Beyond Brain Trauma
A blog about my personal experience with Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS), a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Mine occurred in 2021, and my intention is to give hope and understanding to those who have been dealt a similar path in life.
People Who Showed Up, People Who Left
All the people who showed up to support me – or Jose and me – are people I will be eternally grateful to. This list starts and continues with Jose. As I told someone the other day, the biggest silver lining of this whole experience was really, I
I’m Getting Better – Notes of Improvement
Saying “I can…”* has been helpful for me to realize that improvement WAS / IS happening. This is my list of things I became able to do again, a list that I continue to add to as I discover new moments that signify recovery for me. I’ve put in
Concussions Can Change Sense of Self and Worldview, and It Can Be Fixed
Getting a severe concussion threw my understanding of myself, as well as my worldview, out of whack. My brain’s systems and balance were no longer running the way that the world and I had constructed them, and I was left continuing to live but with no firm ground
Do You Remember When…?
Yesterday, two specific moments in my day triggered brain injury memories that let me to say, “Do you remember when…?” It felt amazing to be able to phrase some of the persistent trials of my concussion in that sentence structure. Past. Memory. The first moment happened when I
Vision: A Road of Perseverance
A few days after the fall that caused my concussion/TBI, I was with my sisters at a family gathering. One looked at me and said bluntly, “Why are you staring at me like that?” I could tell that I was having difficulties focusing my gaze, but I didn’t
The Year Without Music
In a group I belong to for people who have suffered from Persistent Post Concussion Syndrome (PPCS, a form of TBI), there was a question from a member about whether we have a hard time listening to new music. Almost all of us in the group said yes
Having Hyperacusis – I Couldn’t Stand Everyday Sounds (and the process of accepting the new self)
I sometimes feel over-stimulated – it can be emotionally, visually, intellectually and/or auditorily. The latter is one of the most frustrating symptoms. It’s called phonophobia or hyperacusis. At first, I couldn’t hear or participate in a conversation longer than 30 seconds. After a conversation, I had to rest
Driving a Car With PPCS
If you have been affected by post-concussion syndrome, it is possible to drive again. It takes determination, help from others, and patience. 💪🏽🧠🌿 A few days after the accident, I went with my sister to the beach. I had already rented a car, so we went in that.
There Are Days When I Feel Very Small
Today marks 2 years and 9 months since I injured my brain. I am doing much better. I walk well, run a little, cook, listen to music (easy listening only – mostly simple piano compositions), drive for 25 minutes at a time. I also use screens for several
‘Non-Medical’ Interventions to Facilitate Recovery
First of all, I want to make it VERY clear that recovery is not something that can be rushed. Every time I try to push myself to do more, to get better faster, I experience the opposite of what I want – I have a delay in recovery
Therapies and Doctors That Have Helped Me
In this post, I’m going to write about the therapies and doctors that have helped me, with a brief explanation of each experience. I didn’t find the best specialists until at least after a year of trying various therapies and searching for solutions without success. Over the past
Recovery: Bad Medical Advice and Some Pleasant Surprises
I guess every medical event comes with some surprises. Something not going as expected, an undiagnosed complication, financial problems, and many other possibilities. Based on what I have read, as well as my experience, concussion/TBI is one of the medical events that is less likely to have a