[Johnhogan1010]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and was wondering if anyone has been experiencing anything like what I am going to describe?

I hit my head during a baseball game in May (I hit the back of my head in the occipital region). I played throughout the Summer and was diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome in September. My symptoms were not horrible through the summer but once September hit they got really bad. I really noticed this after having a panic attack while driving to meet my family somewhere. I have seen over 18 doctors and therapists for this and still have no end in sight it seems. I experience headaches, sensitivity to light, really bad anxiety, and horrible vision. The doctor that I am currently seeing has me taking Depakote for my headaches which actually seems to be helping. He has me doing yoga for my anxiety, which unfortunately, is not helping. To deal with the sensitivity to light, I wear sunglasses whenever I go outside during the day. That seems to help. My vision, however, is my biggest problem. I feel so out of it with my vision, like I am just in a fog or out of body. I haven't seen right for the last four months. I am currently seeing a behavioral optometrist and am in my 5th week of vision therapy now. Last week I thought my vision may have been getting better and really had some hope. However, today I have had a horrible day with my vision and it seems like its back to how it was months ago. I am hoping this is just a one day thing. I have 3 weeks left of Vision therapy to go until they do an evaluation to see if I'll need more therapy. Tv and reading really seems to make my eyes worse. I can only watch tv or use the computer for a short amount of time.
I can't drive, do any physical activity (my doctor has me walking 0.5 miles a day and yoga every other day but I can't do anything else), and I was out of school last semester and will be out again this semester.

If anyone has experienced anything like this and can give me some advice I'd really appreciate it. At the rate I am going, I feel like I am never going to heal.

[Klaus]

I don't know anything about vision problems specifically I'm afraid (very glad I didn't get that particular symptom!), but I imagine it is subject to fluctuations just like all the other symptoms.

So if you are overall improving, don't let one bad day stress you out. Keep doing what you are doing, getting enough rest and things will slowly improve.

All the best

[Mark in Idaho]

Hello,

I am new to this forum and was wondering if anyone has been experiencing anything like what I am going to describe?

I hit my head during a baseball game in May (I hit the back of my head in the occipital region). I played throughout the Summer and was diagnosed with Post Concussion Syndrome in September. My symptoms were not horrible through the summer but once September hit they got really bad.

I really noticed this after having a panic attack while driving to meet my family somewhere. I have seen over 18 doctors and therapists for this and still have no end in sight it seems. I experience headaches, sensitivity to light, really bad anxiety, and horrible vision.

The doctor that I am currently seeing has me taking Depakote for my headaches which actually seems to be helping. He has me doing yoga for my anxiety, which unfortunately, is not helping. To deal with the sensitivity to light, I wear sunglasses whenever I go outside during the day. That seems to help.

My vision, however, is my biggest problem. I feel so out of it with my vision, like I am just in a fog or out of body. I haven't seen right for the last four months. I am currently seeing a behavioral optometrist and am in my 5th week of vision therapy now. Last week I thought my vision may have been getting better and really had some hope.

However, today I have had a horrible day with my vision and it seems like its back to how it was months ago. I am hoping this is just a one day thing. I have 3 weeks left of Vision therapy to go until they do an evaluation to see if I'll need more therapy.

Tv and reading really seems to make my eyes worse. I can only watch tv or use the computer for a short amount of time.

I can't drive, do any physical activity (my doctor has me walking 0.5 miles a day and yoga every other day but I can't do anything else), and I was out of school last semester and will be out again this semester.

If anyone has experienced anything like this and can give me some advice I'd really appreciate it. At the rate I am going, I feel like I am never going to heal.

Reposted by

[Mark in Idaho]

john,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your struggles.

It sounds like you are being seen by the proper vision specialist. Some times, finding a NeuroOphthalmologist is worthwhile.

I am surprised to hear you are on Depacote. That is a very strong drug. I have never read of it being used for concussion head aches. Amitriptyline in small doses (10 mgs) is the usual drug of choice.

Are you on any other meds? Are you being treated with any other therapies?

The yoga can be counter indicated if you are doing any head down positions. Movements or positions where the head is below the body can cause an increase in blood to the head. This can be painful and even dangerous. Ask your doctor for a prescription of propanolol for occasional use to help lower blood pressure from an anxiety attack. It can be very helpful.

