What to do
 

Hey most of the people that keep up on the forum know my story. I got a concussion a little over nine months ago and have relapsed with symptoms twice since then. I was recently diagnosed with PCS and have been missing a lot of school lately.

I have a neuro psych test next week on tuesday the 29. My mom really wants to get it in before that but thats the soonest we can do it. She is really worried and is starting to consider going to the mayo clinic to see some of the best doctors in the world.

I told her this was a little over the top do you think shes over thinking things?

Yes, she is over doing it. The neuro-psych assessment will give you some ideas of what is happening.

With Post Concussion Syndrome, or Multiple Impact Syndrome, there is very little the doctors can do to give you a more specific diagnosis. Understanding the symptoms is the first step in trying to heal.

Have you downloaded Dr. Glen Johnson's TBI Guide at www.tbiguide.com ?

Print it out for your mom.

What are your most problematic symptoms?

What do you do to accommodate your symptoms?

What changes have you made to lower stress in your daily life?

How is you school work going?

Describe a typical day, from waking up to going to bed, and describe how you sleep.

Tell us everything you can. You might ask your mother to add to your list. She sees things that you don't.

There are lots of things you can do on your own without a doctor to help. An Occupational and/or Speech Therapist will teach you these things at an enormous cost of money and time. Many of us have already been there and done that.

I would be surprised if there are not lots of suggestions for dealing with your symptoms. Continuing to bang your head into the same wall of frustration is counter-productive. Learning how to work around your problems can lower stress and give your brain a rest so it can heal.

hi
 

hi
I think with younger injured people,state of the art treatments can and do help with recovery, the assessment will only map the injury, but may give you the insurance cover to receive these treatments,so no, your mom is not over reacting , just doing her best for you :winky:

Well i went to school today for the first time in about two weeks...it went surprsingly well. I had a dull headache that would sometimes get a little worse and my balance was a little funny and sometimes i would kinda zone out but other than that it was good. :) I really think Im making progress...maybe i will be ready when basketball season comes. :)

Soccer

Get the neuro psychological done. But let mom make that appointment with Mayo clinic. You have questioned whether you might have seizures also.
If so Mayo clinic in some parts of the United States have some of the best
doctor's and clinics for this. Also if you really think getting ready for basketball season is going to happen you will need to see another doctor.

I think you need another reality check. Please don't put to much into playing a sport soon.

Donna

So i should still get the neuro psych test? why is that? Is it really too early to start thinking about sports? Why should i go to another doctor? :confused:

The neuro-psych assessment with define what your current condition is. It will at least give you a baseline to work with.

Other than being an exhausting day, it is not a big deal.

When I said your mom is over-doing it, I meant two things.

One, the neuro-psych assessment will not make a big difference if it is this week or next.

Two, the Mayo Clinic is not a specialist in PCS by what I see. They actually dismiss a single concussion as a cause of long term problems. You can find this information on their web site.

For some reason, they hold to the idea that if there is no Loss of Consciousness and no Post Traumatic Amnesia beyond the first few minutes, the patient will usually recover fully, given time.

I was shocked to read such ideas on The Mayo's site.

"Concussions are common, particularly if you play a contact sport such as football. But every concussion, no matter how mild, injures your brain. This injury needs time and rest to heal properly. Luckily, most concussions are mild and people usually recover fully." from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/concussion/DS00320

In my experience, the "specialists" at the renowned hospitals get bored by garden variety concussions. It is more valuable to find a specialist who is doing ongoing research into concussions. They are more likely to take a garden variety concussion with persistent symptoms more seriously.

Wow thats really surprising. I can see what you mean. I will let her know that Since i felt better I dont think we will go at least not until fater the neuro psych test. Thanks for all the info again :)

I don't think anyone is telling or advising you Not to get the neuro-psych test, by all means get it!
And, REALITY CHECK, forget sports, until a real expert clears you!
If you're missing a lot of school, why would you do any different? Unless I'm reading you wrong... if so, sorry.

I had a tbi in 98, I've lost two business's my family, my home, and while I'm somewhat better, I will never be the same.
(Protect your brain at ALL COSTS, they're not going to be doing transplants for quite some time!)

