dizziness (Photo credit: iamnelaas)
I’m still figuring out symptoms and trying to problem solve nearly 21 years later. So what is the cause of dizziness anyway? I’m sharing this level of frustration so others can see how difficult it is with any individual dealing with traumatic brain injury. Read the rest of this entry »
Everyone would like to return to a higher level of functioning and feel as though they are contributing to society. Some people more then others, but I doubt most people want to just sit and waste away! Here are some things to consider before returning to work after TBI, chronic illness, mental illness or any other circumstances you’ve endured and are considering a return-to-work status. Read the rest of this entry »
frustration. (Photo credit: nicole.pierce.photography ♥)
No one understands the frustration that hustle and bustle creates in the minds of brain injury, brain dysfunction, chronic illnesses as well as the aging population. In this fast paced society it makes it more difficult for these individuals to do their daily routine without feeling frazzled. Read the rest of this entry »
Laughter is imperative to recover from brain injury and all other issues that affect your health. If it were not for keeping a sense of humor one does not know how one could survive. There have and continue to be plenty of tears shed in the meantime. They aren’t just your tears, but those closest to one’s situation…that care and love one. They also suffer immensely without education or help.
Jazz Has a Sense of Humor (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Most have learned to laugh with me, but they cry with me too. They probably cry because I make them absolutely miserable at times! Read the rest of this entry »
When you feel as though everything you are doing isn’t helping there is still something you can do to help make yourself feel better. You’re probably tired about hearing you need good nutrition and exercise. This is true, good nutrition and exercise are essential to your optimal level of health. Nutrition and exercise needs to be a lifestyle change and that takes at least 5 weeks of consistent change. What about an instant change that doesn’t include nutrition or exercise? Read the rest of this entry »
So many different things happen with brain injuries and brain dysfunction and as sad as so many things are, it’s really important to laugh daily. Laughter is the best medicine. Research proves that laugher helps heal. With brain issues at the moment the incident occurs there really isn’t anything to laugh about because the person is so frustrated with the ignorant things that happen … it takes awhile to step back at that particular situation and laugh. Read the rest of this entry »
So many people have chronic pain and it seems like there’s no solution, or very little help. Some things work, some times it works, but in between that time you are still plagued with pain. All people want is for their body to be comfortable…at least some of the time!
I’ve discovered this scientific news May 17, 2012 about the most recent findings of why there is chronic pain and what is happening in the brain. This article really spells that out and also offers much hope.
If you suffer from any sort of pain, take the time to read this brief article from Science News. It offers better understanding into pain.
Training the brain could help reduce pain.
Trust is a basic need. When your life and health is jeopardized because those who you trust do not help where can you turn and what happens? I was initially injured October 30, 1991 and a subarachnoid hemorrhage in December 22, 1991. I was not treated or diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage until 2000 after gathering my medical records and having them reviewed as well as an excellent medical doctor who listened. Read the rest of this entry »
This rehabilitation nursing journal article School-Age Children’s Responses to Parents with Disabilities was written and completed just one week prior to the assault of traumatic brain injury. It was not published until 2 years later after having a colleague co-author and help submit the manuscript for publishing. Read the rest of this entry »
This is the final pages of my letter to my last patient part 4 of 4. This letter in its entirety has clearly identified numerous safety issues without our healthcare system and specifically rehabilitation for neurology and traumatic brain injury patients. Safety is ultimately the concern for all patients and staff. Do healthcare professional overlook obvious symptoms because it is just a “job”? Are patients truly safe?
Neither myself or immediate family ever sought legal action against this facility. I was trying to get well and had no energy to do anything else. In retrospect, if we only knew the long-term consequences and had the proper legal advice with authorities looking out for the innocent the outcome would have been totally different. Maybe, it’s what nurses are expected to put up with and the facility is always right.
