Difficult coping with late effects of brain injury

Dan, the BAF had a blog from a disability lawyer. She had put in great things for how to get disability I think she was from PA or one of the Northern states. It took me four years to get approved. I think he call to my Senator really helped because my case was reviewed and accepted two weeks later. They only went back to my 55th birthday, not 53rd when I ruptured. Lawyer said my age and educational level hurt me in receiving SS. 55 seems to be a magic age.

Good luck!

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I am currently have the same type issues. It has been 2yrs since my aneurysm and I keep feeling as if I am not liked at work! Situations with my supervisor are unbearable. I cry uncontrollably, because I feel that I am being treated as if I am not competent in successfully doing my job. I work constantly and am trying to prove that I am worthy. My supervisor gives me the silent treatment and when I do succeed in my duties, I receive complements from others except from my supervisor. Is it just in my head or do I need a break from my job?

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What was your relationship with your supervisor like before the injury.? If it was good maybe take your supervisor out to lunch and see if a discussion can help. If it was not good before the injury not sure what could help. It is a difficult situation to be in. I wasn’t able to fix anything with Co workers wish I had more to help

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wow congrates!! happy for you! I always tell people things will improve and you are living proof! I’m 7 yrs post sah and permanently disabled and know the tough road we tred. your family should be proud of you and i bet most are. Thank you for sharing bro, you made my day! tc

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Congrats on doing better - sorry I am just now joining the conversation. Did you have any type of speech therapy? I finally convinced my doctor to send me to a neuropsychologist a few years ago and was diagnosed with neuro cognitive disorder. 5 months of speech therapy helped me immensely - I was able to not get so frustrated and shut myself down when I was overwhelmed and my test scores went up, some considerably. The therapy ended about a year ago and when I have lapses in my “brain games”, I really don’t feel as sharp and “on my game”. I have been faithfully doing my assortment of games daily for the past few months - I am amazed when I see my cheat sheets where I used to have to write down the numbers that were missing on soduko because I couldn’t remember them while doing the puzzles. Now, I don’t need to write them down. I still have a lot of trouble at times remembering words, but that is something that I have had to accept. It sounds as if you have found some peace too and hope you continue to get better emotionally and otherwise. Take good care and I hope you get SSDI soon.

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Thank you for sharing your perspective. Your statement “Dont be hard on yourself, you are an innocent victum of a horrible affliction and you are doing your best…” is a reminder most of us need daily. 18 months from 2nd open surgery with a few energy, mobility and memory isssues, however your post is honest and encouraging.

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hiya i hope this finds u well, wow your dr sounds much more in tune to our issues, mine offers ziltch even tho he has in house phych’s - i was amazed to see a physc plaque on a door there, I would think a consult with him/her would be automatic since Mayo says we all have PTSD to some extent?? tc

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Good Morning, thank you for sharing this, It has been 5 years since my surgery 2 coils and a stent and for about 9 months now I am experiencing balance problems when making a turn when walking, thought I was going crazy , my reg dr tells me its all in my head, meaning my mind, but I kept wondering if this was a delayed reaction to the annie, , thank you for sharing this, we all share so many of the same issues and it helps us all to get thru the daily challenges.

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I have that balancing problem also, its not all the time but it happens.
I have one coil and do have stents. it has been 13 years for me and I still feel like I am going crazy at times because no one understands.
oh and don’t let me HURRY, I malfunction if I have to rush, its like I have a short in my “circuit” I am giggling now but its the truth seriously, I get up
an hour earlier than I use to get ready for work… and sometimes have to
stay over to accomplish what I did before the bleed.
v

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I sympathize with Chacha I too got treated very poorly at work, they are supposed to be professionals and these big Christians who do not miss church on Sunday… but they have compassion the size of a microdot… I think they are just totally unaware of what we all went through, we do need awareness for people to understand or at least try to understand the severity of what we survived.
So sorry for you
V

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My wife’s situation is very similar to yours. Her rupture was 5.5 years ago. Walking is pretty good. When she needs to look to the side, change direction, or step up or down, she needs to stop and then gingerly go on. Otherwise she tends to lose her balance. Every person seems to have different issues, but it is helpful and encouraging to see how people are coping with the same issues. We are certain this is a result of the annie–Ruth was not that kind of person before.

