New to this group

[Tom94]

Hi all I’m new to this group and thought I’d post to say hi, I suffered I severe brain injury in 2008, which caused me to collapse and had to relearn every thing again, it’s a continuous battle but I’m continuing to improve every day

[Marnie22]

Hi. Nice to meet you and welcome! 😊

[cat3]

Hi Leeds and welcome. It's a long haul isn't it, but good to hear you're still 'in there' and fighting ! I like your profile picture but don't know much about galaxies ; are you into astronomy ? Cat x

[Tom94 in reply to cat3]

No Cat, I’ll be honest I forgot to change my profile picture, and that must be the picture that was given by the website, silly me

[cat3 in reply to Tom94]

Ha ha ...ok well it was a talking point at least ! Hope to see your story in more detail - when you feel ready.... 😏x

[Tom94 in reply to cat3]

To be honest Cat I don’t remember any of the details about my brain injury fortunately, other than what I’ve been told my family, which was I collapsed in A&E, and had cerebal abscess on my brain which had to be removed, and I was originally told I would never move again but that was in 2008 and know im back doing most things, just have no memory of before the injury and some balance issues and bronchioecstasis which probably causes the most problems

[cat3 in reply to Tom94]

The memory loss is a 'normal' but infuriating issue ! It's an obvious effect when you think about it ; A brain can't register events or make memories when it's that poorly. For months afterwards I thought I'd stopped dreaming 'til I realised I just couldn't remember the dreams !

Once discharged, I pestered my family for details of the early weeks and I still cringe at stories of my bizarre behaviour and confabulation (stories we could laugh about once I was back in the real world).

Interesting you mention balance. Apart from the poor word recall my inability to walk confidently or in a straight line is the bane of my life ! So we're both seasoned 'Copers' by now (though that's no consolation on bad days is it).... Hope you're having more good than bad m'love 😏 x

[Tom94 in reply to cat3]

Yes I try stay as positive as possible that’s what keeps me striving to move forward and keep progressing, as for talking about the details of my brain injury with my parents, i don’t want to think about the past and don’t think it’s fair on my parents to ask them about specific details as they obviously by my hospital bed during the early days which was really tough for them

[cat3 in reply to Tom94]

I guess we're the other way around. I needed to fill in so may blanks whilst my son & daughter needed to offload their shock and emotions, and though they no longer lived with me we were still a close team and badly needed to 'debrief' as soon as I was compass mentis again.

After my 'absence' I needed to know what it had been like for them and we talked for weeks, catching up on every detail. They both admitted it was therapeutic talking & laughing with the mum they thought they'd lost.

So maybe it's different when the roles are reversed ; the patient being the parent and their loved ones younger ? We all have our own unique way of dealing with trauma don't we.

We mostly talk about the here & now on Headway so feel free to leave the past in the past..... hope to see you around. 🙂 x

[Tom94 in reply to cat3]

Ok well it was nice chatting with you

[cat3 in reply to Tom94]

You too Tom. See you again soon..... x

[textile163 in reply to cat3]

I found the confabulation issue hard. I went to a ‘specialist neurocare’ facility in Hampshire on discharge from hospital. They were AWFUL - didn’t know anything and we’re lazy for the most part. If I had a different opinion from theirs, they said I was confabulating. The word was a get out of jail free card for them. On discharge I was at a function and a lady strode over to me and she knew all about me - her daughter in law was an OT at that awful place and had spilled the beans. So much for patient confidentiality. Shocking.

[Jill777 in reply to textile163]

hi textile 163 so sorry to read about your experience in the hospital. I still have nightmares of my stay i hated every minute of it. It was freezing cold in there. i have lots to say about that episode it was dreadful. hope things have picked up for you now. im trying to improve my walking at the mo. the memory loss is on going. its a very frustrating recovery im finding. How are you doing ?

[Leaf100]

Hi Leeds,Welcome.

Just want to be sure you have found the link to Headway phone number, which is on your right under pinned posts.

I am glad you are still going for it, and still improving. It is a long marathon.

Nice to meet you.

Leaf

[sashaming1]

Welcome! Its good that you are improving.