Coping with fatigue following a brain injury or neurological condition

Occupational Therapist Kiera Stevenson introduces coping strategies for those living with fatigue following a brain injury. Managing fatigue is an important part of recovery and rehabilitation and fatigue is different to feelings of tiredness.

[@toddsutton5672]

well im 53 years into tbi and chronic fatigue. her descriptions of fatigue are correct the management is bs. I cannot organize so thats out the window. i also have severe obstructive sleep apnea. I have never woke up rested ever. and it has got much worse with age. people that dont suffer it think they have a clue, they do not.

[@coulingknows8124]

Out of all the videos I have watched this has made the most sense by a mile. I had a brain haemorrhage in April 2019 and can not get a hold on my life with regards to sleep and energy. This has made me feel like it is ok to feel this way, even though i wish i didnt

[@billygnosis6976]

9 years into a serious TBI and I can tell you, it gets better but its always my biggest challenge. I can't do any drugs as they raise my BP to unsafe levels. I find I need to just pace myself, take daily naps, exercise everyday and meditate. What makes it tough is these doctors don't really understand the brain and how much energy is needed for the simple tasks. Its not like breaking a leg, people understand that. a brain injury is unique for everyone and no 2 are the same.....hence the lack of understanding

[@withasideofdoodles-326]

I had a wreck in 1998, my senior year of high school. TBI and broke my left femur.

[@amandalynngibson8332]

Thank you. Encouraging words like you wrote save my life. Literally.

[@AndrewB221]

CBD

[@raijones]

After a year of having a concussion and now post concussive Syndrome, I’m still experiencing fatigue, all I can heard from doctors en the USA is that the fatigue is caused by depression when is the other way around. I get depress because I can’t do all the things I used to do and can’t function the same way or the same speed.

[@BulletproofGroove]

100% the same here... I got the concussion and then became depressed........ I have pcs too

[@BulletproofGroove]

Concussion in 2016.... Still unemployed and get cognitive fatigue, the rest of the day, by using the computer for 1 hour.

[@user-nz9tb6gi3w]

@@BulletproofGroove - I know this is an old thread, but any improvement?

[@BulletproofGroove]

@@user-nz9tb6gi3w I've improved somewhat... I'm a bit down at the moment, trying to get off more psychiatric medications.. the side effects have been too tough on me. Now I'm only on Zoloft (Sertraline) and I struggle daily with anxiety/OCD. Right now I'm down, and I don't know what my new baseline will be (with less medication)... But I expect it's still an improvement from only being able to use the pc for 1 hour. When I was on Abilify (5mg) for anxiety, I could work 6 hours a week and play video games and do physical activity.. right now I struggle because I've come off Abilify, tried Prozac instead of Zoloft, body couldn't handle Prozac, so now I'm omw back on Zoloft. So it's an uncertain and unstable time, but I believe I will bounce back, be able to work those 6 hours and do other things, so all in all its improved a lot... Can't recommend Abilify, it might give you more resources in terms of energy, but it makes you feel like a restless emotionally numb zombie. The side effects for me, were horrible.

[@chris-4566]

21 months after my stroke, I’m still sleeping at least 12 hours a day (including a 2 hour sleep in the afternoon). I’m only really awake and alert in the morning so I try and avoid making afternoon appointments. It’s also very easy to stay sat in a chair for hours watching tele so I try and make myself stand up and move around.

[@anthonycole3883]

Nice summary. I notice the cognitive and emotional concommitants are very similar to those of pain: slowed mental processing speed, impaired executive function, negative mood states. Regarding negative moods: you mention anxiety and depression. In pain, anxiety and depression are common but so is irritability (propensity to anger). I wonder if heightened irritability is a frequent feature of fatigue.

[@rosemaryparker2567]

Thanks I have extreme fatigue. I have adrenoleukodistrophy. Never have been this tired. Will call my doc tomorrow.

[@jjconc]

My severe TBI was 20 yrs ago. My personality has changed. I have depression but meds help. But family members don't understand. They think I am lazy. That increases my depression. 😑

[@thomassimonton8503]

Great video you explain it very clearly and I am going to use the gingerbread man technique you shared I think it will help me communicate my challenges I have with my fatigue from my Traumatic Brain Injury. I am going to share your video with my family and friends. Thank you for Sharing.

[@carolyneperry3394]

I understand now why I am so fatigue after having 3 brain surgeries in the last 3 years, I have experienced all of these symptoms, the last surgery back in April has really mad me feel worse now I understand why I feel this way

[@SqueakyPob]

Thank you. Useful video (y)

[@paparadeliko]

Ive had a moderate concussion in sparring, that has left me with post concussion symptoms for a year so far, still going. Omega 3 helped me, actually i felt much sharper(like 3 pills a day, less than that didn't work) BUT, it caused me massive anxiety. Creatine helped a bit but nothing big. Melatonin made me feel groggy so no help. Psilocybin helped A LOT. a few mini trips made me feel like myself again. I still can't take a hit in sparring, so i avoid it. i hope i can get back to 100% someday

[@jasons50for50]

I don't understand why many videos, with great information have annoying background music. When you talk about attention seekers and attention sleepers i think your creating an attention seeking environment with needless noise over a fab video.

[@sigi4985]

I totally agree, can follow the information due the background noise!

[@yvonnemccullaghward361]

So annoying

[@raymondlogan7807]

It's crazy having frigging music in the back ground. With brain injury we can't handle noise!​@@sigi4985

[@alfalders3020]

Modafinil has helped me greatly. Ask your doctor. Research it.

[@jennyu1170]

After two years with brain injury I experience extreme fatigue, dizziness especially while driving. Any suggestions?

[@garywalling4341]

Firstly, STOP DRIVING! I had to, not because I couldn't but for the same symptoms youre experiencing. I stopped because I felt that I was a danger to myself and, more importantly, other road users. Now I only drive when necessary and I'm in the right frame of mind.

[@user-ry1vi1jc7o]

Jenny - I know this is late, and that TMI can cause dizziness, but it wouldn’t hurt to rule out the possibility of also having paroxysmal vertigo. It has an easy, quick fix and can be done at home. One study found that half of TBI patients with positional vertigo had paroxysmal vertigo and were relieved of their dizziness after performing the Epley Maneuver (sometimes the maneuver needs to be completed several times over a time). The YT channel Bob & Brad have a great video on it from 7 years ago titled Epley Maneuver: Performed on a Real Patient suffering from Vertigo. It begins with an easy diagnostic so you can know right away whether this applies to you. 🙏s

[@garywalling4341]

Ok, but why is the medical fraternity not doing anything to address this?

[@rafaelmorales5646]

I think there really is no ready cure . Its each to his own

[@garywalling4341]

@@rafaelmorales5646 No mate there aint, my point exactly. Until there is more effort/finance afforded to research there never will be.

[@missesqueda207]

It's not easy after a head trauma and yrs later a cup of coffee helps to get up for awhile..after 50 I need help.

[@garywalling4341]

After 50 cups of coffee I'm not surprised you need help.

[@virginiarichmond5035]

Gary, I believe she's referring to her age. Don't be snarky

[@garywalling4341]

@@virginiarichmond5035 No-ones being 'snarky' is that even a word? Have you had a TBI? We brain injury folk try and inject a bit of humour into every situation. It's the only way we have to deal with our predicament. Especially, when, like me you're so disabled you can't do anything, and there aint much help out there for us either, no hope just a life of pain and frustration.

[@AndrewB221]

Exercise, tanning, certain supplements like D3 and Ashwagandha, and more, Massages, Coffee

[@AndrewB221]

The answer is CBD