What Impact Will Moderate or Severe TBI Have on a Person's Life?

Anyone here that is married to a person with TBI. I have been married to my husband that obtain a brain injury 14 years ago.I didnt know him at that stage.I knew that he has got a brain injury and supported him as his decisions were ruining his life. (friends that abused drugs etc) He is one of the kindest people I have ever met in my entire life and I am currently running his business (that I took from scratch) and making a success of it. I am his cook, PA, Secretary, sometimes cleaner as well as friend. Recently he went through a traumatic experience with his family whom he trusted (they stole his trust money) and ever since this happened everything changed... He is more tired than usual (yawning every minute or two), sleeps half of the day. He has a lack of zest in life, grumpy and extremely rude to me. (I am his 'punchbag') If I try to talk to him to ask him what I did wrong to deserve this treatment, he slams doors and take off. I forgot to tell you that he is 33 and I am 31. I dont know how to cope as the emotional damage that he is causing to me is becoming extremely unbareable. There is only so many times one can tell yourself: 'he doesnt mean it, he has a braininjury,remember?" He shows no affection towards me which is so frustrating and makes me feel 'not good enough'. He shows no emotions and his attitude when I try to talk to him is the "I dont give a shit how you feel' attitude and extremely sarcastic. I had a miscarriage a year years ago and he showed no empathy towards me and while I was 'sick' he shout at me and swear at me for not getting back to our clients within minutes after they have sent a request. I thought that love would overcome the obstacles of TBI (my love is strong enough) but how can he love me if this is how he behaves towards me?Please help me understand?

I agree totally; brain injury is a very permanent thing. Mine was in '96 when I was 16. I have learned to cope and adjust rather nicely I do believe. But, still to this day, I just want to rest :)

Suffered a TBI in 2012 April. Caused a lot of issues which really neverb have been addressed. I lost my job which has caused me much heartache as I. Was an RN nd worked with psychiatric patients most of my career. I was hurt on the job at a state facility and the let me go after stating my6 month probation was still in affect.

Can anyone help? My mom is 89 and she had a fall in July 2013. They did surgery to remove fluid. She was recovering so well over the last 5 months but 2 weeks ago she fell and hit head again. Nothing on CT or MRI was abnormal. ...but she is having the forgetfulness and slurred speech SOME and it was like she experienced about 3 months ago when she was recovering from the first fall. Can this get better with time (dropping words, sentnces, forgetfulness) it's not all the time but she is worried and i am too. they didnt see anything on the scans. Doctor says be patient, it will get better. There is some chronic fluid still there but the doc says it will re-absorb and doing another surgery on her would be not good. Can someone comment?

I had a severe TBI (subdural hematoma) at age 15 in 1995. It took me many years to fully understand that I had to move on and make goals for myself; I'm now a pretty successful adult. Some things that benefited me the most in my recovery:

don't worry if people don't think you're the same person

believe in yourself

keep lists of important tasks- use a calendar, cell phone, computer

make a list of your goals

learn something new

find ways to relieve stress and exercise

These are the things that helped me the most, and I hope that others find the way. I was very fortunate to have recovered, but I still have things to work on. My anger and emotional control, in general, are still daunting tasks for me, yet I know that I'm a unique person. 

Good luck to everyone. Please remember to believe in yourself.

Hi everyone,I had a brain injury in 1994 I have two boy's aged 15teen & 13teen I'm now 38. The last two years my aggression and depression has got that low all I think about is how can I stop this pain I'm going through and the pain I'm putting my ffamily in. The doctor's have put me on that may different meds it's not funny, I just don't want 2 be like this anymore I can only think of one way to stop it all but I also love my kid's so much I hate the thought of not ever seeing them again or hugging my husband. I feel so alone and scared I hate who I am

I sustained a severe TBI on 23/06/2012  during an attack in Thailand. I suffered an epidural hematoma which required a decompressive craniectomy. I was in a coma but finally awoke and was then able to fly home to Ireland some months later. On 08/05/2013 I had my cranioplasty operation to replace the large sections of my temporal and frontal regions. I started back at University this year and I reckon everthings going alright. There are times when I may have had some problems remembering names and occasional bouts of anxiety, but I didn't bother telling my neurologist. (Not getting this as much anymore) For anyone who was in the same situation as me a few months back I'd just like to say try and stay strong and try and not get down.

