Has anyone heard of this

[likemike]

I have a TBI (left frontal, right parietal, brain stem) from an MVA (rear ended) nearly 3 years ago. I've had all sorts of problems associated with this including leakage of clear fluid out my ear about 2-3 days after the accident, memory loss, long term and short term, much post trauma, tremors, UBO's, migraines, word finding issues, problems recognizing and naming things/animals, inability to determine what's appropriate to say  or not say, etc.  However, about 2 months ago I began waking at 4:30'ish am each day and I can't get to my pencil and paper fast enough. I (who couldn't draw stick people) sketch faces that just come to me and I sketch with unbelievable talent I've never had before. I have also written poetry during these early morning hours - poetry that I wake up feeling a tremendous urge to write as quickly as possible, as if they're not my own thoughts.  I began meditating (which really helps anxiety, depression, trauma, and relieves chronic pain). During these meditations I see people who have passed on. I hear them speak to me....I write down what they say, word for word. All messages are to family and friends, but they are details I wouldn't have ever known (ie, my Mother's great-grandmother sewing her a white velvet dress and pinafore when she was 3. My friend's son was killed by beating 2 years ago and I asked her to tell him to tell me something I would never know on my own.  She did, and he appeared during a meditation and told me the blue dinosaur's name was Pete, not Elliott, Mom, wrong again! I could go on with details).  Can you tell me if you've ever heard of someone with TBI getting artistic talents and even psychic talents? I'm not doubting my gift at all, just wondering why now...the only thing I can think is that since some parts of my brain are misfiring, other parts (namely right side) woke and are making up for the parts that aren't working right.

[likemike]

Thank you all for your kind words. Caliber2005 you said you were interested in finding out if this is new medicine. Its not post surgery, it's post head slamming into the steering wheel after being rear ended at 60 mph while sitting still. Just returned from my monthly neurology appt and my doctor (who graduated 2nd is class at MIT) told me he sees these new artistic and psychic abilities quite often with brain injuries. He wasn't surprised, but pleased and wants me to continue keeping notes because it was what he wrote his thesis on.  He was particularly impressed by what he called perfectly symmetrical sketches of people I don't know.  He explained it to me in much the same way as Dr. Miller from UCLA....when the frontal lobe is damaged and no longer works (hence my tendencies to speak my mind and/or jump to conclusions and get hurt feelings quickly), other parts of the brain are awakened by the need to compensate for the damaged part. With the awakening of a part of the brain rarely utilized in "normal" brains, the part that takes over may very well be the part that exhibits a more artistic and even psychic side. He used stroke victims who can no longer talk as an example. They can't say their own name, but if they sing Happy Birthday to themselves they can say their name in the song perfectly - he said that's because the part that creates music is a totally different part of the brain than the part that stores past knowledge. I couldn't tell you what I did yesterday or last week and have no memories of raising my children or any important family events, but I do have these new talents for sure.  Thanks for the apologies, I do appreciate it the support.

[sonu78]

Hi
Sorry if comments hurted you. The word crazy used  was not for you.
It is good to hear  that you have acquired more artistic talent
Bye

[Caliber2005]

Hi likemeike,
Well if you feel that you are hurt by any of are comments, then we are sorry for that.
As I told you earlier, there is no absolute thing in medicine; hence it is possible to have more artistic leaning post surgery.
Continue to do what you do best.
Bye

[likemike]

Above is a link to some research that's been done by Dr. Bruce Miller, Neuropsychology at UCLA, that confirms when there is damage to the frontal lobes, particularly, the more artistic (right side) brain does in fact over compensate for the damaged lobe, thus bringing out artistic talents one would not have had prior to brain damage. I've been looking around and there are lots of studies done on this phenomena.

So, I'm not "crazy" after all, just more artistic than I used to be. I choose to look at it as a gift to replace all that has been taken from me after my brain injury, instead of a need to get yet another $3,000 psych. eval. Anyone still interested in proving me 'crazy" can search on google under "brain damaged patients with new found talents". There's a wealth of knowledge there by very competent professionals and years of clinical studies...Oh, and just for future reference, it's in poor taste and quite hurtful to use the word "crazy" to a person with brain injury. Thanks for your input.

[likemike]

http://www.neuropsychiatryreviews.com/jun03/jun03_frontotemporal.html

[sonu78]

Hi,
sorry to say your case post sounds crazy enough. I do agree with caliber2005 in recommending an psychologist evaluation.

[Caliber2005]

Hi,
I would be intrested to know what your neuropsychologist say.
Bye.

[likemike]

Thank you. I haven't consulted anyone except my casemanager and she believes it's from the brain damage. However, I think I need to consult a neuropsych. doc to find out if this is common among TBI's. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Caliber2005]

Hi Likemike,
Congratulations for the newly acquired psychic and artistic talents.
Medicine is never an absolute thing and Medicine is always growing to accommodate any new theory which could be told.
Have you been evaluated by anybody on this?
Do you want to consult a neuropsychologist on this, who would be appropriate to answer this question?