Author: Melissa

Feb 1

0130 woke in a sweat. I’m so hot! Had to change clothes but struggled keeping balance

0800 read Romans 5&6 on my Bible app. While it is good that I have learned to adapt by reading my Bible on the app on my phone. Took me long while to figure out why I could do that but struggled reading in a Book I could hold. Due to my eyes skipping from TBI it made difficult to focus let alone keep eyes on same page. Too much reading causes blurry vision and dizziness even today. Praise God I can read little longer now. I sure do miss holding my actual Bible and being able to read it. Goal to start being able to read hand held Bible for few minutes at a time.

1150p wonder if there’s correlation between overtaxing brain and back pain. Only been able to stand maybe five minutes at a time before excruciating pain in back too much. Been sitting on heating pad off and on all day.

Entire back throbbing!!! Headache. Periodic ringing in ears. Hands swollen, achy, & tingly. Skin itchy. Legs ache. Feet freezing. Abdominal pain. Grouchy. Easily frustrated. Blurred vision. Dizzy. Unstable feeling. Lethargic. Left palm itches. Lft inner ear itches. Center of chest hurting.

 

Feb 2

0600 read Gen 12-15

0630 need to get up to print bulletin. My back is throbbing! It hurts to move.

Putting lunch together in crockpot. Can’t find recipe and can’t remember how to assemble it. Ugh!

0645 printer keeps wanting to jam. Frustrated. Rt hip paining me something aweful! Headache.

0700 oh bother! I just remembered that I still needed to download and print SS lesson for adult class. I’m running out of time. Brain blurring. Leave me alone devil. I’m resisting so flee.

0835 on way to church. Light flashing in between trees are bothering my eyes today…too bright or something.

0900 forgot to pack my music paper. Wrote offertories on it now gotta try to remember them…something about consecration?

Don’t have that book at church? Thought for sure I did. Asked Jordon to go check SS bldg. Asked Rae to help finish getting lunch in crockpots.

0905 Jordon found similar book. Yay! Now to see if something clicks. Finally locate song picked…Zion’s Hill. Brain more blurry & dizzy. I need a rest.

0915 sat down at desk and remembered I need to put SS lesson together. Lord, help me get through this bc my brain is overloaded. Some of papers didn’t copy right. Need to copy back sides. Need to copy whole book and give to teacher to do.

1230 Joe asked me what was matter. Took me a bit to spit it out…I’m so overwhelmed and confused. Not remembering things correctly and it’s upsetting me. Feel like I’m losing grip on hold I did have. Too much stress. Not enough rest time. Don’t need to take on too many monkeys.

My abilities are severely challenged at the moment. Need to rest more. I’m exhausted going to take a nap. Brain swimming.

0350 had alarm set for 3p but I was so tired needed more rest. Laying flat on stomach seems to ease my hip pain some. Suddenly woken by loud chainsaw noise and thump of tree limb hitting ground. Scared me. Hands swollen and painful numb and firey tingling.

0500 worked on writing scripture journaling devotional for blog. This month’s challenging one for me…Peace.

0600 good services and sweet spirit amongst people. Rt hip starting to throb again. Wish I could figure out trigger and learn to adapt better.

1145 rt hip throbbing. Low back throbbing. Lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling. Rt ankle throbbing with some numbness. Toes tingly. Hands swollen, achy with lft hand tingly. Upper back aches with some burning sensation. Brain cloudy.

 

Feb 3

0745 had rough night. Yrobule getting this morning. Need more sleep. Woke with lftcarm and hand numb and tingly. Center of chest hurts.

1000 started putting dinner in crockpot.

1030 Joe asked to run errand for him when I go to bank. Decide to take soup to couple widows in church.

0500 stop at store to get milk. Chicken on sale $2.90/10lb. Got 2.

0600 burnt the soup!  Joe came to my rescue and cooked chicken in air fryer with mashed potatoes and mixed veggie.

0730 I’m plumb exhausted. Feel crash oncoming. Short of breath and feeling weak. Muscle in body burning. Brain tired and foggy.

0930 apparently I fell asleep in livingroom. Joe woke me up to go to bed. My whole body hurts. Realize I forgot to take morning meds. Probably one reason I conked out early. Lethargic. Hurting from head to toe. Stinging needle pain thru body. Just want to cry.

Skin itchy. Upper back stings. Calves burning. Thirsty. Abdomen crampibg. Headache. Hands swollen and achy.

Jan 30

1230a heard strange noise out back of house. Sounded like someone shooting an air pistol. Woke Joe & told him. It happened again. Joe goes to check things out. Didn’t see anything nor hear noise again.

0200 Joe woke me bc I was keeping him awake. Ugh! Awake most rest of night.

0600 finally fell asleep

0700 alarm went off. Don’t want to get up…need sleep.

0800 decide to get up. Whole body hurts. Low back throbbing. Muscles in body very tight.

0154 finally sitting down for lunch break. My entire back stinging needle pain. Brain fogged. Vision blurring on edges.

0715p difficult to focus & see music notes. Look up and away from piano and see two of Joe! Woah! Not good. Need brain rest.

0720 upper back & shoulders throbbing. Short of breath. Actually getting warm.

