Drinking after a TBI

[Brian]

Hey everyone,

I'm 21 and suffered a TBI on 11/7/04 (about 4.5 years ago). I'm now a Junior at Penn State and am doing great. I hover around a 3.5-3.6 GPA every semester and am quite involved in different clubs. My athletic ability (or, mainly my right side) is not what it was pre-accident and will likely never be, but otherwise everything is going pretty well.

Now that we have some background information out of the way, my question is about alcohol and the brain. I like to go to the bars or different house parties with my friends on the weekends. I usually buy a pitcher of beer or a few drinks to sip on socially for the night. Occasionally I will drink more, but I've been trying to keep that to a minimum recently.

I have not had any negative effects (my brain power or loss of functionality), but realize that alcohol and brain injuries are not the best combination. Does anyone here do the same, or drink at all post-injury? Should I stop drinking completely, or is a pitcher a night or two a week fine? (Keep in mind that once I settle in after college and have a job, this will end. Just at college bars are the social scene and I enjoy it right now).

I realize this isn't a professional neurology forum, but any opinions are appreciated.

Thanks!

[kelly pacheco]

BRIAN--
THANKS FOR SHARING THE PHOTOS BUT ARE YOU REALLY SURE THE ONE WITH THE GUY-- WAS EVER A ACTUAL CAR? DAMM FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD THAT I CAN THINK OF AT THIS MOMENT-- DO YOU KISS THE GROUND EVERYDAY THAT YOU WAKE UP? EXSPECIALLY SINCE YOUR RECOVERY PROCESS HAS BEEN SO GOOD. :)

[Brian]

I recently learned that a local gym is sharing my story in an email newsletter with their "database," because they found it inspiring. They said that their database includes all member emails, fans/media, and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts, something they are big on) promoters of their fighters throughout the nation - about 8,000 people.

It's nothing big or anything, but if my injury helps inspire more people, then maybe that's a silver lining.

[kelly pacheco]

Brian said:

I recently learned that a local gym is sharing my story in an email newsletter with their "database," because they found it inspiring. They said that their database includes all member emails, fans/media, and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts, something they are big on) promoters of their fighters throughout the nation - about 8,000 people.

It's nothing big or anything, but if my injury helps inspire more people, then maybe that's a silver lining.

[kelly pacheco]

YOU MAY NOT THINK IT IS A BIG THING BUT--IF IT HELPS JUST 1 PERSON CLING ON TO HOPE A LITTLE LONGER...IT'S A BLESSING...AS WE HAVE ALL COME TO KNOW TBI/ ABI
IS NOT SOMETHING EASY TO LIVE WITH EVEN IN THE "BEST" CASES... IT NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART FOR IT TAKES GREAT COURGAGE FOR US ALL EXCEPT OUR NEW SELFS...SOMETHING I HAVE YET TO DO COMPLETELY MYSELF...
HERE'S A QUOTE FROM JOHN WAYNE "COURGAGE IS BEING SCARED TO DEATH, AND SADDLING UP ANYWAYS." THAT IS ALL OF US...
SERIOUSLY, BRIAN I FIND YOU VERY INSPIRING MYSELF...I ACTUALLY ENJOY "TALKING" TO YOU...I THINK THAT IS WHY WE ARE ALL HERE TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER...SOMETHING THE DR.S ...MAY KNOW ABOUT...TBI....BUT THEY HAVE NEVER HAD TO LIVE WITH IT..
.ALSO YOUR WILLING TO USE YOUR STORY TO LET THE OUTSIDE WORLD BECOME MORE AWARE OF TBI YOU'RE GIVING US ALL A VOICE NATIONWIDE(8,000) --THAT IS A VERY PERSONAL THING CONSIDERING ALL THE PHYSICAL & EMOTIONAL THINGS THAT GO ALONG WITH TBI --EVEN FOR THOSE THAT ARE ON STABLE GROUND--
I THINK YOU ARE A AWESOME YOUNG MAN-- BRIAN BUT, I WOULD STILL WATCH THE DRINKING WITH THE MEDS.--MEANING-- NOT--REMEMBER "NORMAL" PEOPLE KILL THEIR BRAIN CELLS WITH DRINKING --SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE LESS THAN WE DO TO BEGIN WITH I UNDERSTAND ALSO I UNDERSTAND OURS BEING ALREADY DAMAGED WILL DIE FASTER..AND I WOULD REALLY HATE TO HEAR OF THAT HAPPENING TO YOU...
SOMETIMES IN LIFE WE HAVE TO GIVE UP SOMETHING WE ENJOY/ LIKE OR EVEN LOVE TO GAIN OR KEEP SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT...I REALIZE IT SUCKS BUT...
JUST THINK OF IT THIS WAY YOU CAN GO HANG OUT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU CAN BE THE DD & TAKE PICS OF ALL THE STUPID THINGS THEY DO ...AND THEY GET SO DRUNK THEY CAN'T EVEN BITCH ABOUT HOW BAD A DRIVER THEY THINK YOU ARE...BUT ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THEIR CAR JUST IN CASE THEY THROW UP! (I MAY HAVE LOST SOME OF MY NORMAL BRAIN FUNCTIONS AND NOW HAVE SEIZURES & AND
FEW OTHER PROBLEMS--BUT I DIDN'T LOSE MY WARPED HUMOR--I CAN'T BLAME THAT ON THE ACCIDENT IT WAS ALREADY THERE IT'S A FAMILY THING.)

