Embracing the Journey Lessons Learned From TBI

Transcription

1 Embracing the Journey Lessons Learned From TBI Amy Zellmer Author, Speaker, Advocate, & TBI Today s Agenda - TBI facts - My TBI - My Recovery - My Journey - Life Lessons OBJECTIVE: - Understanding TBI & how you can help better your patient experience 1

2 Did You Know??? - Every 11 seconds someone in the United States will suffer a TBI - Every single concussion IS a traumatic brain injury - Each year a reported 2.8 million people will sustain a TBI - Each year 52,000 die as a result of TBI source: cdc.gov Did you know??? - TBI is the leading cause of death in the US for those ages 1-44 and third overall - Falls are the leading cause of TBI, followed by motor vehicle accidents. - TBI is the #1 disability Veterans are returning home with. - The number of unreported TBIs, or those not seen by a doctor, is unknown source: cdc.gov 2

3 Understanding a TBI - No two TBIs are the same - No two recoveries are the same - Every concussion is a TBI. - Mild, moderate, and severe are medical terms and not indicative of the severity of the patients problems or recovery. Other Types of Brain Injuries - Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) stroke, aneurism, brain tumor - Neurological Diseases Parksinsons, MS, Epilepsy, Alzheimers, Dementia 3

4 A Bit About MY TBI - Slipped and fell on an icy driveway February 2, Injuries included: severe concussion major whiplash C4/C5 damage dislocated sternum torn muscles A Bit About MY TBI Symptoms.. 4

5 Overstimulation Light Sensitivity 5

6 Aphasia Flat Affect / Lack of Awareness 6

7 Apathy Headaches 7

8 Neuro Fatigue Dizzy & Balance Issues 8

9 Visual Impairment Cognitive Impairment 9

10 Cranial Nerve Damage Short Term Memory 10

11 Anxiety / Depression A Bit About MY RECOVERY 11

12 Recovery is an Attitude have an attitude of gratitude Writing as Therapy 12

13 Essential Oils Cranial Sacral Therapy 13

14 Talk Therapy (psychologist) Yoga & Weight Training 14

15 Neurologist Neuro Opthamologist Neuro Psychologist Functional Neurology & Vestibular Therapy 15

16 A Bit About MY JOURNEY A Bit About MY JOURNEY - Began contributing to the Huffington Post February Created Amy s TBI Tribe on Facebook February Attending Brain Injury Awareness Day in Washington DC March 16

17 A Bit About MY JOURNEY - Advocating for TBI awareness across the country - Washington DC for BIA Month (March) - Rotary Groups - Radio Shows/Podcasts - - Featured in newspaper articles - Yoga Life & Yoga Today Magazine - Wagazine - The Challenge! - Guest Blog posts A Bit About MY JOURNEY - Published my first book Life With a Traumatic Brain Injury: Finding the Road Back to Normal November Crowd funded on Kickstarter - Published the sequel Embracing the Journey: Moving Forward After Brain Injury March

18 A Bit About MY JOURNEY - Started Faces of TBI podcast series September guests have included survivors, doctors, clinicians, NFL Super Bowl champ Ben Utecht, and Dr. Bennett Omalu. A Bit About MY JOURNEY - Partnered with Healing Boxes to create a ready to send care package specific to the needs of traumatic brain injury survivors - ice pack - wellness journal - eye mask - ear plugs - meditation cd - soothing tea 18

19 LESSONS LEARNED From TBI Lessons Learned 5 Things Every TBI Survivor Wants You to Understand 19

20 Lessons Learned 1. Our Brains No Longer Work the Same 2. We Suffer From a Great Deal of Fatigue 3. We Live With Fear and Anxiety 4. We Deal With Chronic Pain 5. We Often Feel Isolated and Alone Lessons Learned What I Wish I Had Known When I First Hit My Head 20

21 Lessons Learned Please Don t Think I m a Flake Lessons Learned Lost: Life With a TBI 21

22 Lessons Learned Missing My Memory Lessons Learned Quit Using Your Brain Injury As An Excuse 22

23 Lessons Learned Let s Talk About Sex After Brain Injury Lessons Learned Who Rescued Whom? 23

24 Lessons Learned The Many Personalities of Brain Injury Why I Sometimes Want to Throw In the Towel Lessons Learned Living in a Funk: Depression and Apathy After Brain Injury 24

25 Lessons Learned The Downside of Functional Neurology Lessons Learned It s Not Like You Have Cancer or Something 25

26 The Brain Health Online Summit 26

27 Questions??? 27