[JakeD]

Hello,

First, let me say thank you for this forum as it is the first place online where I see people describing similar things to what I am feeling. Quickly, I am 42 and I fell on the back of my head about a year and a half ago and was unconscious for a few seconds. I had a CT scan, MRI, and EEG all which were negative. But I had many symptoms everyone describes: extreme sound sensitivity, dizziness; unable to focus; can't remember details; trouble comprehending where I never had problems before; extreme irritability and crazy bouts of sobbing; unable to deal with the slightest stress; bright lights, and extreme tiredness. I could not do any physical activity that got my heart rate up. After about six months I took a very mild short bike ride, and for weeks afterwards I was almost non-functioning. It was difficult to sit in a chair and do nothing. The craziest one was if I was walking down the street and would see someone trip, not even fall, but just the possibility of seeing them fall would set off every single symptom listed above acutely.

I remember saying initially after I fell, all I want is to feel normal again. Then about a year later, most all of the symptoms went away, although the doctors I went to (concussion specialist, and a neurologist) both said average is 3-6 months which got me worried as the months went on. I had resumed almost all normal activities again, almost completely forgetting about my symptoms. I stupidly went skiing about a month ago and fell once softly, not even hitting my head. I went to the gym a week later and after 15 minutes of cardio, all my symptoms are back, even worse then when I first fell. I sleep 12 hours a day and still feel exhausted.

I had another EEG and the neurologist says there's nothing wrong with me. Acupuncture has helped me a little bit. But I feel totally at a loss. I feel like the symptoms will never go away, that I am almost totally non-functioning on a daily basis and feel even more scared that the symptoms will never go away. I feel very alone as it is difficult to get across how I feel to anyone, and I don't even want to talk about it because the more I think about it, the more insane I feel. I read that people have recovered, but I'm worried that many of those people are younger than I am. If anyone my age or older had/has anything similar to what I'm describing and recovered, or has any ideas on what could help me not lose my mind, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thank you to whomever took the time to read this. All the posts I read are extremely helpful.