So many might think asking for help comes naturally. Millions of individuals never need to ask for help, hence they do not know how. Of all these people life goes on without great difficulty because they easily deal well with daily living…until that event occurs that changes their lives forever. Until that time you probably were independent with everything in your life organized and successful. Most likely, you put others first and everyone seemed to look to you for answers. Unfortunately asking for help following a brain injury sometimes seems impossible simply because all the other consequences of this devastating injury. It’s a travesty that with all the recent media attention so many are struggling with life altering changes that fluctuate from day-to-day and year-to-year without rehabilitation or help. Others simply do not understand.
The first key to getting help is to find someone who listens! After getting someone to listen I have included several different ideas to ask for help and receive it for traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and other chronic illnesses as well as any life problems to reach your highest level of functioning. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m reblogging this so you can be educated about what is happening with the FDA and our over the counter medications. Please read if you are taking any medications. This is simply for educational purposes, help to clarify what is happening and how to take care of yourself. Thanks for reading.
FDA Considering Making Many Drugs OTC.
Brain Injury Awareness: Anywhere, Anytime, Anyone. 
Healthcare professionals are not exempt from this devastating traumatic brain injury. Without more education, understanding and research how do you think this could compromise your health? How many healthcare professionals are dealing with current brain injuries? We should start doing pilot or research studies on this, or at the very least surveys.
I functioned without difficulty until this last injury. It’s imperative we educate healthcare workers before this happens to them. It’s always an after thought. The I should’ve, would’ve, could’ve scenario! Stop it from happening to begin with. Prevention is key and they should all know that! When does someone step in to help? When should they return to work? Two weeks after brain surgery? Two months after injury? Where are the guidelines? What and who are protecting patients? Who is helping the healthcare professionals through this difficult time? They are always helping other people at work…but what happens when it is a healthcare professional? That’s the key…when it happens to a healthcare professional then everyone is expected to understand and help. That is not the case. Few understand and fewer care. This is all about brain injury awareness and patient safety and advocacy. You don’t want to be a patient! Read the rest of this entry »
The law applies to some and others get away with bad behavior or criminal behaviors. Either way, the nurses can easily be injured. Quit beating up our nurses! Most child/infant abductions are by family members. These nurses were doing their job!
‘I can’t believe I was assaulted by a Kennedy’, says nurse ‘kicked in the crotch by RFK’s son when she tried to stop him taking his baby outside’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2106613/Douglas-Kennedy-arrest-Nurse-says-I-believe-I-assaulted-Kennedy.html#ixzz1pwAGooiO
Unless you get it, you just dont get it….
I read this, and I think everyone with a Traumatic Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury and Chronic Illness (mental or physical) can understand these ignorant comments.
Take a look and think about how many times you’ve heard so many of these comments. Gee, how easy life was when I could jump out of bed, get dressed, take care of family, go to work, go to school, do community work, etc…and if only we could do that again! Instead not only do you deal with the daily problems you need to deal with ignorant and uneducated individuals.
This was an excellent posting. Hope you can identify with this. You are not faking it, you are not crazy, this is not drama… this is your LIFE and it is REALITY!
If you are dealing with brain injury you spend many days just standing at the crossroads in life, and wondering which way to go! It’s not easy when families walk away, friends leave, and your pet(s) stays! Traumatic brain injury affects the entire family system including the animals. Pet therapy and their unconditional love help patients and families cope throughout this difficult journey. It’s priceless. Animals are consistently the most therapeutic in this lengthy rehabilitation process for these special families. This unimaginable journey is affected in every aspect of life: physiologically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Families walk away, friends leave, and animals stay.
Poor judgment is only one issue of this complex injury. In this video one can see that even the dog’s health was jeopardized. Read the rest of this entry »
Click on both the LosAngles Times and Health Day for two good reads on nutrition and brain health with the Mediterranean diet Dr. Walt’s blog.
Mediterranean diet reduces damage to small blood vessels in the brain
How confident do you think you would be if a healthcare professional was caring for you and had a recent traumatic brain injury? It’s doubtful you would know unless this were a new injury or obvious problem. Isn’t that what brain injuries are: Invisible Injuries? So who’s policing healthcare professionals when they do not understand traumatic brain injuries? Denial, denial, denial. Errors are not widely publicized and rarely are documented. They are supposed to be documented. When errors are documented they are usually not in your medical records unless it’s a subtle mention so they do not raise red flags. There is a separate incident report created that is not attached to your medical file.