Worried about my mom. She has migraine like headache. Gave her list of things that help me. Think she may be having allergy reaction to flouride. Praying for healing. Debilitating pain no fun.

Headache, sinus congestion, eyes hurt and sensitive to lights. Loud noise cause my jump. Tongue feels swollen and is lumpy. Sensitive to things touching my skin. Skin itchy all over…getting worse as I’m attempting to relax before sleep. Hands swollen and achy. Upper arms ache & crampy. I’m exhausted and sleepy. Bloody nose slightly. Stinging needle pain in back. Feet cold. Legs ache. Muscles randomly twitching thru body.

1000 I’m plumb exhausted.

JAN 31

0800 entire back in much pain hard to move. Bad dreams. Rt hip hurts. Hands swollen and achy. Feet little stingy. Hands and lft arm numbish upon waking. Hands, legs, back, and toes stinging needle pain.

0830 attempt to work a wordsearch puzzle. Able to find about five words before vision starts blurring. Now have headache.

0900 decide to fold load of clothes. Arms hurt. Hands ache and tingly. Back throbbing. Laying on back to help ease pain. Tired.

1100 bp at pt 112/78. Tis good. Pt apt review exercises to make sure I’m doing them correctly. Checked vestibular with exercises that would make me dizzy. Walk with head to side then turn head to opposite side. Walk forward with bars doing same. Walk backwards. Side in between bars holding try to stand heal to toe while alternating feet…then add turning head side to side. Had difficulty following instructions. Also eyes didn’t want to follow with head – eyes kept wanting to stay forward. Too too dizzy eyes very blurry on edges. Instructed to rest a while til dizziness subsides but don’t close eyes. My brain was telling me it had enough and just go to sleep. It was hard keeping eyes open. Tried fixating on one thing but eyes didn’t want to cooperate. Told that keeping eyes open while dizzy will help the brain to learn to readjust – which in time will help me somewhat overcome the tbi.

0130 think pt was a little intense today. I’m plumb wore out. Chest hurting. Feel crash oncoming.

0500 apparently fell asleep for couple hours. Still tired. Joe ready to go eat.

0600 ate at Newks. It was nice not having to worry about what to cook. Went to Academy’s to window shop afterwards. Rae volunteered to push me in wheelchair. Guys went one way & us girls went another eventually meeting up in hunting section. In clothing section, I saw a woman’s shoe was untied. I was about to let her know when I looked up and realized she had no head – it was a mannequin!

We had good laugh over it.

Jan 28

1145 everything is tingling my tongue. Feels weird almost like a tens unit zapping my tongue.

1220 group from USA showed up to play some games…Blokus, Big Pig?

I know there’s a purpose to playing the games, but I don’t remember it right now.

https://lotsahelpinghands.com/blog/brain-injury-recovery/

0130 mustard enough courage to ask Mrs. Suzie (recreational therapy professor) reason/purpose for the games. From what I can remember, they are to help teach/rebuild fine motor skills, cooperation, working with others, memory, problem solving, work through anger issues, enhance recovery (though I’ve been told recovery from TBI is a life long process depending on severity of the TBI), etc. Just because someone has TBI doesn’t mean they are stupid…it just means that they have to learn to adapt to the new you and things may take longer to do in a day than a regular person would.

Told her that my Chiro told me that I needed to do brain games. Didn’t know he’d passed. She agreed brain games and doing things using fine motor skills will help with recovery. Prefers things to hold in hands like crosswords than computers or games on phone.

Told Susie that one thing the Dr was amazed at was that I could still play the piano. Told her that I cannot explain how it is but there’s times that my brain is so tired and although I’m looking at the music I can’t see my hands or keys. Her eyes lite up and said she could explain. Music is processed in another part of the brain and because I’ve been doing it for so long it’s like rote memory and my brain just knows how to do it. But put a brand new music piece in front of you and you’d struggle. I told her I’ve tried learning new pieces but cannot right now.

She’s seen patients with severe TBI that can still play chess because they had played it for so long. Some patients that can hardly say two words (severe asphixua?) but can actually sing beautifully. One lady she thought of was a very smart lady but after her TBI could only say B’s (Bobbidabibababoo). In her mind she was saying “Where did you get that from?” Those with TBI are not dumb or stupid, it’s just a stigma that comes from people not being properly educated about that particular injury.

Says it sounds like I’m doing fairly well in my discovery stage. Didn’t know there were stages in recovery. Might have to look into that down line. Posting links to read later. If I notate in my journal I might remember later. Lol

https://www.flintrehab.com/2019/games-for-brain-injury-patients/

 

https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Understanding-TBI/What-Happens-During-Injury-And-In-Early-Stages-Of-Recovery

https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Understanding-TBI/Brain-Injury-Impact-On-Individuals-Functioning

https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Understanding-TBI/The-Recovery-Process-For-Traumatic-Brain-Injury

https://msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/Understanding-TBI/The-Impact-On-Family-And-How-They-Can-Help

0230 Stopped at Glasses place to get my glasses fixed

Jan 29

0600 rough night. Slept hard til 0230, 0430, 0530 and wake since then. Trird to fall back sleep butnot working. Rolled out of bed around 0700. It’s been raining most of night. Lethargic & achy all over. Headache.

