So depressed.

fade94 · 07-17-2007, 08:58 PM

I was banded on November 23, 2006. In August of 2006, my wife bought me a motorcycle to commute with. As soon as healed up enough from the band procedure, I started riding again. That lasted 1 week. On December 15, 2006 my son's birthday, I was rearended while at a stop sign while on my motorcycle. I now have temporal lobe damage, bulging disk in my neck and back and I have had one surgery on my knee with more to come. I was so excited about getting the band and losing the weight. But now because of my physical condition since the accident, I can not excercise. I have only lost 40 lbs and seem to be stuck.
My neurologist has put me on antidepressants. Due to the brain injury, I have severe mood swings and lash out over nothing. My memory is spuratic at best and my concentration is non existant. On top of it all, my libido is suffering severly.
I just needed to vent. I just don't know what to do anymore.
I'd like to find someone in the McKinney, TX. area to walk or workout with. Granted I can't do a lot, but I need some kind support to get through this.

Thanks for listening.

**Jack** · 07-17-2007, 09:39 PM

....sounds like a couple of rough things to deal with all at the same time...

I was run over on a motorcycle and lost a leg to an errant motorist....and mood swings are a part of the hard edges of reality, from what I can tell over the past 40+ years of being a monopod....otherwise Normos with even little problems become depressed over little things....so I believe depression is part of normal human experience...what we make of it is the Real Deal...

Disc bulges are not uncommon; whether symptomatic and of clinical significance is the question. And whether you have a barracuda for an attorney is another question.

Depression for me always intensified when I was too busy staring into the dark night of mangled dreams; that would always resolve when I walked (ok--hobbled at times) into the light of new plans and fresh ideas.

Action is the remedy....at times I couldn't take 10 steps without bleeding or blistering in my prosthesis....when I could tough it thru to 100 steps toward my goal for the day, or the hour, or the moment, before flinging myself down to rest for a while, I knew I had made a little progress.

It takes so little effort to make a bit of progress...if you measure from where you started rather than from where you think you would have been without Fortuna crashing into your life....

Consider whether being frustrated and moody, independent of actual physical brain injury, are really much different...my theory is they are much the same and the results can not be objectively differentiated....

Rainbows are everywhere, if we don't see one, change our viewpoint and another pops into view.

Cheers and keep up the good work! 40 pounds is a HUGE move in the right direction. The other side of obesity, apart from 'not being able to exercise'....is 'being able to oinkee-oinkee' .....

"Won't power" is a necessary companion to "Will power"....learn how to use both to your advantage....

and please....keep us posted....

Marimaru · 07-18-2007, 11:53 AM

Jack has always been so eloquent.

I'm very sorry to hear about your accident and the issues it has caused. Will your wife not walk with you? If not, honestly, sometimes with the right music, I'd rather walk by myself. If you aren't walking fast, and you can do this (some people can't, I've learned) walking with a book can make the time fast. I used to read on my way too and from school every day. Once you get the speed up, it's not so easy to read, but still.

Something else you might look into, with the knee surgeries coming up, is workouts for people who can't stand. There are a number of videos out there with exercises for people who can't walk. It would be something to do while you are recovering (if your back can take it).

My dad had his back severely messed up by a motorcycle accident. I think one of the most dangerous things about riding a motorcycle are the people around you.

Anyway, I hope the antidepressants help. Being depressed at moments is a part of the human condition, but sometimes you get depressed and it seems like you'll never get out, which is what I think the medication is for. If you don't find it helping, tell your doctor so he can help you find one that does.