Serious Head Injuries

[Yammer Dan]

Know I'm opening myself wide open here but things ain't been what they should be lately.

Just like to know if anybody has had serious head injuries that came back to haunt you? I have had several. (yeah I know) Doc claimed I was going to be vegetable in 76 from worse one and I've had several since then. Just wanted to know if anyone has had any lasting effects and what without getting into it too deep. Not having a good day.

[T.J.]

Dan I can't answer with any help at all but sorry you are having a bad day.

[oldgoat]

get well and please see a doctor.

 

dan after a car crash back in 1999 I had bad head aches for years

 

I still have hearing problems in my left ear. my hearing comes and goes in that ear. my left eye will droop from time to time. and then I see what looks like halos. or what I some times call what looks like smoke coming in to my side vision. I take pills for this now for the rest of my life.

 

the car crash made my brain slosh in my skull.

I was in a body cast from middle of my chest on down to my butt.

spent 5 long months in a rehab center.

so please don't mess around and seek help

[KIC]

Dan, although many say that I have brain damage I have more real experience with my 2 children. My son was jumped from behind and severely beaten even while unconscious to the point of severe seizures and the call I received bassically said get to the hospital he wouldn't survive. ( He was jumped over a misunderstanding that he wasn't involved in) He was in the 11th grade at the time (2003). Original diagnoses was a concussion.

 

Fast forward to 11/30/2009 - My Hero daughter was in Afghanistan as a MP and her MRAP hit a 200lb IED. She survived with back injury and a Traumatic Brain Injury. As I feverishly researched what a TBI was and what they knew about them really surprised me. Although, each individual injury can be different, the basics are that there are 3 "triggers" that can affect someone emotionally that can also affect them physically. There are two areas of injury or issue. Physical is severe headaches and insomnia.

The second area, emotional usually involves the following 3 issues: Anxiety, Frustration and Anger. Each emotion can be, and is, triggered by each other. Anxiety can easily lead to anger or frustration, Frustration can lead to anger and/or anxiety and anger can lead to anxiety and or frustration.

 

Of course, another side issue is the PTSD that can come along with the injury. In 2009 they are were still learning about the injury since the Iraq war did not have as many head injury survivors. Until they obtained armored vehicles most of the result of hitting an IED in Iraq was death.

 

Once they got armored vehicles more Heroes survived, but suffered TBI's. They have found that TBI's are also more common in car accidents and in the NFL and boxing.

 

During a large impact the brain neurons can be severed which is what can cause the above issues.These neuron paths can be retrained to take another avenue through therapy.

 

As I researched my daughter's case in 2009, I realized that the symptoms and medical issues matched my son's issues to a "T". His anxiety was off the wall which lead to the anger/frustration issues. His dependency on anxiety medication was at a high level. When he lost his engineering job ( and medical benefits) to the economy, his issues led him to searching for anxiety medicine on the street. He could not function without it. He is now 2 years sober from all drugs except the correct diagnosed meds that have helped him become the great young man he was. He now works 2 jobs including one in addiction recovery helping others in need.

 

My daughter is still recovering and although most who meet her, and do not know her story, would think she is "normal". She struggles every day dealing with the 3 triggers of anger, frustration and anxiety. One day at a time.

 

Anyway, knowing some of your work background, if you EVER had a severe head blow or injury, research the TBI issue and see if it matches your symptom/issues.

 

My Hero daughter, her MRAP , Daughter and Hero son-in law and Grand Princess and my son and girlfriend at Grand Canyon yesterday.

 

I be a lucky, lucky guy....

[cowpuc]

Ya know bro,, one of the things that I really really love about VR is that we can love and talk to each other like real brothers,,, kinda rare in life it seems... For me,, being, as you say, "wide open" has an amazing affect - it always seems to help just to know that I have friends who really do care.. That said, I want you to know that your old Pucster buddy is one of those friends - Prayers Up Dan!!

In November of 03 I swerved my car as a White Tail Deer tryed to jump thru the windshield.. After using a tree for brakes, I woke up and pushed the airbag off the side of my face.. I had leaned away from the deer - hid my face behind the dash and the airbag had deployed against my left shoulder and my face had made contact with the center of dash board and chipped a couple teeth.. The medical people focused on my broken back which left me parallized. After 5 back surgeries, a year in a body cast (turtle shell) and wayyy more "pain management" drugs than anyone should ever take (I liked em,,, a lot), I found myself being declared "healed" by the car insurance companys doctor (we have "lifetime" car insurance care in Michigan,,, unless the insurance people decide they dont want that responsibility - if that is the case they just hire a doctor to declare you "healed" and you are healed and all better - its almost kind of a spirtual experience LOL...).