0715 gotta get kids up an attem. Co-op today. Hopefully it’s an easy day.

1130 It’s been laid back day. I’m so sleepy. Going to need nap once home. Rt hip & low back just throbbing like toothache.

1230 crash in chair in livingroom for thirty minutes. Wish it was longer. Still sleepy.

0830 should’ve taken pain rx before taking meal to church family

1020 turn wrong and right side cramping/spasming. Oh it hurts so much!

1030 absolute pain sitting/leaning on heat pad for bit to ease muscles

1130 took night meds and pain rx. Muscles in lower back and rt hip throbbing worse than toothache. Lft ankle throbbing too.

Jan 25

7.00 Alas, I feel like I was beat up bad last night. Every ounce of my being hurts horribly. It hurts to move…even to try to sit up.

Sister msg me to let me know her daughter feeling better. Found chiropracter in country that she’s going to and it seems to be helpful. PtL!

Decided to look up benefits of acupuncture. Skimming through an article…Read some of benefits to Joe. Said maybe it’d help me. I need to be adjusted. Told Joe I’d call Monday to see what Dr would charge.

https://www.livescience.com/29494-acupuncture.html 

8.00 Brr! It’s cold outside 37°.

6.45 still ache horribly. Hubby says weather is changing.

https://www.outsideonline.com/2394292/how-weather-affects-your-body

11.20 in so much pain…trouble getting at least little comfortable. Stuffy nose.

 

Jan 26

0600 I like I was in a fight.

0713 adjusting hair off neck it feels like something’s crawling on skin. Collar bones in chest crack. Ough! Headache. It hurts to move.

0800 driving two cars today. Don’t want canvases to get messed up. Buddy put my keys in his pocket. I not know. Searching purse & house. Text him. No answer. Joe called later to let me know. Ugh!

1158 lft arm upper cramping and hurt, low back & rt side throbbing

0130 It’s raining outside. I’m tired, hurting, and sleepy. Think I’ll lay down a bit. Hard to focus on one thing right now.

0330 took me quite a while to fall asleep. Jerked myself awake few times for a moment. If I could get restful sleep I’d feel better.

0620 back really hurting

11.30 https://www.inverse.com/mind-body/why-you-need-more-vitamin-d-in-the-winter#:~:text=Vitamin%20D%20helps%20you%20absorb,infection%20and%20inflammation%20year%2Dround 

 

Jan 27

0700 Rough night but got decent amount of sleep. Strange dream.

0800 I think I know why I’m hurting more. Washer broke (beyond repair…tub inside drum fell off) and I’ve been attempting to wash clothes in tub…only get part way through and have to have kids help. Currently laying down bc my back is throbbing!!! Headache too.

Need a break for while. Life is hard sometimes. Kindness, courage, and love will help.

1000 just finished 2nd load and finally making bed for day. I’m exhausted and hurting. Need a nap. Feet are freezing!!

1100 My parents just fussed at me for washing clothes in tub. Siad its no wonder I’m hurting more.

1137 under covers in livingroom trying to get feet warm. Sudden sharp stabbing pain in top lft ft.

0230 Mom came over to massage my feet using reflexology. She asked if I could feel her massaging pituitary gland in big toe. Only feel pressure nothing else. Says that’s not good

0430 dinner on stove – minestrone throw together

0530 hubby on way home

0555 finall have asl lesson typed up…been trying to put it on paper since about 1145ish…can only sit for piece at time. Vision blurred and brain fogged. Time to be done for day.

0830 decided time to take epsom salt soak since I’m hurting so much it hurts to move. Headaches. Brain fogged & verbage not coming out of mouth right.

0900 tired and out of breath just getting dressed. Still missing my tablet. Can’t remember when saw last or where.

0930 frustrated not finding nor remembering. Oh! I found the mouthwash, nail polish, & polish remover I misplaced over a week ago maybe more. Rae found the other polish remover I misplaced even longer ago.

Found a random lid in livingroom. Asked Jordon if he put away the mushrooms. Jordon replies “Mushrooms?” Oh, I meant to say marshmallows. Ugh. Time for b3d that tells me. Brain I must rest.

1000 must do pt night exercises. It still hurts to move. We’ll see how much I can push through.

1021 pushed through. Quite dizzy. Stinging needle pain in back. Lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness. Toes tingling. Tummy hurts.

Ok in am. Pain 5. By afternoon much pain 9/10. Lay down to rest. Deep breaths to reduce pain to 6/7. Headache. Any activity causes much pain & must rest after few minutes or so. Collar bone & chest areas popping cause pain. Costo flairing maybe? Rt hip & low back throbbing!

1050 Is it possible that my pituitary glands were injured in LS causing all the symptoms and chronic pain???

https://www.healthline.com/health/hypopituitarism

https://pituitary.org/medical-resources/integrative-medicine-mind-body-spirit/naturopathic/naturopathic

http://cyberdoktor.org/en/holistic-medicine/214-healing-the-pituitary-gland-with-nutrition-and-natural-remedies