Help and advice

[Braininjurysurvivor]

Hi I’m 34 and was in an accident in March 2019 I want to know if there is anyone here that has suffered acute subdural haemorrhage , extra-Dural haemorrhage multiple haemorrahagic contusions and midline shift fractured skull and had a crainiotomy my family were told I may not wake up and if I did I wouldn’t be able to talk or walk or do anything they are calling me a miracle I was put into an induced coma for 12 days and had a cranioplasty on the 1st may 2019 I need some advice and help please I’ve got so much anxiety about my head it’s really affecting my day to day life I’m convinced something isn’t right just want to message someone who is in a similar situation I had my last operation on the 1st may 2019 any help or advice would be greatly appreciated please

[claretand]

Hi, suffered my accident December 1st last year. My injuries included, left occipital condyle fracture, right occiput fracture, acute Subdural Heamatoma, cerebellar contrusions with associated oedema, multifocal traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage, effacement of the lateral ventricle and midline drift. It reads like a horror story, injuries resulted in a decompressive craniotomy, my cranioplasty was May this year. Anxiety following such a injury is common, with the extent of the injury you become more aware of the dangers around you, more aware of any minor head pain or slight niggle, pre-accident it would have been a quick aspirin and you wouldn't have given it a second thought, post accident it's panic stations, what if somethings gone wrong, anxiety goes through the roof. The truth is, with time the anxiety lessens, my husband is a great comfort as is my neurosurgeon. It may be worth talking to your consultant or a Headway nurse, both of them gave me great optimism, as did this site. It sounds like you had an horrific injury, take positivity in how far you have come and of what could have been.

[Braininjurysurvivor in reply to claretand]

You sound like you have been through an awful time😢 thank you so much for replying to me I’m doing amazingly physically they say I’m a miracle but mentally I’m struggling big time not in a good place at all.

Can you lay on the side of your cranioplasty? When I do I wake up in so much pain but they told me it was ok to lay on this side? I feel as thou my brain is so heavy and pushing on where they put my bone flap back and causing it to push out if that makes sense?

[claretand in reply to Braininjurysurvivor]

I understand but it is a difficult one to answer. I am able to lay on the side of my cranioplasty and to be honest I feel no pain and haven't had any since the operation. It is obviously of some concern to you and is affecting not only your daily life but also your recovery journey. If it was me I'd be contacting my consultant insisting on a scan, at the very least it will ease your fears and anxiety, don't let them fob you off, nobody knows your body like yourself. I wish I could help you further but I just don't know the answer.

[Braininjurysurvivor in reply to claretand]

Thanku again for helping my consultant is going to end up getting fed up of me but like you say it’s my body I know when something doesn’t feel right I’m going to call them today I demanded a CT scan in October and they did it everything looked healthy and fine but it definitely doesn’t feel right so I’m going to call them today thanku claretand