Last may I was kicked in the head during a sparring session, I was knocked out and seized for about 6 seconds after the blow. I went the emergency room where they did the proper scans to check for brain bleeding and what not. All came out normal. I was released from the hospital a day later.

Prior to this injury, I was a chronic marijuana smoker, in fact i believe i was psychologically addicted to the drug. Anyway after my concussion I made the really dumb move to smoke marijuana around 4 days after my injury. Although it felt stranger than the usual high, I blew it off as a one time thing and smoked again around 3 days later. The strange feeling was still there but once again i blew it off as being in my head because i had done research that said marijuana has some properties that induce healing in concussed patients. Boy was I wrong. I continued to smoke throughout the next month and a half and even though sometimes i would have a strange feeling in my head i continued to blow it off and reassure myself that it was all just anxiety.

One time i smoked and my head felt as if it was swelling, i woke up the next morning and my brain felt as if it was sloshing around in my head. I also felt extremely foggy and had a warm feeling in the back of my head. As well, I had a pressure/tension behind my eyes and on my temples. This feeling persisted for about 4 days progressively getting better.

I decided it was time to go to my neurologist to get a check up. I told him I had smoked throughout the past few months and he ordered for an EEG and an MRI. I had both and they came out completely normal. The doctor said my brain just needed rest and that there was nothing to worry about. I listened and gave my body and brain rest, eating a healthy diet and having a good exercise regimen.

About 6 months later, midterms came along for my classes at school. I decided that possibly a 20 mg adderal would help me focus better on my studying and what not. I was wrong, it made me completely unfocused and made me have an extreme anxiety attack. Also following the taking of the adderal, I have developed eye floaters when looking into the bright sky, something which I have never had before.

After that incident I have had on and off feelings of brain foggyness, trouble reading, trouble hearing, a feeling of my ears being clogged, swelling brain feeling, hot brain feeling, and just an overall bad feeling. Like I said these symptoms are "on and off" meaning some days I will feel great and other days I will have these symptoms.

I know my choices to use drugs were ridiculous and immature, and nonetheless idiotic. I cannot find any other reason as to why I abused marijuana knowing that it could hurt me in the long run other than the fact that I was addicted. I can assure you that I do not use any drugs any longer, the guilt of my stupidity is too much for me too even consider it. I AM NOT LOOKING TO BE REPRIMANDED FOR MY BEHAVIOR, I KNOW IT WAS STUPID I JUST WANT ANSWERS.

Although I am not using drugs, I am constantly around friends and the party scene (seeming that i am 18), therefore I am constantly around marijuana. Even the slightest (accidental) inhale of second hand smoke causes me to feel different, or "high". I feel as if my brain is extremely sensitive, the high is not normal, I have terrible symptoms such as the hot feeling and brain swelling feeling. As well it feels as if my ears are clogged. I have asked my neurologist once again what these feelings could be, he attributes it all to my anxiety. I without a doubt know that it is not my anxiety and that it is indeed something different. Possibly it is the fact that the blood vessels in my brain have not healed yet, and I am very sensitive to the constricting and dilating that occurs when a drug is introduced to the brain?

I am just look for some insight whether this will ever go away and if my brain will ever be able to handle a social drink or drugs again. I am not worried about smoking marijuana ever again, I could careless. I am worried if G-d forbid I ever need anesthesia, the effects on my sensitive brain could cause extreme damage. Please once again I am NOT looking to be judged, I have made mistakes in my life just as all of us have.

I am looking for some insight on what to do now in terms of neurological scans/ tests to determine and permanent damage, a vitamin regimen I should take to promote healing, and if these symptoms correlate with those of PCS.

