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Life After A TBI: Kelly Tuttle On Symptoms, Healing, & Returning To Work
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Today, I sit down with Kelly Tuttle, a traumatic brain injury warrior, neurology nurse practitioner, author, and advocate who works tirelessly to educate both the public and TBI survivors on recovery, symptoms, and daily functioning. In this episode, I explore Ms. Tuttle’s story of sustaining a traumatic brain injury after a severe car accident — an incident she initially underestimated until frightening symptoms like exhaustion, irritability, and even falling asleep at the wheel revealed the true extent of the damage. She breaks down how symptoms like sound sensitivity, concentration issues, and emotional overwhelm often go unnoticed, yet deeply impact a person’s ability to work, socialize, and function.
As we continue, Ms. Tuttle explains the myths surrounding concussions, including the false belief that a person “gets better in two weeks” or that symptoms must show up on a scan to be legitimate. She describes how concussions often don’t appear on MRIs or CT scans because the damage involves microscopic shearing of axons — the brain’s communication lines — which traditional imaging cannot detect. Our conversation also covers the unique challenges military service members face, from recurrent head injuries during training to the high rate of TBIs across operational environments. Together, we unpack why so many concussions go unrecognized and how symptoms can evolve or worsen over time without proper care.
We also discuss Ms. Tuttle’s book After the Crash, where she provides simple, accessible tools to help TBI survivors return to work, manage symptoms, and prevent burnout. She emphasizes the importance of readable formatting, brain breaks, journaling, and compensatory strategies — all designed for people who struggle with memory issues, fatigue, or sensory overload. She shares why journaling is essential for tracking symptoms, noticing patterns, processing mental load, and recognizing how far recovery has come, especially on the difficult days when hope feels thin. Her guidebook also includes an Audible version for those who can’t comfortably read after an injury.
Finally, Ms. Tuttle outlines her next steps, including a self-paced online program to help TBI survivors ease their transition back to work or school. Her upcoming resources include a journal, an e-book on returning to driving, and practical instruction on advocating for workplace accommodations. Her mission is clear: to help survivors feel less alone, better informed, and more empowered as they navigate a deeply misunderstood condition.
https://kellytuttle.org/
Website: https://coupleonukes.com
Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/
Want to be a guest on Couple O' Nukes? Send me a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1726279485588093e83e0e007
Sign Up For A PodMatch Account: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/coupleonukes
*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.
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By Mr. Whiskey
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Send us a text
Today, I sit down with Kelly Tuttle, a traumatic brain injury warrior, neurology nurse practitioner, author, and advocate who works tirelessly to educate both the public and TBI survivors on recovery, symptoms, and daily functioning. In this episode, I explore Ms. Tuttle’s story of sustaining a traumatic brain injury after a severe car accident — an incident she initially underestimated until frightening symptoms like exhaustion, irritability, and even falling asleep at the wheel revealed the true extent of the damage. She breaks down how symptoms like sound sensitivity, concentration issues, and emotional overwhelm often go unnoticed, yet deeply impact a person’s ability to work, socialize, and function.
As we continue, Ms. Tuttle explains the myths surrounding concussions, including the false belief that a person “gets better in two weeks” or that symptoms must show up on a scan to be legitimate. She describes how concussions often don’t appear on MRIs or CT scans because the damage involves microscopic shearing of axons — the brain’s communication lines — which traditional imaging cannot detect. Our conversation also covers the unique challenges military service members face, from recurrent head injuries during training to the high rate of TBIs across operational environments. Together, we unpack why so many concussions go unrecognized and how symptoms can evolve or worsen over time without proper care.
We also discuss Ms. Tuttle’s book After the Crash, where she provides simple, accessible tools to help TBI survivors return to work, manage symptoms, and prevent burnout. She emphasizes the importance of readable formatting, brain breaks, journaling, and compensatory strategies — all designed for people who struggle with memory issues, fatigue, or sensory overload. She shares why journaling is essential for tracking symptoms, noticing patterns, processing mental load, and recognizing how far recovery has come, especially on the difficult days when hope feels thin. Her guidebook also includes an Audible version for those who can’t comfortably read after an injury.
Finally, Ms. Tuttle outlines her next steps, including a self-paced online program to help TBI survivors ease their transition back to work or school. Her upcoming resources include a journal, an e-book on returning to driving, and practical instruction on advocating for workplace accommodations. Her mission is clear: to help survivors feel less alone, better informed, and more empowered as they navigate a deeply misunderstood condition.
https://kellytuttle.org/
Website: https://coupleonukes.com
Exodus, Honor Your Heart, & Nulu Knives: https://www.coupleonukes.com/affiliates/
Want to be a guest on Couple O' Nukes? Send me a message on PodMatch: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1726279485588093e83e0e007
Sign Up For A PodMatch Account: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/coupleonukes
*Couple O' Nukes LLC and Mr. Whiskey are not licensed medical entities, nor do they take responsibility for any advice or information put forth by guests. Take all advice at your own risk.