I was in a roll over car accident in 2006. I was diagnosed with a TBI. I was told I had a deep subdural hematoma (brain bleed) on the right frontal lobe. Along with other physical injuries. I was in alot of pain and life as I knew it came to a complete stop. No drunk drivers just a big black bull standing lengthwise across my lane. A dark rural two lane hwy, speedlimit 65 at night. I was going about 50 up an incline. I met the bull at the top. Blk bull, blk pavement, blk sky up an incline, visibility didnt allow me to see the bull until I was face to face. I somehow swerved and missed impact but my suv flipped and rolled a few times when I hit the grass and the ditch. I was told though that hitting that big bull would of most likely killed me and maybe my whole family. I'm happy to say my husband and children were unharmed. I experienced about every symptom that I have read about and then some. When it seemed after two years I was getting somewhat better I had a relapse and got worse. Then after asking my doctors about a hyperbaric chamber and getting laughed at and told it would be a waste of time and money I went to one. It was 3 1/2 years after the accident. I was worse than ever at the time. Tremors, headbobbing, slurred speech, memory problems, bad headache that never went away from the initial head injury. Peripheal vision gone, unable to focus well, poor concentration, time mgmnt gone, my emotions towards people, except anger, gone. You name it. I've been there done that. But after a month of hyperbaric dives twice a day, 1hr each six days a week I had a dramatic improvement. It actually felt like I popped out of that state of not being me. If you have a TBI you understand maybe what I mean about not feeling like me. I felt like myself again. The drs. told me to kiss my old self goodbye. They said that person is dead and this is the new you. They said I would need help the rest of my life. I told them Yah-Weh(God) is bigger than brain damage and He is. Im not saying a hyperbaric chamber is a cure all for everyone but it can help some, it helped me tremendously. I will tell you this I got sick several months later with upper respitory stuff that went around in the winter. Went to a new dr. and told him I had experienced a TBI so he would be aware of my history before he prescribed meds but he prescribed something that brain injured persons are not supposed to take. I didnt read the caution page that came with the med until I started throwing up minutes after taking it. That night while sleeping I woke up, sat up in bed and it felt like something in my head exploded. Started experiencing some of the old symptoms after that, for about 18 months it was the worst of the worst. I am again much better but still not feeling 100 percent. I will go back to the hyperbaric chamber again but its expensive. So not right now. I want to encourage you not to give up and try not to focus on all the overwhelming negatives. The human brain is amazingly resiliant and our will and determination is amazing too. Plz read this and be encouraged, its one of the few things I was able to write during that initial 3 1/2 year nightmare. Its called ''Opportunity" I gotta get out, I gotta get out, I gotta get out of my mind I feel like a prisoner lost somewhere in time Standing on the outside, looking back at me Dazed and confused at whom I will be I gotta get out, I gotta get out, I gotta get out of my head I gotta find me, but they tell me she's dead But I don't believe a word that they say I'm not in denial, I just have strong faith That a better me will emerge someday God has a plan and a purpose for me And it will take more than this to steal my destiny So just as I changed and became a new creation in Christ I'll look at this as an opportunity to become a better me this time Because I trust you Lord completely, to me rebuild my new life... Just reminding you that your never alone.:)

My 13 year old son had TBI a little over a month ago now from football. It was raining hard and he had helmet to helmet blow that also caused whiplash. He still does not recognize any people besides me and his dad. He has been reintroduced to his friends and family. He has forgotten his preferences in food, along with a great deal of his 13 years of his life, he has a few vague memories but doesn't recall names of some common objects and is having to relearn a lot of things . He is starting to exhibit some social problems, one of which is not knowing what kind of stuff is appropriate at times . I know its only been a month but it seems like so much longer. I am encouraged to see all the posts here so thank you to everyone for sharing the good and the not so good so that I can get a realistic perspective and be able to help him more. mom of cmb

I was 4 or 5 yrs old when I Had a TBI, I was playing ballerina and fell and hit my head on the corner of the coffee table, All I remember is throwing up blood. 10 yrs later I was hit in the head by accident with a baseball bat on the left side of my head. I blacked out just for seconds, but was dazed. Depression or the depression like symptons started and its not till now, I'm 54 that I'm really having problems with memory. Long and short term. But I must confess. I did have problems with my personalty when I was young. I did not know how to socialize and to this day I still don't know how. Its very lonely and scary. Because people do not understand. And my depression is worse than ever. But, after reading about brain injuries, this might be the answer, its not just me, but something that happened to me a long time ago. Maybe now I can make some sense of what is going on in my head.

