Lost & Found: What Brain Injury Survivors Want You to Know

Barbara J. Webster, Lash & Associates
Lost & Found: What Brain Injury Survivors Want You to Know





















Comments (742)




Thank you very much for this article! Here is a poem I wrote . Have you ever had an injury that was Life Changing? I have, Not that Iâ€™m bragging. Iâ€™ve been concussed for 9 months, or More. Having faith in the doctors, they try to Sneak out the back door. Some are more Heart-felt then others. These gems Iâ€™m Blessed to have them as my onlookers. The prescription? Hibernation. The symptoms are as follows: Headache, that you canâ€™t fake, Dizziness, I look like a mess, Ears that ring, worse than white noise, it starts to sing, Confusion, not an illusion, Forgetfulness, we had tests? Vision problems, they are bothersome, Emotional, not like once a month usual. Iâ€™d go on, but I canâ€™t remember. Thatâ€™s pretty good. Some days donâ€™t get any better. The ironic thing is, people Forget, Ignore, or donâ€™t Know. This is a mental injury that I must tow. I try to stay positive keeping my mind off my Limitations. Itâ€™s hard to do when you must remind others of the Frustrations. I tend to over analyze things like this. A mental game trying to keep myself Bliss. â€œWhen someone breaks their ankle people see them limp. But with me, the only way people see me in pain is if I post it on a blimp!â€ For this reason teachers, friends, and family treat me the everyday same. But on the inside I want to be Consoled, not to be confused with looking for fame. Many do confuse the injured of wanting as such. We just want to Heal ASAP, to carry on like the rest of the bunch. Being in this state, nothing I can do all day. I am sick of being sick, I Do Say! Being a broken record is the only way to get my point across. I hear stuff as: â€œitâ€™s amazing how you are holding up, trooper, and youâ€™re boss.â€ In this time that seems to never End. During these ups and downs I do have few who serve the title of Friend. They say how Iâ€™m still enjoyable when I am in such excruciating pain. They help me keep myself sane, while looking out for my brain. I Push myself all the time. Especially when it comes to making these lines rhyme. With this concussion itâ€™s bad that Iâ€™m not the person to do it half way. Everything I do is what shouldnâ€™t be done, I must now seriously pay. My Unknown end of my story goes on. Days go by one at a time, sometimes they laugh as I am Withdrawn. My dreams are something I will never give up. My faith keep me in His loving arms drinking of his promising cup. For my hopes I will Wait, Wait, Wait. I Will Have My Promising Dream Of My Own Fate.
Thank you for this concise article. My son suffered a TBI 1/1/2 yrs. ago. He is recovering remarkably, is working for the summer, went back to college and going again this fall with a reduced load however, expecting too much of himself. He wants his old self and life back. Almost there but his speech is not what it was yet and when you're majoring in broadcasting; that's tough. On to Plan B.
Dear ALONE in Texas and anyone who is struggling with depression. There are three things that helped me get through. #1 was to learn that I was going through a grieving process and that it is a process to adjust to one's losses but not a permanent place. #2 was to start a grateful or victory journal, writing down 3 three simple things that made me smile or that felt like progress, at the end of every day. This simple activity shifted my focus to the positive things I could write about every evening and made a tremendous difference in my mood. #3 was to connect with spiritual guidance, whatever that is for you. This can be any group that accepts you as you are and makes you feel good about yourself, as you are. It doesn't have to be organized religion, for me it was the practice of yoga. I hope this is helpful. It won't always be this hard, it does get easier.
It's a test and that is all life really is; it's just a test and those people who have sustained a brain injury are being tested more so than most and I know it. I am thankful for what I have gained rather than being resentful over the things I have lost. Nothing really shakes me anymore; nothing.
Thank you so much for this article. It is a great deal of relief to know that what I'm experiencing is not just "in my head". It is a true phenomenon and so well explained in this article. I haven't been fully able to explain my cognitive issues to family. I will most certainly be passing this on to them and hope they will now understand.
TBI surviver for 11 years now. Memory problems still and is REALLY hard to do this by myself but theres no other way!
Been dealing with this ALONE and have lost the will to live. Dont have anyone to talk to and isolate myself cause not a soul cares or tries to help. PLEASE, I'm stuck in Odessa,Texas and NEED to move. If theres anyone reading my comment who needes a roomate I'm 31, female can cook,clean and am searching for somewhere to start over. Im honest,loyal and trustworthy. taushaburkholder70@yahoo.com
This really helps understand more I have been looing at everything I can find my 24 yr old son was in a car accident on 2/18/12 and has severe brain damage we are still in therapy it is really hard, especially not knowing anything about TBI's. I can't imagine anyone going through this alone and not being there for thier kids no matter what and being patient with them it is your responsibility to make sure they are OK. Keep going with the information people need to know as much as they can to help thier loved ones with tbi.