Here are two online sites for you. The TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com where you can download a fabulous 84 page book of information. You can also benefit from watching, when you can, the YouTube video series 'You Look Great' by John Byler at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Xso...ature=youtu.be It is 6 segments that take about an hour. Take you time. No need to overdo it.

It appears you have not learned enough about hos to avoid over-stimulation. Anxiety attacks can be prevented by avoiding the over-stimulating environments. You need to be aware of both visual and auditory over stimulation. Carry a set of foam ear plugs to help with the sound. Put them in before you react to the sound. Any loud sounds or places with multiple voices talking will over stimulated your brain.

A car radio with others talking can be a disaster.

Learn to close your eyes to lessen the visual stimulation.

I can understand how miserable this is for you. Avoiding any over-stimulation is the first key to recovering. You want to try to link as many days without over-stimulation together as possible. If you need to be in or go through an over-stimulating environment, prepare by resting up and wearing your ear plugs and sun glasses.

It will help to get started on nutrition. No caffeine or MSG or alcohol. A B-100 compolex vitamin with some additional B-6 and B-12 plus D3, Omega 3's, folic acid, and all of the anti-oxidants and minerals will help you brain detoxify.

The doctor can test your blood for B-12 and folate levels. B-12 should be about 1000 pcgs/dL.

You also need good meat protein. Pork is good.

The nutritional efforts will cause a slow improvement. It will take a month or two to see a difference.

Each PCS symptom should be considered individually. There is no blanket PCS treatment.

Let us know about any other symptoms. There is lots of experience here.

My best to you.

[Johnhogan1010]

Mark,

Thanks for the post. I have tried cranial sacral therapy, vestibular therapy, chiropractic work, along with going to many doctors that have blown me off and do not call back. Cranial was awful, it made me weak and I could barely walk up a set of stairs. They also did a deep tissue massage with that therapy. Vestibular was probably the best, it definitely calmed symptoms down however my vision is twenty four seven messed up which is scary.

Chiropractic definitely kept my neck loose which was nice but overall did not see much improvement.

I definitely over stimulate myself in ways because I have a lot of younger kids in the family, but what is worse is that my whole life has changed.

I'm trying to coupe with not being on the run all the time. I play a division one college sport and play about 130 baseball games a year all over the country. So I went from that to only being able to leave my house once a week for vision therapy.

My mind is constantly messing with me which im not use to because I always thought I was pretty mentally tough, but this injury has gotten the better of me so far. I was supposed to get drafted to play professional baseball this year also so that really affects my mind in negative ways because I've been working to achieve that goal since I was four years old.

Thanks again for the post. Any insight is greatly appreciated by me.

[EsthersDoll]

I don't know exactly what your vision issues are, but I have experienced a few of issues with my own vision during my recovery.

Mostly I've seen a lot of floating type lines and spots as well as it took extra, extra long for my eyes to adjust focus. The optometrist and ophthamologist both said that my eyes were fine, but that my brain could not process the information as fast as normal. It has gotten better but I don't think it's as fast as it once was, but I'm still hopeful that it will continue to improve.

(I also experienced some other visual symptoms, but I think that was due to having iicp and they haven't returned since I had a spinal tap that relieved it about a year ago.)

I used to do yoga and I'm not able to since the accident I was in, but I hope to improve physically so that I will be able to again someday.

Yoga is a very calming exercise, but there are a few different kinds of yoga and some are more calming than others. I recommend a type called Iyengar Yoga for a more calming effect. With Iyengar Yoga the practitioner holds the stretch for a longer period, and in doing so, lets go of any tension held in the body. Some other kinds of yoga are super fast and more like aerobics, and a lot less relaxing.

To lessen the anxiety you are experiencing, I would recommend that you remember that school is not a race. It doesn't matter when you return, so let go of "when" and that will probably help you to return sooner.

It takes energy to feel anxiety and it takes mental energy to worry. Your energy is currently limited because your body is trying to heal whatever needs to be healed in your brain. If you are able to reason with yourself, it might be a better choice for you to try to relax and accept that you are going through this, and that it's going to take as long as it takes and any amount of anxiety or worrying might make it take longer because it will take energy away from your healing. I think there have also been studies done that prove that people heal faster when they are more relaxed and optimistic. (Trust me, I know it is easier for me to say this, than it is for someone to practice it - I know from personal experience! But do the best you can and be ok with that.)