I have a moderate tbi, I think all of your stories on here are amazing. I was hit from behind by a speeding car and knocked unconcious. Memory is terrible. Cannot drive yet. Bless you all and thanks for the human connection.

07/07/2007.. I am not severely religious but the date would seem that I am still here and should be. TBI from a motorocycle accident. I am a computer software engineer. Spent a month in the neurology unit while not remembering my name and not really remembering what had been said to me 30 min prior. While I have a wonderful wife and two outstanding children. My continued mood swings, headaches, general irratability would indicate just how wonderful and outstanding they really are. While I indicate content with family. I could seriously do without those symptoms. If I I can indicate directions for anyone reading this, it might be to appreciate those that remain after a TBI. And if someone gives you a chance by saying in a conversation with you that sometimes head injuries change personalities. You should listen and get real help.

Incredible story. There needs to be more education regarding TBI and how early treatment is key. Share your story.

I had TBI on November 2010. I used to be a mixed martial arts fighter until I got TBI from an illegal knee which had me out but my instincts were still going and my fight or flight response took over and I continued the fight for another 15 minutes approximately. In that time I sustained approximately 25 impacts to the back of my head via punches and elbows which were seen on the CT Scan taken at an emergency room three days later to rule out a skull fracture or cranial bleeding. Luckily I did not but the doctor said my trauma was similar to a major car wreck. I now had a condition called Post Concussion syndrome which is pretty much like Post Traumatic Brain Disorder. It is something I deal with everyday and try to make the best of. The part that has really made me lose faith in people is the fact that we had evidence proving foul play and the North Carolina Boxing Authority felt fit to disregard it and blow me off. These guys were cops and chose to do nothing in the face of evidence that hand grounds probably cause along with a fight that had a referee that was negligent to the blows as well as showing intent to violate the rules and regulations of the State. I had bouts with alcoholism, much greater anxiety, a potentially lucrative career now over as a result, and lost my girlfriend due to changes in my mood and behavior. In order to counter act this I have started writing and now keep a blog and am working on a trilogy of science fiction novels in order to keep my brain as sharp as possible and it definitely has helped. I read some of the stories on here and I can definitely relate to the type suffering of it is. I just want people on here to now that you can still do something despite this injury and you shouldn't give up on yourself if you have. I'm not. I just hope that this condition can be prevented someday. It's an injury the people just cant relate to until they experience it. You change.

i was in a wreck this year. fractured skull into brain broke sholder bones and got pnuemonia in hospital. also bells palsy on left side of face. i was so weak lost 30 pounds and cant remember the wreck. i was in hospital for two weeks 1 week uncounscious had people visit me i didnt remember was out cold. looked at my dad and wife and mom gave me support. as well as other friends broughts meals to my home and gave money. im always sleepy weak brain hurts and nervous. but jehovah keeps me strong with family and friends. one day we will be healed and accidents no more. rev 21:3,4

I had car accident on December 1992 and I was in coma over a month. As soon as I was wake up from the coma, I was my own, because I did not have any family. I was new in America and I did not know how to get help. I felt every one took advantage of my weakness. Even, my compensation from car accident was managed and mishandle by others. I did not have place to stay, and I went dormitory school, to have place to stay and it became like hell. Doctor suggests me to leave and rest. I did not have any relatives or good friends in America, I also I was not able to go anywhere else. To make long story short, now after over twenty years, thing are getting worse and I do not know what to do or who can understand me.

