I can understand the frustration!!!!!! Last April i got knocked off my bike and it took months to recover and still seeing a chiroptractor now. My training is going well, but unfortunatly i still really dont have much confidence on the road so most of my training is done on the turbo. I think had i got straight back on the bike i may be alright but cause it took so long on recovery, im know petrified that i will be hit again.
I've ordered some 'Give cyclist room' stickers to put in my car window and also on my rucksack, so when i do ride to work, if cars are to close and read the sticker then hopefully they will get the message.
I RODE 16 MILES TODAY! It was the scariest ride of my life, scarier than downhilling in metabief! Wrist is painful to hold bars(riding in plaster was always going to be fun), cant change gear with left hand.. My head still hurts, helmet was glued to my head though..my dad came with me bless him. My speech is about the same (read~awful), my head hurts continually, have lost another 3lb(stll no hunger!)..but i am alive...and still awaiting godaam neuro rehab to contact me! I was given amitriptyline for my head? anyone else heard of anti-d's used for head trauma? they dont seem to work, my sleep pattern is all messed up.. Take care all x
Hi Jane, Well done on your 16 miles! How scared was your dad? Sounds as if you are mending well, although not as quickly as you would like. Amitriptyline has lots of effects in addition to being an anti depressant.Takes a little while to kick in though so stick with it. Hope neuro rehab is soon - might be worth ringing / chasing the appointment.Ask if you can see Speech & Language Therapist asap, or is there another route to seeing Speech Therapist?They'll be able to give loads of advice & support about your speech as it recovers. Take care, & keep us posted on your progress.Lots of people shocked by what's happened to you & rooting for you.
It's often occured to me what I would do if I was attacked/injured/involved in an accident when I was out running/cycling/walking alone, which I often am. At work, we've been encouraged to put an emergency number in our mobiles under "ICE" - In case of emergency (particularly confusing if you are a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, but hey ho) , which the emergency services will look for (but of course you have to have your phone switched on, and un-PINed), so that an oen who finds you can get in touch with someone about you.
BUT EVEN BETTER, are Cram Tags. These are plastic ID tags that you fill in with your emergency and medical details and tie to your bike, running shoes etc. I have seen them on soemone eles' s running shoes, and have just ordered a load for hubby and I.
Obviously, neither of these ideas will stop you being involved in a horrific accident as Jane, but will seriously help your rescuers.
Here's what the BBC said about them http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/uk/2278296.stm
I have tags on my helmet with next of kin, and ICE on my phone..to no avail! they are not much use if you are lying unconscious in a ditch somewhere? I wish i was clever and could invent a gps type tag that noticed when i was not moving for more than 5 minutes? in the mean time i will either take someone with me, or call a friend and tell them where i am going?..although i do like to change my route frequently when i am out depending on how tired/fit i feel..
In answer to your Question Jane my dad was petrified, more than me! (as i cant remember the accident) he kept asking if i was ok..bless him, love my dad..so loving and supportive throughout all of my cycling career.. Tonight i went into town and braved a few vodkas to watch the Rugby, i have discovered that i can sing!!!! i cannot string a sentence together but can sing along to snow patrol without faltering!!??, how wierd is that??!!!(shame not the other way round and could talk and not sing,as my singing was never that speactacular, lol) I met a few friends that i havent seen since before accident which was hard because i am sure they thought i was drunk, so frustrating not being able to speak, arm in plaster and mashed up face kinda say it all tho i hope... thanks for support girls...ride safe x
Hi Jane, sounds like you are made of strong stuff:-) I know its not much help, but i used to work in a neuro rehab unit and the progress people make after a bang on the head is quite remarkable. Try not to think about your lack of ability- rather your progress from when you first had the accident. Good Luck!
Well done on your bike ride, you show guts and determination, excellent. Your Dad must have been sh*tting himself tho. I love your Dad,he sounds great. Your speech must be so frustrating tho we cannot begin to imagine. I work in the NHS and I reckon you should chase your appt as well. Get your Dad on the phone and tell him not to get off it until he has a result. Honestly, it does pay to get on people's nerves sometimes and I think you deserve it.. Keep up the good work & try to stay chilled..
Keep up the good work and the positive mental attitude.
I can empathise with you though our experiences are completely different. I was hit by a car 2 1/2 years ago in Whistler, Canada. The car was driven by an 85 year old woman who was travelling at 50 mph when she struck me from behind and I was catapulted 70 ft through the air. I am alive today because I wore my helmet but sustained road rash that covered most parts of my body, a dislocated shoulder, smashed upper arm and smashed lower leg - which has still not yet healed to this day :o(
I had a plate and 10 screws put in my arm and a nail and 3 screws in my leg. I was in hospital for a month, in a wheelchair for 3 months, needed the aid of a crutch for a further 4 months and had physio for just over a year.
I was desperate to get back on my bike and 9 months later was allowed to start riding on the road - the one place where I didn't want to ride!!!!! Last summer I was allowed to start mountain biking again which has been great though with a broken leg I cannot ride or train as hard as I would like.
I have to undergo atleast 2 more operations meaning that I will be off the bike again during both recovery stages. I had no idea that the recovery process would take so long and as frustrating as it is I am greatful to still be alive today.
Your recovery is going to be hard but you'll get there.
well my appointment for neuro rehab came today! 27th feb. I have to see ortho's again too as my wrist may need op, they took off plaster and asked me questions,I couldnt reply, so he basically ignored me. I asked one of my a/e colleagues to view xray and i have a boney spur sticking out my scaphoid, no wonder sore.. ugh!