Thanks so much for putting this into the words that I couldn't. I could never come up with the words to let my family and friends know exactly what I was feeling and going through. Now I am able to share my feelings through this article.
This site is just incredible. Thank you sooooo much. I have found a way to share with others and make it simple for them to get as much info as they choose. I am recovering from what is now considered a moderate TBI. I am 56 years old and recreating myself by choice this time around rather than reacting as like when were are children. My goal, and it's happening, is to be better than I've ever been. Challenging; being forgiving of self and others a great muscle; and, it's happening. I am different and I am coming to be a person that I have dreamed of for a long time... More to go. 5+ years out and continuiung the journey. What else is possible for all of us? My best
This is a brilliant article, i am going to show it to the staff at my daughters school, i believe it will help them understand her problems much better. She has a brain tumour, and has had 8 neurosurgeries to remove it, which have all had an effect on her as though she has had a brain injury.
Hi folks. I'm writing as a caregiver of a husband with advanced dementia -- brain injury for which there is no cure. Your words are WONDERFUL and HELPFUL and all of us who love you will nod as we read. You are gaining and growing stronger and recovering. I pray the people around you take these words to heart. I will think of them often as I take a deeper, slower breath to deal with the things that dementia has stolen away. I wish you well, and a whole, steady recovery. Thank you for teaching us.
My son was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor 20 months ago. After 4 surgeries, 3 rounds of chemo, and 5 weeks of cranial radiation, he is doing well. This article was brought to my attention by the fabulous Children's Brain Tumor Foundation. Describes my son exactly. I've been sharing this article so that people can better understand his situation. Thank you so much for this wonderful piece!
Fantastic, finally found some information to pass around the family, so they can start to understand what we have been trying to learn for 5+ years, after my 12 year old daughter was knocked over by a car.
I have dealt with a lot of these issues going back to my first brain tumor and first brain surgery when I was 6 yrs. old in 1984. To some degree the technology wasn\'t really there for what they can do now but starting so young with 2 tumors and 4 brain surgeries later, a brain craniotomy and lumpectomy I was able to compensate with the other side of my brain vs. people who\'s brains are fully developed and go through similar circumstances when they are in their 30\'s and up. I still have a lot of the side effects that I deal with on a regular basis and I know that this will be with me for life There are a lot of people that don\'t understand us and will never unless they go through this or have someone close go through this. The best suggestion I can give to any of you is don\'t let this label decide who you are or let others tell you who you are. surround yourself with a good support system and don\'t waste your time with the losers. They never will understand and karma is a b--ch.
This is what I want people around me to hear: Don't get upset with me if I say I can't remember. It's not an excuse....if I say I can't remember something, it's because I can't!
So true, all the points in this list. I have to be alone a lot of the time just to get things done, and am not sure friends understand how even years later, there are still big changes from how I was before the TBI.
Thumbs up! I agree with every single statement! How true! Those who wrote what they experienced are in the way to recovery! How many are those who give up?!
Thank you for writing and posting this! I could not have said it better. TBI, mTBI and CTE is so misunderstood so survivors have to not only contend with living and coping with the condition, they also have to deal with insensitivity that often borders on abuse!
Thank you so much for this, as it has been a lifesaver for me to explain to my friends why I am a bit slow and seem spaced out... Thank you! Murray Dunlap
Dear May 24th, I'm sorry you don't feel like you have any supportive people around you. I hope you will seek other supports like counseling or call your state brain injury association.
Nobody wants to understand me and dosen\'t. I do suffer from post tramatic stress and anxity because of tramatic events in my life and have had several head injuries. What I feel, is that people are trying to make me more sick and I feel sometimes overwhemlb becausre of people being abusive towards me instead of being supportive and understanding. That is wrong what people are doing to me. I feel sometimes that my heart is going to give out on me and that someone that knows me is causing me to become stressed out. I won\'t be surpried if my heart give out.
