Feeling Hopeless
 

Hi all,

Last month I had my first neurologist appointment. I didn't have very high hopes that it would help, but I figured it was worth a visit to at least see and what the doctor had to offer. At the appointment he asked a bunch of questions about my concussion and my medical history. He then performed some simple balance tests. Nearing the end of the appointment I was especting him to offer me some medication options to deal with my symptoms or have me get an mri or ct scan. Nothing. The only thing he told me to do was take Advil or Tylenol for headache pain and workout. This made me feel very hopeless and alone knowing that the doctor can't/won't do anything for me.

Lately I have been having increasing problems with concentration especially when trying to work on my school work. I don't know what to do!! This is the only class I am taking this semester and I still feel like I am in over my head!!!

I have been trying to take the doctor's advice about trying to workout more especially since I want/need to lose weight. I started a running program, but after two weeks I started having issues with shin splints and pounding the pavement was too jaring for my fragile, concussed brain.

Thanks in advance for anyone who reads this. I mainly just wanted to get my frustrations out, but if anyone has any advice for how to cope with the concentration problems or some less agressive exercise ideas, they will be greatly appretiated.

PS.... On a more happy note, since graduating high school and having a decreased work load, I have been having less severe and less frequent headaches!!!

Beauty,

The neuro was wrong in not giving you some better direction. You need to scale back your exercise. Maybe a exercise bike will be less traumatic. You should get a blood pressure kit to check your BP and pulse. You need to keep both at 10 to 20% below your symptomatic levels. Exercising for strength building is not appropriate right now.

Your entire list of daily activities needs to be considered. Moderating your cognitive and sensory load will be to your benefit.

If you want, you can post a list of your daily activities and time spent in each activity. We can give you some observations as to whether you are pushing too hard.

The neuro was correct about just treating the head aches. There are very few treatment modalities or medications that work for Post Concussion Syndrome.

My best to you.

Mark,

Thanks for the reply.

My average day usually just consists of a few hours of homework and then relaxing for the rest of the day. I sometimes knit and do household chores.

Beauty wrote: "I have been trying to take the doctor's advice about trying to workout more especially since I want/need to lose weight."
__________________________________________________ ________
Beauty,

Are you able/capable of simple cooking for yourself in your present state?
(I ask, because I myself was cognitively not competently-capable of doing so, e.g. anything more than using a microwave. ) :(

Is simple cooking something you could enjoy doing, in a mindful, meditative sort of way? If so, there are two very simple and excellent
"slimming soups and stews" recipes that I can share with you, which are healthful and can help.

i too feel pretty hopeless at this point. i'm getting more and more out of shape. my social life is floundering. my career is stalled. i can't find a doctor to want to do anything to help other than to give me drugs that don't seem to fit the problem. i'm turning to self medication which leads to its own issues. sorry for your issues, but you aren't alone. good luck!

You are not alone. Hang in there!

SleepingBeauty, ericalouwho, 1144, et al ... How are you doing?
 

:rolleyes:________________________________________________
SleepingBeauty, ericalou, 1144, et al -

Theta here, just checking in with ya to see how you are doing?
Let us know whenever you feel up to/okay to drop us a line.

Sincerely,
Theta ;)

Thanks for the support everyone!!!

I have been feeling much better recently since reducing my course load. My headaches have been much better although I still have issues with fatigue and ringing in the ears.

Hope you are all doing well.

Beauty,
It is indeed good to hear of your good news, update.
Thanks for posting; often think of you & have wondered how you are doing. Great news that you are no longer feeling hopeless.
Kudos. Keep taking good care.

Sincerely,
Theta ;)

Thanks so much Theta!!!!

I forgot to mention this before, but part of my improvement is due to me starting to take medication for my anxiety. Anxiety wise, I feel better then I have in years!! :)

That's also wonderful news, Beauty. Thanks for posting.
Excellent.
Having that awful anxiety under some control can make such a tremendous difference ... in how everything feels & how we can actually feel & do better. I'm glad to know that you are getting the help that you need to feel better, to do better, to be better. Yay!

Hi sleeping beauty
 

Hope is always a good thing. Followed your posting, and I am glad you feel a bit better. Do seek another doctor, who has more compassion. They arn't all bad. Take good care of yourself. I believe that we always can get better, no matter what happens to us. Attitude is part of the battle. I wish you all the best. ginnie

Sleeping Beauty,
Great to hear about your improvement. Do you mind telling what medication you are on for anxiety? I have anxiety caused by dizziness. Some think other way around :) Anyways I take Xanax (minimum or less dosage). Just curious what med they prescribed for you?

Cheers!

feeling hopeless
 

hello I am katmae,this may sound off the wall to you but if you have a defuser eather wax or water it dose not matter the kind, if wax melt an unsented wax you can use a tea lite if you take it out of the metle holder and remove the wick when it has melted add three drops of essential oil of rosemary to the wax or water do this in the room you study in this will not only help wiyh the consintraion but it will also help with retintion, you my also try some medatation to try to relrave the stress it should help with your headach(I know my spelling stinks hope you can understand this) and hope it helps I know how it feels to feel alone and hopeless:hug:

pcslife,

I was originally prescribed Welbutrin, but it had a reverse effect and I had a horrible anxiety attack.

Since then I have been taking Cipralex and I have been feeling much better! :)

Sleeping Beauty :)

Glad to hear you are having success. Hope you continue to feel better.

Re: " I was originally prescribed Welbutrin, but it had a reverse effect and I had a horrible anxiety attack. Since then I have been taking Cipralex and I have been feeling much better! "
__________________________________________________ _________

Glad to hear of this change from Wellbutrin & your better benefit w/ Cipralex. Last month the FDA finally pulled the generic version of 300 mg sustained-release wellbutrin, Teva bupropion sr/budeprion , admitting that it did not work as the original Wellbutrin SR. For the Oct. 10, 2012 story see weblink: http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidmar...the-fda/print/.

The previous week my new dr. opted to drop the Wellbutrin --- for which my ins. formulary will only cover the generic --- which I'd been on for 8 months.

Thanks for the response(s). So you got an SSRI working for you. Good for you. :) I didn't have much luck with any SSRIs. Yes, I tried Welbutrin and made me more dizzy and horrible!

Right now I am on a break to try any more new meds. Been doing Meditation seriously, some Yoga and Homeopathy (and little bit Xanax). Eating lots of fruits, yogurt, some rice and some spicy food and very less meat.

I keep hearing about Amantadine and may try later on if I don't see any progress.

Cheers!

Good morning
 

I'm glad that you are felling better,they tryed Welbutrin with me too it made me mean as all get out,have a grate day:hug::hug:

hello
 

I hope that you are doing well,and that you have had a grate day:hug::hug:

sleep
 

Good morning,I hope that your getting some rest have a grate day:hug::hug:

Hang in there beauty. When my doctor told me I have anxiety and depression I did not believe her. Now that the anxiety is under control I feel as if I have a new lease on life.

better?
 

I hope that you are doing better today have a supper day:hug::hug:

An exercise program that I use is called T-Tapp. It's a lot of stretching and core balance work. You can find sample videos on YouTube by searching T-Tapp. There are a lot of different exercises but the most effective and easiest is the Basic Workout. Great part about it is that it's only 15 minutes long.

She is good about giving you good instructions so you have the right form. You can also go to her website at *edit* I can wake up in the morning feeling pretty miserable but after exercising with the T-Tapp program, I feel much better. Benefit to it is the loss of inches, too!

I sound like a commercial!


Kathy

hello
 

how are things going for you? I hope that your ok and feeling good,have a grate day:hug: