Junior Member
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 10
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 10
|
Treating NON-headache TBI symptoms with nortriptyline?
Hello! I am new to this forum and will try to be as concise as possible with my TBI back story: Was in a car accident January 2018. Despite no physical impact, not losing consciousness and the low speed velocity I was struck with, I still sustained a TBI, experiencing headaches, cloudiness, confusion, dizziness, etc.. My MRI came back normal.
10 months, loss of job due to TBI, and countless doctors appointments later, I still find myself experiencing an onslaught of symptoms. I currently feel an inability for my brain to process heightened stimuli. For example, I have always been a coffee drinker, but as of about 4 months ago, I have been unable to tolerate caffeine. It makes me feel as though I have been "poisoned", I get tremors, and I feel as though my brain is "overworking" to process it. I did not experience this immediately after my car accident; only within the past few months. Another example: I went to the movie theater recently. Afterwards, I felt concussive symptoms of a heavy head and disorientation. I try to avoid watching things that make me laugh, as I find the act of laughter to be particularly taxing to my brain and body. I describe this as what (I can only imagine) adrenal fatigue may feel like. I even had to go to the ER once because my tremors and brain "electricity" were so bad after coffee one day. I calmed down after being given Ativan, and all of my tests came back normal
I have had a comprehensive look at my blood panel, including hormones/cortisol. Everything comes back normal. I asked my neurologist about this, and he told me to try nortriptyline for these symptoms. He originally prescribed it in February for post-concussive headaches, but I no longer have regular headaches. I also have never taken this med, as I am quite wary of it and afraid of side effects.
My question is... has anyone else been prescribed nortriptyline for post-concussive symptoms, other than for headaches? I am stumped and quite concerned about these tremors and feeling as though I am very limited on performing activities that were once normal to me. The feeling that these symptoms give me are quite severe and scary at times. I am currently scheduled to see an endocrinologist, but my PCP seems to think this is all neurological.
Any opinions or words of advice are appreciated! Thank you so much!
|