Hinall

[Dazedwp]

Hey folks

Not been on here for ages. Been working through the effect of my BI and trying to come to terms with it. It’s now just more than a year after I had my cardiac arrest and the effects of BI is having its dirty ways in my life

I am going to my first headway support group locally in a few weeks. Be nice to talk to people that “gets” it. Tired of being told that I look fine - whilst I struggle day to day to just function

Any advice on exercise? I used to be an avid runner and miss going out for a run. When I try now I pay for it for days. I guess my inability to reign it in does not help. Seeing the London marathon today stings as i would love to be out there doing the same.

[kjharvey]

Qigong is an amazing practice. It's slow fluid movements help to increase blood flow and oxygen throughout your body, especially your brain, which helps bring clarity and increased cognitive ability. While it's not a cure all it sure helps.

[sca2013]

I too survived cardiac arrest with a brain injury (4 years ago). Exercise wise I've found the thing that seems to work well for me is mild effort Yoga. In other words I don't push it. When in doubt, I back off the effort.

I also get the "you look great". To which I sometimes respond "If I felt as good as I looked I would ______________ (fill in the blank with some ridiculous accomplishment)" Wishing you the best possible in your new life.

[Dazedwp in reply to sca2013]

Thanks for your reply. How are you feeling now? Is there a light at the be of the tunnel or is this life the way things will be ?

[sca2013 in reply to Dazedwp]

Overall I feel about 40% of what I used to be. Light of the end of the tunnel is figuring out compensating strategies to accomplish things in a different way and creating the new us. Honestly I've come to accept more of the new, I'll say the lesser me. Which makes it so I don't get so frustrated so much on many things. I still have plenty of times and situations where I miss the old me dearly and get plenty pissed off about it. I feel I've found many of my new limits and am learning not to push beyond those. A case in point - I find when I work more than 3-4 hours in a day I pay for it, by taking 2-3 days to recover. I find if I stay within good limits, take breaks, I can function pretty well for that limited time during the day. I avoid public places with crowds, noise and movement as much as possible. Eating out is a challenge, as I think the eating places are designed to create as much noise as possible. I take sun glasses and ear plugs with me everywhere and use them regularly. I also plan an escape strategy when I go to events, so I can get away when things get too much to handle.

I just started reading a book "

The Grief Recovery Handbook, 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses including Health" by James, John W., that talks about how unresolved grief from losses - like brain injury (the loss of our old selves as we once were) can create all kinds of problems. They also have a specific process in the book that takes one through how to resolve it. I am hopeful that will add to my quality of life.

[Dazedwp in reply to sca2013]

Thanks again for your reply. I guess that’s my biggest fear is not going back to a semblance of being “normal “. Like you I’m not sure I like the new me and it is causing havoc in my family life

I guess I keep on hoping to find some way of getting back to the old me - just not sure if I’m bluffing myself or not

[sca2013 in reply to Dazedwp]

Yes, I looked for that magic bullet all the time for the first 3 years or so. I've come to accept the newer me more now, even though I hate having to do that. Don't get me wrong, I still, from time to time continue seeking the magic bullet to get back to normal, whatever I think that is. Haha

[randomphantoms]

Hi

I have been reading the replies and just want to add a thought that helps me .

As a human being we are constantly changing so________even without the brain injury you would be a different person now. You are just not the one you expected to be.

There is no going back to who we were.

Now it is about finding ways around things, doing things differently and learning to take pride in what we can do.

Hope this helps.xx

[rubyking27]

Yes your more than likely dealing with fatigue it always catches up with me a few days later! A good theory... people with a tbi/bi have 4 spoons rather than a ‘normal ‘ person with as many spoons as they like... we have to mange these spoons other wise could be too much for our body make us ill! And we don’t want that! So Iv just got myself a diary and just weirdly writing my week plan makes me more aware of the energy used so I can say no to certain things if Iv used all my spoons! Good luck x