Later, little things kept popping up,, just not "feeling" well at times - little periods of brain fogginess.. Just not able to focus and having a hard time concentrating.. Every once in a great while I would have these odd smells in my nose - some times it smelled like hot fiberglass, other times like burning electrical wiring.. Those episodes were not real frequent but in later years became more so.. I had complained to my doctors about it all thru the years BUT, most of them felt it was just getting over the surgeries, drugs and maybe some PTSD.. It seemed just not that big of a deal to me either and truthfully,, it came and left infrequently enough that I just lived with it.. Besides,, who the heck wants to deal with temporary medical stuff when ya got work to do, kids to play with, bikes to ride and life to live..

This year, for some reason,, it didnt just come and go.. Tippy says that the fogginess and "death stare" has been lingering since late last summer.. Looking back,, I thought I was going thru some midlife crisis stuff,, you know,, empty nest and all that - I had soooo much fun with the kids,, you know the routine.. I had also noticed major changes in my sleep habits (INSOMNIA), irritability, unable to focus, lack of thought clarity, tiredness, stinky nose, watering eyes, just feeling blahhh since this summer and I just got tired of it.. I switched doctors,, again,, in search of why... This new Doc, a young lady full of youthful vigger,, took me seriously.. Sent me off to another young specialist ENT - she told me he would remind me of Doogy Howser and he does.. Anyway,, he is the one that found this leaky brain fluid stuff, right after finding it he asked me how long it had been since I had head trauma.. I told him about my car accident and he said that residual affects of head injuries can go on for many many years and sometimes never do get treated.. That a lot of times in the medical field stuff like this is found by accident, if you will, and as a result of looking for something totally unrelated,,,,, go figure...

After having my heart checked today and some blood drawn I had another regular Dr's appointment.. She asked how the the sinus polyp removal was coming.. I told her about the brain fluid stuff.. She had that same "deer in the headlights" look on her face that I am sure I had when the ENT told me about it (I even told her that). She said she felt bad for me cause this may be some very serious stuff.. I told her how THANKFUL I was to finally have someone take me serious about all this stuff and that just getting some kind of anwers made me feel better than I have in a long long time...

Later, after examining my crippled up hands (I literally can only open my hands half way - they are permanently "c" shaped just like they are holding a set of bike grips LOL) and finding out that I apparently have "Gout" (arrrggg) - I made a comment about how getting old sucks,, she says,,,, Scott - I get that BUT obviously you have really really lived,, your body is worn out equally from top to bottom LOL...

I truly am sorry for what ever is going on Dan,, I hope and pray that somehow they find out whats happening.. I am here for ya buddy!!! In the mean time,, try to focus on the positive memories of life,, you and I and our family here have sooooo many things to be thankful for,, we still got each other even if we are all worn out!!!

Puc

[Drews]

Sorry will pray

[ADC]

Sorry you're having a bad time Dan,hope all is better soon.

Arthur

[FreezyRider]

Ya know bro,, one of the things that I really really love about VR is that we can love and talk to each other like real brothers,,, kinda rare in life it seems... For me,, being, as you say, "wide open" has an amazing affect - it always seems to help just to know that I have friends who really do care.. That said, I want you to know that your old Pucster buddy is one of those friends - Prayers Up Dan!!

In November of 03 I swerved my car as a White Tail Deer tryed to jump thru the windshield.. After using a tree for brakes, I woke up and pushed the airbag off the side of my face.. I had leaned away from the deer - hid my face behind the dash and the airbag had deployed against my left shoulder and my face had made contact with the center of dash board and chipped a couple teeth.. The medical people focused on my broken back which left me parallized. After 5 back surgeries, a year in a body cast (turtle shell) and wayyy more "pain management" drugs than anyone should ever take (I liked em,,, a lot), I found myself being declared "healed" by the car insurance companys doctor (we have "lifetime" car insurance care in Michigan,,, unless the insurance people decide they dont want that responsibility - if that is the case they just hire a doctor to declare you "healed" and you are healed and all better - its almost kind of a spirtual experience LOL...).

