberately trying to upset her.

I do know how hard it is for my wife and it's horrible to watch the pain and the hurt in her eyes whilst the 'real me' is screaming and shouting at the 'new me' not to do or say but being totally unable to make the 'new me hear or obey me'.

For anyone without BI or even for some who do have BI it may sound a bit like being schitzophrenic and in some ways I guess it is. I often have arguments between the 'real me' and the 'new me' when I am alone but it's like someone has cut the brake cables and no matter what the real me does the brakes just don't or won't work for the new me.

Sorry a ramble, yet again, but it's a problem that's become a serious issue over recent months so somewhat of a raw nerve.

Take care all. x

[Alice5 in reply to sporan]

It's not easy for the person with the BI or the relatives but it helps to know you're not alone and it's not meant maliciously. My son says he has no filters anymore and says it as it is which I understand but it still hurts...

[steve55 in reply to Alice5]

alice 5 youre thought process is what you say out loud but you dont realise youve said it. thing is no sooner have you said it youve forgotten youve said it

[steve55 in reply to sporan]

i do that sporan talk to myself and argue, i use as a decision mechanism, a sort of if what scenario and then go and do something entirely different

[steve55]

i had an abi in feb 2012 aged 52. i was lucky just had numbness down my left hand side. i spent 5days altogether in hospital and was sent home with no support.

every thing seemed fine for the first 6months then BANG with no warning according to my wife i changed. apparently i was bad tempered would fly off the handle at the least little thing not just her but anyone who pissed me off. it got to the stage where i found myself with my wife in the Drs surgery with barb in floods of tears saying she couldnt take any more. i was reffered to a psychiatrist.

he wanted to put me on anti depressants i told him in no uncertain terms where to go and agreed to take Epilim as a mood stabiliser, which 3 yrs down the line appears to be working. what i say can be inappropriate and sexually inappropriate, i swear and for me the hardest thing for me is the lack of control i have over my emotions....especially crying