Should I go to a Rock Concert?
 

My favorite band is coming to SF! I really wanna go.

Do you think I should go?

I still have headaches and light sensitivity and am somewhat sensitive to noise too. Wondering how it will affect my recovery? Thank you so much!

I wouldn't
 

But if you do and there aren't assigned seats, stand in the back and maybe wear earplugs (though I hate them so I wouldn't!) I think it could set you back a little but it's an uncertainty. You could be fine but its a gamble.

Hi Blue
 

I don't have TBI, but I would wear ear plugs, do what ever I had to do to make myself comfortable to see those concerts I really want to see. Life goes one way, that is forward. Life is short, enjoy it all you can, in every way you can. I hope you get to go. ginnie:hug:

Give it a try
 

Maybe plan to go, use the ear plugs, and be in the back, and if you just can't take it be prepared to leave.

In a way, all of these situations where we want to try things reminds me of when my kids were about K and 2nd gradea nd how I'd have to preapare them for going shopping or something. I did the best preparation I could by telling them what we were going to do, what we were not going to do etc. And in the end, I had to be prepared for the experience not to go as I had planned or be open to a different outcome than the one I had planned on.

I don't know if I am making sense -- but anyhow -- Blue, I hope you can make it to the concert

pm

Since my accident I have bought numerous tickets and ended up realizing I could not go. But I agree we need to believe we will be better in our future. So once again...lI just bought tickets to see Paul McCartney...will take my parents and spouse for their birthdays....it is in a few months so I have to have faith in the healing process. Having said all that, I do realize that I may have to give my ticket away when the day comes!

On a good note: I was at my daughter's soccer game tonight. Last year...I could only go in the fall (one year post injury) and had to sit far away from the other parents, wear earplugs AND over ear hearing protectors. Today? nothing! And I sat like a normal person. yay! Progress. Slow. But it was there!!!!! So hang in there everyone. It is so tough. But it will improve slowly, erratically but surely.

I just invested in the $250 musicians custom ear plugs at my ENT office.

I figured if a 2 hour preschool event outside felt like an assault on my hearing, I needed something to be able to interact with the world. The audiologist said that these are amazing and very effective at concerts, etc.

I also got tickets with my son to see One Direction in July (I know! not necessarily my favorite, but it's his).

We need to make plans because they indicate hope.

Okay, bluehiroko, what's the name of the band? :)

Berkeley! I had the same custom ear filters. Amazing...until you lose one! Then they become useless. The other drawback about this injury is how costly it can become in terms of making mistakes, losing or breaking things, forgetting to pay parking tickets, etc. I am pretty calm about that stuff. Have learned to forgive myself somewhat. Need to order a replacement (125$) :(
Great you will try the show. You may want a pair of earmuff style earprotection on top of your filters. I used both many times, My mouse ears.

I want to clarify
 

My criteria for doing an activity is, will I be able to enjoy it? Now I could go to a concert--no problem--but back in October, I would have been miserable. If the concert is far in the future, I agree with the others that you should be optimistic but also prepared to give away your ticket if you are not ready. If it's in a few weeks, I'd just judge by how you feel right now!

I just went to a concert this past sunday. Yes, I sat in the back. Yes, I didn't necessarily enjoy it as well as I've enjoyed concerts I've been to before. But something great came out of it.. I only felt crappy for one day afterwards! This was soooo surprising to me and made me feel I am making progress in my recovery. Before if I went to something like this it would have taken me a week to recover. By Tuesday I felt much better (although Monday sucked and I felt I relapsed).

I'd say give it a shot. Be smart about it though.. don't be crowd surfing or moshing. Sit back and enjoy the music. The crowds are what bother me.. not necessarily the noise. So sitting in the back was great bc there was not as many people. Good luck.

