returning from a traumatic brain injury

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Originally Posted by redrhodie

Do you have anyone else to help? Or, can you go home with your mom to recover with her care a little longer? It sounds like you still could use some help. I know you want to get back to normal as soon as possible, but maybe that will happen faster if you get more rest.

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I have some coworkers that are willing to come over if needed.

Had my staples removed today. What an ordeal. First of all, I had to wait for an hour and 15 minutes before they called me in. The first woman didn't know what to do then brought in an RN. They both left to get the doctor. By the time he walked in, it was 10 min before I was supposed to have a phone appointment with him.

He did some quick vision tests and determined that I need to be referred to a neurologist. Apparently when one suffers a severe concussion with a brain hemorrhage, this doesn't warrant an automatic referral to one. Although, they had no problem spending the money to transfer me from San Francisco to Modesto by ambulance. My doctor seems to be completely unaware of the extent of my injuries. The nurse even said that she could find no record of me having any sort of sutures or why. Nice.

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Originally Posted by lo123

I forgot to mention that I ended up needing to get new glasses. I was advised my the neurosurgeon to wait a few months to let it stabilize. They also said it was likely that I had some nerve issues because of where I hit being so close to the optic nerve.

Turned out that I lost the ability to compensate for my astigmatism.

Hang in there.

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That's good to know. My Oakley glasses were undamaged, but I had Rx Transitions lenses in them that disappeared. Obviously I need new ones. I'm not due for a new pair until July though.

Because glasses are so expensive, maybe you could use an online service like http://www.zennioptical.com/ ?

I haven't tried them myself, but I'm going to order some RX sunglasses from them. I have a hard time wearing the astigmatism contact lenses, and I need my sun protection! anyway, I've read good things about that particular site. Even if you still have to pay for the exam out of pocket, at least the glasses won't set you back quite so much.

You haven't seen a neurologist :eek:?
Get yourself there pronto.

Just a story for you & I understand she was released from hospital today.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hall...ad-to-recovery

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Originally Posted by crazycanuck

Just a story for you & I understand she was released from hospital today.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hall...ad-to-recovery

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Thanks for sharing that. I hadn't seen it!

Just a little update re: my condition: My eyesight still seems off. In fact, my left eye feels a bit fatigued. I have an appointment this afternoon with a neurologist.

Ironically, I have an appointment tomorrow at the DMV for my license. I wasn't supposed to have to go in, but California is changing the DMV computer system and because of some glitch, they decided two months after I renewed online that I have to come in for a new pic. My license says I must wear corrective lenses, which is a mistake, but I have to retake the eye exam to have that removed. This will be fun! Glad my vision isn't that different.

Also, I joined the Raisin Hope Foundation (because Saul made me). It's a small foundation formed by former pro cyclist, Saul Raisin, to offer support for those with traumatic brain injuries.

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Originally Posted by loopybunny

Just a little update re: my condition: My eyesight still seems off. In fact, my left eye feels a bit fatigued. I have an appointment this afternoon with a neurologist.

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You might have slightly injured a nerve that runs along the outside of your eye which could be affecting how your eyes focus.

If its any consolation to you, that kind of injury has been known to heal up on its own, albeit at an annoyingly slow pace.

I had double vision for about a week, which then tapered off to where I only experienced DV when I first woke up or when I was tired.

Sometimes I'd forget to focus out of only one eye and I'd pour my morning coffee into the wrong cup :rolleyes:

That early morning/fatigue related DV lasted for another month or so, until the glorious morning when I realized that there was only one coffee cup in front of me! Seriously, that's when I realized the DV had finally gone away.

Wishing you well.

Tomorrow will mark 3 weeks since my accident.

I returned to work on Monday. It's been hard since there has been a lot going on this week.

I'm still experiencing symptoms like headaches, nausea, concentration issues, and vertigo... but they seem to be less severe. They also seem to hit me like clockwork. I can count on my dizziness to start returning around 1pm and lasting through the day/night until the following morning. Meaning, I only have about 6 hours when it doesn't bother me unless I'm leaning over. I feel like it's taking a long time and very slow going. I think it'll be a couple more weeks at least before I'm ready to ride again.

