Advice/Help desperately sought
 

Hi
I'm really hoping someone can help me here - A brief History:

I was involved in a serious car accident in November 2008 where, although I (fortunately) didn't break anything, I sustained knee injuries, whiplash and I also hit my head against the windscreen. I have had a variety of problems including persistent memory loss, loss of concentration, headaches/migraines etc but something that i have started to notice more recently is these blackouts i get. I can get them at any time and anywhere, including when I'm driving the car. I also have big mood swings and my personality has changed, often feeling frustrated and very very angry, and it takes me a long time to "bring myself back down".

The reason I am asking for help is that last sunday i had a particulalry bad episode. I was in the supermarket feeling fine, maybe a little tired, then out of nowhere I suddenly went very very hot, started to feel light headed and was constantly "losing my sight" (everything went black) The blackouts (if thats what they are) lasted for up to five seconds each and i really though i was going to pass out. I continued to feel like this until my mum got me a danish pastry which i wolfed down and I started to feel much better - however for the rest of the day I felt a little nauseous and absolutely exhausted. I am also really concerned that I am getting them while driving where i don't feel hot, but my vision just suddenyl goes momentarlity and without warning.

Also I forgot to say that when I had my episode in the supermarket I was seriously tingling all over. I remember i was stood in the refridgeration aisle and just wanted to feel the cold but it didnt make me feel any better

I have had very bad stabbing headaches (just behind my right eye (area where i hit my head)) on and off since the accident but they seem to have calmed down in the last couple of months. Though when i get them it is excruciating.

I have had CAT scans, blood work, urine tests (not pregnant) and all that kind of thing, though to be honest i haven't mentioned this to my doctor yet (but I don't have that much confidence in him to be honestbecause he always just refers me to someone else). It would be great if i had something to go to him with, maybe actually get him to help me.

Any help or advice anyone could give me would be really helpful

Thank you

Get medical help
 

First, welcome to NT.

I was in a very bad car accident a couple of years ago and suffered injuries similar to yours: TBI, whiplash, damaged knees, etc…

Whiplash can cause serious, long term neurological damage, especially in people (mostly women) with naturally small outlets. In those cases, it can be difficult to separate the TBI symptoms from the neurological. Either way, you need immediate, specialized medical attention.

See your family doctor without delay. This is way beyond the scope of a GP, so it’s good that he will refer you on. For starters you need to see a neurologist and a physical medical specialist. A CAT Scan isn’t much good for diagnosing brain injury. You should certainly have an MRI and consider neuro-psychological testing to access your brain function.

A lot of your symptoms, like temper and headache, are almost ubiquitous in head injury. Your blackouts are less common - and far more disturbing. By blackouts do you mean that you actually faint or that you suffer short periods of blindness? Either way, please stop driving until you get this problem under control. You of all people know how devastating a car accident can be. You don’t want to hurt or kill yourself or some innocent person.

I could spend a lot of time speculating on which part of your brain is provoking which symptom. The point is that you have a problem and you know it. None of us can say anything that’s going to change that. Please go and get the medical attention you need and the people on this forum will be happy to advise and support you every step of the way.

Good Luck

Yes, I agree, 100% with what "Hockey" has said!

Don't just sit there, (So easy with a TBI),
Get yourself to a neurologist! A DAM GOOD ONE!
Find the Chief of Neurology, At a hospital near you!
It's GRAND, that your doctor is finding, and relating you, to other docs!
Follow up!
Please!
(It's a fine Doctor, who knows his limitations! Be Thankful for that!)

I've had TBI since 98!
It's gotten better, that took about 4 years, I hit my head again, and the hygroma was gone, but, obviously, it merely slipped and spelt, all over the rest of my brain, inside the skull.
Not good.

But, I take Aricept,,(Altzheimer's med). And it really helps!
I'm NOT a doctor, so I cannot tell you what might help.....

Please, don't waste time.
Get yourself to a GREAT Neurologist!

If you'd like to speak more, please, PM me?
OK?

I''m here for you.

Pete


asb

Frustrated
 

Hi Both

Thank you for your posts - It was so nice to know that maybe i'm not completely losing my marbles.

Am so completely frustrated with everything... my anger is getting the better of me, and having always been a bit of a pacifist all I manage to do when angry and frustrated is let it all build up and start crying my eyes out. I sit here writing this with tears running down my face - what the hell??

