Decided to stop in

[Lauralee73]

Hi all!
I am new to this site, well, to be honest I browsed it a few times over the past couple of months, but didn't feel quite ready to post. :rolleyes: I feel somewhat better to date and thought i'd give this a go.
Firstly, I'd like to introduce myself. My name is Laura and I am 32 years old. On February 19th 2007, I suffered quite the Traumatic brain injury as well as physical injuries, hmmm, broken left clavicle, spinal injuries, fractured pelvis and broken ankle. I was on my way to work a night shift at the hospital and was receiving a little help from some passing motorists as I went off the straight stretch of road slightly....it was quite snow covered. I was told later this past year that I had been standing in the door jamb of my car when an older gentleman driving exceedingly fast slammed into me and my car sending it several hundreds of feet down the road in the ditch.
To make my story short I was air lifted to Edmonton University hospital where I laid in a Coma for 3 weeks. Boy, the things you experience in a Coma!!!!!!!! :) It's been almost a year,and I still struggle with my speech and many other aspects of my injuries. If you'd like to talk or chat with me, I'd be more than happy to share my thoughts and listen to yours too.

take care everyone!! Blessings to all!

[joy]

Hi Lauralee and welcome. I say there are several forums here where you might have lots to say about things that many of us have never experienced. I'd love for you to join us on the emotional support forum. I have the usual aches and pains from injuries and aging and tend to get a bit down because of having to stay at home so much of the time and I find that it helps me greatly to share even simple things such as what are the little things that make me happy. :) with others on that particular forum. And for sure you surley could identify with most on the spinal forums. I hope you don't suffer chronic pains from the accident. I'm happy to say Hi to you and to say, you are a survivor and I'm glad of it.

[KDee]

Hi Lauralee,
Welcome!!
Wow...you have been through a hard and life altering experience. Hooray for you that you are here...and I welcome you. I am new also and have not yet posted but I look forward to chatting with you.
KDee

[Nana4&cntn]

Hi Lauralee,

Welcome to BT!!

You have been through so much, I am verry happy to see you here.

As Joy said the Spinal Disorders Forum is great. There are alot of great supportive people there. I believe there is a brain injury forum also.

I visit the Forum for Emotional support daily, we have a great bunch there also.

I hope to see you in the forums, you only have to share what you choose. There is never any pressure.

Take care, hoping to see you soon.
Kathy

[Lauralee73]

Thanks alot for your suppport! :) Joy, unfortunately I do have chronic pain. I think my DR has finally found somewhat of a solution for me. I'm giving Neurontin a try. Boy, none of this is fun. Especially at my age. lol.... I have 2 kids under 10 and they had a real tough year not knowing if I'd ever be the same again. I am working so hard in therapy and dream off someday being able to return to the job that i love.;)
Kdee and Kathy, I will be sure to check out the forum. I find it's so hard to find people in my community that understand. It was great to find this place.

[joy]

Hi again Lauralee.. As for me, I just as soon hear acute pain verses chronic pain because I've come to learn that chronic means it will sick with with for too long! Either way pain is bad.. I hope the neurontin helps. I have been on Neurontin, for nerve pain. I hope it helps you. If not, there are several other kinds of medicine in the same line as Neurontin. I have know people that one didn't help and that one of the others did. I was on several at the same time. So I hope you find one that works well for you.

I am glad that you are working hard on the therapy. That will surely help. I know you will find people here that understand your problems. Way back when I first was diagnosed with things I had never heard of I kept begging my neurologist for suggestions to put me in contact with other people with my partiular kinds of health issues. And of course letting me know of any of the names of his patients was against the law. I was so glad that I finally went to the computer and started googling words that eventually led me to this place and people who were like me with health troubles. I wasn't feeling so all alone any more after that! That in itself meant a great deal to me.

So I am glad to hear you feel much the same way about having people to communicate with. I am much older than you, in fact my oldest grandchild has just turned 8. My daughter has health problems, seizures and muscle troubles. I love helping keep the grandaughter and I can truthfully say even tho' it pushes my body to the limits, I need the push and really know I am better off to keep trying. But she does go home sometimes and then I get to collapse. I also have a 3 year old grandson. I don't keep him as often because there are many things that a kid has to do for themselves that I just can't do. I won't be all that long tho and I already can keep him more often than I used to be able to. Getting to see grandkids and try and keep them is my greatest job ever now.

