Surviving an accident

[ferretrunner]

On April 25, I was driving back from a rural clinic to the main facility. I cross through the Blue Mountains on I84. I had reached the summit and was coming down the other side. A hail, sleet, snow storm hit suddenly. I gently touched the brake of the government car I was driving and lost control. Lesson one: don't even tap a brake on a slick surface. And know how to release the cruise control without it- know the controls of any vhechile you drive.

Traffic was fairly light. But, I slid over two lanes of interstate traffic, all driving around 60mph when the storm hit. All now trying to slow down because of visibilty and traction issues. No other vehicle was involved.

I spun over the two lanes, hit the shoulder, and rolled down an embankment. A pine tree was kind enough to stop my decent, otherwise, I would have rolled another 20 feet.

The next thing I remember is talking to someone on the side of the freeway. Another lesson: people can be wonderful. I was told by the responding police that 4 different cars called 911. These people stopped and stayed with me until police arrived. It was a rural area of the road. It took awhile. Interestingly, I had grabbed my assault pack (my Army backpack) from the car and hiked up an embankment- all with no memory. I guess the training kicked in. The cop told me the car stopped on its side, with the drivers seat up. Lesson three: seatbelts save lives. Wear them.

My injuries: a concussion, sore muscles, bruises, and an injured shoulder (maybe something with rotator cuff- or not)

I am healing slowly. My coworkers have been very supportive and helpful. Lesson four: I have touched more lives and more people care about me than I knew.

I still get headaches and have trouble with balance, vision, and sleep. It's hard for me to find words sometimes. For some reason, typing them is somewhat easier than speaking.

It's frustrating sometimes- and frightening. Am I going to heal? And when? It's been humbling to have to depend on help from others. Even cooking, driving, cleaning house has been tough. But, I can now do the basic, simple cooking and chores without getting dizzy or sick. THings that require muscle or motion are still out (vacuuming made me dizzy and sick to my stomach).

Be safe out there.

[MorningStar]

Is that the area in Oregon soon before you get to Idaho? My family probably would have died if I hadn't told my husband to slow down to 45 from 70 something. The road was dry and as we came around a bend, there was a big sheet of ice. We headed towards the median, then towards a man who got out to help a guy who crashed to the right, we spun around, and then we stopped facing the wrong direction. Thankfully no one was coming and it was a miracle we didn't hit anything. I'm so glad you survived! I hope you feel like your old self soon.

[mightynancy]

Wow! I'm so glad you survived! I hope you have no lasting ill effects.

I survived a spectacular crash, and I preach seat belts to this day.

Best wishes!

[Jenamarie]

Driving through the Blue Mountains is always scary for me. I always drive (or make DH drive) waaaaaay slower than the posted speed limit when we're going through there. It's a very deceptive pass with looooong drops.

I hope your recovery continues to go smoothly and that you're able to get back to normal soon. *hugs*

[Still_Small_Voice]

I said a prayer for you. I hope you will fully heal and recover. Thank goodness the vehicle you were driving did not hit anyone else.

[Guest]

Have you had a CT Scan done or some such? May it be that you have some untreated something-or-other that is causing all your dizziness and that it needs to be treated?

I fell off the overpass once and landed on a retention pond on the side of the freeway. Okay, so I hit a bus which caused me to careen off the freeway. Okay, so I was going 20 miles over the speed limit that's why I couldn't avoid the bus in time. And yes, I just happened to be wearing my seatbelt (which I very rarely use). So yeah, I was wearing my seatbelt because not even 12 hours prior to that, I also careened off that same exact spot but hit the guardrail so I was okay... Yes, the car was in the water the 2nd time around, so it got totaled. No, I didn't end up under the water, the car fell into the water backwards with the front of the car sticking out - so the waterline was right on my back getting my shirt wet. What I learned? Rescue Vans are cool! Oh okay, there's a reason they post speed limits...

[Elphaba]

For some reason, typing them is somewhat easier than speaking.

Isn't that fascinating?

Ten years ago I came down with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. One of the most debilitating symptoms is severe cognitive impairment, which results in me often struggling to find a word I'm looking for. It's not so apparent in online forums because I can take my time to compose a post. But in the real world it's obvious to people who knew me before becoming ill.