Later, little things kept popping up,, just not "feeling" well at times - little periods of brain fogginess.. Just not able to focus and having a hard time concentrating.. Every once in a great while I would have these odd smells in my nose - some times it smelled like hot fiberglass, other times like burning electrical wiring.. Those episodes were not real frequent but in later years became more so.. I had complained to my doctors about it all thru the years BUT, most of them felt it was just getting over the surgeries, drugs and maybe some PTSD.. It seemed just not that big of a deal to me either and truthfully,, it came and left infrequently enough that I just lived with it.. Besides,, who the heck wants to deal with temporary medical stuff when ya got work to do, kids to play with, bikes to ride and life to live..

This year, for some reason,, it didnt just come and go.. Tippy says that the fogginess and "death stare" has been lingering since late last summer.. Looking back,, I thought I was going thru some midlife crisis stuff,, you know,, empty nest and all that - I had soooo much fun with the kids,, you know the routine.. I had also noticed major changes in my sleep habits (INSOMNIA), irritability, unable to focus, lack of thought clarity, tiredness, stinky nose, watering eyes, just feeling blahhh since this summer and I just got tired of it.. I switched doctors,, again,, in search of why... This new Doc, a young lady full of youthful vigger,, took me seriously.. Sent me off to another young specialist ENT - she told me he would remind me of Doogy Howser and he does.. Anyway,, he is the one that found this leaky brain fluid stuff, right after finding it he asked me how long it had been since I had head trauma.. I told him about my car accident and he said that residual affects of head injuries can go on for many many years and sometimes never do get treated.. That a lot of times in the medical field stuff like this is found by accident, if you will, and as a result of looking for something totally unrelated,,,,, go figure...

After having my heart checked today and some blood drawn I had another regular Dr's appointment.. She asked how the the sinus polyp removal was coming.. I told her about the brain fluid stuff.. She had that same "deer in the headlights" look on her face that I am sure I had when the ENT told me about it (I even told her that). She said she felt bad for me cause this may be some very serious stuff.. I told her how THANKFUL I was to finally have someone take me serious about all this stuff and that just getting some kind of anwers made me feel better than I have in a long long time...

Later, after examining my crippled up hands (I literally can only open my hands half way - they are permanently "c" shaped just like they are holding a set of bike grips LOL) and finding out that I apparently have "Gout" (arrrggg) - I made a comment about how getting old sucks,, she says,,,, Scott - I get that BUT obviously you have really really lived,, your body is worn out equally from top to bottom LOL...

I truly am sorry for what ever is going on Dan,, I hope and pray that somehow they find out whats happening.. I am here for ya buddy!!! In the mean time,, try to focus on the positive memories of life,, you and I and our family here have sooooo many things to be thankful for,, we still got each other even if we are all worn out!!!

Puc

 

Pucster, you sir are an example of the best of VRo! I love your positive attitude, your encouragement of others, your openness and willingness to share your personal life if you think it might help someone else.

Sending some "Bro love" your way! Continue to be a blessing to others!

 

Joe

[Yammer Dan]

Thanks for the advice. I think I'm trying to avoid another trip to the quacks.

[CMCOFFEY]

I have luckily only had one brain injury that I know of. I was in a motorcycle wreck where I departed my bike and hung my ankles on my handle bars so that my body could smack down on the guys trunk. My helmet out a big dent in that car, then I flipped into the air and managed to land helmet first on the road. I was out cold.

Since then, I have had anger issues and head aches pretty frequently. Some days when I wake up, I can tell my wife, that I am upset and do not know why. I will stay bitter most of the day. Usually the day before I get a bad head ache I feel completely out of it. I just do not care about anything and can't think straight.

Hope all is relatively well with you.

[Brake Pad]

As long as you're not getting dizzy when you look up or to the left or right up or have blurred vision I really wouldn't worry about it sometimes these things just reoccurred with age as I'm finding out. From years of heavy lifting in construction rotary cuff damage twice lower back issues arthritis and arms and fingers and all I want to do is just ride my motorcycle. It's the only thing that's keeping me going with the pain and suffering of physical therapy and medications the hope that I never have to sell my bike because I can't hold onto the handlebars.