Wow! 6 years since that fateful weekend
where I hit my head and couldn't get better. I have come a long way
to where I am today. On a trip home last week, I was able to get
together with a bunch of people from my family without getting sick!
It was an incredible milestone that moved me so much, and it was so
wonderful to be able to see them all together again! I was able to be
back at church and talk to everyone without getting sick! It was
amazing! I've missed it so much.
I remember back in the beginning,
people would say “After you are better, it will seem like such a
short time that you were sick”. Not necessarily true, but I have
forgotten how bad it felt some days. I have forgotten some of the
frustration of when I couldn't drive for the first 3 years. I have
forgotten what it's like to be so embarrassed for my dear friends to
come and clean my house because I couldn't. I have forgotten the
disappointment I felt in myself when I was a patient to my husband
and kids instead of a wife and mother.
Today, I am a different woman. I'm so
much better, and on my way to being all the way healed. Six months to
a year of continued therapies and I should be all better! A friend
put it best when he asked, “Is this the new Kate?!” I'll never be
the same as I was before the head injury, but I don't think that's a
bad thing. My perspective and priorities have changed in great ways
that have centered and grounded me. I'm happier with myself now than
I've ever been.
The plan now is to continue with the
nutrition changes I've made, keep going for chiropractic adjustments,
and keep working on my brain based therapies at Integrated Health
Systems: http://integratedhealthdenver.com/
These are the people who have gotten me from 50% to 90% in about a
year. I can't tell you what I feel for this place and these people.
They have truly saved my life!
I also have to start building endurance
and strength. I am so out of shape from not using my body for 6
years. This will be the tough part as it is with anyone who hasn't
worked out in a while. Please pray for me specifically in this. I
need to get in the pool regularly and get in shape! I want to be able
to chase my kids around and participate in life again. My body and
mind are ready to do the work now. I just have to put one foot in
front of the other and do it.
Thank you for you guys who have
supported me and stood by me when I wasn't able to be present. It's
been a long road, but I truly believe I'm at the end of it. I would
not have been able to get through this without all of you who brought
me meals, gave me rides, cleaned my house, watched my kids, listened
to me whine about feeling crappy, treated me like I was a normal
person while I was sick, supported me through my recovery, prayed for
me and my family, were there for my husband and kids to vent about me
being sick, and loved us in ways that we could never imagine. You are
all incredible!!
I am so thrilled for your sense of being a you that feels closest to who you were six years ago!
ReplyDeleteIn the most backhanded way I will wish you a Happy Anniversary! I will reach six years end of this year. I swear I may have come across your blog years back, your name and photo there sort of ring familiar. I have only read this first post, I will read more. I'd love to connect, don't see an email listed anywhere here?
Hi Anon. I had PCS for 13 months. Everything I did to get better can be found here, in case you are interested: http://bit.ly/1QqJYvh. Best of luck!
DeleteGreat blog Kate! I am glad you are doing well, and getting back to exercise and activity- wonderful! I am currently recovering from my 7th concussion... making my recovery a slow one since June 2008 with some ups and many downs!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you've tried heart rate tracking? I am doing some sub threshold return to activity and I am finding that my symptoms are almost directly correlated with my heart rate- in any activity! So whether I am gardening, reading or walking I know that if I keep my heart rate below a certain number, I can see my symptoms coming a mile away. Have you tried this?
Bri, I found the same thing re: heart rate. I got on the buffalo protocol and that helped, but going to UPMC in Pittsburgh is what got me all the way better after 13 months. My full story is here: http://bit.ly/1QqJYvh. Best of luck!
DeleteHi Kate. I had PCS for 13 months. I went to Hopkins for eye and head pain treatment and UPMC Sport Medicine Concussion Clinic for the rest. The details are here, if you are interested: http://bit.ly/1QqJYvh
ReplyDeleteI too have suffered for 5+ years from ice hockey & soccer head injuries. Man I could write a book on it as Im sure you could as well. What a frustrating situation we have been in. Thanks for posting your blog, I will look over it a bit more. Have you heard anything with cannabis and it's ability to help the brain for post concussion patients?
ReplyDeleteHi Kate,
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to bother you, but I have some questions for you. Based on symptoms of my own, I think I may have PCS as well and would like to speak with you through e-mail describing what I have been through. I haven't been diagnosed with it yet, but I just would like to speak with someone who has been diagnosed with it. If you can drop me an e-mail or provide me with your e-mail address, I will definitely provide some details. Thank you for writing these blogs! It may date back a few years ago, but the relevance is still there and applies to people such as myself right now who are experiencing health issues.
-Chris