Anyhow i am singing all day with stereo on,prob annoying the neighbours,lol. speech is a little better according to my mates..cant say i have noticed.
Everyone enjoying the snow? wish i could go boarding...
Hi Jane, I've been away for a week so am really pleased to see you've made so much progress. Your Dad does sound like a star and the singing is brilliant. I used to work for an organisation that had a manager with Tourettes, which didn't affect him when he spoke french! The brain is a strange and amazing thing. Hang in there. ;D
HI, thanks for your replies, everyone enjoying the slightly lighter evenings? i couldnt speak french before queenie lol, maybe i should try? then i may have to emigrate..
Tomorrow i go see the neurologist, i have been rehearsing who the US president is,the leader of the opposition party and how to draw a clock! (I said the US president was "shrub" last time, ha ha) My speech is coming along slowly and hopefully will be acceptable for returning to work soon? (as long as my patients have dementia i will be ok now,lol) in the mean time i am working on my masters degree, ugh, did 2hours study slept for 14 hours! I think i should choose a more interesting subject! I have had 2 migraines this week, which i have never had before? vision went blurred, vomited and head killed for around 15 hours at a time..hope that doesnt happen too often.
My wrist is getting better, the boney spur they found was prob from my crash on devils drop at the cheddar challenge DH a few years ago, thankfully they compared my old x rays..
I have ridden 126 miles in last 7 days too :) all on the road, with helmet and escort, lol.. I am thinking of getting singlespeed bike, as cant think about gears right now, and thought it might be fun? Anyhow enjoy your riding, take care all..
PS; i have just got in from a date with the doctor who looked after me in a/e..lol maybe things arent so bad!
well that didnt go as i expected.. I have just got back from neuro re hab.I lost my temper and walked out!! the dr had not read my notes, knew nothing about me and sat there will a pile of test papers,i did one and then asked him why i have been in 3 times now and all i have done is tests. no test results, no help or anything else, and asked what is the point?. I dont think he liked this because he said if i hadnt had a head injury i would not question why i had to do them,or indeed find them annoying? so i basically told him to keep his tests and left! I am now worrying he gonna write to my GP and say i too mad to work..
Hi Jane, that's so frustrating and I agree with Gayle incredibly unprofessional.
The stuff about not finding the tests annoying or questioning if you hadn't had your injury is such rot. If you had had feed back from your previous tests you wouldn't need to question or be annoyed. He was covering up the incompetence of not reading your notes or having your results by transferring blame onto you. That's out of order. What are you going to do, can you ask for the results of your previous tests?
Hi Jane, I'm so frustrated on your behalf.Can't believe how you are being treated, or not , as it seems to be.There is much more of a culture now of people questioning doctors, interventions etc & that is nothing to do with head injury.Quite right that you want results & advice / speech therapy etc. Might be worth contacting Headway, either local group or the national helpline. They would be able to discuss your situation, local services, who should be doing what etc. I suspect you'll be off on a very long bike ride tomorrow......
Firstly a vodka is in order i think! i am so angry..grrr!! lol, then a bike ride (when i am sober!) Thankyou for your replies/support. I did tell him to stick his re hab, so i guess i am on my own now, my speech is "acceptable" i reckon, and the previous neurologist said that when it is "acceptable" i can return to work, i am now worried he is going to contact my gp and alter this decision..
If i was to say outloud 10 numbers(very slowly) to you and ask you to repeat them backwards would you find it hard? I think i should of asked him to demonstrate.lol.it's not my idea of therapy/rehab,lol
The main problem was, was that i didnt WANT to do the tests, so paid little attention and was too angry to be of much use, therefore have prob given myself a score that would get me in mental institute! once a rebel always a rebel, never will do what i am told i guess..
I dont really care about the the previous tests i know that i suffered a diffuse axonal injury and that it affected; speech , ANGER (lol), appetite...so time to move on.. I just hope that he doesnt ruin my return to work plans. I cant decide whether to speak to my GP in advance, or hope that if he does write to her the letter will get filed somewhere..
I too feel frustrated on your behalf. I think going to see your GP and explain what has happened is a good idea - at least she will be more understanding if you explain first. I certainly think that you also have a right to know your results from the previous tests and you should ask for these.
If you still feel that you would benefit from re-hab, it may also be a good idea to write to the re-hab unit to explain your frustrations and why you got angry - as much as you may not want to (and I don't blame you for getting angry at a Dr who hadn't even read your notes and asks you to do tests that you have already done), unfortunately sometimes we have to bite our tongue to get what we want from people. In the letter you could also ask what plans they have for your re-hab and what you should expect from them? They should understand. It's just an idea.
Well things are loads better now, i am back to work!!, have a slight stutter, work mates take the pi** but those that dont know me just think i pause when talking apparently, so i am becoming less self conscious about it. My typing is still bad,I miss out letters and type letters the wrong way round! this can make chatting liv e online interesting!
I have ridden off road for the first time in years...(cannock last sunday), i loved it! i will be riding at bristol in June, possibly on my single speed.
I am still having migraines but hoping they won't continue forever, I am seeing a different neurologist at the end of April..oh i did see my GP and tell forewarn her about me walking out on the other neurologist, she thought it was hilarious!
The only issue i have had at work is the lack of support and gossip mongering from a handful of my work mates, who have sent out a rumour that i am incapable of making a clincial decision for 12 months??!! argh...losers..
Well i just wanted to thank everyone for their support over the last few months, it has been great...hopefully will get to meet more of you over the summer..THANKYOU x
Great to hear you're back at work. On what clinical evidence did those workmates base their assessment of your [in]capability? Looks like you're not letting them get you down, nice one.