Healthcare is also guilty of pushing their employees back to work. Why don’t healthcare professionals understand TBI or mental/brain dysfunction? They are the least likely people to be compassionate and understanding when an employee is ill (mentally or physically) or injured. Unfortunately, their misgivings may become part of your life threatening injury or illness and affect your health and life forever. I will share only one situation at this time so not to overwhelm anyone with what’s happening inside our healthcare facilities. Read the rest of this entry »
Re: Medical History Bracelet
You are the most important person on your healthcare team. I have read countless books over the past 20 years from “How to Get Out of the Hospital Alive”, and YOU The Smart Patient. All of them have powerful messages. Everyone could use the simple tips to keep you healthy. I recommend that everyone retrieve a copy of the Handbook or Guide Book for “YOU” The Smart Patient as An Insider’s Handbook for Getting the Best Treatment. In addition, to keep track of the details that you need in your lifetime of medical care there are electronic flash drive medical bracelets.
Read the rest of this entry »
Sunday, March 11, 2012
If physicians are not honest who do you or should you trust? This is your life, and you only have one. So who’s listening to the patients and looking for their best interest…health and their life! You need to protect yourself. Read the survey results below, but keep in mind there are still honest physicians and healthcare professionals around.
Survey: Some physicians not always completely honest with patients
What is the real reason traumatic brain injury is misdiagnosed, untreated or under treated? Do we have enough rehabilitation centers in America to accommodate 1.7 million people every year? Is this a national problem or local issue? I cannot believe they missed the most obvious of all … brain injury. I was the patient with all the issues…but the healthcare professionals still expect you have it all together to let them know what’s going on. What one does know is most head injuries, strokes, and many diseases of the brain are not classic in any way. The emergency room personnel look for only the classic obvious symptoms: one sided weakness, dropping of the facial muscles, slurred speech, and others. These are not necessarily symptoms that appear with the 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries every year. Read the rest of this entry »
How can you cope with the unmentionable after traumatic brain injury? It’s blood, sweat and tears with urine, sweat and feces. Oh Crap, or Piss-on-it, or just too much Sweat! Any way you look at it I stink! 
The injury is healed, but now you have so many symptoms to live and cope with. Now, who is there to help you anyway? You are at home…big deal! It is a big deal to be at home, but now you have to figure out your surroundings, your role in life, but most importantly how your body now functions or for that matter does not function. Read the rest of this entry »
To All Those Who Have Supported Me With Blogging and Website,
This has been a challenge and yet successful endeavor. Our progress has been phenomenal. The response is overwhelming.
I’ve added Link Pages for Hormonal Imbalances, TBI (traumatic brain injury) & Other Related Links, Nursing & Violence, and Vertical Heterophoria at the top of my website under the main picture. This has been a challenge but every bit worth the effort. It’s still a work in progress.
I’d like to thank you for this incredible outpouring of support. Good things are finally happening through this incomprehensible tragedy!
Take Care and Stay Safe,
Edie http://braininjuryselfrehabilitation.com
How often do you heard you are not the same person? In many ways you have changed but the struggle you deal with is partly owing to all the characteristics who made you what you are today. You are still the same person, in the literal sense. And so much of you can not change. You just function differently physically, emotionally and in life itself. It’s this struggle within that is so difficult. I tried to put into encouraging words the easiest way to understand why you are NOT a different person and why you struggle with this every day. Read the rest of this entry »
Expertise is what you are looking for when you are injured or deal with chronic illness. If you have a traumatic brain injury the confusion and multiple symptoms make this a more daunting task to figure out America’s healthcare system. You are not looking for excuses, a pat on the back, or someone to minimize what is happening to you. You are looking for proper medical treatment. 
Especially important would be an expert in brain injury and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Physician otherwise known as a Physiatrist. Read the rest of this entry »
Reflections of what it’s like everyday. The life before never goes away … you live it, feel it, and see it…but can’t touch it!
Are you searching out affordable, consistent, reliable family therapy to restore life after traumatic brain injury or chronic illness? Do you feel as though no one is listening? No one cares or understands? Where is that unconditional love?
What is the best therapy that works, stands by you through thick and thin, and does not pass judgment? When you and the family feel things have stabilized after your injury or illness it may be time to consider something you have not considered before injury. Read the rest of this entry »
BRAIN INJURY AWARENESS MONTH IS MARCH, 2012
Theme for Brain Injury Awareness is the following:
Brain Injury: Anytime, Anywhere, Anyone
braininjuryselfrehabilitation 