Do people normally change much or notice changes in themselves? I had serious brain injury in a car accident in 2012. I know everyone says recovery takes years. For me it seemed to take months. I was in coma about a week came round in high dependency had trach tube in my neck so couldn't talk had to write what I wanted to say on a magnedoodle had feeding tube in. So the next week was spent in and out of consciousness and pestering my mum to push for me to start physio. I knew I'd been in a bad car accident and knew my dog had been killed this was by far the worst thing about it. I knew I was too weak to get up and walk so knew I'd need physio and honestly it couldn't start quick enough. I was visited by the physio who would have me doing physio can't remember if I was able to talk by then or not but was told I would be moved to physio ward in a week. My mum told him I'd been asking when I'd be moved. At that time I knew it was a matter of being patient and waiting til things happened which has never been my strong point especially now, but at least I had an idea when I'd be moved. The next day I was told I was being moved to physio ward. Great the physio who had seen me day before had pushed for me to be moved early best news ever. Once I'd been moved the physio asked if I wanted to start physio that day well obviously I keenly accepted. Honestly to say I was impatient for everything to happen at once I knew it would take longer than I'd of liked. It took a matter of weeks which I've found out was very fast and honestly I could see improvements daily and weekly so wasn't too impatient.
Since leaving hospital first step and worst part was come to terms with loosing my dog and feel ready to get another. Had physio come out and do bits with me by now I was back on my feet getting about managing myself so wasn't as over keen for physio. Only had it about4 to 6 times then started getting transport to occupational. The main thing I wanted to know if I would manage is driving again so I had a mock theory test and few mental tests. Overall everything seemed fine. After getting home from one occupational I got in to find my mum had got me a pup. I knew I was getting ready to get another dog but had planned to pick one myself. Well this was best surprise ever and my nan who had paid for the pup for me was there. As it worked out that day turned out to be one of the best in my life made even more special with my nan being there as it sadly turned out to be one of last happy memories of her as she was diagnosed with cancer and had few month illness before passing away. I still have the dog she got me and he has helped me through both my recovery and losing my nan.
I was able to drive again so got a car and was driving fine. The DVLA then decided I had to have a assessment which was in an area I had never even been let alone driven and in a car I had never driven. I failed the assessment due to bad habits and not knowing the area. Now for the annoying and pointless part. I had to stop driving. Ok if I wasn't safe to drive I shouldn't but until the assessment I was allowed to drive. I was no less safe driving after the assessment than I was before. It really would make as much sense to allow a learner to drive solo before passing as to let someone drive before taking an assessment. I had a few lessons and passed assessment a few month later.
Since then I've been to a few headway meetings which seemed to get cancelled a lot due to not enough attending. I moved to a different area in July last year and found out about a man who had head injury a few month before me and has started a support group helping people with head injuries. I had appointment today and it sounds good. Very helpful as well as since my head injury my mum has noticed I walk flat footed like stomping but never known why. The woman we saw asked what I wore on my feet when doing physio. I answered trainers. She then explained when starting to learn to walk your attention was totally on getting one foot in front of the other in any way you could which normally meant stomping. With trainers on you can feel any pain from stomping like you would bare foot therefore she said when learning to walk you should be bare footed. It does make sense.
My main problem now is my short term memory and awareness are the main things that need improving. If someone told me to remember something for later then I would, its more the not knowing I need to remember things that I forget. Also I don't always spot people when out unless I'm looking for them. The woman also said a lot of people who have had brain injuries don't have mobiles. I was surprised to hear this I thought every one had a mobile. Does anyone here not have one after brain injury?
Driving again after a brain injury??
Deciding, family stress and head injury!!!