Thanks everyone ! I ended up going and I had such an awesome time! I wore ear plugs . Honestly I felt a little bummed that I wasn't my normal self being able to jump around and rock my head to the music and wearing ear plugs at a concert kinda took the whole concert experience away a little! But that is just my predicament now and just grateful that I got to go and didn't feel worse from it as it didn't really aggravate anything. During the concert I kept telling my boyfriend to just protect my head! LOL! I was just so afraid that someone was gonna hit my head or something. But the crowd was quite mellow! Anyway I had an awesome time ! Thank you!

Just an update on my symptoms. My headaches have generally gotten better from a pain level of 4 to 5 down to .5 to 1. I'm about 2.5 months in with PCS. Haven't taken any drugs just on a vitamin regimen, acupuncture and seeing a chiropractic neurologist.

Thanks everyone!

Just to give my experience. Mumford and Sons, one of my favourite bands, came to my hometown to play an outdoor concert. I was back and forth deciding if I should get a ticket as I really wanted to go, but ended up at the decision with the loudness, lights and all the people around, it wouldn't be enjoyable for me. So I ended up sitting at a park across the street from where the concert was and could hear the music at a volume that was perfect for me. I walked around the venue, and at one point I was pretty close and started to feel nauseous from the loud noise, so I'm very glad I didn't buy a ticket!

I posted in this same thread a while back about having bought Paul McCartney tickets for August. Update...I gave them away as it would have been too loud still.

Oh well. Not quite ready for rock concerts!

Best advice - be aware of the risks to make an informed decision. Sometimes we must have our own personal experience to know the risks and consequences. I had to know for myself and took the risk.

Looking at your profile I don't know your reaction to the known sensitivities to offer you better advice - although I can offer my experience and suggestions. If you're not up for reading my story I'll list suggestions before my concert experience. Good luck!

• Go with someone that understands your symptoms to help if something goes wrong AND make sure they'll be willing to leave the concert for you if necessary.
• Transportation - don't drive yourself
• Noise canceling ear buds or the professional musician ear filters
• Sunglasses for lighting - even if at night (read below)
• Highly suggest not drinking
• Ask someone working the concert if they do a light show to be prepared (I never thought to ask)

My story
I live in Denver and couldn't pass up the opportunity to see Cake at Red Rocks Amphitheatre last summer - 5 years post injury. I'm still light/sound sensitive with headaches too and thought I could finally handle a concert. Out of all the bands I love, I figured Cake wasn't as hazardous as say rocking out to a favorite punk band.

• Our seats were mid center - not a problem. I wasn't sitting in back!
• I came armed with my noise canceling ear buds (ones created for talking on cell phone) so the conversations around me or sound intensity of the band didn't cause a problem.
• The ear buds worked great allowing me to enjoy the band without issue - aside from my friends being unable to talk to me during the concert. Oops

What ended up doing me in (why I suggest asking) was a light show with a strobe light aimed at the audience. Being night I didn't bring sunglasses not thinking lighting would be an issue. Unable to defend against the light in time I found myself suddenly dizzy and I lost depth perception. Experiencing a loss of depth perception was new and frightening. Standing there it felt like the step seating of the amphitheater turned into a flat piece of paper with nothing solid under my feet to prevent falling. Fortunately my friend realized before I did the lights would do something to me and grabbed my arm guiding me to sit down. I recovered before the end of the concert, but woke the next day to blurry vision that lasted 48 hrs. The blurry vision was new and is now a continuing issue when I over do it.

My risk, my consequence. Worth it? Not in hindsight. After that I made the informed decision that listening to my favorite bands at home is better than 2 days of blurred vision.

Whatever you decide I wish you the best!

Kristy

About concerts
 

I don't have TBI, so I am not in your shoes. However, I would wear sunglasses and ear plugs, what ever it took to see the bands or events I want to. Life is short. I don't want to get to the end and say, "could of, should of, would of" I am packing in as much as I can while alive, pain and all.....Just a personal opinion. I went swimming with a horse after 5 level fusion! I want whatever I think I can do reasonably without danger. Think about it. ginnie:):D