Traumatic brain damage

[Donkey32]

3 years post trauma get headaches,fullness, dizzy spells,bad dreams

[New_beginning]

Welcome Donkey32. Just starting my husbands journey 6.5mths with TBI. Really knowledgable and insight forum from others along with guidance on topics.

Not much advice I can give at our early stage, but just wanted to say hello.

[Donkey32 in reply to New_beginning]

Thanks for contact. I am 3 yrs post trauma and experiencing problems with symptoms described and get quite depressed sitting staring at wall eating analgesics hoping fo relief almost daily

[pinkvision in reply to Donkey32]

Hi why don't you explain your injury and symptoms and your experiences a little more. People may recognise a similar experience and may be able to share important advice etc.

[Donkey32 in reply to pinkvision]

Thanks for repl . I find it difficult as then it can be foremost in my mind and create unwanted symptoms that I am trying to fight at advice of friends.

It started in May 2018 when I was out in a field driving a horse and carriage training for competition which I have done for many years. Somthing happened and I was found on the ground out of it. Taken to hospital to neurology put into intensive care where I was for10 days slowly coming back to the world then moved to other ward which I was in for a month or so. Discharged and home and bumpy ride since then . Variable days of headaches, dizzyness, fullness of head , depressions, nervous with a fear of where it's going. Some days fine and others symptoms nowadays. I find it difficult to fight it as I have been told by family etc . I say when you go out the head comes with you and difficulty to put to one side unlike a sore leg. Try to engage in other things but difficult. Talking helps but there's a limit to what others can take. I have visit from support lady and that's nice at the time but again it's up to me. Also get nervous stomach . At times I awaken early and think depressively which leads to bad days taking paracetamol and ibuprofen to hopefully improve. Daily now start with worry of how I'll be and that sets the pattern of day. Evening usually better poss due to day ending and going to go and sleep so it's all gone away . This is the first time I have written this rambling rubbishcausing some nerves

Regards alasdair

[pinkvision in reply to Donkey32]

It's not rubbish, it's real, just like everyone's on this site. The symptoms you have are very different to my experiences. It depends on the site of damage. What do you mean by fulness of head, is that full of thoughts, or as if things are welling up and not coming through or do you mean in a physical sense, a pressure etc. With the depression and 'nervous with fear' have you tried any MBCT, mindfulness based cognitive therapy. It's something you have to work on so if you can't commit to spending the time then it will be of no use. what this also may do is give you something to do during the day, something to focus on rather than worry about the day and how everything unfolds. It may be a really positive step to deal with the depression, worry while occupying your mind. I highly rate it, it was part of my recovery which has worked amazingly well and now I'm basically normal again except for a few sensory processing issues. If I had not have tried I would have never got onto the right track. I would suggest giving it a go and commit your time and energy on it. Don't expect an instant result it takes time, it's frustrating and a lot of the time you may have thought that you can't be bothered. But that's the point, beating these thoughts and becoming positive and then your mind will widen rather than fixate on things. It is doing the practice itself that is the step to take and commit and fight and focus. You will notice your mind altering and positive neural pathways will build and extend into other aspects of your life. Make sure the provider/teacher is fully trained to at least MSc level. The best providers would have studied at Oxford uni or Bangor uni. Good luck, may be write a few more post and poor your heart out on here, we've all done it, no need to edit, rant and rave, it all goes and by doing it it will help to clear some of your backlog of thoughts and help you move to the next phase.

[Donkey32 in reply to pinkvision]

Thanks for all that. Terrible day today starting with negative thoughts about many things which were rubbish. Went on to headache ,tinnitus high and vvvvv loud , sitting with upset And grumbling stomach .took paracetamol and ibuprofen with little change so far .tried directing myself out but no change. Talked but wife nearly demented with this. If the head signs could be nullified I could be more at ease. Phoned doc but shut today. Talked to friend ...same words from me again. Never heard of MBCT. Told neurologist consult would be of little use by my pcychotherapist daughter in law.. going uot now to attempt clear

[pinkvision in reply to Donkey32]

You got a lot on your plate, it would make my head spin on top of the brain injury. The gastric issues can be sorted. Stop taking ibuprofen immediately, it's a gastric irritant, the paracetamol are ok for now but go to the chemist and buy omeprazole, no prescription required. They sell them in 10mg doses, take 20mg. Make an appointment with your GP to get a prescription for more, see if you can go onto 40mg if required and get a referral to see the gut specialist. They will investigate the gut issues. I had similar gut issues, got the referral went and had a scan and got skewered, cameras in both ends. Problem found, treatment was omeprazole and total change of diet. Camera options are best because they can see what the problems are and also take samples for certain bugs. If its another physical issue they can identify that too. With the covid it could take a bit of time so get on the list. Better still pay for a consultancy with the specialist and get him to put you on the NHS list or better again pay for the procedures.

Next the tinnitus, while you are at the GP ask for a referral to the ENT clinic to get your ears checked. Do you get sore or painful jaws at the joints? It could be a vestibular issue. Get these things checked out. A really good phyio could help a little with that in the meantime. They will need to be good, not just any physio.

