Hey Matt,

Have you permanently screwed yourself? My non-MD opinion is no, while the brain is plastic and rewires itself you do need to remember that concussions are cumulitve in nature so you need to protect from getting more. Setbacks happen - 12 steps forward then out of the blue 7 steps back. I look at it like software updates - while they fix known bugs, they also seem to mess up things that worked originally.

In my experience, the nature of the TBI/PCS beast is that there are no rules - we are all different. However, since my accident (6.5 yrs) I don't really drink anymore because my natural state of being now is similar to having a few beers. Wine is something I enjoy so I've learned I can handle a shot glass and don't indulge beyond that. Alcohol also interacts with medications so you really need to be careful - you might just need to accept not drinking at all is a change you need to make for your well being.

It took months to find a med that took care of my migraines that I tolerated and then after a few years it stopped working and had to go through being a guinea pig again. I can't recommend a particular one as they work different with each person's chemistry. I've tried:

Midrin (works when they hit),
amitriptyline (preventative - gained lots of weight),
Topamax (preventative - caused neuro pain in jaw/blisters),
Inderal (preventative - caused blister rash),
Imitrex (Preventative - caused serotonin reaction),
Neurontin (preventative - side effect I can live with - balance issues)

The list above is small, but when you find one that works for you it's hard to move on to another one. What I learned the hard way is to find a medication whose side effects you can live with - blisters, vomiting, weight gain, neuro pain weren't something I could live with, but I can tolerate feeling like I'm on deck of a boat - so I stopped at Neurontin.

For fatigue and brain fog my neurologist went outside the box and prescribed an ADD medication - HUGE difference in my level of cognitive function and energy. Taking this medication has allowed me to feel as close to "normal" as I have since before my accident. Not all doctors agree with this treatment, but it works for me. Good luck!
~Kristy