What is your Name? Sue 

 

Please tell us what happened that caused your Traumatic Brain Injury.: I had 4 concussions on 2015. January I totalled my truck. Match I feel on ice and lost consciousness for a few minutes. June I was hit in the face by a student (residential facility). In the same facility, September, a social studies book flying across the room banned the back of my head, right lower side. April 2018 I slipped on gel and flew up in the air and landed hard. Jarred my nogging hard.

 

When was your TBI?: 04 20, 18

 

Did you have any others since then?: Thankfully no

 

What progress have you made since then?: After the Sept 2015 concussion I wasn't able to talk well or walk well. Three years is out patient rehab services and determination I am doing much better at my new norm.

 

How has your life changed since the TBI?: I can't work. Lost my license for 3 years. Brain Drain is the worst. (Using my brain makes me crash hard and sleep even harder.) I lost my license for 3 years but I got it back. I tool around town. Makes me happy for that freedom. I used to be able to read, but now just mindless reading. I can do easy and some medium Soduko, I used to be able to do hard. My verbal cognitive ability really suffers if I'm tired. Aphasia. Stuttering. Falling asleep where ever. (I'll head plant and sleep hard.) I need a cane to walk for to balance issues. I was going for my doctorate. Not anymore. It hurts the brain to read and my written skills really took a bit. Not too mention I don't remember what I read.

 

What have you had to adapt to live your life with a TBI?: Rehab did wonders. Now I do brain games and work books, puzzle books. I try and keep brain adapting and working. I have great friends who take me out to the symphony, concerts, plays, and more. I don't drive longer than 30 miles. I don't drive if I'm tired. I wear earplugs if it's noisy because I can't take kids noises anymore. I plan my activities and outings carefully. Too much action and my mind short circuits. I don't remember everything. Sometimes I forget entire days. My calendar is my everything.

 

Can you share some of the treatments or therapies you've undergone for your traumatic brain injury?​: Vestibular eye therapy, 3 years. Neuro PT for 3 years. Speech and memory therapy, 2 attempts, but I did poorly that I was discharged after 3-4 months for to get limited increases. I work on my workbooks, phone games, and challenge myself constantly.

 

Do you feel you have recovered from your TBI? And if so, to what degree?: No. My brain stops working after I've been working on something. 2 hours if my max. I tend to fall asleep, where ever I am, and sleep hard. I'm at my new norm. I used to hate that term since it refers to me not being the old me. I'm a lot quieter than I used to be. More issues following conversations.

 

What has been the most challenging aspect of dealing with a traumatic brain injury?: Getting my license back. Learning to function in my new norm. Knowing I'm never teach again. I was a very good teacher and I really miss it. I tutor online 2 one-half online sessions a week now. I'm hoping to add 5 more hours.

 

How do you navigate through those challenges?​: One day at a time. Lots of family and friend support.

 

Who has been your support system? Tell us about them.: My mom. She took me to all my appointments. 9 hours a week. I couldn't do three sessions in a row so I'd stay on the campus and rest. I was usually there 4-5 hours 3 days a week. For the tests my friend drive me too many activities. I used to fall asleep during many, now I am awake, but crash for a few hours after.

 

Are there any misconceptions about traumatic brain injuries that you've encountered, and how do you address or educate others about them?: I don't look abnormal so people think I'm looking for a few ride. I don't care what they say or think. I ignore those adults. My brain is really starting to peter out now.

 

Can you share a particularly high (or low) point in your recovery?: Low. Losing my license and having trouble going out and doing anything. I would constantly be tired. High. I now go out a lot to the symphony, please, movies, opera, and more. I are very social and active calendar. Every summer I go to a big campground for 2 weeks. This September I'm going on a cruise to Canada. I'm going with my best friend so she knows my limits and limitations, so if I need to go back to the room and sleep I'll go back to the room and sleep. At first my mom was not very supportive in the fact that she did not understand what I was going through. She's been a nurse for 45 years but not a head nurse. One day I made it where she had to come into rehab with me and I didn't let her sit in the car and wait. And I set it up with my therapist. And she sat down and washed what I went through just a little things for her were big steps for me which was beneficial in her realizing how this brain injury truly impacted my ability to walk and do normal things.

 

Now, in your own words, tell us anything else you like about your journey with TBI.: I am hitting brain drain now. I would like to say that you know my mom and my friends are the ones who really help me out through this journey. I am not looking back to do any autocorrect as I state and talk into my phone. I still say getting my license back with the best day ever. Since I live with my mom now sometimes I just I just need to get away. Even even if it's to the local cat shelter rescue store where I can just look around and buy junk. I like to thrift so some days I can just get to the store and buy something or not then just the ability to get out makes a huge difference. She used to get very upset at first with my brain drain issues, but I sat down and told her exactly what was going on and she now understands better what is happening. For example I went and used the snow blower on our 30 ft driveway came in did a few things the next thing out I'm out cold with brain drain. And she doesn't bother me anymore she just lets me go and sleep because until my brain is rested I cannot function. It's the weirdest thing ever, a just don't have the ability to walk talk like I normally can. The brain just shuts down. One morning my sister and I were at the cafeteria waiting for Mom because she had surgery and right there at the cafeteria at the table I had a brain drain moment and my head went down and for 30 minutes I felt sound asleep. First going out to the movies, symphonies, plays, outings,I usually fell asleep during the event sometimes for most of it or half of it. Now I can stay awake for majority of the shows and outings. I just come home and crash. A brain injury is not for the week of heart. People say I have a very positive outlook, and I need to have a positive outlook, or else I would be in a very bad spot. Where I am now I am content and happy. Sure I wish I was back to my normal and working, but with the realization that will never occur again, I am pretty content where I am. Also, the 3 years I worked at rehab about 80% of the people will worse off than me. That was a real eye-opener.