Woops! In my previous comment, the reference to the posting on May 16th should be March 16th! My apologies for any confusion. As you can probably relate, that is what happens when I am tired! Barbara
From the author, Barbara Webster: Dear May 16th and anyone else who would like to know more, please contact Marilyn Lash at: orders@lapublishing.com, the publisher of my book, Lost and Found and this article. Many thanks for all of your thoughtful comments. I am deeply touched to know that so many find this article helpful in some way. With gratitude and prayers for our continued rehabilitation and healing, Barbara
I love what you wrote. It is 100% applicable to children with autism as well. Joyce Tran, author of "Teaching Your Child with Love and Skill: a Guide for Parents and Other Educators of Children with Autism, including Moderate to Severe Autism" to be published by Jessica Kingsley Pub. in May, 2012 joyceshow.wordpress.com
Thank you so much for putting this into words. I've been suffering with TBI since 2001 due to an auto accident. I deal with every single one of these bullet points each day, but fall short on the ability to find the words to help explain what I'm dealing with or why I have to do things as I do. This is extremely validating and very much appreciated.

Great article! thank you for writing it , hopefully this will help family members and friends understand a little more what there loved one is going through...

I love this article. I just recovered my sense of smell. This is not a lie, I was using a males perfumefor over a yar. withou noticing. This past week I woke up and I was able to smell... I spend over $400 in perfume. I lost it but I just found it, memry is still an issue but I know I am doing much better. PLease be hopefull, we have reasons to be.
I had an AVMTBI 6 yrs ago and lost all my memory. I can relate to every word written in this article. I was going to college to become a RN working as a CNA and I no longer can do so. My physical abilities are xtreemly limited. I have been going from 1 specialist to another and they seem to me that I am more of a bother than wanting to help. So I am going to take a break from them. I have enough problems I do not need there negative disposition.
need to get in contact with the writer of this Barbra Webster, to talk about making this go even more public.
This list is well written-I will show it to family and friends,some 'do not get it'. I accidentally shot myself in the head about 3 years ago while test firing a rifle I'd just fixed, a ricochet from a .30-30 hit just above my left eye. Fortunately, it did not penetrate my thick skull. It sure rang my bell, though! Since then, no short term memory, almost 'flat' emotions, no libido, easily distracted and confused, etc. All these have endeared my me to my wife, NOT! The main problem I've found is my pain tolerance disappeared.Things that were an annoyance before the TBI are now excruciatingly painful, which makes the degenerating, arthritic joints and the gout a masochists' delight. I am not a masochist.
I absolutely love this article. It has helped my family and I tremendously. I'm a brain aneurysm survivor. I wish that Facebook would allow this to be shared instead of blocking it as "spammy." In honor of National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month, this would the perfect time to add to world awareness with this article.
I read this article and was in shock!! I have never sustained a traumatic head injury. But, in 2008, I had a tumor on my pituitary gland that ruptured, filling the cavity of my head with blood. It took six months before all the blood had dissipated. At the exact same time this tumor ruptured, I developed severe vertigo, migraines and cluster headaches. It took several years, but my neurologist has ran all the tests and will most likely diagnose me with Meniere\'s Disease (a disease of the inner ear) at my next visit. They claim the Meniere\'s is unrelated to the tumor...just bad luck that it all hit at the same time. Reading this article was a Godsend to me! I have the exact same problems as many of you. Well, not exactly as I have never had to undergo any type of physical therapy. And I sure don\'t want to take away from the pain and suffering that all of you have gone through. I just wanted to point out that all this can also be true of someone who has had a brain injury not caused by an accident.
Thanks for doing the word-finding for me! This article is exactly what I wished so often that I could explain to people when I have problems from my brain injury.
Hello, I suffered from a T.B.I last year around this time. This past year had been hell on earth. I nearly almost died at the beginning of the month because my brain wasn't getting the proper nutrition to heal. It was as if I had the gates of Hell in my head for this whole year. I had severe confusion, Pure-O ocd (the doubting disease), horrible memory problems, massive migraines, no motivation to do anything (even live), no good emotions,anxiety that caused me to go into flight or fight mode, horrible depression and almost a character change. But, by faith in Christ and refusing to die I did some research on what can regenerate brain cells, I found that changing my diet to all organic foods(Salmon, chicken, walnuts, flaxseed, blue berries, eggs, almonds, 100% extra virgin olive oil, and not eating anything processed, packaged or unadulterated, drinking raw milk and pure alkaline water, fish oil vitamins, B-complex and St. John's wort could do so. It has been about 21 days since I have started this diet along with excersice and I can say that I am almost fully better. I have no migraines whatsoever, my thoughts are aligning up, I can sleep like a baby, and I have motivation to live. I am still struggling with the OCD, but it has slowed down alot and I expect it to leave at this rate I am going. I share this with those who are struggling with a T.B.I. I had to leave school to come back home and heal properly. I am hoping and praying that I will be fully recovered in the next couple of months. Praise God! There is hope friends!
