Hello,

[Jowood29]

Hello, I am Joanne, I had a craniotomy June 2016. I was an interpreter for deaf children in schools, had a seizure at work, was rushed to hospital to be told I had a mass on my brain and needed emergency surgery. It turned out to be a massive brain tumour. I lost my speech . It will be 6 years this year, it’s been difficult. I have sensory overload and executive dysfunction brain injuries. I was medically retired at 45. I’ve worked hard to gain my speech and mobility back, and can drive again after 4 years. I still have those days when this overwhelms me and I miss my old me. Acceptance of this dysfunctional me is an ongoing battle. I am still being monitored for the remaining brain tumour. I try to be positive and look to the possibilities I still can have in my life. No one really knows how lonely it can be with our brains, I think we are remarkable people.

[cat3]

Hi Jo, and welcome to the forum. 🙂 I look in here each day to connect with others who know exactly what it's like living with a brain injury. No matter how patient & understanding family & friends are, it's only folk that inhabit 'our world' who get how it truly feels.

Good to meet you m'love and hope to see more of you...

Cat x

p.s. great photo !

[Jowood29 in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat, good to meet you. X

[Pairofboots]

Hi Jo, you beat me by a year to retire, not that there are any medals. Welcome to the forum. It is a friendly place. 🍀

[Alibongo60]

Hi jo, welcome to our forum where we will support and lift you up, and praise and gain support from your achievements, like cat3 we share our life to Salford royal so we have that in common and we all have battled very challenging conditions and survived, so keep fighting jo pop on here when you need anything and we will do our best to help our fellow survivors love Alice xx

[Jowood29 in reply to Alibongo60]

Thanks, that’s good to know. Been having a bit of a ‘wobble’ lately. You come so far and that’s great, but this feeling of that’s the best you’re going to get, impacts me still. No one understands how hard work it is just to do daily tasks. Thanks for your support.

[Alibongo60]

There’s no saying that’s as good as it’s going to get, there’s always room for small improvements, you’ve come so far,so every plus is a bonus. It is very hard work just doing small daily tasks,people don’t understand, I had covid couple of weeks ago which put my brain injury back to square one, and now I have to slowly get back to where I was before, don’t think it’s in our nature to just give up. Keep fighting Jo, every day is a bonus, take care love Alice xx

[Jowood29 in reply to Alibongo60]

Sorry to hear you’ve had Covid, and it’s set you back. Get lost of rest, I’m sure our poorly brains need a lot more TLC to recover from other illnesses, rest is like medicine for us. Although it frustrates me at times, fatigue hits and there’s no choice but to stop and rest. I can caught up and push myself for a little bit more, then more, it’s learning to be kind to ourselves and take that rest time. Look after yourself, I hope you soon start to feel more energy and feel better. Thanks for your reply, you’ve really encouraged me, jo

[Rob-]

My friend had a craniotomy in 2014, hope everything is ok now

[Jowood29 in reply to Rob-]

I’m doing much better thanks Rob, still adjusting to life with a brain injury. How’s your friend doing?