I am 27 and about 6 weeks ago was involved in a fluke accident at a bar where I was in the wrong place and wrong time, meaning some moron threw a beer mug across the room and it broke on my head. Besides a small cut in my forehead and feeling dazed I felt fine, if not worn out. The next week I was vomiting and had horrible headaches along with a lot of dizziness which kept me from being able to walk normally.

I have had a CAT Scan and an MRI, neither of which seem to show anything. I have a lot of trouble with lights, pain in my ear that comes and goes, and headaches that last forever. Somedays, I don't have a lot of these signs but I am always exhausted. The most frustrating thing is that my symptoms change from the nausea, headache, diziness, neck pain, ear pain and so on. Also it seems like I have a very low threshold on my emotions any time I feel any kind of stress. I am not depressed but I will feel low, or suddenly sad or suddenly irate over nothing at all. I tend to be a phobic in open places and have irrational thoughts about what dangers could be around.

My Dr's have said that this will take time to heal and have given me come anti anziety medicines to help. I am going to the neurologist this week and hope that he can shed some light on this whole situation. At times I feel like I am actually going crazy from the overly emotional feelings to the physical symptoms that seem to pop up all the time. Though my Dr. assures me this is not due to me going crazy, it sure feels like it sometimes. It is hard for my bf to understand my sudden changes and the fact that I get phobic at times with no warning. Sometimes just being touched makes it all so much worse.

Don't get me wrong, I have some days that are better than others. Some days I almost feel "normal" again. My concern is that I can not do a lot of daily things like grocery shoppping or driving without getting serious headaches, nausea, dizziness and ear pain.

I guess I am just looking to see if everyone else had similar types of symptoms, how they dealt with them and any other suggestions that might help me out. I keep being told that it just takes time, but sometimes I wonder if they really even know. I just want to find some more ways to get my life back to normal so I can work and do the things I normally do!

sorry to hear of everybody's misfortunes. I'm 7 months 8 days into my PCS.

I had to beat one of my neurologists to get him to explain to me that MRIs and CT scans dont show anything abnormal in people with PCS. I kept having them tell me after i was diagnosed with PCS that the MRI/CT scans that were done " did not show anything that explained the symptoms i was continuing to have." Well after digging through medical journals through online, doctors have decided that assuring that patient that the symptoms will reside shortly is the best action to take. Which is exactly what they did to me. ER doc: 2-3 weeks, 4 weeks tops. Neurologist: 3 months Different neurologist: 6 months tops. It was till recently that a doctor told me what i had read in several places. Could be a year or more or permanent. Which is a horrible prospect. Pounding headaches and difficulty concentrating for the rest of your life. Id be lying if I said i didnt think about suicide every day. But at this point theres still hope, so i trudge on. The truth is there isnt anything the doctors can do to fix it, and it is a wait game. But theres no way to know how long it can last. It could be permanent. It could stop tomorrow. So try to keep you head up. I dont check this forum as often as i should so, if anyone needs some moral support on wants to share notes email me at owenincville@gmail.com

Just curious as to what you symptoms are? My neurologist told me the progess you see at 6 months is a guidepost for the following six months and that after a year some might be permanent. Also wondering what kind of meds you might be trying?

Just so you both know we have a forum specifically for this issue.

And its a very good one.

Donna

what is that forum called donna?

I have PCS 2YRS 9MOS AND COUNTING........ headaches are controlled by topomax and way less frequent. Fog, confusion and slow processing are the new normal. Fatigue and brain drain out of no where. Flat emotions where delight used to be. The new me, hardto explain, learning day by day, sometimes moment by moment............

WoW! I have herd and been through alot of things in my life but this I have to say is a test of sorts. I am 34 Years old a mom of five and live a very busy life...well i used to. on November 30 a pair of my daughters roller skates came down from the top shelf in a closet. two wheels striking me in the back of the head. I thought for sure it killed me. despite feeling soar from the actual hit everything I thought would be o.k. two days later the E.R diagnosed me with a concussion told me to motrin the pain. I lived normal for two days after. on that third day my hands started to go slightly numb! day four arms and legs with a connection inside my head. Ill never call it a head ache it was a total skull ache! since then i have had my hearing come in and out, went through weeks that i couldnt get out of my bed. I was so overwhelmingly dizzy plus vertigo, yes there is a difference. If I stood for more than two minutes on my feet I could feel this strange pulling feeling. start at the inside of my head all over and through my arms, legs and stomach would go numb. I would also have such a pins and needles sensation all over my body more like nails and screws. headaches,blurred vision. hearing loss, ringing in ears. I seen lights and black spots when i tried to look down. I could go on and on. I have suffered the past tw months like this. The worst part is noone understands. right now on Jan 29 I can say the symptoms have eased about 45 to 50 percent but I am no where near normal. and all because a five year ols roller skate! The dpctor told me I have a concussion that make athletes quit sports! and even though it was so mild to have this go on and for so long is the scariest thing. did the mri too. negative. Thank the lord. So No you are not alone. believe me from what i have read some people have it worst if thats even possible. not sure how far to push. it controls me. and my concentration is of a child also with anxiety mixed in there also. and the tears are amazing. I didnt cry this hard when my dad dies and he was my best friend. Advise. go one day ata time. I think the lord sometimes has a way to reset our patience button. I have learned alot through this whole process and still am. but remember one day at a time. Ill pray for you. wish I could tell you when it stops. Im still suffering, Jessica

I have similiar things happening with me since being diagnosed with PCS. My headaches are just dull throbbing now. My vision is still off. My mental clarity is getting better on some days. My biggest problems are anxiety and the numbness in my body. It feels like I have lost my cordination. Like my body is made out of heavy playdough. It's really scary for me. My emotions are like being on a roller coaster. My neurologist prescribed Celexa for depression but I haven't been able to bring myself to take it. I do take something for anxiety when I have panic attacks. I take life one day at a time and hope that I will be better soon. Are you any better yet? If so what has worked for you? I really need some feedback from what has helped others with PCS. I hope you are better!! God bless.

Nikko, PCS is very frustrating but here are some facts. Women are more susceptible to it than men and if you get injured again, you may suffer from permanent brain damage. The worst part about PCS is that most doctors can't give you any definitive answers. COGNITIVE THERAPY does work. You may need to be on an antidepressant because of depression brought on by the physical injury to your brain. Your symptoms will likely be worse in the morning because your brain "swells" overnight. Alcohol aggravates your physical problems which may be stuttering, facial ticks, forgetting "words" like nouns or not being able to do math. You may have "seizure" like episodes in which you may pass out or your mind goes blank and then you may need to sleep allot after this and avoid light and loud noises.

Low self esteem is a problem because your symptoms may frighten others. Hang tough.**

Yes. Over three months now, unfortunately. Hope you recover soon.
I'll be in the PCS section now (new member).