concussion

[Jumpingjack15]

Hi

I had concussion for 5/6 weeks turned out to be a slow bleed and a coma

Please check out

Regards Les

[cat3]

Hi Les. When did this happen ....and how are things now ? Cat x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat 2013 ,coma for a week,cranioptomy loss of speech ,mobility,memory,saxophone ,.vocals in my band,so lost band!

So about 95% there,still have blips,when tired speech is a bit garbled,sometimes struggle with round a bouts and getting lost on roads l have driven for years!! Lesx

[cat3 in reply to Jumpingjack15]

Your brain injury was the year before mine Les (2012). Have you had access to any form of aftercare in the past 10years ?

I had referrals to various other specialists who all agreed that acceptance of, and adaption to, a different lifestyle is the only option after brain injury.

I miss my old life but I've learned that mourning the past only casts a shadow over the here and now. So I function according to my 'new' limits, meaning I still achieve goals but stuff which once took a day now takes 2 or3.

Of course exceeding my limitations always has repercussions but, when it's exhaustion with an identifiable cause, it just allows me a period of rest knowing I've achieved what I set out to do.

My worst issues are poor short term memory and mobility. I used to walk miles, up in the Peak District ; now a mile to the shops & back is really hard work .......mainly from concentration needed for balance.

How do you think you've dealt over the years with the 'new version' of yourself. Life without the band is surely irreplaceable and must've been gut wrenching, so what helps you cope nowadays ?

Cat..x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Evening Cat,trust all good

I must admit my time at the Radcliffe was next to none.But aftercare was pretty poor and paid for therapy.l am still in touch with the Neurosurgeon which has been a bonus for advice.

My short term memory sometimes is a bit naff and wonder if this is like Alzheimer’s!

The most helpful thing l found was learning the guitar,this was 10 years ago seemed to exercise the brain and mobility.

I did miss driving for 2 years.

Funny how life goes along! And then suddenly it all changes.

Lesx

[cat3]

Yes it's a massive wake-up call finding you've become someone else overnight. 🤨 I worry too about dementia, but my short-term memory issue was evident as soon as I could think straight.

Funny how events from younger days, especially childhood, are so clear ; different areas of the brain of course.

Do keep up the guitar playing Les ; music is so therapeutic for our troubled brains.

Take care m'love....Cat x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Afternoon Cat

You are right when l came out of hospital l could remember my first day of my infants school crystal clear!

Lot of weird thoughts and dreams back then!

At the mo l have set up another band and play for 2 hours Saturday afternoons any longer and l am shattered so gigging is out.

when you walk to the shops are you tired? do your calf muscles play up as well?

Good to hear from you and impressed with your emails,that’s something l struggle with

Lesx

[cat3]

Discomfort when walking is in my feet. I was diagnosed with Plantar Fasciitis by my rheumatologist but she was unsure whether it was a consequence of the bleed. She conceded though that nerve pain in feet is common after brain injury.

But my main problem with walking is balance ; the concentration needed to walk in a straight line is pretty exhausting !

And it wasn't so much dreams, as awakening, which bothered me after discharge from hospital. I woke every night panicking over why doors and windows were in the wrong places and needed to reorientate over & over. I guess the rehab ward had become more familiar than my own home....🤔

There's an amazing red sky here tonight in the NW so maybe a brighter day tomorrow. Hope it's fine for you too Les. Cat x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

I read somewhere putting shoes on opposite feet helps on straight line walking!

my one used to be the ceiling in the icu ,

Cold n windy here in SW

Lesx

[cat3 in reply to Jumpingjack15]

....think I might give that one a miss Les🤣! I do have to buy quite pricey shoes and special insoles though.

Oh, the ICU ceiling.....

l learned from family after discharge, how in the pristine ICU unit (& whilst unable to move & full of drips/tubes etc.) I frequently asked for ladders to 'give the filthy ceiling a damn good clean'... ! 😧 ??

See you later m'love... x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Another day and a Sunday roast

[cat3]

Ha ha ; I'd forgotten to defrost the chicken so thanks for that Les... It's chicken only for me as beef, lamb, pork all taste vile since the bleed (I really miss lamb & mint sauce). But chicken's good with roasties etc.🍗🍗 🥦

Have a good day m'love.. x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat,waiting for our fish n chips treat!