I'll be getting my bike back from my friend this weekend so I hope I'll be able to get it into a shop for "official" word on what the damage is.

If it's on that regular of a schedule, I wonder if you just aren't pushing too hard, and getting symptomatic when you start getting tired.

Take care of yourself. Glad you're making progress. ((((((loopybunny))))))

There is nothing you can do except to be patient. It takes time to heal to a point where you feel normal. You can't rush the healing process and do rest a lot.

I do remember reading about Saul Raisin. For consolation prize he now can speak French like a native speaker.

After a major major head injury, for which several of us have experienced, we have to find some silver lining in the whole thing. In a year or two, you will adjust just fine and life will not be better or worse. Really! Best way to deal is to be flexible in your thinking, your way of looking at life and world. I wouldn't worry too much at 3 week point.

Heck I didn't have any short term memory for a week or more. And not so sure how much sheet time I did after the last accident. To this day, I really don't know how long I was in the hospital. Maybe my partner told me after I came home but it wasn't till winter time that I have any memory... In between, just seem to have disappeared into thin air/fog.

Think positive, look on the bright side and keep telling yourself today is better than yesterday. Having positive thinking really helps with healing/recovery.

As for CA driver license, I eneded having getting two extentions before I finally got my new one. First photo was bad. Second one, the camera operator said, I need to open my eyes. I'm no round eye being Asian, so I forced myself to really open my eyes wide open. Now I have this zombie look on my license.

I don't have my OR driver license yet, as I'm still going back and forth... Rain in Portland, pouring buckets in Southern California. Bummer... Can't get away.

Your photo will look ten times better than mine. And oh, when you go in, you don't have to retake the eye exam if you went through on the first round.

Wish you the best,

(((loopybunny)))

Get back on when it feels right but makes sure you're riding with friends that are watching you. Have you been back to any doctors since being referred to a neurologist? I'm sorry to hear that the first doctors/nurses weren't up to par, I hope that you find the right team to take care of you. Keep us updated, we're all praying for your recovery!

No updates from doctors. Don't think I'll be hearing from them unless I contact them to talk about problems. Right now, I'm being patient.

Something cool happened yesterday though. I met Scott Nydam of BMC. I have a new perspective on my life and injuries.

First of all, what I'm going through is nowhere near what Scott has gone through. He's living a completely productive and rewarding life despite his career ending injuries.

Second, hearing Scott's stories from his time working with Team Rwanda really made me realize that while I'm recovering from a pretty big accident, it's nothing that what some of the guys on the team have been through.

Nothing like a little perspective to make my life feeling awesome.

I also learned from some friends that they've noticed that I've shown improvement in my clarity when speaking and writing. This makes me happy.

Hi loopybunny

You poor thing, nope fortunately never had any TBI but then again I suppose I would have to have a brain to start with.

I so wish you well and a speedy recovery, like many others have said, don't rush and rest is so very important.

It is still early days, so just one day at a time.

Take care and hugs from across the pond.

I hope you are doing well in your recovery.

My SO had a crash last summer. We were doing a night ride (headlights, etc) in a rural area when a huge raccoon ran out of a ditch right into the back wheel of his bike. It knocked the bike right out from underneath him. He was going about 12mph. He went straight down and hit his head (helmeted) on the white line or gravel. He was out for just a few minutes. Ambulance ride to ER, etc. Grade 3 concussion and small brain hemmorage (sp?). Nothing broken, big bruises on hip and shoulder.

The first week he mostly slept. It was July and the heat really got to him. He didn't have any headaches or vision problems. He doesn't remember much of the accident. He didn't drive much for the first month and it was a couple of months til he was riding regularly. Between then and now he has made steady progress. He says he thinks he forgets some things (but he has no problem remembering trig identities!). He is mostly affected by fatigue, but that has been getting better.

Doctors he has seen told him 6 mos to 1 yr for full recovery.