About 4 months ago I was out with some friends.. I was heavily intoxicated and at the end of the night somehow hit the back of my head extremely hard. I do not remember how, but the next morning I woke up and had a severe headache and felt terrible. Threw up repeatedly all day and spent the day in my bed with what I thought was the hangover from hell. I couldn't understand why the room kept spinning around me when I would move in bed.. I had no balance either.. the next day when it didn't get any better I went to the ER for a cat scan and was told I had a concussion..

The cat scan came back negative, but I was told to go see my PCP. I made an appointment with my PCP and saw him for the next few weeks.. I had terrible symptoms for about a month.. would just come home from work and go straight to sleep.. I had to keep working because I had no PTO to use.. I have an inside sales job where I am on the computer all day, so needless to say it was very difficult.

After 2 months I was symptom free.. I slowly got back into my routine.. working out.. running.. playing sports.. hanging out with friends and drinking.. I had drank a few times, but for some reason last Saturday 11/24/12 I was out with friends drinking, I got pretty drunk but did not hit my head or anything of that nature.. the next day I woke up with what I thought was a hangover.. but it got progressively worse throughout the week.. my symptoms slowly started coming back.. I went to the gym on Monday and started feeling dizzy and light headed and my eye sight didnt feel normal.. these effects all got worse as the week went on..

This past weekend I did nothing but lay in bed and relax because I didn't want to make things worse.. I went to my PCP yesterday and he said I have Post Concussion Syndrome and need to go see a neurologist as well as an Ophthalmologist. I was hoping someone might have some experience and could tell me if I will start to feel normal again like I did last time.. and if so what should I do differently? Should I stop drinking all together? Take a year off? I was fine when I was just working out and playing sports.. I think getting back into the same state of mind I was in when the concussion first happened is what triggered it..

If anyone can help or has some suggestions, I would really appreciate it.

drod,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.
There are plenty of posts and posters with your same/similar experience here on the TBI-PCS Support Group @ http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html

You will do well to re-post (copy and paste your New Member Introduction, above) as a new thread there.
The New Thread click-on is at the upper-left of the page.

Meanwhile you'll find plenty of threads/backposts of those similar whose injury situation/circumstances and relapse condition are much like yours.

You'll definitely need to be giving up the 'drinking as usual' activities and the going for heavy-duty workouts. Your brain is trying to mend & to heal itself; drinking alcohol 'as usual' behavior destroys the precious neurons & neuro-connectivity that you very much need to function in ordinary everyday life as you heal/recover. The overactive workouts exacerbate PCS symptoms and throw you back.

You'll need to learn to take it way easier than you're accustomed to living; be kind and gentle with yourself.
It isn't easy; we know. You can do it.

You'll also want to refer yourself to study up on Mark in Idaho's nutrition and nutritional supplements recommendations. You need brain-healthy foods to help your brain recover. See Mark's posting on vitamins & supplemtns at http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ht=supplements

There are plenty of good people with lots of experience who will be supportive and helpful, with advice on your physical workouts/cardio, working (or not), and lifestyle modification. You can do it.

Meanwhile, what are you now doing differently to help your brain to recover?
That will be a good start.

Best regards,

Theta Z.

drod,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Please keep us up to date on your condition. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Theta,

I started feeling dizzy last Saturday the 24th of November. Sunday I sat around the house and just watched football. I was hoping it was just a hangover. Monday I felt the same, but went and worked out (lifted weights), I continued to workout the rest of the week. I worked out Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. By Friday, I was not feeling well and had to leave the gym early. The whole weekend I took it easy, slept alot more than usual and was extremely fatigued. This week I have still been going to work and I can function fine. The computer screen is a little bright to look at, but I can deal with it and get thru it. I feel like I'm starting to feel better. I just have a bit of tension in my forehead, temples, and eye area. I do get dizzy every now and again if I try to move too fast or anything like that. I also have been pretty tired. I had a family dr tell me that he didnt think it was PCS because I was fine for 2 months, he said I need to see a Neuro because he thinks I might have an underlying problem, such as migraines or something. But I'm exhibiting all of the signs of PCS. Regardless of what it is I am just very hopeful I will get over it again and back to my normal self. I definitely will not be doing any drinking for a long period of time and will try to ease myself back into working out.

I was glad to see yesterday your prompt re-posting of your intro to the TBI-PCS support group. As you see already in replies to your post, there are indeed several guys who have similar experience as young, sports & physically active, who are dealing with much the same as you.

It's good that you've gotten some relief from the headaches with the nightly Rxd antidepressant; as Mark mentioned, amitriptyline (Elevail) is frequently Rxd for many with PCS headaches.

As for your neuro saying, basically, "Two months symptom free = not likely PCS, but perhaps migraine" --- again, as Mark indicated, that's 'old school' thinking. Regardless, headaches post-concussion are headaches post-concussion, and cannot be relegated to "migraine" (unrelated to concussion) if in fact you did not incur migraines prior to concussion.

It's great that you've re-upped your vitamins and supplements. The omegas play a great role and I'm glad that you're on those. And of course, it's really excellent that you are committed to the letting go of drinking and the behavior involved with that, in order to heal your brain. Be sure to keep well hydrated also. The brain is comprised of: water, approximated at 70-78%; and lipids, 5, 10 to 15%.

Thanks for keeping us posted. And know that we are here for you in support and encouragement all along the way.

Sincerely,

Theta

I went threw hell the last year and do not know who I am!I drank and landed in jail!I just got diagnosed with PCS amongst a whole list of other things and symptoms.I am doing my research and I found after the fact that you should not drink with PCS.I am not a doctor nor have any creditability but from experience!Wish you the best