I am sorry to hear about your accident. That's fantastic that you have no residual effects-other than the PTSD.
I had no idea that anything was permanently damaged in my head...for 6 years after the assault, I had no symptoms. My balance and vision was affected for about 6 weeks after the incident, but then I was fine. I was Great! I know the feeling you mentioned...extreme appreciation for being alive, and a renewed sense of hope for the future...a joy about the gift that is "life".
Then, in 1993, out of nowhere, I had a grand mal seizure that woke me up with a tingling sensation in my right foot, then leg, then my right hand...then I went out. It felt like a hot 220 line had been applied to my foot.
I consulted with a Neurosurgeon who looked at my MRI, looked at my history of acute head injury and told me how it was "typical" for people to develop brain masses, [astrocytomas or gliomas] at the injured area of the brain. He advised against surgery saying, "If I go in there and there's nothing that needed to come out, I haven't done you any favors." That was in '94. I thank him every day.
Thanks for the suggestion...I probably should meet some people who have had brain surgery so I can see that there is life afterward.
I think it's immanent for me...and I've never even had an overnight in a hospital...or outpatient surgery, for that matter. [I suppose jla is right to call me a "coward"...I am dreadfully terrified of this propability].
bp, the fact that a few folks here cared at all, means everything to me. As I'm sure you know, anniversaries can be rough. I apologize for my nasty attitude earlier.
Thanks very much for your supportive thoughts- |
