alcohol...
 

Just wondering if someone could explain the ins and outs of alcohol and having post concussion syndrome. Since my accident in June I have a very low tolerance of alcohol the very few times I have drunk, and I start to feel sick when I drink it. I was just wondering how it all worked in relation to having a poorly brain, and also if I should still be staying off alcohol 100% - easier said than done when you're 21 with a bunch of friends who like hitting the town, however much cheaper!!

I'm sure you'll get a very scientific response (Mark? ;) ) but all I can say is that alcohol is toxic and kills brain cells in the healthiest of brains. I know that I permanently feel hung over as it is and don't want to add to the horrible feeling or to my recovery time!

I'd say if it makes you feel bad don't do it!It's your body's way of telling you it doesn't like what you're doing!

I've seen it suggested to stick to one drink so maybe you could try that. At Christmas I had perrier with a splash of wine in a nice wine glass just to feel like it was a celebration.

If your friends give you a hard time just remind them that now they have a designated driver! Or consider new friends or ways to socialise.

I think you had your accident around the same time I did... I hope your feeling much better and getting back to the things you enjoy that matter!

CC

It's obviously bad to go out and drink on a consistent basis.

I think the key is to go out and have one or two drinks maximum, depending on how you feel. Pace yourself and don't drink fast.

One of the things I have been doing is getting cranberry soda instead of cranberry vodka. No one asks any questions and if someone asks to try it just say you are sick and you'd rather they not catch what you have.

Also, I've read medical literature that suggests one drink of alcohol a day actually improves brain function. Research that and let me know what you think.

TLDR: Binging is bad, drinking socially (drastically reduced from what you are used to) is probably okay as long as you don't have symptoms from it and you don't feel strange and off.

Alcohol is toxic to brain cells as noted.

Recovery from brain injury takes long time.......longer than past 'experts' predicted. Alcohol can slow and stop this recovery.

Brain injury trauma can place survivors at risk of developing seizures.
Alcohol can lower the seizure threshold and may trigger seizures.

And more >> resource: Alcohol Use After Traumatic Brain Injury

In the mTBI injured the brain is already compromised. When alcohol is consumed it passes the blood brain barrier easily and affects a number of different nervous systems. It acts as a neuro depressant with the pain centers which can make us feel better. It slows processing ability making those of us with slow processing abilities even slower. It suppress's transmission between nerves. It is a depressant so if you suffer anxiety you don't feel as anxious.

And it is a neuro toxin so when the feel good effects wear off and they will quickly. WE are left with toxins which will make us feel worse. Long story short concussion and alcohol are not a good mix. Remember the, "This is your brain on drugs commercial." If you are concussed your brain is half fried already.

I almost forgot to mention too that I was told by the president of the Brain Injury Association to please stay away from alcohol for another reason....addiction risk is higher with people with brain injuries. Probably because you can feel more normal while drinking it..then horrible after so in order to feel good again...drink again.....addicted.

Just thought I'd mention that too. So please be careful!

CC

Besides to good posts from the others,

*admin edit* We need to accept that alcohol is counter to good brain health. If friends think "not drinking" is socially unacceptable, we need to consider two things. First, why do your friends think alcohol is a necessity? Why have you not learned to stand and defend your injury and tell them, "I am recovering from a head injury and need to stay away from alcohol." ? You can even say, My doctor has told me to not drink alcohol.

The research shows that alcohol is not good for an injured brain at any amount. There are some who consider one serving per day acceptable as a means of relaxing for the evening. The relaxation is more valuable than the small amount of a single serving of alcohol.

Beer is the worst alcohol to drink because of the many substances in it that challenge the brain. The hang-over is more of a toxic and allergic reaction. The alcohol is bad enough without the added insult from the beer components.

If the 'I'm sick and I don't want you to catch what I have' works, they must already be drunk because it is a dead giveaway. The alcohol is a disinfectant.

Your mind is already altered, it does not need any further alteration.

If you can tolerate a single serving without feeling off the next day, it may be OK as an evening relaxant. If you feel off, don't even drink the one serving.

Thanks everyone for such helpful replies :)

I think also due to my social anxiety issues the thought of not being able to drink one or two to relax (never been a heavy drinker) makes me anxious and making conversation is harder etc. I also find it quite boring going out when everyone else is drinking and usually end up bailing on them, as a result I haven't seen my friends much at all.

If you are still struggling with PCS symptoms, going out with friends in a group may be over-doing it. Being where lots of people are talking can be too much for your brain to process. Feeling like you need to say something in a group is also stressful. It often sounds like all the voices are twisted together. Even when you think you hear just one voice, the other voices make it hard to follow the conversation.

Good thread everyone! Just the fear of feeling worse than I do now has kept me from any alcohol.

Medical literature on the internet can be found supporting nearly every viewpoint, so your comments about me not interpreting literature correctly are disappointing and inaccurate.

I am coming from a common sense and a practical standpoint. There is no social taboo associated with not drinking. However, I am a much closer age to the original poster, and I understand how frustrating it can be not to be able to go out with friends.