Get in touch with the national brain in jury association, and your state's. Get info and learn all you can!
Go to Amazon.com, and your local library, and do all the reading you can on this injury, the newer the better.
You can get books by doctors, lawyers, and victims. and more...

Some of these books are downloadable, at iTunes for instance, because some of us have difficulty reading for too long. But, you can load it on your iPod. Or, burn a cd.

I wish you the best!

Pete

(Protect your brain at ALL COSTS, they're not going to be doing transplants for quite some time!)

Well said, Pete! :Bow: They should print that on a card and give it to all new concussion patients.

Soccer

The reason I was suggesting going to another neuro. Is if you are really thinking seizures. And not having your present doctor see these then you need to see about having a new doctor look into it.

Donna

Haha yea thatd be weird to get a brain transplant. Yea i have been careful is it really too early to start thinking abokt sports again practices start in november so i was hoping to be ready to play by then :)

haha i like the bowing guy :) what are some good books you would recommend? ive acutally done a lot of research on different things and Im so gald ai found this site because Ive learned so much from it and everyone has been so helpful. Anyone have any ideas of good books or anything else to get some more good research?

Ok yea i think i should too because I sometimes find them happening while im driving. :( I havent been to the doctor sine i found out what kind I am probably having so I didnt bring thm up or ask about them. I go back next wednesday after my neuro psych test on wednesday so I will ask about them thne annd my mom said something about some specialist or something i dont know Ill keep everyone updated thatnks for all the info. :)

Hang up the keys-for now.
 

Hey Soccer,

I've had to stop driving since I started having seizures again. It was months after my injury before I was allowed behind the wheel, so it came as a blow to find myself again in that position. :(

I live in the boonies so there's zero mass transit and I'm pretty housebound. However, as I was hurt by an irresponsible drunk driver, I'd never put others at risk. I know you're not the kind of person who would want to do that either. Please find another way to get around until your seizures are under control.

Luckily I have a pronounced and fairly protracted aura (warning signs a seizure is coming) so I can make sure I'm not lighting the woodstove or something when it happens.

I'm glad you're going for the neuro-psych. As I told you I was much improved when I had mine (Not hard, since all I did in the beginning was stare out the window and drool.), but that didn't mean all the torn axons had healed.

I know all this is really hard for you. I was a big time jock before my accident, too. When I was in university, I could never have imagined that anything could be more important than winning this or that championship. I've since discovered that there were things waiting for me that have made all that seem pretty pale in comparison. I know it sounds cliche, but the first time I held my baby in my arms, there just wasn't anything else in the world. There are fabulous things waiting for you, too - make sure you're there and healthy enough to embrace them.

Keep us posted as you go through the process: we're all here to hold your virtual hand.:hug:

Cheers

I think I know what youre going to say but i still have to ask. Since I get the preceding aura do you think I could just pull over or something instead of stopping driving altogether?

Hey Soccer,

I'm a rookie when it comes to seizures so you'll have to hope someone more experienced like Donna or Mark weigh in on this. For now, my doctor told me not to drive - PERIOD.

Yea I dont know i get what you mean when you feeel sad ginving up driving. especially for youre because your out in the middle of nowhere. I cant go into see the doctors over the weekend but maybe ill call aobut it. I dont want to give up driving. :( Do they give you medicine or something to help with the seizuers?

Soccer

What I think I would suggest is that you wait till Wednesday and talk to your doctor about this. Personally if I were your parent I'd want you to stop driving at the present time. But that is a personal thing for me, because I have a son that has had accidents while driving.

Also you should know that if its decided that you had a seizure and knew
you could be while driving. You could get into big trouble. SO if you continue
driving don't let on that you consider it a possibility.

Dolnna

Yea thsat makes sense ok. I havent been driving asd much and it hasnt happened since then as much.

Soccer

It is also very much possible that as you heal you will slow down or stop having them. Keep working through your problems. And remember we are here to listen.

Donna

I think so because I havent been haviing them as much as I had been. Well see when i start going back to school if they get more often again but Ill gind out everything for sure at the neuro psych tjomorrow.