Read the rest of this entry »
Allergies-Make a list of all your allergies. The list of allergies should include both medication allergies and food allergies. DO NOT take any medications you are allergic to. Usually the most serious allergic reaction occurs when you take the medication for the second time. This can be life threatening. Read the rest of this entry »
Too often we hear about the term Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and wonder why it is called “mild” because those struggling with it find it’s not “mild” at all. However, those individuals that are plagued by ongoing symptoms and regardless how hard they try seem unable to overcome them. Is this because they really don’t have mTBI and have the other diagnosis that is linked with mTBI and ongoing symptoms that is not publicized? Would it help if you knew it had a different name and work in a different manner to overcome all the issues at hand? Read the rest of this entry »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
The amount of paperwork is insurmountable after brain injury. A time when paperwork is the most difficult to complete and work with, you now have more paperwork than ever before! Now, everywhere you turn you need to fill out papers on: Employment leave, Health insurance, Disability insurance, Social Security, Worker’s compensation, Medicare, Medicaid among others. And no one is prepared to manage this paperwork even without a traumatic brain injury. Read the rest of this entry »
How can you manage mental and physical fatigue in your daily life? The normal fatigue you feel from brain injury is not like simple feelings of tiredness. It’s far from this. It exhausts all your physical and mental energy and leaves one in a brain fog where you can not think at all or physically accomplish anything. Your limbs feel so weak you just cannot be involved in doing anything until you get rest. Sleep is the only thing that helps you feel better. Read the rest of this entry »
How was I going to get through the holidays with this new worsening of symptoms from traumatic brain injury? I could not tolerate noise, lights, conversations, and just the simple things in daily life. By the middle of December my headaches were getting worse, if that were even possible! My vision was darkening. Read the rest of this entry »
Are you exhausted or constantly fatigued after brain injury? Anyone suffering from chronic excessive fatigue or exhaustion? Is it “normal” or “excessive”? You might have an underlying condition that has not been diagnosed or treated yet. 10 Suggestions and more to help find your cause. Read the rest of this entry »
I was sure this nightmare with head injury was nearing the end. I guess my expectations were unrealistic. Being well-educated in the field of brain injury and rehabilitation did not prepare me for all that was to come in December 1991. I thought I was better shortly after brain injury but it got worse. Read the rest of this entry »
If you look okay you are expected to be working!
It was time to get back to work following a closed head injury. I thought everything was going well and my simple concussion was resolved. Oh, if I only knew what was yet to come. So by Monday November 4, 1991 and 5 days later I was ready to return to work. After all a few days have passed since I was hit in the head and certainly there should not be any reason to keep me from working. Read the rest of this entry »
10 tips and highlights to handle telephone calls without distraction and keep focused for those with brain injuries, brain dysfunction, and other chronic illnesses.
So many types of telephones.
Everyone is familiar with the telephone for communication at work, at home or more commonly everywhere one goes with their cell phone. Read the rest of this entry »
Feeling puzzled? common symptom after brain injury.
Frequently x-rays and other diagnostic tools are "Normal". Need healthcare professionals to monitor symptoms and clues to changing status.
I did not think I could go deeper into the twilight zone and neither did I think I had a brain injury. After all, I had many injuries prior to this assault and recovered from every single one without residual effects. What was I thinking as a nurse? Read the rest of this entry »
Are you having difficulty standing? Is your balance off and you fall often? Are you dizzy? Or are you simply too tired or fatigue? Do your joints ache? Do you think you have had a traumatic brain injury but not sure? Have you been diagnosed with a brain injury or medical condition? Are you a hero that has fought for our country? Are you a disabled American Veteran?
Children in aquatic therapy
Exercise is always important, but now it can be fun! Read the rest of this entry »
CAUSES OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
Learning what brain injury is all about. It was nothing like I experienced as a nurse treating the patients with brain injury. Little did I know I was about to enter the twilight zone at work on October 30, 1991. Read the rest of this entry »
Forgetting or simply not remembering? Which is it? Well, forgetting is something you have in your memory. Or maybe it is not that simple. It could be something you tried to memorize but could not, then you forgot what it was. It’s all a matter of intrepretion. Remembering is questionable. Was it ever in your memory to begin with, or was it something you tried to remember and could not have. The question is more complex then anyone could believe…until you’ve been there. Read the rest of this entry »
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