Anyway, sometimes if I shut my eyes and type a word that is similar in meaning to the word I'm looking for, the right word will suddenly pop into my head.

I have also found that typing helps me find the correct spelling of a word. Spelling had always been intuitive to me, but I also lost that ability to a degree after becoming ill. I can still tell if I've spelled a word incorrectly but often cannot consciously come up with the correct spelling. When this happens I again shut my eyes and then just let my fingers type the word. It is always correct.

I had a psychiatrist tell me this is very common in people who are fast typists with large vocabularies, because they learn to type the words they know rather than letter by letter. I have always been a very fast typist, which was not impacted by my illness, and it is true that my fingers know words, but not letters. I've actually tried to force myself to type one letter at a time and it's difficult and confusing to me.

Do you type fast as well?

Elphaba

[ferretrunner]

Elph,

I type fairly fast usually. I think it is easier to type/ write because I don't have to "think" as much about the words. But, i still have issues with having to figure out what I'm saying. It took awhile to write my original post.

Anatess,

Twice on the same road!? That's funny. Yes, I had CT scans- one the day of the accident and another one about two weeks later when the symptoms became more clear. The CT is negative- meaning no bleeds or anything. But, you can still have some serious injury without them showing on CT. Sometimes the injuries are on a nerve ending or are microscopic but with how complicated the brain is- they impact function.

Still- Small- Voice,

Thanks.

Jenna and Morningstar:

Not quite to Idaho. It was west of LaGrande, east of Pendleton. Ironically, it was "Deadman's Pass." About halfway between LaGrande and Pendleton. That is a nasty section of road. Cabbage Hill (the twisty part of the interstate) is worse, though.

General:

I see a neurologist on Wed. I hope to get some more answers then.

Please, keep me in thoughts and prayers.

[mightynancy]

You'll be in my prayers, runner. :)

[pam]

Not quite to Idaho. It was west of LaGrande, east of Pendleton. Ironically, it was "Deadman's Pass." About halfway between LaGrande and Pendleton. That is a nasty section of road. Cabbage Hill (the twisty part of the interstate) is worse, though.

Wow Deadman's Pass is just as the name implies. It is amazing that nothing worse happened to you. Cabbage Hill is worse.. I've driven that pass many times and will again this summer when I am in La Grande and drive up to Richland.

[MorningStar]

Elph,

I type fairly fast usually. I think it is easier to type/ write because I don't have to "think" as much about the words. But, i still have issues with having to figure out what I'm saying. It took awhile to write my original post.

Anatess,

Twice on the same road!? That's funny. Yes, I had CT scans- one the day of the accident and another one about two weeks later when the symptoms became more clear. The CT is negative- meaning no bleeds or anything. But, you can still have some serious injury without them showing on CT. Sometimes the injuries are on a nerve ending or are microscopic but with how complicated the brain is- they impact function.

Still- Small- Voice,

Thanks.

Jenna and Morningstar:

Not quite to Idaho. It was west of LaGrande, east of Pendleton. Ironically, it was "Deadman's Pass." About halfway between LaGrande and Pendleton. That is a nasty section of road. Cabbage Hill (the twisty part of the interstate) is worse, though.

General:

I see a neurologist on Wed. I hope to get some more answers then.

Please, keep me in thoughts and prayers.

I know exactly where you're talking about! While traveling with our newborn son (2 months old), we had to make many stop and couldn't make it to a rest stop, so we took the Dead Man's pass exit and I found an area I thought was secluded. Luckily no one drove by until about 2 minutes after I squatted!

A few years ago, we drove through that area and there was nowhere to pull over as our second oldest son threw-up all over himself. There were miles of snow piles with no shoulder and it was very slow going. What does your doctor say about your dizziness? I have had concussions and it left me feeling crappy for a long time, but I did get better eventually. Are you having migraines at all? That was an issue for me.

[ferretrunner]

Wow Deadman's Pass is just as the name implies. It is amazing that nothing worse happened to you. Cabbage Hill is worse.. I've driven that pass many times and will again this summer when I am in La Grande and drive up to Richland.

Cool! I live in Walla Walla. Maybe we can meet up irl for lunch or something. Be fun to meet someone face to face.

[ferretrunner]

I know exactly where you're talking about! While traveling with our newborn son (2 months old), we had to make many stop and couldn't make it to a rest stop, so we took the Dead Man's pass exit and I found an area I thought was secluded. Luckily no one drove by until about 2 minutes after I squatted!

