Live data from Hacker News

I have a brain injury [video]

youtube.com

1–10 of 101 posts

Re: I have a brain injury [video]

#2
So do I, buddy. And not only do I have no access to doctors, I don't have money for it either lol.

You ain't special, keep on living and hope to die at an old age in relatively good health, that's all there is.

Re: I have a brain injury [video]

#4

Brain injuries are nightmares. I hope he feels better in the future. Neuroplasticity is at least a reason for optimism

Yeah, sounds terrible. I wonder what medical treatment he's seeking? My understanding is that there wasn't much you can do other than rest https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/di... but there must be something hopeful if he's willing to move states to seek it.

Re: I have a brain injury [video]

#5
I'm not sure if the submitter is Scotty from the video, but I'm sorry to hear this. I hit my head on a rock surfing almost 4 months ago and have been dealing with similar issues. I don't have any tips or tricks to share about relieving symptoms, but just wanted to share in case it's helpful in any way to know there are others, because just watching this video was helpful for me.

Feel free to message me if you want to talk more about your experience with someone

Re: I have a brain injury [video]

#6

Brain injuries are nightmares. I hope he feels better in the future. Neuroplasticity is at least a reason for optimism

So far, the following parts can fail without a person losing its humanity:

Heart, gonads (testicles), lung, kidneys, liver, stomach, pancreas, limbs.

But you can't transplant a brain out into a new body. Take care!

Re: I have a brain injury [video]

#8
post #4

Brain injuries are nightmares. I hope he feels better in the future. Neuroplasticity is at least a reason for optimism

Yeah, sounds terrible. I wonder what medical treatment he's seeking? My understanding is that there wasn't much you can do other than rest https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/di... but there must be something hopeful if he's willing to move states to seek it.

I went to Mayo after a stroke.

I was (am?) a fairly high iq person, national merit scholarship, 99.8%tile SAT scores, etc. Degree in mathematics, compsci.

I had a stroke in my 30s, and it was thankfully mild (slight dysarthria that went away in a month) but I'm certain it impacted my intelligence and ability to concentrate. I can't focus/concentrate for long sessions anymore. I used to be able study without problem until the need to sleep kicked in, but now I get tired/distracted after only a short time even if I'm well rested. I find complicated math significantly harder to learn than I did prior to the stroke.

When I complained about this to my local PCP he would only run normal post-stroke cognitive tests like word recall, naming places/things, etc. "You test normal".

So I got a 2nd evaluation from a neurologist at Mayo.

Feedback was basically the same thing. He diagnosed mild depression, suggesting that could be part of it, and offered an anti-depression med, also threw in a "you're getting older so can expect some slowdown" for good measure.

I probably should have took it because the clear-to-me-loss of ability, with my doctors not seeming to give a shit, or even talk about it left me with no hope or plan to recover it has made me want to kill myself at times over the years. (I'm fine now, not a threat or risk).

I still read and try and just do my best even though my best isn't what it used to be, and count myself lucky that the stroke didn't leave me disabled or with permanent apparent deficiencies.

I just wish it were easier to find doctors interested in helping you be the best you can instead of simply not broken.

Re: I have a brain injury [video]

#9
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, sounds terrible. I wonder what medical treatment he's seeking? My understanding is that there wasn't much you can do other than rest https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/di... but there must be something hopeful if he's willing to move states to seek it.

I went to Mayo after a stroke. I was (am?) a fairly high iq person, national merit scholarship, 99.8%tile SAT scores, etc. Degree in mathematics, compsci. I had a stroke in my 30s, and it was thankfully mild (slight dysarthria that went away in a month) but I'm certain it impacted my intelligence and ability to concentrate. I can't focus/concentrate for long sessions anymore. I used to be able study without problem u…

I get tiny clots and mini strokes all the time. Factor 5 Leiden. Not at all rare.

Took 3 years and dozens of doctor and hospital visits to figure out. At every stage I was dismissed. Took a big clot that nearly killed me to figure it out.

I had severe cognitive decline, but since I started at borderline genius and went down to “somewhat slow” they felt I was fine. I regained much after starting blood thinners, but not all.

Re: I have a brain injury [video]

#10
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, sounds terrible. I wonder what medical treatment he's seeking? My understanding is that there wasn't much you can do other than rest https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/di... but there must be something hopeful if he's willing to move states to seek it.

I went to Mayo after a stroke. I was (am?) a fairly high iq person, national merit scholarship, 99.8%tile SAT scores, etc. Degree in mathematics, compsci. I had a stroke in my 30s, and it was thankfully mild (slight dysarthria that went away in a month) but I'm certain it impacted my intelligence and ability to concentrate. I can't focus/concentrate for long sessions anymore. I used to be able study without problem u…

> I just wish it were easier to find doctors interested in helping you be the best you can instead of simply not broken.

Yeah I went through some medical things some years ago and one interaction has stuck with me. I described the issue to a specialist and the doctor’s response was “what makes you think that’s abnormal?” and basically tuned me out. It’s abnormal for me!

Post reply on HN