unrealistic expectations?

I'm not sure you read my comments correctly.  I was mentally impaired during the first year after my car accident.  How could I in that condition, been responsible enough to take care of myself?  I could barely dress myself and I'm in charge of my medication??!  That's why looking back on it now bugs me.  My family did know I couldn't care for myself; the doctors did know my living and drug regimen.  I communicated as well as I could, but therein is the crutch.  Could no one see for themself?  I feel my progress was greatly impaired by all the mistakes I made during that time.  It just would have been nice had someone stepped up to help coordinate things at the beginning instead of waiting til I hit rock bottom before noticing me.

I'm so sorry I didn't read your post correctly, please accept my apologies.  In that condition, I don't think anyone could have made responsible decisions. And yes, your family should have stepped up and certainly it would have been nice if your doctors had done their jobs correctly.     

When I fell and hit my head 12 years ago, the ER doctor pretty much dropped the ball. I had a normal CT, but had been unconscious for about 20 minutes, didn't know who a dear friend who brought me to the ER, and couldn't remember how I got to there. Never did a X-ray of my cervical spine and the story goes on....

I gues my point is I may know a little about how you feel. I was in a sad way and no one knew what to do. Maybe your family  didn't know how to handle the situation either. My certainly didn't. We never dealt with anything like that before.  It has taken a lot of time to get over the whole "doctor dropping the ball thing" and looking for a magic pill to fix the what have become chronic conditions since my fall. 

So after 12 years, I concentrate on the things I can control. I couldn't control my fall and what happened after. I lost part of myself that day with a mild traumatic brain injury. Does that make any sense?

No need to apologize; I know you didn't do that intentionally.  Yes, I do know what you mean about losing a part of yourself.  I'm finally at the point that I can remember that I have forgotten a lot!  My family is still at a loss since they have seen progress and think it will lead to my old "normal" self.  I know differently, as this has been life-changing, so even if all my mental capacities return, and the headaches and migraines diminish, I will carry a certain amount of...perhaps it's a fear of some sort.  I played soccer with broken ribs, various sprained parts of my body, and walking pnuemonia.  My love of playing was that strong, but now I am off the field and when I think about returning, I cringe at the thought of getting hurt.  I do not need any other outside factors causing me pain.  I am still adjusting to the constant pain I currently have.

You mentioned that the doc at ER didn't look for a spinal injury.  Has that been the cause of your continued pain?

I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you . Cervical spinal issues are just part of my daily chronic pain that stem from my fall. Apparently my fall triggered all kinds of nasty responses in my body, (which can happens sometimes from a mild traumatic brain injury from what doctors and research tell me) - autoimmiune - lupus, and IIH - idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Hope your holidays were great and Happy New Year a bit late!