I sometimes wonder if it is just "in my head" so to speak. I have had a pretty bad time of things since the accident... my relationship fell apart (i think due to how i was since the accident) and my career that i was excelling it has fallen flat on it's face with me missing out on my promotion, AND, instead of managing projects, I am reduced to scanning little bits of paper and filing them online. This has been going on for the last six months.

I am seeing my GP this morning. Am in UK and as far as I'm aware my GP is my only option. I think my frustration lies in the fact that when I'm referred on the NHS i have to wait weeks and weeks and weeks to get anywhere with the referral. I don't have medical insurance (my "opt in" period was right after the accident - I was too ill to do anything about it and didn't even realise). What i have got in the pipeline however is i have an ongoign legal case. As part of that process I have been to see an orthopeadic consultant who was great at telling me i had no bone/structural issues, but could provide no guidance as to how to fix everything else (not including my head). I have also been referred to a neurologist and psychologist for them to examine me and produce a report for my case. I am a bit scared about this cos I'm worriedthey'll think i'm making it all up.

My other cause for concern is that with work making me so miserable of late i decided (rightly or wrongly) to take a career break at the end of this year - The only other thing i know how to do is ski, so have signed up to do a ski instructor course in the Alps. I am excited but equally frightened - what if it's a terrible idea? I know I need to get out of this hell i am living in now and away from those who pretend to care (i tell you what - having an accident really lets you know who your friends really are)!!

Re the blackouts- I haven't passed out yet though I do feel like i am about to - it's definately a "losing of the sight".

Was in work yesterday feeling absolutely terrible.. I had a huge pressure round the base of my skull and felt so weak, like it was a massive effort to stand up.

I do wonder - is this PCS, or is this Depression, or is it a bit of both. I don't like the thought of being either - I want to be ME again... why can't i be me????

Sorry for the waffle

Hockey

I know your right and i should stop driving, i mean I don't even like it anymore and the only way to get to and from work is to go past the place the accident happened. I saw another accident yesterday on the way home - didn't look as serious but i was still very upset by it. Sometimes i drive past the site of my accident and then cannot recall that portion of the journey at all, or i get very nervous.

I guess i previously put the "blackouts" down to being tired - I'm always tired these days... the Supermarket incident brought it all home to me i think, that maybe I do have a problem.

Feeling pressure in right base of skull this morning - what is that?

Help is near
 

You are not going crazy. In fact, it would be unusual for people with brain injuries NOT to see their relationships and work deteriorate. Anger, emotional upset and lack of inhibition are also common due to frontal lobe damage. People in car crashes often don't like to drive afterwards. It's Post Traumatic Stress and needs treatment by a psychologist.

I hear your frustration over your lack of timely access to medical treatment. There are a few things you can do:
1. Get into the queue now – everyday you wait is one day longer you’ll wait for treatment
2. Tell the doctor about the blindness: severe symptoms will get you bumped up the list.
3. Go to a hospital causality ward, tell them your experiencing intermittent blindness and refuse to leave until they give you an MRI! They do emergency ones.
4. Your solicitor should be able to expedient or even arrange treatment and testing. In many instances, they’ll pay for a private MRI, etc… and take it out of your future settlement.

On the litigation front, please tell me that you have an excellent solicitor. Do not face the insurance company alone. If it’s their doctors your seeing, they’re job isn’t to help you, it’s to say your fine notwithstanding your real condition. Call your lawyer now and tell him/her to get off their bum and get your medical treatment in gear. They will: they want to win the case. If you don’t (God forbid) have a solicitor, I guarantee, that with your symptoms, they’ll be fighting each other to take you on.

Here we are telling you what to do and I’m sure it’s making your head spin. We’re not trying to beat you up here: WE UNDERSTAND THAT LACK OF INITIATIVE IS A MAJOR SYMPTOM OF BRAIN INJURY – AND YOU’VE GOT THAT ONE IN SPADES. You desperately need to act but, understandably, you’re finding that nearly impossible.

Fortunately, there is help close at hand. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call Headway UK. The group is a charity designed to HELP the brain injured. Here’s the contact info:

Toll Free Telephone Number: 0808 800 2244
Email: helpline@headway.org.uk

There is even a local chapter that meets right in Swansea!
Contact: Chris Evans
Telephone: 01792 473602
Email: headwayswasea@hotmail.co.uk

Please contact Headway and let us know how you get on.

