Follow us: hu Improving life after brain injury Need to talk? 0808 800 2244 Donate Home About brain injury Individuals Brain injury and me Louis McGuire Share your story Share your story with us to help others affected by brain injury Louis McGuire I recognise my limitations and allow people around me to help. Often when brain injury survivors return home from hospital it takes a while for them to understand or realise how new symptoms of their injury will affect their day-to-day life. Louis McGuire, 38, found this to be the case after returning to his flat in London following a traumatic brain injury sustained when he fell down a long flight of stairs. “Apparently at the time of the fall I was using crutches, given to me at an A&E from a previous injury,” recalls Louis. “I don't know how I sustained that minor injury. Apparently, my partner was getting ready for bed and heard what she thought was me slamming the front door. “We had a dog and on hearing the bang it was acting agitated. Thinking that he needed a walk, my partner opened the door and that is when they discovered me on the floor, at the foot of the stairs.” Louis was in a coma for three weeks before undergoing intensive hospital treatment, which included having part of his skull removed and it being replaced with two titanium plates. Rehabilitation followed with Louis receiving physical and occupational therapy, as well as nutritional therapy due to his weight loss. He also had help from a neuropsychologist who determined his brain functioning through a series of tests. He was discharged after approximately four months. During his recovery his partner had started chemotherapy, which lasted three months. Due to this he moved into his own flat. Louis said that it was during this time that he started notice more symptoms of his brain injury. He said: “It became apparent I had poor hearing and sight deterioration on my left side. “Some days I would get incredibly dizzy and this resulted in me falling down the stairs twice." "Both were within a year of my discharge. The first, I fell down a flight of stairs, breaking my jaw and a finger. The second, I fell down another flight of stairs and broke my left tibia.” Louis said he has been proactive on getting help. He said: “Through repeated attempts, I was able to get a referral to audiology, who fitted me with a hearing aid. I've also been attending a dizziness clinic with an ear, nose, and throat doctor. “I still have occasional problems with dizziness, balance and regular headaches." Louis said Headway has been very helpful to him over the years. He said: “My Headway group is in Hammersmith and Fulham and it’s great but I haven't attended as many of the meetings as I would have liked to. However, their newsletters have given me some very useful information." Louis said he now tries to make the best of his life by making sure he is realistic about what he can achieve. “It's pretty hard to have plans for the future, as I'm still quite limited, but I recognise my limitations and allow people around me to help. Oh and of course, I try to keep a positive attitude.” Back to stories index Friends of Headway Individual membership Join/Renew Contact Us t: 0115 924 0800 e: enquiries@headway.org.uk Help us improve life after brain injury. Donate Improving life after brain injury 0808 800 2244 Call our free helpline 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. Or email helpline@headway.org.uk Join our online Community 27k Likes 25k Followers 3k Subscribers Privacy policy Cookies Terms & Conditions Accessibility Contact Us Resource centre Find a Headway Approved care providers Charity shops Fundraising comments, feedback and complaints Vacancies Join our mailing list Headway - the brain injury association is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (Charity no. 1025852) and the Office of the Scottish Regulator (Charity no. SC 039992). Headway is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 2346893. © Copyright Headway 2021 - Site designed and developed by MEDIAmaker By clicking 'Accept All Cookies’ you agree to the storing of cookies on your device. This will help us to offer the best possible experience and develop more of the information you need. Accept All Cookies Cookies Settings