Thanks for your time,

Ron

Hi Ron,
Don't worry I am not going to give you any lectures. What I am wondering is if you have post concussive syndrome. You say you have seen a neurologist? Not just a doctor but a real specialist neurologist? Did he do any tests on you like having you remember a list of words, puzzles, draw pictures, check your balance? What was his diagnosis? I have anxiety and the problems you describe do not sound like anxiety. They sound more like mild traumatic brain injury. Although the brain sloshing is strange but there is one other person in our traumatic brain injury group that describes this also. I would have an MRI of the brain. Although post concussive syndrome cannot show on that but you would at least know it was not more serious. Have you had any seizures since the kick in the head? Do you have memory problems? There is a section on this forum for traumatic brain injury/PCS. Your welcome to come talk to everyone. My injuries are more severe and I have seizures and chronic pain as well as PCS. There are some that are more lightly injured so the input from all is good. Do you have migraine headaches? Is it only when around the weed or taking the other drug that you notice these symptoms or are they most days-some days better-some days worse? Obviously you know try to stay away from the drugs and alcohol and let your brain heal. You are very young so chances are you will heal up with some time of giving your brain some care.
Brain

Brain Patch,

thank you for your detailed response. I have had an MRI around September of this year. Idiotically, I continued to smoke and had not had an MRI since. Do you suggest I have another MRI done? I have not had any seizures since the concussion. My memory is pretty good although I must say i have some short term memory problems such as remembering what i said in conversation and remembering faces. I'm in my junior year in high school and my grades are great im in all AP and honor classes and can keep up just fine. There are some days where i feel like total crap and other days i will feel fine, it varies. But when i am exposed to drugs(weed), my symptoms become much worse, and continue to be bad for several days even weeks. I will take your suggestion to post in the forum.
Thanks again.

Ron,

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. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Looks like you have found the Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome, there are great number of friends to help.

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

Brain Patch,

thank you for your detailed response. I have had an MRI around September of this year. Idiotically, I continued to smoke and had not had an MRI since. Do you suggest I have another MRI done? I have not had any seizures since the concussion. My memory is pretty good although I must say i have some short term memory problems such as remembering what i said in conversation and remembering faces. I'm in my junior year in high school and my grades are great im in all AP and honor classes and can keep up just fine. There are some days where i feel like total crap and other days i will feel fine, it varies. But when i am exposed to drugs(weed), my symptoms become much worse, and continue to be bad for several days even weeks. I will take your suggestion to post in the forum.
Thanks again.

Hi Ron,
No I don't think another MRI would be useful if you just had one in September. They are expensive. I just wanted to make sure you had one. You say you are able to keep up with your classes just fine. It sounds like you are able to function normally with the exception of some days you don't feel good. A little bit of memory trouble and trouble recognizing faces (I have this bad, everyone looks the same to me).
Well here's what I think. I have had 5-6 concussions before the car accident that really disabled me. I have hypoglycemia (it is where your blood sugar can drop suddenly) and I have passed out in public and fell straight back on cement and hit my head really hard. This has happened to me 8-9 times. After the first one I noticed symptoms like you describe and started getting migraine headaches. I could sill function normally with the exception of the days I did not feel good and had migraine headaches. That never went away but it might have if I did not keep hitting my head and injuring myself over and over again. I think you will heal with time but it is possible you may have some symptoms that your going to have to learn to manage and work around. Get some medication if you need it but only take it exactly as prescribed. Weed and uppers make people who have head injuries feel like hell. Alcohol too. I know you are 18 so if you must drink, only have one. And you will pay for it with symptoms. There may come a time where you can drink like a normal person again. I don't know. Sometimes these things are forever sometimes not. The brain is an amazing thing and you have youth on your side. I think with time and no more head injury with healthy diet you will be 100 percent again. I hope so.
Brain

thank you brain patch, I will keep you update on my progress through this forum. Your words have made me more positive and determined to get better. Thanks for everything.

Hi Milanchz welcome to Neuro talk this is a great group of people.Please don't beat yourself up about smoking pot it happened and you are 18 maybe lay of the stuff and see how you feel. A brain injury can take time to heal give yourself that time and look after yourself. I always worry about fertilizer and stuff they may use on the plant if your not getting it by prescription , and that is hard to get. Your are so young and have so much to learn be your own best friend, most of us over 30 have tried it even if we say we didn't lol

You guys are truly a great group of people, for the past few months I have been feeling guilty, alone and anxious as to my drug habits and my symptoms. From your simple and prompt responses, I find myself at a better state of mind and like I said in my previous response, more positive. I will lay off all drugs and treat my brain right.