Confused - Hypoxic Brain Injury

[IanAG]

Haven’t written for a while so this is a kind of update.

Thought I’d had an hypoxic brain injury over a year ago following a suicide attempt using carbon monoxide poisoning. Have had all sorts of symptoms - fatigue, headaches, difficulty concentrating, irregular bowel movements, visual disturbances, muscular spasms - since the attempt.

Finally got to see a neurologist in April, and was sent for an MRI scan. Just got results back and letter says that there is “no significant inter cranial abnormality” and that I will be asked to attend another clinic (my appointment is in February next year, but that’s another issue) to discuss ongoing management.

My wife has taken this as saying that I’m okay, and that I can now relax a little because I haven’t done any permanent damage to the structure of my brain. I do so want to hang onto that hope, but I’m finding it difficult given how I feel from day to day. I just hope she doesn’t start to believe that it’s all in my head.

Any experience you can share would be welcome.

Thanks,

Ian

[deborah27]

Hi ian, will chat with you at length about carbon monoxide poisoning any time. The one thing is that you must not think that all damage shows up on mri. All the information, including Headway fact-sheets say this. The important thing is to focus on what you have to deal with on a day to day basis and how best to get support. Dr Steven white has written extensively about co- poisoning and for Headway. Some interesting stuff on-line.

[Mickdondan in reply to deborah27]

When people do attend A&E they think once it’s flushed out of their systems they are fine but it’s not always the case

[deborah27 in reply to Mickdondan]

Yep, really much more complex than that.