[Buttons2]

Welcome to BT Lauralee. I know you'll benefit from joining us. You are a true survivor! I've never been to your part of Canada,is it very cold there right now? Were you in a coma from the injuries,or was it drug induced to help with healing? Not that it matters,I was just wondering.

I hope the Neurotin will help you.

Better days are ahead for you & your wee ones!
Buttons

[Lauralee73]

Hey Joy,
Boy, I really do loathe the ongoing year of pain. I was put on Neurontin a week ago, so still too early to tell if it's helping. I do suffer from minor seizures as well. The neurontin should help both ailments.
Oh I sure would love to be able to turn back time to a year ago.....pain free, no thyroid problem or brain injury. Something I have to live with. GRRR. LOL...

Chat later. :)


Hi again Lauralee.. As for me, I just as soon hear acute pain verses chronic pain because I've come to learn that chronic means it will sick with with for too long! Either way pain is bad.. I hope the neurontin helps. I have been on Neurontin, for nerve pain. I hope it helps you. If not, there are several other kinds of medicine in the same line as Neurontin. I have know people that one didn't help and that one of the others did. I was on several at the same time. So I hope you find one that works well for you.

[Lauralee73]

Hi!

It's flippin' freezing up here! :mad:
Well, today reached a high of -5 celcius which i was happy about. All last week in was -40 & -50C. BRRRRR!

Yeah, I was in a Coma. Went in one on my very own. I wish in some ways it was induced. Lasted approx. 3 weeks. I lost a good portion of last year....memory wise about 10 months. I'm still working to perfect it. :)


Welcome to BT Lauralee. I know you'll benefit from joining us. You are a true survivor! I've never been to your part of Canada,is it very cold there right now? Were you in a coma from the injuries,or was it drug induced to help with healing? Not that it matters,I was just wondering.

I hope the Neurotin will help you.

Better days are ahead for you & your wee ones!
Buttons

[Nana4&cntn]

Hi Lauralee,

It sounds as if you have been through alot and survived. Thank you for reaching out.
My name is Kathy, I am sure we will be able to provide you with support and share some of our experiences with you. I am so sorry you had to find us. But I am happy you did.
I hang round in Forum for emotional support, chronic pain and spinal issues. There also is an epilepsy forum if you want to check it out also.
It is terribly cold here also, I am in Nebraska USA. We reached a woping 15 degrees todat with a -1 wing chill, take heart spring is around the corner/

Take care,
Kathy

[Lauralee73]

Thank you so much Kathy! I feel alot better knowing that there are others like me out there.:) I felt pretty much alone this past year, even though I have my husband, and (parents/family live across the country):(. My parents/sisters & brother did travel 4000 miles to stay at my bedside immediately following the accident.
I just might check out the epilepsy forum. Boy, when I think about how much has changed I shudder. Quite emotional at times. I keep thinking I was spared because I contributed alot to my Nursing career and really did/do care about the patients. That belief keeps me somewhat sane.

Thanks again. Best wishes to you.*bunch


Hi Lauralee,

It sounds as if you have been through alot and survived. Thank you for reaching out.
My name is Kathy, I am sure we will be able to provide you with support and share some of our experiences with you. I am so sorry you had to find us. But I am happy you did.
I hang round in Forum for emotional support, chronic pain and spinal issues. There also is an epilepsy forum if you want to check it out also.
It is terribly cold here also, I am in Nebraska USA. We reached a woping 15 degrees todat with a -1 wing chill, take heart spring is around the corner/

Take care,
Kathy

[Nana4&cntn]

Lauralee,

Such a beautiful name, You sound like a very sweet and caring person. I was a Social aworker and still after 11 years help out when I can. I still talk with frusrated parents and folk in services. I an a court appointed guardian for several mentally retarded/mentally ill folks. It keeps me busy and my mind off of the pain and frustration.
You have been thru so much, check out sites, lurk, and decide where you feel comfortable. We have so many good and very smart people who have many experiences to share and learn from. I wish I would have found this site ,any years ago. Make good friends and count on them when thinggs get tough,

Take care and I hope to see you soon,
Kathy