Good Luck

Doc Update
 

Well - Just got back from seeing my doctor.

Basically he sent me for more blood tests due to my headaches and constant fatigue and I have to go back and see him next week. If symptoms persist he will refer me to Nerologist. Prescribed me Zopliclone to help me sleep on the nights that i struggle.

Re the blackouts he had some funky word for them but said they are typical of hypertension...

... Guess i just have to wait and see

Hi Hockey

So far my Solicitor has been pretty good to be honest - the other side have already admitted liability so thats good too. They are also supposed to be providing me with physio.

The psychologist and neurologist have already been identified, I am just waitingfor them to confirm when my appointments are. The osteo was good in that he referred me for the private physio.

Thanks a million for the Headway Info. I have called and left Chris a message to get back to me.

Now I need to go rest, very tired and head has been in constant pain since i woke up - draining :O(

I’m sorry your doctor wasn’t more pro-active. Hypertension??? This guy is way out of his league. You’d think intermittent blindness might have him worried about damage to your occipital lobe or a brain injury induced seizure disorder. Your injury is over a year old; you’re way past the “wait and see” point. Get your solicitor to get on him if necessary.

Hang in There

I just hope the neurologist through my solicitor isn't such a numpty and will actually help me and maybe refer me for an MRI - I live in hope

MRI & Neuro-psych testing
 

I'm confident that the neurologist selected by your solicitor will send you for an MRI. I would suggest that you also ask your solicitor to send you to a neuro-psychologist.

While much better than CAT Scans, MRIs have real limits when it comes to diagnosing brain injury. (If you want, I can give you the long, technical song and dance about what types of MRIs there are and what they might or might not be able to show.)

Neuro-psych testing is better than MRI in terms of pinpointing how your brain is actually functioning and identifying what cognitive therapies might help.

Are you seeing anyone about your depression? A TBI turns your whole world upside down and causes depression in the vast majority of patients. Try not to let this get out of hand.

I'm sorry it's taking so long for you to get proper attention. I know from experience what that does to one's anxiety level.

Cheers

Also- might want to see a cardiologist
 

You might have a couple of things going on...

I'm going to address the blacking out stuff.

I've had three major head injuries in the last two years due to blacking out (fainting). FINALLY after breaking 9 bones in my face last December, my PCP sent me to a cardiologist.

After wearing a four week heart monitor, I found out that I have tackycardia. It's a condition where your heart races for no apparent reason and then goes back to normal very quickly. In my wildest imagination I would have never thought this to be a problem because my blood pressure has always been really low. I always thought low blood pressure = good heart.

The tackycarida is what's causing the fainting. I could be just walking around in my house and then all the sudden BAM- I'm starting to black out. I have almost always been able to sit down quickly before this happens. My heart goes back to normal pretty quickly and then I'm fine.

While wearing the heart monitor, I found out that my heart would race to 180 + while I was just sitting on the couch, and then go back to normal within a minute or two.

I get the tingly hands and feet and certainly the blacking out with this condition. I'm 49 and it took all this time to figure out my problem. Talk to your PCP about maybe getting in to seeing a cardiologist.

I hope this helps!

Lori

Hi Enigmatise-I am Grandma Sue, and I have no advice because I am still trying to figure out how my head injury exacerbated my symptoms and what it all means-but I just want to tell that I am sorry it has happened to you, but excited about all of the good advice you have already received from members. Also, congrats on joining our Pre-happy group. I was on NT for a long time before I even knew there WERE sub-groups. Good Luck and I hope you can find great medical care.:grouphug:

There are also things called absence seizures.
These can be strange and should be tested for as well.

RisibleGirl

My God - you might be on to something there. The blackouts have only started since the accident but I am very aware that i often feel suddenly quite awful, nauseous, very weak etc (but not necessarily with the tingling), and feeling like i want to pass out (doc mentioned aura this morning )- one thing i am sure of though is that when it has happened i sometimes feel my pulse and it going really fast!!! And my blood pressure is fine!!

Re the Neuro-Psych I did actually see one twice after the accident. He was a lovely guy and felt very comfortable with him. The fist time he sat me down and asked me to talk about how i was feeling, said it was absolutely normal for my kind of accident and said i had concussion/mild head injury and it should pass within a couple of weeks and to be very careful of depression cos they sometimes have the same symptoms. Went back to see im again a couple of months later still feeling the same but haven't seen him since.. i can't remember the second meeting but i know i was quite cheerful and he gave me zopiclone for my sleep.

