Unfortunately, there are many side effects to brain injuries. Some are obvious, some are not. Some might start straight away; some might creep up on you over time. In this blog post, We’ll discuss three common side effects of ABIs: memory loss, slurred speech, and fatigue. These have all had significant impacts on our lives and here we’ll explain what these side effects are and how to recognise if you have them. We’ll also be giving you some coping skills and tools in our further blogs when we dive deeper into these common side effects.
Memory Loss
What is Memory Loss?
Memory loss is the inability to recall or retain information that you previously knew. It can manifest as difficulty remembering recent events or past experiences.
Recognising Memory Loss:
“Mark’s forgetfulness was causing problems; it seemed that 70% of our conversations he couldn’t recall. When he was still pushing himself way too hard and then the fatigue would really kick in. He was using all his energy to get through his day-to-day work tasks and then just crashing with what we now know as mental exhaustion.” - Jules
- Forgetfulness or difficulty recalling recent conversations or events.
- Frequently misplacing objects or forgetting where things are kept (This doesn’t include just losing your keys, as we all do this!).
- Struggling to remember names, dates, or appointments.
- Difficulty following instructions or learning new things.
“I could meet someone and then instantly forget them. For example, I’d attend lots of business network meetings or meet various teachers in schools and then talk to them at the next meeting or even a few minutes later and have to try and remember who they are. It can also be a challenge if I meet someone in various situations, for example, I see them at a running event in their kit and bump into them in the street and they're wearing different clothes. It can take a while to work out who they are and it can be a bit embarrassing." - Mark
Slurred Speech
What is Slurred Speech?
Slurred speech is characterised by difficulties in articulating words or sounds properly. The effects of brain injury can be similar to those of drinking alcohol. The presence of alcohol in your brain affects how much gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is present. Too much GABA in your brain restricts it from processing the information that your body is trying to send and subsequently slows down your movement and perceptions. This leads to you slurring your speech. Basically, GABA relaxes your mouth muscles and makes them lazy and your voice stops forming the words that you’re trying to say.
Recognising Slurred Speech:
“Yes, indeed, there are times when Mark makes little sense. I know this is more the case when he’s fatigued. His voice can go really quiet and, it’s as if he’s speaking but no words come out of his mouth. His words will sometimes change in order or he’ll get stuck on a phrase and struggle to move past the point and sometimes repeat himself or trail off midway through a sentence.” - Jules
- Difficulty pronouncing certain sounds or words.
- Speaking slower or faster than usual.
- Mumbling or slurring words together.
- Feeling physically tired after speaking for a short period.
“This can affect me if I’m suffering from fatigue and my words get really slurred, giving the impression that I could be drunk. In everyday talk, I do get my words mixed up too. On one occasion, I was trying to say, ‘I need to close the curtains!’ I actually said, ‘I need to close the door!’ I became aware of my mistake and tried to correct it but ended up saying, I need the red door!’
*It’s also worth mentioning that when I was typing these notes, instead of typing door I typed rood.” - Mark
Fatigue
What is Fatigue?
Fatigue is one of the most common side effects and refers to an overwhelming feeling of exhaustion or lack of energy. It is more than just feeling tired. I thought I’d experienced extreme tiredness until brain injury fatigue hit me. It rips out my ability to concentrate or remember a simple conversation. At times, there is no mental ability to process a few simple steps. My eyes can glaze over, I can start repeatedly yawning and I can give you the impression that I’m not listening, in that moment, my brain has had enough.
“Fatigue is something that affects me pretty much daily but some days can be mild and some days, this can wipe me out. It can also appear without warning or be triggered by stress. For me, it is one of the biggest side effects of brain injury and, once I understood it, I found I was able to be more effective each day. However, there are some days where I simply have to stop. We will be talking much more in-depth about fatigue throughout Brain or Shine.” - Mark
Recognising Fatigue:
- Feeling tired or lacking energy constantly, despite getting enough sleep.
- Difficulty concentrating or finding it hard to complete tasks.
- Increased irritability or mood changes.
- Physical symptoms such as muscle weakness, headaches, or blurred vision.
"I can usually tell very quickly when Mark is fatigued, whether it be when he’s just got up in the morning or part way through the day. You can see in his eyes that he’s not connected to his brain and things just aren’t functioning. His eyes often begin to water too and he constantly is wiping them. Trying to have a meaningful conversation at this point isn’t going to happen. We’ve just learnt to let it take over and Mark to rest rather than try to push himself which only exasperates the situation." - Jules
Do you suffer from any of these brain injury side effects?
If you or someone you know experiences any of these side effects, then please seek support and sign up to our webinar. Throughout our webinar programme, we will be discussing different brain injury side effects and ways to manage them. However, if you would like to discuss your symptoms with me, Mark, my wife Jules, or someone else that has been or is going through it, please join our Facebook community and ask away.
If you’d like to know more about these side effects, learn some coping mechanisms and tools, you can do this via our blogs, webinars and online programmes.