A few years ago, we drove through that area and there was nowhere to pull over as our second oldest son threw-up all over himself. There were miles of snow piles with no shoulder and it was very slow going. What does your doctor say about your dizziness? I have had concussions and it left me feeling crappy for a long time, but I did get better eventually. Are you having migraines at all? That was an issue for me.

The brain injury is affecting my balance and vision. It was a rotational/ striking injury. I'll know more what is going on after my appointment on Wed. with the neurologist.

I'm usually a very active person. I'm doing a pretty good job of accepting where I am right now. But, I tend to get kinda down later at night. It's hard to be off work and everythng. At least my coworkers and employer aren't pressuring me to come back too soon. If anything, my supervisor is encouraging me not to try again for awhile.

[MorningStar]

Cool! I live in Walla Walla. Maybe we can meet up irl for lunch or something. Be fun to meet someone face to face.

I want some Walla Walla onions.

Isn't Walla Walla just fun to say?

[bcguy]

-well, almost died at 3 years old in back of moms car "reason unknown I was blue".

-Could have died "fell off bike inverted 8 feet in air" hitting concrete upside down.

-Fell and hit the ground hard at a high rate of speed when neck and steering went loose on another bike.

-Had a vision me and mom were about to broadside a car at a total blind spot in a intersection. Watched intersection like hawk as we approached, yelled mom "Pull HARD LEFT" we just nearly missed the car going 50 mph.

-Almost got plowed into by a cement truck coming at me down a steep hill when the driver lost control.

-Almost feel 15 feet off my helicopter backwards and hit the concrete "fast thinking for me to land on my knees on top of the aircraft"

-Almost got broad sided and killed by a semi out of control but killed the driver a head of me.

-Almost got shot when a gangster brazed a gun at me.

Im still here so there has to be a really good purpose for me in this life time.

Edited May 19, 2011 by bcguy

[ferretrunner]

-well, almost died at 3 years old in back of moms car "reason unknown I was blue".

-Could have died "fell off bike inverted 8 feet in air" hitting concrete upside down.

-Fell and hit the ground hard at a high rate of speed when neck and steering went loose on another bike.

-Had a vision me and mom were about to broadside a car at a total blind spot in a intersection. Watched intersection like hawk as we approached, yelled mom "Pull HARD LEFT" we just nearly missed the car going 50 mph.

-Almost got plowed into by a cement truck coming at me down a steep hill when the driver lost control.

-Almost feel 15 feet off my helicopter backwards and hit the concrete "fast thinking for me to land on my knees on top of the aircraft"

-Almost got broad sided and killed by a semi out of control but killed the driver a head of me.

-Almost got shot when a gangster brazed a gun at me.

Im still here so there has to be a really good purpose for me in this life time.

BC, I either want to hang out with you or avoid you. You seem to be a magnet for danger... but, so long as it strikes you and not me, I should be "safer" with you... unless the danger misses and hits me instead- in which case I should avoid you. :)

Sounds like you've had several close calls.

[Guest]

-well, almost died at 3 years old in back of moms car "reason unknown I was blue".

-Could have died "fell off bike inverted 8 feet in air" hitting concrete upside down.

-Fell and hit the ground hard at a high rate of speed when neck and steering went loose on another bike.

-Had a vision me and mom were about to broadside a car at a total blind spot in a intersection. Watched intersection like hawk as we approached, yelled mom "Pull HARD LEFT" we just nearly missed the car going 50 mph.

-Almost got plowed into by a cement truck coming at me down a steep hill when the driver lost control.

-Almost feel 15 feet off my helicopter backwards and hit the concrete "fast thinking for me to land on my knees on top of the aircraft"

-Almost got broad sided and killed by a semi out of control but killed the driver a head of me.

-Almost got shot when a gangster brazed a gun at me.

Im still here so there has to be a really good purpose for me in this life time.

You've used up all 8 lives! You're on your last one... gotta be careful now. Avoid anything that only has 2 wheels, avoid blind intersections, avoid inclines, don't get airborn, wear kevlar at all times and buy a lightning rod...

[pam]

Cool! I live in Walla Walla. Maybe we can meet up irl for lunch or something. Be fun to meet someone face to face.