It has very little to do with the actual act of drinking, and more to do with being around people you enjoy. Maybe you don't grasp this because you don't have a network of friends, but let's face it, in a 'normal' society people will go out to dinners or parties with friends and alcohol will certainly be present.

Further, I'm not sure how you can keep flip flopping with regard to one drink for 'relaxation'. Either you can drink or you can't drink according to you.

If you legitimately believe that any amount of alcohol is bad, including one drop, then why are you telling him that one drink might be okay for relaxation?

I'm sorry you don't see it this way and you weren't presented with or didn't take the social opportunities that the original poster and many of us had. Again, I feel for the original poster, because he isn't asking if he can go out and get hammered, he is asking if he can go out and enjoy the company of his friends. The answer is a simple 'yes'.

As for alcohol being a disinfectant, hate to tell you, but you can in fact get sick from drinking from a sick person's glass. There is still bacteria present, especially on the rims of the glass where the alcohol isn't sitting.

http://www.gwhatchet.com/2006/12/11/beer-pong-bacteria/

So, although I appreciate your effort to discredit my thoughts about going out and having a drink if it doesn't present too many symptoms, I think that not only was my post rational and thought out, it was accurate for someone suffering a Mild TBI. Don't overdo it, don't drink any alcohol if it brings on symptoms, and if you have to go out, use it as a decoy.

One particular poster also doesn't understand the business world. Not drinking in some areas of the business world, as sad as this may be, is considered very offensive. Losing a deal in this society means losing money, which means losing education and healthcare for your children and your family.

Some of the constant negativity is draining on this forum.

I snipped all but what I wanted to address.

That particular aspect is sad but true, and also is something that is very demeaning in the "business world".

If an employer is employing someone who is brain injured, and knowingly puts them in that situation the are putting them in harms way. Period.

My attorney's wife is a business lawyer, and I have emailed that to him and her for their input to get some perspective - because I believe that is grounds for harrassment, in the least. There is more than enough literature on the detriment of alcohol and the brain injured available to show that the risks abound.

I can't see any employer in this day and age really wishing to bring on anymore risks than are already around in this modern era of our litigious society.

Sorry for the side trip on the thread.

Yeah, it sucks. It's not really a legal thing though, unless the employer is hiring on the basis of their personal relationship. People want to do business (not employ, do business with) people they have personal relationships with.

You're less likely to get deals and create value in the sales world if you aren't able to relate to the people you are selling products to.

The original poster commented about not feeling right after having a drink or two. That poster was wondering if the odd feeling was from the alcohol.

I am sorry if you believe that drinking is a business necessity. The recovering alcoholic would not drink. He may say he in in recovery and can not drink. There are plenty of acceptable explanations for not consuming alcohol.

And no, I was not double speaking. Most researchers say no alcohol at all. Those that suggest a single serving per day may be acceptable if there are no symptoms from the alcohol consider the relaxing value from a single serving as a positive health value compared to the anxiety many carry after a stressful day at work.

I have lived many 40+ years with the "No, I don't drink" situation. In college, there was an expectation to drink. That's where I learned how alcohol effects the PCS brain. I had drinking and non-drinking friends. Not a problem.

The big business deals are consummated with and without alcohol. That is a very old school system of closing a deal, just like going to a strip club to close a deal. A fancy golf course can also be a closer.

Alcohol or expensive wine may be used to close a deal with a woman but not so much in business. My son used to wait the 4star restaurant tables where BIG business deals were consummated. He observed the art of closing the deal. He now closes big deals without the aid of alcohol. He has closed over 20 million dollars worth since last June without alcohol.

There is as much socializing over a good cup of coffee or tea as over a drink. I can't understand how socializing in the bar scene or other alcohol based establishments with all the sensory overload is compatible with PCS. Alcohol tends to cause the sound level to increase.

If others can tolerate the alcohol and alcohol environments without PCS symptoms, it is their choice. Those who do notice symptoms from a drink should avoid it. But then, many will drink knowing it will leave them feeling horrible the next day. To each, his own.

Great discussion on this thread!

One comment that struck me as odd was the "some of the constant negativity is draining on this forum" because the way I see it, discussion that leads to informed choices is GOOD!

We don't all have to agree, but seeing that this many posters cared about the original poster's predicament I'd say this is a very caring, positive place.

Many of us beyond the age of 30 do have friends and social networks by the way and/or close many business deals without the facade of social drinking.

My comment would be, in this day and age with healthy lifestyles and clean living being "hip" I can't imagine why quality people would care if their peer didn't drink. Quality being the key word...

Thanks everyone :) I am going out for someone's birthday this evening and I hope my head holds up okay. I do rely on a drink or two to help me relax in social situations (which I know is not a healthy behaviour) so it can be daunting for me to do these things!

Since my accident a yr 1/2 ago, I have not ever had more than 2 drinks. I have tried on several occasionals to drink a beer, and would feel off right away. It is perhaps a gift of my accident that I am unable to drink because I know the devastation it can cause(through family members who can't stop).

Sure, I occasionally miss it when I'm out with friends and would be nice to enjoy a couple beers, I'm definitely much better off without it.