Our journey so far

[Vikkif1982]

Hello I’m new to this site and I’m looking for a little support/ advice reassurance.

He’s our story so far

Mu husband left for work on the 5th October 2017 ( 4 weeks to the day). I had a call that he had been involved in a fall from a roof (that’s his occupation) he was found unconscious but then regained consciousness whilst the ambulance was coming. He was taken to hospital where he was put in a reduced coma! This lasted for 10 days. For the first 5 days he was constantly sleeping but when woken he would responding to commends such as open your eyes, thumbs up, turn on your side.Since then he has been moved onto a neurology ward! The first week he was just sleeping and when he woke he wasn’t making much sense just asking for a drink! He didn’t know who I was when I asked him and was only able to remember 3 of his 5 children! Another week down the line and he is asking where I am! Even though I was only there yesterday. He can tell the nurses his name date of birth but can’t remember where he is or why he’s there. Yesterday he was in his bed telling the nurses where to position the tv in the room so it was safe from a patient that was trying to kick it over. The nurse said they left it where he had said because it was a good decision! Also a fan was knocked over and broken! My husband was giving instructions on how to fix the fan! The nurse was impressed. Although when I go he shows no emotion to me like he used to! I know this sounds very selfish but my husband as always been a very loving man.

Thanks for reading

[Hidden]

Vikki, everything you are telling us is completely normal after a brain injury. His brain is healing itself but it will take a long time. I suggest you phone Headway and have a long chat with them and ask them any questions you have. There is also plenty of literature available from them telling you what you can expect in the weeks to come.

Good luck.

[Kirk5w7]

Hi Vikki,

4 weeks is a very short time in brain injury, this is hard to hear but it is true. As Jan says your husbands brain is still trying to make sense of what has happened.

Unfortunately brain injury can lead to changes in personality it depends on just where the injury has occurred. Do as Jan says and contact Headeay on their helpline, you will get good advice from them too.

Come back here for support as often as you need, we can only recount our survival stories but there are many areas we all experience the same.

Take care

Janet xx

[Vikkif1982]

Thank you for your advice and comments it really does mean a lot! I’m trying my best to hold it together but it’s pretty hard xxx

[Vikkif1982]

He’s not going to be home for Christmas thou is he, he loved thins tme

[cat3]

Vikki, though my daughter, son and I have always been extremely close, up to a month after my brain haemorrhage I was identifying my daughter as a neighbour and addressing her by that neighbour's name, thanking her profusely each time for her kindness in visiting.

My daughter was distressed, (a) fearing it might be a permanent state of delusion and (b) being unable to engage with her poorly mum. It wasn't 'til months later that she told me of this and it upset me dreadfully.

But my first recollections were of the 6 or 7 week stage of hospitalisation so I knew nothing of those early days. I assumed I must have been unconscious, which apparently wasn't the case.

I too missed Christmas that year, which I know was doubly difficult for my family. Just shows my lack of awareness though ; my son brought me a turkey and stuffing sandwich which I apparently devoured yet had absolutely no memory of afterwards.

Give your man more time to heal Vikki. I hope that one day in the not too distant future you'll laugh about this strange episode, as we still do occasionally about many, many of my strange behaviours !

We're always here to listen m'dear.........

I wish better days ahead for you and your man. Cat x

[Nix111]

Hi, firstly I'm sorry that you are here and going through this, as others have said call Headway, they are an incredible resource.

If it helps your husband seems to be in a good place just 4 weeks in. My husband suffered a brain injury after a heart attack in July and we are nowhere near where you are at, he recognises no one except me and is suffering PTA, has no idea where he is, what's going on and is hugely agitated.

It is incredibly tough to understand and see the one you love this way. Give him time and hopefully that loving men will return but importantly give yourself time, he needs you string further down the line.

We are all hear if you need to talk

Nicky