That would be doable. My cousin went to the university in Walla Walla. I may also go up and visit her in Yakima while on that trip.

[bcguy]

Yes had lots of close calls. Forgot to mention, was following some one who was on the cb as well as me, I told him to slow down he was driving

WAY to fast. He was doing 60 mph in a residential neighborhood in Tacoma. A small Toyota truck full of young guys, did a California stop, and pulled in front of him. I could see the guy in front of me hesitate "foot off the throttle" then slammed on the brakes. He launched into the windshield. The truck was broadsided bad! It was stolen from California and the driver was intoxicated. The guy I was following was in a full size Cadillac and hit that truck. It was pretty bad scene.

The cement truck accident was pretty freaky. He jumped the curb twice. First into my lane of travel, then he went diagonal over his curb, into his lanes, and hit a light pole and knocked it down. Cement trucks have almost no give in its suspension, so I could see the driver bouncing up and down in the cab like a ping pong ball.

[classylady]

Yes had lots of close calls. Forgot to mention, was following some one who was on the cb as well as me, I told him to slow down he was driving

WAY to fast. He was doing 60 mph in a residential neighborhood in Tacoma. A small Toyota truck full of young guys, did a California stop, and pulled in front of him. I could see the guy in front of me hesitate "foot off the throttle" then slammed on the brakes. He launched into the windshield. The truck was broadsided bad! It was stolen from California and the driver was intoxicated. The guy I was following was in a full size Cadillac and hit that truck. It was pretty bad scene.

The cement truck accident was pretty freaky. He jumped the curb twice. First into my lane of travel, then he went diagonal over his curb, into his lanes, and hit a light pole and knocked it down. Cement trucks have almost no give in its suspension, so I could see the driver bouncing up and down in the cab like a ping pong ball.

Wow! That's all I've got to say. And I'll say it again, Wow!

[applepansy]

On April 25, I was driving back from a rural clinic to the main facility. I cross through the Blue Mountains on I84. I had reached the summit and was coming down the other side. A hail, sleet, snow storm hit suddenly. I gently touched the brake of the government car I was driving and lost control. Lesson one: don't even tap a brake on a slick surface. And know how to release the cruise control without it- know the controls of any vhechile you drive.

Traffic was fairly light. But, I slid over two lanes of interstate traffic, all driving around 60mph when the storm hit. All now trying to slow down because of visibilty and traction issues. No other vehicle was involved.

I spun over the two lanes, hit the shoulder, and rolled down an embankment. A pine tree was kind enough to stop my decent, otherwise, I would have rolled another 20 feet.

The next thing I remember is talking to someone on the side of the freeway. Another lesson: people can be wonderful. I was told by the responding police that 4 different cars called 911. These people stopped and stayed with me until police arrived. It was a rural area of the road. It took awhile. Interestingly, I had grabbed my assault pack (my Army backpack) from the car and hiked up an embankment- all with no memory. I guess the training kicked in. The cop told me the car stopped on its side, with the drivers seat up. Lesson three: seatbelts save lives. Wear them.

My injuries: a concussion, sore muscles, bruises, and an injured shoulder (maybe something with rotator cuff- or not)

I am healing slowly. My coworkers have been very supportive and helpful. Lesson four: I have touched more lives and more people care about me than I knew.

I still get headaches and have trouble with balance, vision, and sleep. It's hard for me to find words sometimes. For some reason, typing them is somewhat easier than speaking.

It's frustrating sometimes- and frightening. Am I going to heal? And when? It's been humbling to have to depend on help from others. Even cooking, driving, cleaning house has been tough. But, I can now do the basic, simple cooking and chores without getting dizzy or sick. THings that require muscle or motion are still out (vacuuming made me dizzy and sick to my stomach).

Be safe out there.

I'm so glad you survived. Be patient with yourself as you heal. Also, eat well...lots of veggies. Your cells need the nutrients to heal after something like this. Also drink lots of water so your cells can flush out the toxins created by injury and healing.

Its amazing to me how our brains work. The training we have kicks in when we aren't thinking, habits automatically happen when we aren't thinking. A good reason to train and develop good habits. :)

Take care, rest, and get well soon.

P.S. Have you seen a good Chiropractor? From what you describe its highly likely you have some sort of spinal injury and probably whiplash (which would explain the dizziness).