Brain Injury
Dizziness after brain injury
Dizziness can be hidden behind other injuries at first and can even interfere with treatments. When you are finally up and moving around, dizziness can be very isolating.
Pauline
Mental health
100 for PKU
The campaign aims to get people active by setting a target to hit this month. Your target is 100. 100 km cycling or running, 100 minutes exercising, 100 push-ups, 100 lengths of the pool, 100 hula hoops-a-hooping... The possibilities are endless.
Mental health
PKU awareness month 2021
PKU Awareness month has been difficult for me. My adherence to diet has not been great. It is odd to admit that I’m over 40 and still find myself sneaking food.
Brain Injury
Fatigue after ABI: boom and bust
Fatigue caused by an illness or injury is known as pathological fatigue. This isn’t the same as simply being tired...Pathological fatigue is always there.
Recipes
PKU ‘Fish’ fingers
Update (September 2026): Quorn appear to have discontinued their vegan fishless fingers in the UK. I've remade this supper using Taranis Low Protein Fish Substitute, a dedicated PKU product, which works well.
Brain Injury
Research & changes in sport related ABI
We should be using the phrase ‘sport related ABI’. This is because ‘particularly for neurodegeneration, it is not really about concussions, it is about knocks to the head.’
Writing
First income as an author
This income wasn’t from directly from book sales nor from my publisher. Rather it came from secondary uses of my work.
Recipes
PKU and non-PKU lasagne in the same dish.
A 2-in-1 lasagne. A single dish with one half PKU lasagne and the other non-PKU lasagne. Good for winter dinners, with enough for leftovers in the freezer
Writing
Dear New Zealand,
I want to tell you what we have learned so far. It will get worse before it gets better. Just because someone is being a dick, it doesn’t mean you should be a dick too.
Mental health
Follow a plan, not a feeling: Finding a way out of low mood
Low mood after a brain injury can feel impossible to shift. Following a plan, not a feeling, helped me find a way through. Here's what I learned from behavioural activation and taking part in brain injury research.
PKU and being ‘Hangry’.
Satiety and 'hanger' can be a problem for those with PKU. Here are a few tips to help you to feel full on a low-protein diet.
Mental health
Resolution redux
If you have struggled with the changes, remember that by simply paying attention to what you are eating you are already making a difference. The habits and effects will come.