Shows how BI isn’t noticeable.

[keeley24]

Been going to this BI group from May great getting to know people, but makes me realise how hard it must be for people without it to understand how it effects people. The man who set group up had BI 5 and half years back and is very open about what he’s been through and how it effected him and still does. I’ve known him 6 month and only just now spotting how he still struggles with BI. He has always said memory and concentration.

I expected driving and talking would be something he struggled with, but he’s fine with that. Overall to see him you wouldn’t know he had BI. It’s only last few week I’ve noticed him struggle with stuff like concentration and doing more. First time was few week ago we all had a form to fill out about how BI effects us and he had to go into room alone cos he couldn’t concentrate with people talking. Next was today he had agreed to do some fitness training with me and was 45minutes late. I was obviously getting fed up of waiting and said finally when he got there. He is normally happy and willing to have a joke, but he just said don’t. That’s not like him at all so I just left it. While I was on exercise bike someone came in on about going to an allotment we were going to next. He did seem to manage ok here but said he was struggling watching me and talking to the woman. He did later mention it and just said he just wanted to get on with my training but had to talk to a woman who wanted to know about his BI so was feeling under pressure. Later on I asked him to see if he could find me on a running app and he said he had a lot on his mind so would later or more likely next week when I remind him.

[steve55]

keeley24 i had my brain injury 51/2 years ago ( the result of a stroke ), ive been reading the same page of a book for almost the same period of time.

noise is like like surround sound, it goes in one ear and scrambles around your brain, if you dont get out of that situation something will happen, in my case, although im on good boy boy tablets, something violent.

my wife has a sticker on the back of her car........... disability isnt always visible.

[paxo05]

Hi Keele.

I know how your friend feels. I to appear fit and well. I will admit I try to hide my problems to fit in. I do this for me and no one else.

The problem with this is when I struggle it is obvious and can be a shock to people.

I struggle when concentrating on reading so can be easily distracted. It's strange but driving is no problem.

As I have said people look at me in a sort of disbelief when I mention I have a bi. As apart from a limp I appear fit and well.

Although the same people will then remind me that I have already told them something several times....yet they say I seem to be ok.

I must admit prior to my bi I had no knowledge of bi so I cannot blame them.

Pax

[keeley24]

I guess even tho I have had BI I can understand how people without it feel.

On Wednesdays the BI group go to an allotment depending on weather. If the man is on his own doing allotment he never remembers to let people know if it’s cancelled due to weather. I don’t live in same place as allotment is so could be different weather where I am. Once a few month back man was on his own doing allotment. Weather was dull so chance of it being cancelled. I text the man to check if it was still on. I didn’t get a reply until I was already on train on way there. Luckily it wasn’t cancelled if it had been I would of been quite annoyed, having spent £8 to get there and 45 minute train ride. Luckily most weeks the woman who works there lets everyone know and now my personal training is going to be before allotment and won’t be cancelled in rain (not too sure I’ll be keen on this) but will prevent me going for nothing.

Other week I was talking to him about him not answering texts. This led to him explaining how his mind works. If he reads message when doing something else he doesn’t remember what message was. Would of been easy to end up arguing as it doesn’t take long to type quick reply but his mind doesn’t work that way when I asked why he doesn’t reply when he reads message. Think he could tell I couldn’t understand his side as he pointed out that he’s had BI which he knows I already knew.

[Davebe]

I know that I've got 2 BIs for certain, but collapsed quite a few times this year and after an MRI scan a couple of months ago a 3rd one was found. Too right they must be invisible. Dave