I did see a stress councellor after my counsellor sessions had stopped and took a HADS test. Apparently my depression levels were within normal limits but my stress levels were pretty high. However, that was in May....so, things may have changed since. I know my time at work has caused me alot of "pain".

In fact I let slip to my boss about the blackouts - have been re-referred to occupational healh today!

What is an absense seizure?

GMA Sue - thank you for your kind message. To be honest I'm finding this very overwhelming. I really hope you find the answers your looking for. If you just fancy a chat, please feel free to PM me, I know that although I'm scared by all this, it is nice to be able to talk to people who understand xx

Random qs for those out there - has anyone found that their spelling and stuff has gone WAAAAYYYY downhill "afterwards"? I always had excellent spelling and grammar but now it sucks. Was convinced that "news" was spelt "nues" the other day!!!

Have you read any info about upper cervical {c1 c2} adjustments?

whiplash & hitting the windshield could have knocked your c1 c2 out of alignment.

My chiro adjusted mine when it was needed - it's about the simplest adjustment- no force at all.
But not all chiros do it.

explore these sites for more info-
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=...39ab19175450f1


videos-
http://video.google.com/videosearch?...tle&resnum=10#

Has my spelling and grammar slipped since the accident? You bet - and that’s just many among a bevy of deficits.

I now find it next to impossible to learn anything new. I can’t do the simplest math without prompting. I make errors (to which I am oblivious) addressing enveloped and writing cheques. I get lost all the time – even in familiar settings. I have great difficulty speaking: I stammer, have difficulty finding words, say one word when I mean another, unknowingly repeat myself. If I’m interrupted I can’t pick up where I left off and have to start all over again. I leave out major ingredients when cooking. I can’t remember the characters in a book from one page to the next. I can’t filter sound: I hear everything and the hum of the refrigerator is just as important as the voice of the person to whom I’m speaking. In over-stimulating environments, like grocery stores, I simply shut down. (By the way, do you find your blindness strikes when you’re in busy places?) And then there are all the personality changes… I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

If something as basic as your capacity to write and spell has deteriorated, you’ve got a problem. You need neuro-psychological testing to determine exactly what that problem is. In my previous post, I wasn’t too clear about what I meant by seeing a neuro-psychologist. I meant for actual neuro-psych testing. I answered a question about neuro-psych testing for another member a couple days ago, so I’ve just pasted it here if you want to give it a read:

The neuro-psych is painless, but exhausting.

You'll meet with your neuro-psychologist and do a series of tests (verbal, written, motor skills) that are designed to see how your brain is actually functioning.

In advance of your appointment, he/she will want all of your medical records, educational transcripts and letters from employers and friends to try and get a clear picture of pre-morbid you that can serve as a baseline and determine which tests would be most appropriate.

You will also have a long pre-interview where the neuro-psychologist will ask you questions about yourself, your injury, etc... They like also to talk to a close family member or friend to help get a more complete picture. (For example, I had no idea that I constantly repeated myself until my husband said it and all my friends mentioned it in their letters.)

The testing is usually done over the course of one long day. However, they can break it up if that proves too tiring for you.

Most of the time you will get your results in about two weeks. The neuro-psychologist will call you and a family member (if you want) in for a long discussion about your results and make any treatment suggestions. You will also get a written report.

I understand your fear about getting neuro-psych feedback. However, it's not as bad as you might imagine. Frankly, it's not that you don't know something is wrong. During the testing, you may find, as I did, that there are tasks you can't do at all. And, of course, you've seen your MRI and live with your deficits every day. So, in short, while the specifics and extent might surprise you, the news that you have brain damage isn't news at all.

In a funny way, listening to my neuro-psych was a relief. Finally someone understood how I was thinking and feeling and behaving and could explain to me exactly why I was thinking, feeling and behaving that way. Before that, I thought I was going nuts.

The neuro-psych also helped target my cognitive therapy and got me access to some of the support services I obviously needed.[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Hi, I'm Donna. And I've had more than one PCS or TBI either one.

I'm doing much better than I did in the beginning of any of them. And I have no real clue how many I've had.

But I have a now 18 year old that has epilepsy or a seizure disorder.
So I'm going to try and explain what the different kinds of seizures are.
One Someone told you to look into. And I would also suggest you request a EEG or VEEG. But I will also let you know ahead of time that even if its seizures it might still be normal.