I became a Neurofeedback practioner to help a 53 year old friend who\'d had an open head TBI at the age of 5. He was in a coma for 30 days but survived. His subsequent life was a living hell. He suffered from hard core drug and alcholol addiction until he was 50 when I met him. Last hear he had a total shoulder replacement and the general anastesia really knocked him down. Neurofeedback has now made a huge difference in his life as well as other TBI client I\'ve worked with. Effects of Anastesia were completely lifted, Orgainization skills improved markedly, sleep improved, memory improved, depression lifted, stressors became less so. Neurofeedback is brain training on steriods and can rapidly accelerate progress with retraining the brain. Please look in to it as it can change your lives for the very much better in a very short amount of time!
Hello, i am a survivor of TBI, i have just recently been trying to make some friends on facebook, not really noing what i was doing, they have blocked me, cant even get to sign in, through my dissability, i have cognitive problems , i tink there is to much going on for me to coprehend, it hard enough having this dissability, the worse is putting up with peoples and businesses disriminating against me, my main focus on my facebook page was TBI,i am tring my best to make some friends as i have none , live by myself, now faceebook has cut me off, this was quite important to me at the moment, i am having a opperation tommorow, the general anesthetic really effects me quite badly, i fall into a deep depressive hole and feel like hurting myself, the facebook page was all i had left to keep me going, is there anyone there who can contact them and restart my page ,please. Paul Riddler
This website fulls me with hope, thank you for suppling a great place for people like me, who are TBI "survivors" Paul. Newzealand.
Thank you for providing this great website, there are not many if any groups here in New Zealand, i no i am not alone now, best wishes to all TBI survivors out there. Paul, Eternal optimist.
Greetings, my name is Paul, i live in New Zealand, i am a survivor of TBI, or as we call it here AHI, aquired head injury, back in 1991, i was a victim of a home invasion,i tried to stop the offender raping a lady at my house, he was much bigger than me and had a base ball bat,didn,t recieve medical attention till the next day,nearly died, fractued skull, after this my life fell to bits, i lost everything, my job, my house , partner, ended up homeless on the streets, pretty tough when you cant think straight, well thats what i used to call it anyway, used to get picked up by the police for being drunk and not a drop i had drunk, i suppose i was pretty angry back then, but then thats another symtom of TBI, the Accident compensation corporation of Newzealand found an easy out from caring for me, i was angry at what a specialist said, or didnt understand what he said , and cleared his desk, he wrote a unfavourable report, No Rehabilitation for me, i try nto to reflect on the past years to much because i get pretty sad and can slip pretty fast into a bad depression. I am 51 now, live by myself quite isolated really, my mum passed away 18 months ago, she was the one person who took the time to understand my dissability, the rest of my family , just kicked me out of the house 3 days after the funeral, not much empathy there. Anyway i have been given some strength from reading about other peoples challenges and successes, a lady said to me the other day , "your a survivor" to be honest there have been times in my life where i wish i hadn't been. I have another challenge going on at the moment, i have Kidney stones, the had to operate lythotripsy, think i spelt that wrong, anyway they used a general anesthic, for the op, after the operation i felt different, i felt really sucisidal, very dark indeed , they kicked me out of Palmerston North Hospital, the next day after the op. I have another operation sceduled for 15/2/2012, at the hospital, i pre warned them about my head injury, i am very scared that it will be even worse than the last time, they do not seen to care or understand, i was also given morphine and tramadol, and about 4 other drugs, i am pretty worried that this op could be curtains for me, sorry but i am worried. Before i got unwell with kidney stones , i found the best thing for me was to help people, and stick to a routine, keep my exersize levels up, and for me one of the most important sleep when you want to sleep, obey your body, be kind to yourself, i used to berate myself hard out for years, all this gained was varing degrees of depression, i also take 200 mgs of vitimin B per day, and get a Vb injection every 6 months, i think this helps to stimulate memory, oh well, at least i cant remember alot of the bad things that happened to me when i was homeless, lol, sorry AHI humour, hey guys and girls i look forward to corresponding with you in the future. Every day above groud is a good day, Paul Eternal Optimist. My email adress, ioablogs@gmail.com
It\'s just like someone climbed in my head and said: \"you\'ll be OK\" Thank you, and I will struggle on, as tough as today is. Just a year and half along, and I thought it was tough just to hear the words \"traumatic brain injury\". What\'s tough is today. \"... man waiting with patience\" = Henning
(sigh )8 years later the struggle moves forward hand in hand with jesus and thank you for my dear friends who make my recovery easier every day.
I needed this 20 years ago I could never explain to people in words what was going on in my brain but that explains it perfectly. Thank You.
Thank you so true, i had a hemmorage due to AVM removal and this is so true :)