feeling low

[kidgomes]

Hi all! This is my first post here... 3 1/2 months ago my partner suffered a cardiac arrest by electrocution due to a workplace accident and now has an anoxic brain injury. He was and induced coma for about a week and slowly got off sedatives within another week following. fast forward to today. He walks, talks, eats and does pretty much everything on his own with supervision and needs a lot of signaling to do these things. His common sense also seems to be very strong. my difficulty is his short term memory.. it has improved within the last 3 months.. because he would only hold on to 5 mins of memory where now its 1 or 2 hours. He also hallucinates a lot and is confused sometimes as in he still thinks hes in highschool when hes a 26 year old male. His long term memory is amazing so he recognizes faces and places very well. Its more his short term memory, fatigue, and hallucinations that overwhelm me so much. I feel like 3 months is such little time in this brain injury process but it feels like a lifetime right now and time is going by so slow. I know everyone is different... but I just need some comfort right now.. because there isn't a day where i don't cry myself to sleep. Hes currently in a rehab center however is getting discharged in 2 weeks to come home and start day therapy about 7 hours/day 5 days/week

[cat3]

Hi Kidgomes and welcome. Short term memory loss is universally recognised as a common after-effect of brain injury...….whatever the cause. It's an issue which can be massively frustrating for the person themselves and distressing for loved ones.

Our brain is who we are and, being a complex, delicate organ, it's not surprising that damage to it changes our behaviour. But it's more often then not a temporary issue where memory is concerned. Your partner has progressed amazingly in such a short time which is a promising sign of more progress to come.

He's young (big advantage for recovery) and has made great strides in 3 & 1/2 months. But progress is usually a long, long business taking many months or perhaps years. It's less a matter of healing and more of recalibrating & rewiring which can't be speeded up but needs patience and time.....

Don't be disheartened m'love ; there are many folk here on Headway who've survived life-threatening injuries, either acquired or traumatic, and struggled with a raft of issues only to come through to a decent quality of life. What we can't fix we work on or manage.

My short term memory was abysmal for a couple of years after a haemorrhage, but gradually, with memory exercises and repeatedly playing online games, crosswords etc., it's improved to the point where I can hold an intelligent conversation......something I'd previously thought was lost to me forever.

It was only looking back that I could see (what my doctor describes as) the amazing progress I've made.

Take care, and please keep us updated on your partner's progress...… Best wishes, Cat x

[kidgomes in reply to cat3]

Hi cat, I love reading your comments to other people’s posts and I’m glad you have found your way to mine I’m so glad and proud of the progress he’s made in such a short period of them and yes age is definitely on his side, I will hopefully too look back on this one dayand look at how far he’s come. My biggest wish is for him to live a mostly normal and happy life again!

I will keep you posted on his progress as well, best wishes

[cat3 in reply to kidgomes]

Thanks for reply m'dear.

Just spotted this new thread since talking to you ; great examples of hope over adversity ? :-

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Look for heading 'Astonishing improvement after almost 3 years'

BobinTewks•

4 hours ago•1 Reply

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Cat x

[WinB in reply to kidgomes]

My short term is awful also but getting a little better I think although hubby doesn't think so xx But it is takes us a while. First meet up with family I couldn't remember nieces names now I can phew !! As bridesmaids 49 years ago xxxx

[14th in reply to cat3]

Hi to you all. My daughter had aRTA and ABI and her short term memory is really bad. What apps would you recommend to help her please

[cat3 in reply to 14th]

Hi 14th. I didn't use any of the 'official' apps...…..just found stuff online which appealed to me personally. But there are loads of memory boosting aids & games out there via Google. I started out with basic word-searches, crosswords and jigsaws.

There's a great site for jigsaws, with puzzles starting at 20 pieces upwards and with a range of cuts and thousands of themes. It's called 'TheJigawPuzzles.com'

For card games (I still play Solitaire to try beating my time-score, but it can be played at a leisurely speed and saved if unfinished) The best site for that (all levels of ability) is :-

worldofsolitaire.com/

If you Google 'Memory games' there are an infinite number, but my brain found most of them glaring and overwhelming in the early days, and still does ! It's a personal thing I guess. I found repetition to be a useful tool for instilling information, such as repeatedly reciting the same poem and singing along with songs.

….so nothing sophisticated in my case. I still use a whiteboard for reminders but I'm seriously considering getting an 'Alexa' device (will need some serious tutoring) for programming appointments and other reminders.

I'm easily pleased. I can while away a few hours on a rainy day by taking a longish word and finding words within it. But I'm convinced my memory has vastly improved by practising these methods.

I'm unsure of your daughter's capabilities, but baking simple cakes (maybe with help & supervision) can be distracting …….and rewarding too ! Same with manual jigsaws & adult colouring books.

Ooops….went into essay mode again ! Best wishes, Cat x

[14th in reply to cat3]

So helpful Cat 3. My daughter has an Alexa and it is great

[Lynd]

Hello

My Husband has the same brain injury as yours. He had a cardiac arrest in August 18.

I was interested to read that your husband is hallucinating. I think he has post traumatic Amnesia, Many people have this. For several weeks my husband thought he was at work, on the Isle of wight to mention just a few. Also he insisted his Father and brother had been visting. They passed away several years ago. This period will pass. Headway do a very good leaflet on this condition. You can download it from their website.

Short term memory is still an issue but over time you will get used to this and adapt.

It is hard to come to terms with these massive changes but you will find you will start to live again so take heart. One day at a time.

[kidgomes in reply to Lynd]

Hi Lynd, and thank you for your kind words! I did mention this to his doctor as I’ve done a bunch of research on PTA and he matches a lot of the symptoms, however she said that is only for patients with TBI.. I mentioned that he does have a lot of those symptoms and her reply was that anything is possible. The hallucinations have calmed down a little bit more than before so I’m really hoping the go away completely soon.

[Lynd in reply to kidgomes]

In my experience they have all gone so I think you have every reason to be hopeful.

You are going through the worst period now but you haven't lost him completely. You will have Happy times again.

Stay in touch and let us know how things progress x

[Hidden]

Hi there

I had to reply because I could have written your post , how your feeling is exactly how I’m feeling, my husband had a brain bleed then stroke on the 16th Oct this year it’s feels like a life time ago, again like your husband mine at moment in rehab due to be discharged in a couple of weeks to continue with his rehab programme at home . If you would like my contact details so I’m easy to get hold off anytime your overwhelmed or just need a shoulder I’m happy to give you them. I so know how your feeling bless you .

Maxine

[WinB]

She will have problems but as time goes on you wont see much improvement in a week but look back a month or so and see if she is doing better ..Remember don't give up. It is a ;ong haul but we will get there .,..My Hubs took me for a coffee, Iwas told and I drank out of a baby beaker lol then half filled carboard cup... now a full normal cuppa xxxx Sing songs she liked as a kid to remind her and keep her brain ticking over ..I do games on here xxxxx