Absence seizures -- Are small seizures, that you just kind of slip away, pass out like. But your still there. They last for seconds usually. But you realize that you missed something. The times they are recognized the most are by teachers when students aren't paying attention. (and honestly a student has to have many in a row)

simple partial seizures -- You have no altered consciousness (usually), but you twitch, jerk, shake, tremor. You can also smell things not there, hear things not there. See things not there. Sorry these I can't always remember if are simple or complex partial seizures.

Complex partial seizures.== You have a altered consciousness, but you can either talk intellengently, walk right, do normal things. But you don't remember later. Easiest way to explain this, My son has done two things.

1. He walked across the room, when a Teacher told him, To get a kleenex,
then to go sit back down, and he proceeded to fall off the chair.

The thing you can't see in the words are the following, the class and teacher saw, Him walk across the room, shaking, slabboring, walk back same, and then pass out when he sit back down. He had a complex partial w/ second generalized seizure.

2. He carried on a full conversation with a player on his soccer team, in 6th grade, in Taco Bell. But 10 minutes later, he walked up to the drink area, and saw the kid and asked when he had came in. The kid looked at me making sure I heard this. And talked to my son, the seizure was obvious through the conversation. My son returned to our table, and asked me why the boy was so funny about him being there then. I explained, they had already had a conversation about the soccer game 10 minutes earlier and everything he had just talked about. He said, oh I had a seizure did n't I.

This is my younger son, and his soccer team protected him on and off the field. They were very good, and made sure the ball never hit him in the head or face.

There is also other kinds of complex partial seizures. And I would really ask you to investigate these, I would not be surprised if you might be experiencing some of these. I can't explain exactly. But you can go to the
Epilepsy foundation of america site and look up the different kinds.

Donna

Donna,

I developed absence seizures after a bike accident in 4th grade. Teachers called me a habitual day dreamer. Now, I recognize that they were absence seizures. I had a serious relapse into more frequent absence seizures as a 10th grader. My neuro thinks they were caused by heading the ball at soccer practice. Back then, they were called petit mal seizures.

They did not show up on an EEG. There was just a bit of irregularities.

I have had more due to a head injury in 2001. EEG was normal. QEEG, VEP and AEP have all shown brain injury but no seizure activity. I have had 4 QEEG/VEP/AEP tests but none showed any seizure activity. There was plenty of imbalance right to left and front to back. The Neuro was surprised at my high level of function with all of the imbalances.

All this to say that even if the tests do not show anything, believe the symptoms. They are what are treated anyway.

Regarding upper cervical adjustments,

Be very cautious. There is a wide difference in skill sets. Some chiros are like junk yard mechanics. Others are like fine concert violinists. I have been seen by both. The former usually only once. The later, who know how to play your body like a fine violin can be true healers

As Jo*mar said, the adjustment takes very little pressure. It should not be accompanied by a loud pop or uncomfortable sensations.

Mark

You have a very strong is the word I think for absence seizures. And yes, I may not have told strong enough that they don't always show on the EEG.

I was told its something in the pattern of the EEG that tells its a absence seizure. I can't exactly explain this. See I was treated for almost 16 years (1 month shy) for them. I went off my medicines the month before I turned 16 to see how I did. I hadn't had any symtoms for years.

I can't say for sure that after I had head injuries later in life that I stayed seizure free still. Because we aren't sure now. But they don't show on a EEG for me. My son's the EEG's, VEEG's are very irregular. They show nothing regular. Its because of that he is on medication. The very last EEG he had is the only one that I can state I've been told they caught a definate seizure. Weird as it is he and I both were happy to hear it.

Its been 12+ years and to finally have confirmation on a machine that seizures happen.

It was a good day for him and me. It told him its okay to not be able to drive. He already felt good about it, but it helped more.

Donna

Hi Guys

Thanks for the notes on seizures, makes interesting reading!

If i go by your descriptions then what I am going through sounds most like absence seizures. Waiting on doc appt next Monday to see what he has to say this time round - Ho Hum :)

Hallelujah!!!!
 

Went to see Doc on Monday - he was useless as usual and I got the whole..

"Well you CT was normal and your bloods are just fine.... perhaps I should consider referring you to the neurologist if the symptoms persist...!"

