hnicky (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

i think i am experencing this..

pepper101402 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I found that the insurance system (mine was workers comp & sucked) and most of healthcare system is set up either for people who will get well in a short time, or people who are terminal-will be ill a long time then die. NOT for a person who can and will recover but it will take YEARS. If possible, you might have to move nearer to a place with more support for TBI :-( This country's healthcare non-system is horrible for TBI.

pepper101402 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

The extreme mood swings are something that can get much better in time. I struggled with the same thing myself, for first 3 years after injury. Think of an electrical appliance that has been smashed with many broken wires--running on low voltage some of the time, sparks & fire others. Over time the brain "rewires" itself and becomes more whole again but it takes a LONG TIME. The challenge is how to survive, keep the person & everyone else safe, and not go bankrupt, while waiting??

corydonindiana (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Besides her speech, gate, balance, and cognitive Angela has changed her personality all together. She is actually way sweeter than ever before, until she has enough and explodes into a "demonic like" rage. Anger would be too nice of a word.

corydonindiana (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Insurance is the big demon with the doctors. They only cover 2 neuro-psyc with in a one hour drive as providers. the reality of insurances and how they really are when you need them the most is eye opening. we have spent a lot of time trying loop holes myself.Angela had a wreck last Feb. the soc workers and docs have been very helpful. Learning the new Angela is the biggest challenge

pepper101402 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Another GREAT resource to understand brain injury -- the BBC has an interactive "brain map" site. Put in your internet browser: BBC brain map -- should hit it. For anger issues, use the brain map to look up "amygdala" and read. Fear, anger, anxiety etc are when amygdala is ACTIVE - to be happy, QUIET it. There are other parts of your brain that "shut up" the amygdala. For example, my partner can help calm me down when I'm upset by playing backgammon with me, which I knew how to play & loved B4

pepper101402 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I hear lots of stories of people with TBI, and VERY typical to go thru angry stage when realizing "I lost myself, this is the best it will ever get." How did she get the TBI - some kind of accident? She might have post traumatic stress disorder - I had it, also very common for TBI people. Does she have a good psychologist or neuro-psychologist with experience treating TBI?

corydonindiana (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

She use to go to the YMCA and fast walk. She gets violent with me when I take her now. we do take walks now just up the road. They adjusted her meds, but she still occasionally gets violent in the night time and sometimes cries out for help to other people like I am hurting her. We have gotten to know the local police too well she use to read a lot . now a couple of sentences drive her crazy. Lately she is down on herself, like she is just realizing that she is disabled. Thanks for the reply

pepper101402 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I am on duloxetine (Cymbalta) now for depression & overall body pain, and thyroid med - the gland that controls many body hormone levels is inside the head, one of the things that can be damaged. YES, it gets better in time but on the way there are ups & downs, and sometimes recovery feels agonizingly slow! Did your wife enjoy any kind of physical or mental activities before, that she can still do? My heart goes out to you both. AK

corydonindiana (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

She is awake and it is always in the afternoon or night. And the worse she is, the less likely she is to go to sleep at all( even with her night meds.she just got out of a hospital that did take her. she still has her moments, but they are not as long and less violent. when she wakes up she is the sweetest woman in the world. As the day goes on, she ramps up to the rage. pepper are you still taking a lot of meds now? Do you feel less overwhelmed than you did a year ago?