I was hit over the head with something pretty solid in an Armed Robbery at my place of work on the 4th April 2003, IT HAS TAKEN A LITTLE OVER TEN YEARS TO GET THE BRAIN TO FUNCTION AGAIN IN A NORMAL WAY.I lost the neural drive to many parts of the body, the hormonal or endocrine was all to pot and has only righted itself very recently,last evening and I am not going to describe how I know, suffice to say I am now a slightly sad sixty-one year old suddenly, overnight. I Had no memory at all for four years, I have only just begun to reason as an adult again, I have never given in, even though I kept loosing the neural drive to the heart for ten minutes or so each time, in the first four years. I am now learning to play the piano, ça va très bien pour moi, and of course a little German,aussi mir geht sehr gute, cheers Christian Morgan.Brighton, no doctors helped me either!

My accident was in 2004. March 31st, but my husband says April 1st. I think I would remember April Fools day... My problem how he minimizes my improvement (recovery ?) I am so afraid at the thought of being with anyone, but can functon with people at grocery store, can't write witj my hand so I write with a comupter. He just wants me to do dishes, cook, clean, take care of myself and be support to him like I was to do before all with a great job of 75K income. I know it is hard to take a person so changed, but he now is scaring me with yelling. I am so scared all the time when because when he yells my head spins. Now have a tremor in my hands which is going to make me unable to feed myself. So scared. This took me 25 minutes to write so it had no mistakes. I bet that errors still exist.

I was Six Years of age when I had my first head injury. It was 1980. I was riding my bike and my father was behind me and I lost control of the bike flipped the bike and landed on the right side of my head. I was in ICU for over 72 in a COMA swelling of the brain. My parents stated they had to sign a waiver to drill a hole in my head if the meds did not work to reduce swelling. Lucky for me they worked. I was an A/B student at the time in a Catholic School 1st grade. I was held back in 1st grade again due to this accident because once I got back into school my Moods, behavior, grades slipped to F/D's, memory, concentration levels, cognitive skills, Reading, Writing, even tying my shoes I had to learn again. Yet the doctors said there was nothing wrong with me. That the CAT scan was fine. Well when I was in 3rd grade I had to be taken out of Catholic School and placed in Public school because I fell so far behind and I just could not stay focused on anything I was lucky to be focused on myself. In 3rd grade public School I was Diagnosed with Multiple Learning disabilities. In 4th Grade I was diagnosed with ADHD my parents refused Ritalin and told the Doctors and the school to figure out another method because they where not going to have a drugged child. In 6th grade I was diagnosed with Eye problems due to the head injury that took place in 1st grade... (OH YEAH) I had to wear Tri-Focals to Bi-Focals to Glasses to Reading Glasses and went through two years of Vision Therapy for children who sustained Traumatic Brain Injury with a doctor in Ringwood, NJ Named Dr. Joel Warshowsky. IN 7th Grade I was transferred to A Special Education School Orange-ulster Boces in Goshen, New York with other students that where mentally emotional and physical Handicapped. (Autism, blindness& partial blindness, deafness & partial deafness, psychiatric condition, Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Down syndrome, and the list goes on. I stayed there until 9th grade when New York State tried to main stream me back into Public school again, which was a nightmare. Once I went back to my home school I was teased, beat up, raped, abused, was in a fight almost ever day, I even began to fake seizure just to get the heck out of the school. They finally sent my back to Boces however the damage to me was already done. I became Depressed, Moody, Full of Anxiety, I began to self-mutilate drawing things into my body then picking at them, this is when I began to have insomnia, and nightmares, started to runaway from home. They kept me in Boces until I graduated High School However I was never accepted at my home school even though my father forced me to walk at graduation to get my diploma WHICH I HATED!!! I was always different because of my behaviors I was never accepted everyone knew there was something about me that was just a bit off. I was eccentric & passionate in my eye, in other peoples eyes I was crazy, weird, strange, neurotic, compulsive, obsessive, impulsive, and my nicknames in High School where "CRACK BABY" & "TINKERBELL". I was 19 I was on a motorcycle and got into a accident I was lucky to be waring a helmet or else I would be dead today. In College I was called "JUMBLE G". due to my eccentric behaviors. By 1995 I was pregnant that was a nightmare all on its own. Seizures, Sugar problems, Blood Pressure problems, mood fluctuations, pains that the doctors where telling me where not their, YET they where there!!!! I was miserable. I was crying one minute, screaming another, happy the next and this is not exaggerating... I was out of control. Then I was kidnapped while I was 3 months pregnant and the police did not want to believe me. Yet they did not want to bring the K-9 unit out to search my car and do scent pad tracking on the guy which they would have found the keys to my car at the very least. Four blocks over on some persons lawn. I have had one problem after another since my head injury medical issues after medical issues. Hormone problems where always a major issue for me. I had to have multiple surgeries down in the female region I am hoping I am going to have my last one this May 2, 2013 this time they are going in Roboticly. Hopefully this will be my last and final hysterectomy!!! Ever since they took out my ovaries my moods have been easier to manage. I still have anxiety . I still to this day at 39 years of age have problems memory cognitively moods matter of fact I was diagnosed with a mood disorder due to a general medical condition with a Personality disorder, anxiety due to Traumatic Brain Injury in 2003. 2003 I was diagnosed with Cervical and uterine cancer had a hysterectomy however I have had one ovary keep growing back about every two to years with masses cysts and tumors every thing has been binge. Fibromyalgia in 2005, OA 2008, early onset Parkinson 2012 (brought on by the head injuries. At least this is what I have been told). Liver and kidney issues... Pains numbness vertigo weakness I been told it is all in my head... I tell people your damn right it is all in my head all from my head injuries I blame it all on the head injuries... So for all of you who have issues yeah I feel your pains mentally physically and any other way. I believe you over any doctor who tells you it is not possible it cannot be happen or even if it is happen I have had them to more frequently in today's day and age. So yeah I understand all of you and I feel for everyone on this website because it is so darn frustrating when Doctors think they know you and they have only known you for three minutes and never even seen a chart of yours before.