Symptoms persist... I'll give him flaming symptoms (really wanted to swear there)! After I reminded him that these "symptoms" had been persisting for over six months he finally gave in and said he would refer me to the neurologist. FINALLY!!

On a good note, my private physio paid for by the other side has finally come through. Had an hour long chat with a nurse over the phone about how i was feeling and what treatment i had so far. She asked what doc had said about my blackouts... when I mentioned hypertension there was a long pause and then a grave "I see....". At least I'm not the only one who thinks he's useless. She mentioned PCS very quickly at which point i just wanted to hug her and give her a big slobbery kiss :eek: What is nice is that she knows i am off to see a neurologist as part of my lawsuit and wants to keep in touch to see how it all goes.

So... YAY... something is finally happening and somebody finally knows what they are talking about.

WOOHOO:cool:

An endocrinologist might help, too
 

Hi Enigmatise

Some of the things you describe, such as the headaches, feeling really hot, mood swings can be caused by damage to the pituitary gland. I had five major concussions before being hit by a car at age 15, and it took years for all this to accumulate. Now, at 57, I've found that my pituitary has gone mental and doesn't do any of its jobs well. To check this out, you need a referral to an endocrinologist, who will do a lot of blood tests. She will probably also do a scan of the pituitary. I don't know if this will address everything you are experiencing, but it's something to check out.

blessings

gershonb

Our injured friend Enigmatise
 

Enigmatise -

I worry that your General Doctor (not the Neurologist) is just dreadfully ignorant about this issue ... this pin-head thinks blackout, blindspots, and massive, debilitating migraines are due to "typical of hypertension??" Did this fool get their medical degree from a box of FRUIT LOOPS??? :eek: OMG! I had to catch my breath here, as I am nearly unglued with sorrow that a doctor told you such an incorrect diagnosis. My Lord!!!

I agree 100% with everyone on here ... SEE YOUR NEUROLOGIST ASAP!!

Believe me ... I was in the hospital for 6 months and in a Coma was 34 days due to my head injury. If you still have symptoms, get a ride to an Emergency Room in a hospital. They will admit you, I'd bet the farm on it, but either way, you'll and get you an official diagnosis. You NEED IMMEDIATE HELP ... please, for the sake of your health & life ... get what you need. This symptoms are nothing to joke or even downplay like calling it "hypertension."

Good luck & God Bless! :grouphug:

Enigma: I haven't been on this site for a while but just had to respond to your post. After my then 14 year old daughter suffered a series of concussions she started having what we also termed "episodes" where her energy would completely drain from her body to the point where she could hear all that was going on around her but was unable to respond even to groan or lift a finger. They would come on suddenly and without warning, although we figured out eventually that lack of sleep and long periods of loud noisen would predispose her. Eventually the episodes got less severe and frequent and after 2 1/2 years she is back to old self. What was critical in her recovery were the following:
(1) EFFEXOR -- Technically an antidepressant, but in small doses helps to re-establish nerve pathways in the brain; (2) ACUPUNCTURE; (3) OSTEOPATHY; and (4) HOMEOPATHY. She didn't do all of these concurrently; for example, when #2 didn't seem to help any more she moved on to a practitioner who combined #'s 3 and 4. I hope this helps. This condition can be so frustrating and it's easy to feel defeated, but please know that people do get better. Throughout the course of her recovery we never imagined that she'd be whole again, and there were points along the way where we felt, "OK, she's not the way she was, but she can live a normal life with some modifications." This may turn out to be the case with you and ANY improvement is worth celebrating. It sounds like you're on a good path. Good luck and good health to you.

Hi Everyone

Thanks for your messages.

I am seeing the Physiotherapist now and he's really good. He wont touch my neck until I have seen a neurologist which although is a little annoying, I am pleased he is being professional and sensible in my treatment. I am still waiting for the neurologist appointment to come through but hopefully will hear something in the next couple of weeks as all the relevant paperwork has now been filled out.

On my Physio's suggestion I am about to start 1-2-1 Pilates aswell to help straighten me out. Having to effectively learn how to walk again as my knees are pointing in all the wrong directions, but I am confident (as is my physio) that I should start seeing some improvement real soon. I am really pleased because he said as long as I do as I am told he sees no difficulty in my going skiing next year - YAY :D

On the blackout front I haven't ACTUALLY blacked out since my last bad episode which i mentioned on here.. I do get the "aura's though - it's like somebody is trying to pull me out of my head, always feels liked i am being pulled to the right - not a nice feeling and very weird and difficult to describe, but I am happy I haven't had a blackout. Does seem that i get it when i am tired or feeling under the weather though.

