Worried

[colin650]

Hi, I had a head injury last summer. I’ve had concussion a few times, but this was worse. I passed out walking, came too in ambulance, covered in blood, and no memory at all, even my name. After a few hours perhaps memory and identity returned. I had some stitches by eye, x-ray and on my way after rest and observations. It was only about a month later I realised I had been incredibly exhausted after it, and lost several weeks or more of memory from before the fall. I’ve been going on, but lately felt like I’m not quite me. I can’t say how, but perhaps empathy. My wife feels it, and that I am distant. I’ve never been great with emotions, but I feel like I now don’t understand them. I utterly love my wife and children, I just feel now like I don’t feel like me. Working away hasn’t helped, but I just haven’t been me. My wife’s father passed away and she felt unsupported and we are drifting apart. The fall also unlocked deep memories from childhood, not a great one. I don’t know what to do, and I cannot process or understand this. I feel healthy, and I love my family, perform a hard and difficult job well, but I’m not quite me.

[Towards_Healing]

Sorry to hear that. Please do not live alone with these issues. I did for a long time, ad it did nothing for me more than create more fear and anxieties. See a neurologist who specializes in head injury. What you are describing is not unusual after a head trauma, however you can get help that will help you deal with these issues of not feeling like yourself. I have been through that and so are many others. There is recovery in your future. Please keep faith and see a doctor, or doctors, who can help you. Good luck. We are here for you.

[colin650 in reply to Towards_Healing]

Thank you, really appreciate the help

[iforget]

PLEASE go to see your Doctor and tell him what you have told us. You are not alone and what you describe is a common experience for many with a TBI. Please get checked out asap

[colin650 in reply to iforget]

Thank you

[colin650]

Thank you

[Bards]

Not all GPs are are aware of TBIs as we'd like, so if you aren't given a referral to a neurology specialist you might have to push for it.

To have the self-awareness to have posted here and want to get proactive shows an appreciation for impact on family many of us struggle with. You're a credit to them. Try to get them involved in any support you are offered - the awareness needs to work both ways.

B

[Daylight123]

I think you should tell your wife and work this through together, the more you talk is the better for your relationship as she is likely to be sensing that something as changed to.

[colin650 in reply to Daylight123]

Thanks, we had a big heart to heart last night, it helped us both. Thank you

[colin650]

Thanks for replying and your advice, I’ll follow it and much appreciated

[Jaec]

I am so sorry. I found gp s do not understand at all. The neurologists are good but very busy. The local Brain Injury Team will have counsellors, Neuro psychologists and support groups where you can talk to others in a similar situation.

But do start with your go and they will be happy to refer you on to someone better qualified.

Good luck

[Lizum]

In addition to the other great replies, your local branch of Headway might be able to provide counselling for you and your wife.

[colin650 in reply to Lizum]

Thanks, I’ll call them Monday. Really do appreciate the replies

[iforget]

Not all GPs are clueless so its worth trying them. Mine was an absolute star from start to end.

[colin650]

Thank you, really appreciate the advice

[lcd8]

Please can I ask if you had any sort of brain scan? Do you know what caused the fall or the bleeding, or where the blood came from?

[colin650 in reply to lcd8]

Hi, I never had a scan, just an x-ray. I’d been working long hours and it was a hot day, I just passed out and my head hit something. The blood was from my face and mainly eyelid, needed some stitches. I have concussion a fair few times, but this was something else altogether. I was exhausted for weeks but never realised it, now I feel like a part of me has been missing but is returning. Going to see GP tomorrow, try for a referral. Thanks for getting in touch.

[lcd8]

Ah, thanks a lot for your reply. I'm sure you are right and it is just a concussion. But theres never any harm in getting these things thoroughly checked. To be honest I'm surprised the hospital didn't offer you a CT scan to establish there was no other BI. Maybe I'm reading things into it which aren't there. But some of your symptoms just made me think about other types of brain injury. Best of luck tomorrow.

[colin650]

Thanks, much appreciated. Take care, Colin

[colin650]

Hi, I went to the GP and she was great. Believes it is a traumatic brain injury and is referring me to a specialist. Just waiting to see what that will be, but most likely a consultation and referral. See what happens next. Thanks.