Sounds as if you are in a pressurised situation on the home front, these things are hard on everyone. BUT it's you that are suffering and if you can try and address some of the issues you have then you will remain the same. That's no good for anyone. As for the MBCT or even MBSR you won't know if it will help unless you try. I tried everything on the cards from the wacky and weird to the more traditional 'recognised' treatments. If you went to a GP in my area with depression or stress they would prescribe a course of MBCT or MBSR and a commitment to practice for a further few months.

At the end of the day you've got to sit down and think about your issues and come to a decision to grasp the initiative and go get them solved. The health system has been underfunded for decades and it's hard to get a decent level of care and treatment. It's not the doctors and nurses fault, some are quite apathetic and some pretty dumb, but on the whole they would like to help but are constrained by financial issues. They don't tell you that as they wave you out the door with another pathetic excuse. You have to really grasp the situation for yourself and your families wellbeing. Only think what can be done and leave no room for what can't be done.

Think about it, if the stomach issue is found it can be solved and will tick that box and you don't have to carry it around with you anymore. The same goes for the tinnitus and then the stress will start to reduce and if you are practicing the MBSR or MBCT then that will help too. Chip away at these things, a little here and a little there and before you know it a whole chunk of crap has fallen away and life has taken it's place. Attitude and commitment, it can be done.

[Donkey32 in reply to pinkvision]

Thanks vv much for that. I'll study and absorb. Will be speaking to doc tomorrow to let him know how low we have got

[pinkvision in reply to Donkey32]

Good I'm glad, it needs to be taken seriously. If you have any issues get back to me. I've had a bit of a history with the medical process and now know how to deal with it. I've just had a little look at what I wrote and realised I forgot to mention getting a neuropsychology assessment (probably the most important thing), with your moods and depression and the 'blockage' you mentioned it could be worth while. Good luck and stay upbeat, let us know how you get on.

[Donkey32 in reply to pinkvision]

Spoke doc and still on citalopram but to reduce and prob change(why do I get depression when drug is anti?)

Also again said that it is up to me to fight it as I am physically fit and I am letting it happen.Went out this am and after a while a headache started withoutMy thoughts. Got thru by talking and have had a fair day. Now onto O2 machine and now just completed 3rdsassion. Until corona had been going to MS hyperbaric centre for O2 chamber sessions 1hour once per week and was told by several that I had improved . But nothing since so trying O2 machine until I can get back to ms centre

[pinkvision in reply to Donkey32]

You are answering your own question in a way, about depression. If anti depressants don't stop your depression then maybe it's not depression at all. Instead it could be a combination of your brain injury symptoms. Your doctor is blaming you for your condition, 'you are letting this happen to yourself'. Instead it means, I think, that he does not have enough knowledge about brain injury or depression. The symptoms look the same but have different causes. Depression is a psychological depletion of energy via brain chemistry. Where the sensory and cognitive processing damage of a brain injury cause cognitive and physical fatigue. These are basically identical in your doctors eyes. Then of course you can have both of them at the same time. If you have been on antidepressants and you are 'still depressed' then maybe look to the effects of the brain injury symptoms and how to solve the issue.

Think of it all as a combination of factors, sensory processing, cognitive processing and body regulation. You need to identify each one and treat each one individually. In the states this would be very expensive without med cover. However there is free or affordable help if you know where to find it. You may want to checkout this amazing lady, a journalist who had a TBI, recovered and now dedicates her life to helping others. The way BI is viewed and treated in the UK and States is very different. The States is about 3 decades ahead of the UK in it's thinking but it all depends on how much money you have to spend in the US. The UK is stuck in the dark ages with a population programmed to believe in the system where health is concerned. The health system however has been underfunded and stripped bare of services and expertise and education for the last 3 decades.

You mention Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, I'm laughing now, thinking of the reaction of most Brits hearing about it, imagining it and being horrified at the thought of it. Hahaha, dear me. I can hear the thoughts, ' but the NHS don't have it, so how can it be real and work, it's hocus pocus mumbo jumbo'. Hahaha dear me it's so funny. Most people don't realise the NHS is like old mother hubbard's cupboard.

So for State side reliable free info check out Amy Zellmer. She's got a youtube channel too.

amyzellmer.net/

[Newtonpovey]

I know just what you mean and the dreams/trauma won’t go away but I’m an old flintstone type of guy and get up every morning and keep on trying

[Donkey32 in reply to Newtonpovey]

Thanks for that

[New_beginning in reply to Donkey32]

Your reaching out for medical advice and reaching out to this group . I totally get why you might not see improvement in mood, but actually typing on here and reaching out to different people but common ground, you are moving forward. I agree with Pinkvision, BI can influence the mood. And were only at the early stage of TBI but we know we have to work with it, not against its . Anti depressants with TBI or not doesnt always work and it only reduces the mood slightly, to make each day manageable.

But following this, I also think youve got into a habitual behaviour and its becoming the norm your also doing same pattern each day giving false hope on how mood should be probably high expectation which then naturally gives that feeling, everything gone to pot.

Write down your normal day, then write down what you want to do (could be just one change, like change one of your usual meals, , but have visual paper to stick to your guide. You need a change that fits and not emotion related.

Dont be too hard on yourself, your reaching out and delivering your thoughts and feelings, that is a huge step hard for anyone.