When I asked for luck I didn't mean the bad variety!!!

please-let-me-be-lucky

Thank you Robin, I'd been pointed that way before, but to my shame I'd forgotten about them. Will get on to it Xx

*Robin*

please-let-me-be-lucky wrote: »

Thank you Robin, I'd been pointed that way before, but to my shame I'd forgotten about them. Will get on to it Xx

Sorry, should have mentioned them before. Can help with advice, meeting other folks in the same boat, events, a mentor, even holiday breaks and emergency hardship grants..

satchmo1

Hi PLMBL

I, like Robin, thought about headway for OH and for you to get advice and support too. https://www.headway.org.uk/Regions/NorthEast.aspx

I dragged my DexH to marriage guidance counselling once, to see if that would help him realise I was there to support him. Unfortunately, they said they couldn't counsel us whilst ex was having how own counselling. I was absolutely livid, even though it was sensible. I definitely threw a strop about that.

I also remembered about ex's tendency to catastrophise things.

Don't think you've left it too late to ask for help from Headway, either.
And in terms of the GP, I would often make an appointment to tell the GP how ex had been faring. It maybe helped that our GP had been the family GP since ex was a child, and was a real old fashioned type who lived in the community, went to the same library (I'd often see him there on a Saturday morning and chat about books). I had been able to phone the GP from Germany when I went over after the accident happened. Blimey, I couldn't do that with my current GP, I can't even get an appointment unless I ring at 08:00:00.

Hugs for you, and for your DH, hope the black dog shrinks soon. Which reminds me, there is a book of cartoons about depression that is so accurate. I'll try to remember what it's called but it's got black dog in the title. Winston Churchill called his depression "the black dog", which is where the phrase probably originated.

satchmo1

From Headway's website
Depression

For example, feeling there is no point in having survived the accident, or thinking that everything has changed for the worse.
Depression is a very common emotional reaction which comes on in the later stages of rehabilitation, often when a person realises the full extent of the problems caused by the accident. This can be seen as a good sign, that a person is aware of the reality of the situation, and is coming to terms with the emotional consequences. 'Healthy' depression can be worked through in time, as adjustments are made.
If a person feels emotionally blocked and unable to move on, professional counselling from someone who understands head injury may be helpful.

satchmo1

From Headway's website again
Explosive Anger and Irritability

For example, exaggerated angry reaction to apparently minor annoyances.
Direct damage to the frontal lobes, which is the part of the brain which controls emotional behaviour and tolerance of frustration, can create emotional lability. This means emotions can swing to extremes. The stress of coping with even minor crises, such as misplaced shoes or a noisy vacuum cleaner, can be too much and trigger an angry outburst. If these stresses can be identified, they may be able to be reduced.
Our booklet 'Managing Anger after brain injury' contains practical advice for coping.

satchmo1

Managing anger - tips for brain injury survivors
https://www.headway.org.uk/Core/DownloadDoc.aspx?documentID=613

Managing anger - tips for families, friends and carers
https://www.headway.org.uk/Core/DownloadDoc.aspx?documentID=572

Loads of other downloads on their site that I wish I'd known about!

xx

please-let-me-be-lucky

Satchmo you are an angel :A. Thank you so much Xx

*Robin*

Well done for digging up those links Satchmo - that will make it much easier for Be Lucky to find the info she needs..

mummytogirls

Awwww sorry you had a rough day yesterday, looks like youve had some fab comments already.
Today is a new day xx

satchmo1

At recovery week 5, back in the UK, DexH threatened to throw a tv out of the hospital window because it was too loud, and on all day, in a noisy ward. He couldn't cope with the noise.

In Germany he was in a double room with the other bed unoccupied. He was in a coma for 3 weeks (medically induced for some of the time). He had an English speaking sitter if I wasn't there. In UK, no bed at the first hospital the ambulance took us to!

X-ray's in Germany were fine. In UK - they bashed the plate against his head, against the metal staples; they took the metal staples out of his mandible without anaesthetic (I almost fainted, so God knows what he endured).

Funny episode at UK hospital where he was admitted on return, my sister turned up and they thought she was his wife (I was at his side), lol.

I could go on, and on...