[cat3 in reply to Jumpingjack15]

😉enjoy... x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Morning Cat

You okay?

[cat3 in reply to Jumpingjack15]

Sorry Les .....evening now of course🙄.

I've been better. Still in the grip of a virus which started at Xmas. my daughter insists it's Long Covid but, even if it is, there's nothing to be done apart from painkillers etc...

At least my osteo consultation came through after almost a year ! It's on wed., so at least I'm in the system (even if I have another long wait for scan, treatment etc.)

How're you doing m'love ? OK I hope. x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Going through the same my second week!

Hot lemon the best with Manika honey l hear it lasts for 4 weeks!

Good luck!Cat

[cat3 in reply to Jumpingjack15]

7 weeks for me already 🙄 of sneezing, coughing, blocked sinuses and dizziness... Hope yours doesn't last this long Les !

Yes Manuka honey has great healing properties. It was used for my scar after abdominal surgery. I laughed when the doctor mentioned a dressing with honey ; never heard of it in healing wounds before....

Take care you ! x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

7weeks ! Blimey l reckon it’s Covid on top of everything else l feel so tired

Dare l say getting older don’t help

[cat3 in reply to Jumpingjack15]

Went to my long awaited knee injury appt. (30 mins in X ray and 2hrs in clinic).

I know A&E waits can be 8 hours or more, but It was horrible that this coincided with a AF attack lasting all night and today, so not conducive to waiting rooms on hard chairs. But I had to be there after an 11 month wait !

Anyway I got a great doc who booked an MRI (God knows when that'll be) and she agreed there was more damage than the X ray showed, just from the swelling.

Such a relief hearing this. The physio at my GPs told me (a year ago) "It'll sort itself out in a week or two"..

Hope your virus is on its way out Les ; think mine is easing a little... 🤞😏 x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Morning Cat,sounds like you have been in the wars!Comfrey gel is good for swelling.

AF??

I still have a cough n tiredness but gradually going.l reckon we have had COVID!

Catch up later

Les

[cat3]

My daughter's convinced it was Covid , She says I should've had a test, but really no point as I've been indoors for weeks so couldn't pass it on, and treatment would've only been painkillers anyway.

AF is Atrial Fibrillation ...(heart issue).

Look after yourself m'love... Cat x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Blimey we are not doing very well!

I have AC ,Artery Claudication (blocked arteries in my legs)walking difficult and do on line exercises each week plus aspirin for circulation

Happy days!!

Lesx

[cat3]

Happy days .....oh yes please !! 😲🙂x

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Heart pulps are not funny quite frightening in fact

Did you have these before your bleed?

[cat3 in reply to Jumpingjack15]

I had SVT (Supraventricular Tachycardia) for around 5 years before finding a great cardiologist who poo-pooed the 'Ablation' procedure others had insisted on and prescribed effective medication.

That was 25 years before the bleed and just after the bleed the AF kicked in. (SVT is in top heart chambers ; AF -lower). Had breast cancer and gall bladder removal in between. ...if I were a horse....🙄

Had pretty scary 2 day attack on Tues & Wed but hopefully stabilizing now 🤫.

Aspirin or Ibuprofen are a no-no for me ; have blood thinners, beta blockers and statins..

.......walking miracles you and me Les !😄xx

[Jumpingjack15 in reply to cat3]

Afternoon Cat,l can recall walking round the garden like a teddy bear upstairs n downstairs at 3am with serious tinnitus noises n ticking in my head and then the panic attacks,l used to take Kalms by the bottle too no avail this went on for 6 months and l think if my brain was functioning properly would have topped myself!those times were difficult,

Nothing like a good moan!!

Les

[cat3 in reply to Jumpingjack15]

Yes it can be overwhelming at times. But I've a useful distraction for the time being ; searching online for a new property for son & partner (they've a noisy neighbour issue where they are presently). Already found a couple they like the look of.

Could take a good while as certain criteria need to be met !

At least it's something useful I can be doing whilst out of action, and it saves them time as both work long hours...

Ha ha ; 'Round & round the garden like a teddy bear' ...long time since I heard that !

Take care Les..

ps -I might PM you in future.. we seem to be taking over the Forum ! 😉😄x