I am not sure if I am on the right section or not but ill ask anyways...

in 2004 I was in a car accident and was in a coma and resulted with a brain injury. I still have problems but they say it takes two years for a brain injury to heal, therefore i think ive healed completely? because its been almost 2 and a half years.

just recently I started college and I have been in a lot of party surroundings. I am not like most college kids who party every night, I like to hang out and just lay back... but every once in awhile I'll have a few drinks but not get totally wasted... I was just wondering if this is bad for me? I have asked a few people and they have said they think it would only be bad if I drank all the time and drank alot. but I know alcohol has memory affects.. but still that could be the drinking a lot part. I'm a good kid, I kno when to stop and I hardly ever drink but I would just like to know if you think its okay for every once and awhile..??

thanks :)

Well, Don't know what the affects could be because I'm ignorant on the subject.. but if you talk to your neuro doc about it, I'm sure he/she could give you some insight on it... but for me as a rule I never drink to the point of drunk because I don't like to be out of control, its dangerous for myself and dangerous for others.
So if you are really concerned about it, just have 1 to 2 drinks and just enjoy a nice relaxing buzz and stop at that, then you won't worry about it so much and its better for you anyhow. Everything in moderation is always better... plus you'll be being kinder to your liver. Remember that alchol IS a poision to the body and the reason we feel the way we do when we drink it is because of that posion. I know its fun to be in the momment with friends and such, but self control/disaplin can be more rewarding in the long run than a few mins of fun that could end disasterous.

Also as alcohol can cause seizures in its higher levels of drunkeness, I would be suspicious if you could be more prone to that with the brain injury even in lower levels. I don't think it would be out of the question to speak with your doc about this and to get another MRI of the brain to see if you have completely healed or to see where you are at in your recovery or if there is permanent damage there or not. So in this sense, perhaps you should not drink until you clear this up with your doc.

I hope this helps, but again your doc could probably give you better assurrance than anybody- no hurt in asking or getting an extra test. God Bless and Good Luck.

just exactly what area of your brain was damaged and what was the actual diagnosis of the actual damage.just as an example,my sons brain injury was called" basilar and occipital skull fractures with frontal lobe contusions and bleeding".what did they say about your injury?if you cannot remember off hand,it should be somewhere listed on your discharge papers,espescially if you needed any sort of rehab services.

Just an FYI,if you haven't done so already,you really DO need to obtainall of the medical records fromthe hospital that treated you for this.obtain all er records and everything up to your discharge.these are part of your medical history and any testing that was done would also be included,you would have much much more specific info.you may need this at some point intime as well.i have every scrap of paper ever generated onall of my many many medical nightmares.believe me,i have needed some of this stuff many times during the past few years.its just good medical coordination on your part to have all of your medical records at home in a file.

i would take it real easy with any alcohol.one or two like the above poster stated should be your definite limit now.brain injuries will heal at their own rate not actually on any real time table.it just depends on alot of different factors.some will never heal depending on extent of actual damae to the brain tissues.i wish you luck and hope that everything will eventually be back to normal for you.marcia

yeah that is all i usually have is one or two.
I found a website...
it helped i guess.. now im scared haha but still i think that means if you drink a lot and im hardly drinking any and im not sure if it means after a healed brain injury or right after?

and for the MRI.. it probably wont matter if i get one now because I never got one in the first place because after the accident they couldnt get me still.. :eek: haha

and the part in my brain--well thats a good question?.. I'll ask my mom and get back to you.

the weird thing is tho, i know how everyone say people who have brain injuries it effects then faster.. well with me i hardly get drunk but i guess thats a good thing.

anyways thanks for your resonses guys :)

yeah that is all i usually have is one or two.
I found a website...
it helped i guess.. now im scared haha but still i think that means if you drink a lot and im hardly drinking any and im not sure if it means after a healed brain injury or right after?

and for the MRI.. it probably wont matter if i get one now because I never got one in the first place because after the accident they couldnt get me still.. :eek: haha

and the part in my brain--well thats a good question?.. I'll ask my mom and get back to you.

the weird thing is tho, i know how everyone say people who have brain injuries it effects then faster.. well with me i hardly get drunk but i guess thats a good thing.

anyways thanks for your resonses guys :)



the website says this ::

1. People who use alcohol or other drugs after they have had a brain injury don't recover as much or as fast as people who don't use alcohol or other drugs.

If an individual with a brain injury begins to use alcohol and other drugs much of the progress that they gained during the recovery process may be lost. Because brain cells were lost in the injury, the remaining brain cells must work harder for the person to do some of the same activities that they did before the injury. If the remaining cells are compromised by alcohol or drugs, they will not be able to take over the duties of the dead cells. Skills that could have been regained are lost.




((( meaning having a lot?? or is 1 or 2 okay in moderaton?)))

Its up to you ultimatly, but personally, I would want to get an MRI in your situation or a cat scan.. which ever is better or recommended by the doc.. to see what is going on in there. It could give you better insight to your injury and problems and help you know what to expect now and in the long run of your life. You probably wouldn't even need to see a specialist for this initially for the tests, but just your primary doctor, and then you could see if he knew anything about effects of alchol on the brain with injury as well. But it also might be good to see a neurosurgeon or neurologist just to see what kind of insight they can give as well. Your primary doc can probably give you a neuro specialist for your case. Please take care of yourself, I just feel this is could be serious and should be further addressed, especially since they never did a scan on your head as you say. Good luck to you and God Bless.

yeah i actually think its pretty serious after i think about it. and after reading that articale. I decided I shouldnt drink. and if i do, ill wait til im older. I dont wanna risk anything. I just hate it cuz i wanna be normal like every college person but I guess my health is more important :) i still will go to parties and stuff.. its okay with me not to drink cuz i hardly ever do anyways I usually just ask for a pop haha