I am starting to really look forward to going away now, I honestly think that I will start to feel so much better once I have removed myself from my current situation. :)

[/QUOTE](1) EFFEXOR -- Technically an antidepressant, but in small doses helps to re-establish nerve pathways in the brain; (2) ACUPUNCTURE; (3) OSTEOPATHY; and (4) HOMEOPATHY. She didn't do all of these concurrently; for example, when #2 didn't seem to help any more she moved on to a practitioner who combined #'s 3 and 4. I hope this helps. This condition can be so frustrating and it's easy to feel defeated, but please know that people do get better. Throughout the course of her recovery we never imagined that she'd be whole again, and there were points along the way where we felt, "OK, she's not the way she was, but she can live a normal life with some modifications." This may turn out to be the case with you and ANY improvement is worth celebrating. It sounds like you're on a good path. Good luck and good health to you.[/QUOTE]

Hey there - I actually have free homeopathy at the moment - a lady i know well is using me as her case study. When we compare the note she took way back when, to the notes now there has been alot of improvement :)

Yes, get MRI to check for gross brain damage (aneurysm). If you've had major personality changes (irritability, anger, sadness) and bodily problems (muscular, GI, appetite, fatigue) that are causing significant functional, occupational, or social impairment see a psychiatrist for depression. Mood disorders are the most likely conditions from TBI, even a mild one. First line treatments are SSRI (prozac, zoloft, paxil, etc) and SNRI (effexor, pristiq, cymbalta). Second line treatments are MAOI (parnate, nardil, emsam). Go through all the medications until you find something that works. They do work. I've witnessed miracles. Good luck.

[QUOTE=Hey there - I actually have free homeopathy at the moment - a lady i know well is using me as her case study. When we compare the note she took way back when, to the notes now there has been alot of improvement :)[/QUOTE]

Great news!

Im confused why my CT scan didn't show anything.. surely if that didn't show anything, then an MRI wouldn't either!!

<Mood disorders are the most likely conditions from TBI, even a mild one.>

This statement sounds like what I have heard multiple times from psychologists.

<irritability, anger, GI problems, appetite, fatigue >

I have the above problems due to my concussion history. The GI problems and fatigue come and go. I have occasional paralytic ileum that is possibly tied to either the concussion or a neck injury associated with the head injury. I also suffer from hypo-tension (low blood pressure) that may accompany the GI problems.

In my experience, may of the "mood" problems try directly to my ability to function cognitively. The anger and irritability problems are tied directly to my brain injury. I have undergone three or four notable personality changes, each after a concussion.

My personality may have improved after a time but never back to the same as prior to the respective concussion. I attribute most of the personality improvements to realizing and learning to adjust my choices and environment. Just because many physicians prescribe anti-depressants as a first line, usually for the anxiety from the cognitive problems, does not mean that the depression was the major symptom.

It is common for psychologists to diagnose depression due to the large overlap between depression and cognitive dysfunctions in the MMPI-II test.

They may help with the anxiety and such, but they do little to help the cognitive problems. It is like giving coffee to a drunk. You get a wide awake drunk. Give anti-depressants to a concussion patient with mild cognitive impairment and you get a mildly cognitively impaired patient who has less anxiety.

This PCS survivor will forever stick up for the other PCS survivors who are told their problems are all "in their heads" as in depression.

Push your physicians for better diagnostics. As others have said "typical of hypertension" is a lame or ignorant cop out, not a lot different than "typical of stress."

If your CT was immediately after your injury, another would be justified. An MRI will not show much different if it was an aneurysm, especially a very small one. A CTA or MRA will do a better job of pinpointing a small aneurysm with CTA showing the smaller aneurysms. A CTA is similar to a CT with contrast, in some cases, the terms are interchangeable. CTA is also much quicker and affordable, so probably more accessible than an MRI/MRA.

Spoke to my parents on Friday - they told me i need to snap out of it and get a grip and that i have stuck myself in a rut and need to get over it. Was really upset.

Thank you for the info on CT etc..

Have Neuro-Psychologist appointment tomorrow lunchtime. Wonder what he will have to say.

Sx