Hi my name's Caroline and I live in west Yorkshire. Ten years ago I was out shipping and I walked past a high street shop which sells smellies. As I got past I sneezed and was unable to see. The pain was so bad I hit the floor, somehow I dragged myself up, I just knew something was wrong. Somehow I got myself to the LGI hospital. Collapsing in the doorway I came round a little while later in a cubicle. They kept asking what drink and drugs I had had as it was the Leeds festival. I hadn't but they kept asking me. After an hour or so I was given some cocodamol, it didn't do anything. After 3 hours in a+e my speach went, I was trying to tell to my Dad on the phone what had happened and I was talking about elephants! At this time they decided to send me to St James hospital to see an eye specialist. She saw me after a short time and said I probably just had a migraine (it wasn't as I've suffered with them since I was 12) anyway I was sent home and told I'd feel better soon, if only. The pain just got worse and I couldn't function. After many trips to my gp he refered me for scans. I was told the scans were ok but I was still so ill. I was on oramorph and tramadol and still screaming and crying in pain. Around a month after the scams I got a call to say there was something on the scan and would like to see me in person. I didn't know what to expect apart from the worst, I thought my time was up. The consultant told me I had 2 small brain aneurysms, he then told me that they try not to operate unless the aneurysms bursts. I would be treated with medication. He was and still is convinced that aneurysms don't cause pain. I was going for scans every 6 months and with every scan another aneurysm appeared. After 3 years of begging the consultant said he would do elective surgery. At this point I had 6 aneurysms and had lost my home and my job because I was so ill and I couldn't look after myself. On the morning of surgery the consultant stated again that he didn't think the stent would help in any way with the pain. I was willing to do anything to have even just one day of no pain. I woke up pain free and never needed the oramorph or tramadol again. So 7 years on I'm doing ok health wise just finding it hard that I'm not the person I was going in to surgery. A shadow of my former self, a milder version. Does anyone else feel their brain injury changed you as a person?
How my head trouble started: Hi my name's Caroline... - Headway
How my head trouble started
I think it changes everyone. Even if there are no physical changes, I think having had such a traumatic thing happening, makes people more aware of their mortality. It changes peoples outlook on life.
Hi Caroline my life has changed so much it’s just a major problem no one to talk to about them
What a shocking story Caroline. Being ill and not being taken seriously is such a lonely feeling ; I'm sorry you were forced to wait so long for treatment.
My aneurism ruptured, so diagnosis was fairly straightforward and treatment swift, but life afterwards is very different, fatigue being a major issue besides the other after-effects.
You'll never be accused of laziness here as we all have pretty much the same struggle. This is a safe place for a little respite, away from folk who just can't grasp those struggles.
Hope to see you around m'dear. Cat x
Wow thank you for such a wonderful reply. You've made me smile, much needed. Sorry you had to go through a rupture. I look forward to meeting new people who understand what I'm talking about xx
Hi Caroline. I hope this talks to you. More on my website braindamagedbaron.com/
Hi Andy, I've just visited your website, lovely moggy and that looks like Germany on the buildings? I was there in 1980, love your humour mate. Any rooms to let in your 'gaff'.
Leipzig, 1994. I was working there when I had my accident. Very observant of you 
No rooms to let until we've got shot of at least one child
I was alluding to your youtube front garden, house in the background sketch, thought it may be your builders humour, but have to admit I'm not certain.
Ah, the Baronial mansion, I'm with you now. That's our weekend bolthole
I'm chuckling away mate, would love to have a cuppa with you in the ol' tea shack at 10am.
That should be fruhstuck at 9am
Kitten77 I had my tbi in 1998 and yes it has changed me completely physically. I cannot balance. Mentally it has also changed me as I have lost a lot of my memory pre accident. Things like getting married and giving birth to my daughter. Now I can be told something and I forget it often. I cope by writing things down. This help with my memory. I have to use a wheelchair when I go out. I find the site very useful knowing that there are other people with my problems.
Best wishes
Mufc
Hi kitten77, reading your story fills me with great sadness for u. Brain injuries will of course change people but in many different ways, some old characteristics still show through with me along with new impatient, low empathy ways . I find the new characteristics rear thier head more negatively when tired or stressed.
One guy in rehabilitation who was involved in car accident thought he was German and refused to speak in English, despite numerous efforts telling him.
It come to a point where they had to get an interpreter.
The brain is a two pound universe and know one knows the full depth of its understanding
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