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Thank you, I’m sure you know this, sometimes we feel all alone, this helps more than you realize.

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Thank you for your support! It hurts so and I am dreading going to work tomorrow! I hope you are doing well!

Dana

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Sorry for seeing this so late - I am not on this site very often. I kept having problems and at my insistence my GP finally sent me to a Neuro-Psychologist who diagnosed me with Neuro-Cognitive Disorder caused by the brain surgery. I was already on SSDI, but when they sent me a review form I enclosed the letter from that doctor who stated that he did not think I would be able to return to the work place. I still would like to work at some point, I just don’t know what - so I will just volunteer in the meantime.
Another thing he recommended was speech therapy, which I finally had for 5 months. Best thing ever - my agitation, anxiety went away and I can think better. Doesn’t help me with remembering words, but hey, you can’t have everything. I still do some of the brain games - you lose some of it if you don’t keep up occasionally. One of the best advice that my speech therapist gave me - don’t ever pay for sites or brain games. There are plenty of free ones on the internet and she was right. One of my biggest concerns was if I had Alzheimer’s and he said he didn’t think so, but we would know in the next year. I haven’t gotten worse and it’s been over 2 years now - so no to
Alzheimers!! Good luck to everyone who is having problems - it does get better. It just sometimes takes a while to accept the new you and figure out how to cope with working or not working (which is hard financially for some, including me).

Take care, Sherri

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Jeannie, my coiling was in 2012 so 5 years for me too. I have those balance issues too when turning. So frustrating! My neurologist sent me to physical therapy, which helped a little, but it still happens. I’m obscurely comforted to find someone else with this issue. Something odd to add: when my aneurysm ruptured I remember standing up to go to the ER and none of my body parts seemed to be in the right place. It was like one foot was on my hip and the other was around my ear. I feel like it happens now and makes me dizzy when I turn suddenly (and sometimes when I’m not standing.)

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My husband tells me all the time that I had problems with time management before and so I remind him. Well add an extra hour to that now! It makes him mad at me but it is the truth!

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I think you have to admit to yourself you have a brain injury, but also you are a Survivor. Ten years ago we did not know we survived these burst aneurysms and I really do not think Doctors or the people do not know how to treat us. We have people in our life Leave Us because “we are different than before” but we might Look the same. We act different. Heck Yes we Do, because We Are! THE FATIGUE, THE HEADACHES, MIGRAINES, ANXIETY, FALLING-DOWN, PAIN, NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT PEOPLE SAID, SHORT TERM MEMORY, INCONTENCE shall I go on. Even our own Family does not understand. Heck I lost both of my sisters. So I could NOT work anymore, some can,. But Thank God for Benefits for us that can’t. And maybe if it gets to much stop thinking you can do it all, because you have been through a lot, and give up something. You are not Superman, Take naps and take care. You survived.

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Hi Dan, So sorry this happened. I , too have had a lot of stress. If you can call Soc Sec in your area, maybe they can help you through the paperwork. I had a wonderful woman help me through it. Got it through her help! I have some headaches,. Thank goodness for my patient husband.There are people that can help. I have taken MCT oil and Lion’s Mane along with a supplement called BRAIN by Fungi Perfecti. Very helpful. Blue skies, Glenda Ps Sorry if typos… Only can type w one finger on L hand. :slight_smile:

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Just cking in and saw this about balance issues. I had my surgeries in June and July of 2016 and I also have balance issues. Sometimes I’m fine and others…oh boy. After showers my balance is bad for about an hour. I always say I don’t have my land legs yet. I had aneurysms on my left side and my right side. I have 5 PEDs that were put in. If you ever find anything to help with the balance issues let me know.
Wishing you all well.

I learned to take warm showers, not hot helps with balance issues after a shower.

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