About Me

[Peg DeJohn]

Just found this website,

Totaled my Harley in 2009 and suffered serious head injuries that left me 8 days in a coma and given my last rites -my husband refuse to give up on me. Also had a birthday during my coma. Still trying to recover but head is in a bubble and have numerous headaches. Must be my age because I am finding most people very young and not experiencing my symptoms.

Damaged my right side nerves but my brain seems to be rewiring and my arm, hand is coming back. My eye didn't so I wear a contac to block my vision and light and prevent double vision. Had surgery to move the eye to the middle for cosmetic reason. Just call me the one eye skier!

I had all my memory back when I first woke -except for the accident, able to walk, eat, etc. Had an injury that they discovered in therapy-rotator cuff and fractured bone and still receiving therapy for it.

Just a little annoyed that is been 15 months and I am still on disability. Hope to ski this winter. Start driving about 3 months ago. Guess I should be lucky that I am alive.

Just call me Grandma Harley gone wrong,

[Peg DeJohn]

Thanks Kat, I haven't been to a neurologist since my 1st few months after my accident, I guess he thought that my age was a factor and wanted to wait it out after a year or so for my damaged nerves to be rewired and since I had no memory loss etc . So I need to call him

I don't have hard time concentrating or focusing, just the stuffy head that seems started when I changed my depression meds and I was worried that I was losing control. I also was not taking my eye loss very good. Can still see out of it but my nerves would not grow back so I will be a one eye skier. I have a contac that blocks my vision and light tp prevent double vision.

I had not taken any “hard” drugs all my life except for Tylenol so I was hoping that it may have contributed to my “control” Have been off them (oxicondone, loransipane and all the rest that MJackson took and that the gave me while in the hospital) for at least a year and only take RLS meds and Zoloft. I did have a slight concussion when I was hit with a snow boarder a few years back but it both cases I was wearing a helmet. I guess that maybe I had shaking baby syndrome and time needs to heal. Snow is coming soon so I hope I can ski -at least my granddaughter is praying for me. She misses me on the slopes

[Kat Z]

Peg - the "fog" bothered me too. It felt like my head was stuffed with cotton balls, and I had a hard time concentrating and focusing. It does get better. Take things one step at a time, write notes if it helps you to organize and remember, and you might try talking to your neurologist about vitamin supplements. Mine has me on additional multi-B vitamins with a whopping dose of B-2 and Co Q 10 Enzyme, as well as magnesium. It helps a lot. I think as we age we need a little extra help. (I am 51.) Above all, be patient with yourself! You are still healing, both inside and out, and your brain is re-routing a lot of essential wiring to get around the damaged areas. It is an on-going process.

[Peg DeJohn]

Thanks everyone for replying. I was worried I had something worst happening to me. I am older than most who had their injury - age 61- and was worried is was dementia or Alzheimer setting in. ( I only have around 20 years left and hope my recovery is way before my end time. ) I checked all the forums and couldn't find anyone mentioning my experience in my head. Guess I have to go way west in your state since NY was not helping me. Thanks again for all of you answers and advice. Regards, Grandma Harley gone wrong.

[Richard J]

Hello Peg and welcome to the forum. "Finding most people very young and not experiencing my symptoms" doesn't mean a thing. Recovery is person by person, and if somebody tells you that they don't have a same symptom, maybe they don't/maybe they don't remember/maybe they don't want to say yes. Yes, your brain is rewiring and reconnecting, give it time. There is not a calendar/book like parents get when giving birth telling then what to expect day to day, month by month, year to year. The important thing to know is that we do get better, sure it takes time, but everyday is a new day.

[Joyce]

glad to see you here, its a journey its been 9 years now and i am still getting better my first 5 years i had the most recovery but like i say i still improve, we just have to keep fighting to gain good luck and welcome