There are also supplements like Passionflower that may help you to reduce the amount of anxiety that you're experiencing. Make sure it's ok with your Dr. to take something like that, though, in case it may contradict a medication you're on.

Remember: A brain injury is a very complex and unique thing to each individual experiencing it and so is the path to wellness. Jut because yoga works for some, doesn't mean it will work for everyone. So you might want to try something else.

Have you considered doing Tai Chi instead of yoga? That can also be a very calming practice much like yoga is.

Drawing or coloring may also help you relax. Or keeping a journal - there are a lot of technologies to help with journaling now - you can record your voice instead of just writing stuff down.

I have been seeing a therapist to help me deal with the anxiety I've had since the accident I was in. It's very surprising to me to realize how much talking with someone for an hour a week helps me feel so much better!

If your brain can handle it, you might also consider learning how to meditate. I used to meditate regularly before the accident I was in and because of the injury I acquired I wasn't able to for about a year and a half. I have just recently been able to start meditating again and it has been helping me feel better emotionally.

[repinuj13]

I don't have a traumatic brain injury, but I understand your frustration at having one incident completely change your life, and the plan you had. Last summer I learned that my body can not handle certain wavelengths of light....which happened to be newly installed allllll over my workplace (that's how I found out). I loved my job, and now I can't picture myself being there even months from now. No one seems to believe that this is as big a problem as it is. People seem to think I just get a headache....when it's so much more than that.

Anyway, I can't offer advice regarding brain trauma and recovery.....but I hear you on how hard it is to deal with things like this. I just want to extend a hand and offer support. I hope your vision therapy continues to work. I think that when bodies heal you definitely have good days and bad days....it's more important to focus on the trend of improvement, and not a bad day when it may come along. One day at a time! What helps me is always thinking about what I can try next....not letting myself think that I've done all I can do. That's hard, almost impossible, when you're depressed (something i've slipped into thanks to all this), but I always remind myself of it.

[rick92]

hey man i kinda have the same type of story as you. i had a concussion from a dirtbike crash and didnt really have any symptoms for one month after the concussion but then they all came on really strong.

i also have had to quit school for the time being

iv had lots of visual problems like youve described. like a whole dizzy visual weird feeling to where i didnt feel safe to do much of anything except sit down. i cant read a book without getting a headache. and motion on tv blurs out on me. also weird is that when i look down at the grass all i see is green blur which is really scary

iv been to vision therapy twice a week for 3 months now and it honestly hasnt helped much.

thats good youv found medicine for your headaches. in my experience with pcs the only healer is time...which is very unfortunate

hoping the best for you

[Johnhogan1010]

Originally Posted by rick92

hey man i kinda have the same type of story as you. i had a concussion from a dirtbike crash and didnt really have any symptoms for one month after the concussion but then they all came on really strong.

i also have had to quit school for the time being

iv had lots of visual problems like youve described. like a whole dizzy visual weird feeling to where i didnt feel safe to do much of anything except sit down. i cant read a book without getting a headache. and motion on tv blurs out on me. also weird is that when i look down at the grass all i see is green blur which is really scary

iv been to vision therapy twice a week for 3 months now and it honestly hasnt helped much.

Hey man thanks for posting, the vision thing definately sucks. What did the vision therapy diagnose you with? I've been going for almost two months with no improvement which isn't promising. Have you tried any other types of therapy for your eyes? Not seeing right is not fun that's for sure.
thats good youv found medicine for your headaches.

[Hana]

Hi!

So sorry to hear your vision is messed up and you have had to suffer the difficulty of getting help for it!

I also have vision problems. I wear sunglasses inside and out because light seems 10x more intense than I ever remember it. I also began noticing problems with flashing lights, TV and my computer monitor . My brain just gets overstimulated by what I see. I talked to a therapist who suggested I see a neuro-optalmologist... but I haven't done that yet. Maybe someone else has? Supposedly colored glasses can help...but I'm not sure.

Hana