Day 3 of New Hit
 

Hi,

I am very exhausted even writing this so bear with me for the sparse details. I'll fill in the blanks as days go by and hopefully I feel better. Below, grammar and spelling may be poor too. Apologies.

I hit my head into roof of car. This happened 3 days ago. This is following 13 months of zombie like recovery where new structures were being built from previous concussion collapse and 9 setbacks. What I am saying is I was still rebuilding and dealing with a constant daily headache, though month by month it had gotten better.

I am terrified. So scared that I am going to be stuc like that again after this hit. Hit the top of my head into the roof of my car then had to drive back an hour home, all the time feeling this tearing sensation in my head.

I am really just looking for two things - some hope and inspiration. And secondly, is htere a surefire way to measure if I am improving day to day now.

My headaches since the hit have been exhaustingly bad. I can't think without a feeling of nausuea and having to reboot and find my train of thought. Cannot talk to a single person. Cannot drive. But, big fat silver linging is that I actually feel better than last two days. What I am basing that on is simply how much screen time I am able to handle. (First 48 hours none at all), and the fact that I wanted to write this message last two days but could not becuase of exhaustion. But, I am wondering is there a way to test if I am improving.

I love you all. So scared haha. I know many of you have been where I am after rehitting head. Help a guy out please.

1) Through patience persistance and perserverance you will succeed in recovering. It took me 2 years, and I was successful at reclaiming my life. There are many more examples of this on this form.

2) No. Not daily. There are too many minor fluctuations in a recovery pattern. Recovery is similar to a successful stock on the NASDAQ. Daily, it will go up and down showing no distinct trend. But weekly and monthly, the trend will head upwards towards success. As such, keep a journal on how you're feeling. In this journal make a list of your symptoms and rate the severity of them out of 10. Do this twice a month and over time you will notice your improvements. Don't score your symptoms everyday because you will become obsessed and the exercise will become counter productive.

2b) There is a way to measure your real-time stress levels which indirectly correlate to PCS. PCS represents a disruption of your central nervous system. You can use heart-rate variability (HRV) to measure your real-time stress levels. I can elaborate on this if requested.

Good luck.

Hains

hermanator,

As Haines said,

There is no day to day measure of progress. Improvements come over a longer period of time. Two weeks should be a minimum interval.

BUT, by you statements (9 setbacks), you appear to be too focused on tracking your ups and downs.

You are also likely measuring everything based on your premorbid (pre-concussion) condition. That is the wrong target. You are concussed. You present condition is all that matters. Rather than fight your present condition, try to accept it as your normal for now and be patient for improvements.

Improvements often sneak up on you when you are not looking. They rarely show up when you are looking for them.

Have you been assessed by a behavioral optometrist ? Your screen issues suggest a visual processing fatigue issue than may benefit from therapy. Health Care Locator Custom has a referral system if you are in the area they cover.

btw, How did you hit your head on the roof of your car ? Maybe understanding the specifics of the impact can shed light on the issue.

Hi again Mark,

God I hoped I would never have to talk to you here again :)

Thank you both for responding. I was slowly getting better over 13 months (May 2016). There were no setbacks or ups and downs since then. It was just slow methodical monthly progress. I had gotten to a point where I was driving, talking, interacting as much as I could without any headache.

About two months ago, I tried doing a short prep for my job that I held two years ago (economics consultant), and it was way too much to handle and I had a short two days of intense fog, but nothing that didn't wane over time. But, that kinda indicated to me how much intensity I could handle and my old job was not something I could handle at the time.

This current hit was three days ago. It is a completely new hit. The last two years with this concussion have been helpful in finding ways to accept my self, and I drive daily for hours just enjoying the day. Exactly what I was doing when I stopped to get gas and forgot to grab my credit card from the dash and hit the top of my head into the roof of my door opening. I don't even remember the next 5 mintues or so. It was brutal. I drove back an hour home, and that was an excruciating drive.

I didn't know how bad things were till the next morning when my balance was off, walking seemed impossible, could not look at the screen without headache getting worse. But, I am able to do those things a little easier today.

So I am praying and hopeful that if I am just extremely patient with this recovery, I will continue to improve. Avoiding anything that is overexerting. Does that sound rational...

Did you get a goose egg/sore spot ?
You also probably tensed your neck muscles which limits blood flow.
If you can treat any sore or tight spots you may find it helps .
Ice/heat/ massage / maybe some gentle neck stretching.

Thanks Jo*Mar. I will stretch out the neck and hopefully that will help a bit.

It feels like the first time I got hit two years ago. Things have improved over the last two days, albeit much much slowly than when I first got concussed two years ago.

Mark, would appreciate your thoughts if they have changed based on the additional detail I provided.

Thanks so much to all of you. In just bone-chilling fear I can come to this forum and get some inspiration to get me through the day. I can't thank you all enough.

I bet you hit at the top of your neck at the base of your skull. Some inflammation there can cause a change in blood flow to the brain. The startle effect of the hit can also set one off and cause a myriad of symptoms that affect the whole night's sleep.

Any combination of the two can make for a miserable day or more.

Yes, it was close to that. It was more in the middle of the top of my head. I've had similar bumps and hits in the past 13 months, though nothing as intense, but usually I am not an hour's drive away from home. I recall my last minor bump was a few weeks ago, I just laid down and shut my eyes, and the next morning I was fine. The drive after this head bump really did me in. I could feel myself becoming nauseous as I was driving back home. Hopefully some good rest brings some recovery.

Appreciate the response Mark. I value your opinions and advice. Thanks

"hit the top of my head into the roof of my door opening."
sounds like he hit going back inside the car for his stuff - probably a good zinger and a sore spot on the top of his head, and a jolt and pain from the actual hit..

I recall many in the past here have mentioned needing to slow down and be more aware of head & surroundings , just to avoid this happening..

I really learn my lessons the hard way :(

Def gna be more careful going forward.

Just a quick update - day 4 started with me being able to handle youtube videos. I don't believe I have ever laughed this hard by myself before at Jimmy Kimmel's jokes.

But, I didn't get a great night of sleep (mice), woke up after 4 hours and had intermittent sleep after that. But, now am unable to handle videos though typing has gotten better, I haven't made too many typos while writing this that I had to go back and correct.

I don't necessarily think this needs a response, though I absolutely welcome one. Just updating for anyone who might in the future encounter a similar reinjury and states of panic/anxiety like my last 4 days. I could be wrong but I think I have improved slightly over the last four days. Just going to continue to be patient.

Great health to all of you.

As we have said, improvement is measure every few weeks. If you are focused on short term changes, you will struggle to get free of the anxiety.

Deal with the mice and get some sleep.

For me, our improvements in our recovery processes will vary a great deal on location(s) of the brain hit, any prior tbi, any other health or medical problems, how your brain was wires beforehand (IE strengths and weaknesses and learning and thinking styles), level and types of support, any therapy, and how all you end up helping and hindering your own recovery.

Yes hindering is I don't there cause we all have our lazy, blonde, idiot moments or ones caused directly or indirectly by others accidentally. For example, I have learned to close locker doors above mine at the gym, since I won't think a thing about it being possibly open even the least bit and stood up with the result being a minor head ouchie.

Besides a tbi can mean a "new life" or so it seems.


Hth.

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