[Yasmin]

I wish I had the photo of my car. My father went was to see my car totalled and said that it looked like a horseshoe. The back was so pushed in close to the front and he said that when he went to look at it, the lady at the car place said oh you mean the Honda that was a fatality? My father eruptly and explained NO! It was not a fatality! He said that he could not see how I could of survived because he described it looking like a horse shoe. I asked him why he did not take a picture because I would of liked to see it, and he said it was so ugly that when he first laid eyed on it he fell to the ground sobbing saying it was such a miracle that I survived! He did not want me to have bad memory that could trigger the experience or remberance of the accident. I suffered from a short term memory loss and I could not remember what happened. I only remember losing control of the car in the rain as my car hydroplaned some trees, I prayed a lot at that moment, than 3 days later I woke up in the hospital. We should be so thankful eah day. When I have a bad day or someone lets say at work is getting under my skin, I take a deep breath and think, is this really worth it? Should I get angry and feel bothered or even worry about trivial stuff now? No, I am a better person, and God saw that it was not our time to go. God saw that we had a lot to finish in this life, and like I said before, going back to school was a wake up call and so now that is what I am doing. I am going to succeed when others thought I wouldn't, and just having a brain injury makes me want to prove it more. Brian, I have a question for you, did your friends or classmates or co-workers know about your accident and the severity of it (meaning brain injury) and when you came back and functional did they, or still wonder or wait to see if you will mess up? I know that sounds bad, but that is how I feel. My friends love me unconditionally, but to me I feel that now that my co-workers know I am furthering my education, I am now happily married, basically I am no longer suffering, they are not the same. Or another question that I should ask is, do you ever feel paranoid, or wonder and think that others are looking at us differently even when we are reasssured by many and you know that you are and act normal again? Do you feel uneasiness about certain people? Or maybe this is just a work related situation huh? Maybe I just work with too many women! LOL Anyway, thank god you are here, and remember your life has a lot to offer and you have a lot to offer it back, and now that God has given you that extra chance of living, you have to go for it! ;-)

[Brian]

We don't have DD's in State College (PSU). Everything is within walking distance, no ones drives to bars.

[Brian]

Yasmin,

My TBI occured during high school which really isolates it from the current community (college). You really cannot tell that I have a TBI by just looking at me, however, I am self-conscience about my "new" voice and feel that is the biggest tip-off that I have an injury. It's more flat and monotone than pre-accident and slurs easily, especially when I try to yell or am tired. It's better than it once was, but not good enough to me.

The people here that I have told about my accident just don't understand it. They see me and think I am a pretty normal guy, so they are ignorant about the severity of a TBI. My basketball skills now are sub-par, to say the least, and my one housemate always gets frustrated/mad at me when I screw up (because he's a scrawny little guy that thinks he's exceptionally talented at everything he does... prob like 5'8 130, I could pound him into the ground haha ;-)). He claims that I am making excuses everytime I say that something is because of my injury.

[Yasmin]

Brian,
I am glad I am on this network because I am with people who understand like you! :-) I get so self conscious too and try so hard to not slur my words when I am tired too! Sometimes I know I am real tired one day and I dread having to articulate things to others. Like when I have a presentation in class! i actually find myself explaining what I see on the powerpoint slides in a slower way than I ever did before my accident! That is just because I want to explain carefully so I slow down. I know I wouldn't of slowed that much if the thoughts or words bounced carefully out of my mouth like before! Oh well, as long as we can be functional people and still do what we did before to the best of our capacity, we are surely lucky! Take Care! ;-)
Yasmin

Brian said:

Yasmin,

My TBI occured during high school which really isolates it from the current community (college). You really cannot tell that I have a TBI by just looking at me, however, I am self-conscience about my "new" voice and feel that is the biggest tip-off that I have an injury. It's more flat and monotone than pre-accident and slurs easily, especially when I try to yell or am tired. It's better than it once was, but not good enough to me.

The people here that I have told about my accident just don't understand it. They see me and think I am a pretty normal guy, so they are ignorant about the severity of a TBI. My basketball skills now are sub-par, to say the least, and my one housemate always gets frustrated/mad at me when I screw up (because he's a scrawny little guy that thinks he's exceptionally talented at everything he does... prob like 5'8 130, I could pound him into the ground haha ;-)). He claims that I am making excuses everytime I say that something is because of my injury.

[Brian]

Anyway, I decided that next Sunday I'm gonna go check out a contemporary church at college that I found. In high school I was very involved in my church at home, but never bothered to go to church in college. Maybe I can find some other things to do that don't involve going out to the bars a few times every week and essentially killing my brain.

[kelly pacheco]

Sounds like a good plan:)
Brian said:

Anyway, I decided that next Sunday I'm gonna go check out a contemporary church at college that I found. In high school I was very involved in my church at home, but never bothered to go to church in college. Maybe I can find some other things to do that don't involve going out to the bars a few times every week and essentially killing my brain.

[Robert Carter]

drinking is bad, it causes depression and more chemicals in your brain to an already un balanced system so don't do it

[Angela Betancourt]

I use to be the Vice President of a public relations firm in New York City and my key account was a well-known wine brand. So I had to drink for my job. It was kind of like my homework, understanding the characteristics of different varietals. I took the winemaker and clients to dinners. I began my own wine collection. After the accident, I had a glass of wine with dinner every night. Until my nuero-psychologist advised against it about 3 weeks ago. Fortunately, I don't miss it at all but I did ask him why. He explained that while the effects of alcohol is unclear for TBIs, it can cause strokes, negatively affect medications, and alcohol kills brain cells and neurons while the brain is trying to heal them. Those were good enough reason for me!