I had a severe TBI in Aug 1992, I fell off a car moving about 15 miles an hour. hit the back of my head stood up and fell and hit the frount of my head and of course stood up one more time and fell for a third time and hit the bck of my head again. I spent 4 days in a coma and have very little memory of the incident. About 8 years ago I noticed I started having problems with shakeing of the arms and other mentel and emotional problems. My recovery went very well from the accident, but the problems I am having now seem to be directy related to the head injury I have years ago.

I suffered a TBI in September of 2000 and the two worst physical injuries I received were a broken back and loss of vision in one eye. When I woke up in the hospital I had no idea where I was or who I was. I have undergone every type of therapy possible; physical, cognitive therapy, occupational therapy, and others that I don't recall. Like one person above said that there is a thought on the tip of my tongue and I just can't get it out. It's a very frustrating feeling and it happens more than I'd like. Also, like someone said, I look normal except for a slight limp and a droopy eyelid which eye glasses pretty much cover. Unfortunately like many above I have not been able to return to work. Betweein my back and my eyes I've undergone over 50 surgeries with more planned. Am I grateful to be alive, of course I am. I was able to give my daughter away at her wedding and I was able to enjoy the birth of my two grandchildren. The only thing I can do is to keep fighting this and some day contribute back to society.

Suffered severe TBI in Nov. 1991 - unconscious for entire stay in first hospital. Shattered my right femur - in addition to which the entire right side of me was neurologically affected (right arm spastic/right leg paralysed/very little muscle control on right of body). For the past five years (or so) in particular, I've suffered much rejection or 'misunderstanding' by my once close family & friends - simply because I no-longer behave or react in the same way as I used to. For about 15 years after my unfortunate 'incident', I simply behaved as I thought others expected me to behave; my self confidence was so severely damaged, but now I'm able to behave independently, my genuine 'new' behaviour is rejected - having an alternate (or different) way of behaving and thinking, that differs from the standard 'accepted' way, has made life very hard. The problem is that my behaviour for most of the first 15 years was a lie, merely to ensure social acceptance!

Suffered severe TBI in Nov. 1991 - unconscious for entire stay in first hospital. Shattered my right femur - in addition to which the entire right side of me was neurologically affected (right arm spastic/right leg paralysed/very little muscle control on right of body). For the past five years (or so) in particular, I\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\%5