Things that might help PCS
 

Ok, I am a very busy mum of two young boys. We dont struggle finacially, but at the same time I don't want to spend lots of money on things if I can avoid it. But I do like to take as many natural remedies as possible. I have been on antibiotics for most of my life for UTI's.

So I went to my local health food shop and they were a world of knowledge.

I came away with St John's Wort (found in chemists too). It is a natural way to help with stress & anxiety which come with PCS - it was AU$26.95 for 40 tablets - take 1 per day.

Plus I brought some Silver Colloid. Reading about this, I have heard is described as a 'natural super antibiotic'. It apparently will basically just help with anything that is wrong in your body. I hope it will double up and help with my UTI's too. It was AU$32.95 for a 500ml bottle.

I hope these help anyone who like me is just desperate and will try anything to make yourself feel like yourself again.

I also got some info on books etc. All to do with natural healing of the body and for specific things. If anyone is interested I can post the names of the books. It may not deal directly with PCS but at least its a start in the healing direction.

It's a bit more expensive than vitamins, but for a small impact case like yours I personally think you could get some good results out of craniosacral therapy. If you can find a top notch craniosacral therapist (or a cranial osteopath) in your area... oh goodness, those guys can really work wonders.

I also used to take a couple supplements from NewChapter, namely neurozyme. I can't say that any brain oriented supplements ever did me an astronomical amount of good (physical therapy for me was 5000x more effective), but NewChapter is an EXCELLENT company and Neurozyme really has a lot of the bases covered for brain stimulation. All of NewChapter's products are absolutely top of the line in terms of potency and manufacturing standards, though they're usually priced around the midpoint of retail supplements.

I may be lame here but what helps symptoms when they attack is too turn on the blow dryer and let it hit my head,i feel the nerves on the top of my head tingling and it feels great,I know this sounds lame really lame probaly but it helps my panic attacks,ahh the sweet sounds of a blow dryer on low.

That's actually probably the effects of the heat hitting your head, increasing circulation to whatever spot you have the blowdryer on. Do you ever get the same sort of sensation in the shower?

St John's Wort
 

Nikkicoop,

I would be very careful with St. John's Wort. It is what SSRI antidepressant's are designed to imitate. A better supplement would be L-Tryptophan. Your body knows how to properly process L-Tryptophan. It will allow your cells to regulate the serotonin processes better. L-Tryptophan is in milk, turkey and many other foods. Your body is used to it, in fact, it makes 5-HTP from it. 5-HTP is the precursor to serotonin. It does not know what to do with all of the other substances in St. John's Wort. Using St. John's is like washing your hands with a firehose at full blast. It may work but now you have to get up off your backside and get your clothes dry.

Hair dryer and tingling
 

Tommy,

Are you currently under the care of a doctor? You may have a vascular problem. When your skin tingles, it usually means you have a change in blood flow. The left side of my head tingles from time to time. Another odd symptom is that the hair grows faster on the right side of my head. This could be caused by a differential in blood flow to each side of the head/brain.

My problem is most likely caused by an inflammation in the upper neck that causes the blood flow to be restricted. When my head is tilted forward and to the left, I can gets these tingling problems. if I sleep this way, I have night mares and my wife says I stop breathing.

The doctor says the cure is more dangerous that the cause, so I need to just learn to live with it and try to avoid the bad position.

I am trying to be under care of a doctor. I have seen a few at the hospital and two GP's. They all cant work out what is wrong. I really didn't hit my head that hard, and didn't think anything of it. But that night I had a concussion. I didn't take it easy the next few days, and a week later I experienced dizziness & felt sick. Since then my vision has been funny too. Those with a few other symptoms have been present every waking hour since (2 months ago)

I am pushing for an MRI. But it is at a hospital 19hours away and I have to pay for it myself :mad: even though the doctor here referred me to have it done.

I just don't know whats wrong :( I have had major anxiety and stress though all this. But I don't know if its part of it or if its because I had doctors telling me it could be anything from stress to MS or a tumor/cancer. And they just cant tell me for sure what is wrong.

I just feel like my world is upside down and I can't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

P.S. No one I have spoken to - personally and professionally has heard of Post Concussion Syndrome??

That is pathetic, really. I'm really sorry that no professional has come up with it as a possible diagnosis. When I was in hospital they actually gave me a whole load of information on it and what to expect.


Another thing, I hope the health food shop told you about St Johns Wort. It makes the pill (and other meds I am pretty sure) ineffective. Not sure if you are taking it but it would be worth making sure it isn't going to interract with any of the other medications you may be taking.

it has before not every time but i must say the blow dryer is a remedy i was almost embarassed to say on here b/c it sounded lame but i sware it helps so much and it sooths my mind during panic attacks,does any of this sound dumb or has anyone else tryed this

hi all
 

hi all came across this

Study Finds Victims of TBI and Depression Show Signs of Remission With Treatment

A study published in the November 2008 issue of the Journal of Psychopharmacology recently discovered that anti-depressants among traumatic brain injury victims who also suffered from symptoms of depression were found to be ineffective and requiring stronger or additional methods of therapy for treatment.

The study gave individuals with major depression who had been involved in a brain injury incident a treatment of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). According to the study, "SSRIs have shown statistically significant reductions on depression" in the past; however, with this study, patients who were showing signs of improvement at six weeks were worse at 10 weeks when they were reassessed.

The study, conducted by the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and funded by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and Ontario Mental Health Foundation, noted that "major depression is a complication seen in about one-third of patients within the first year of TBI and, when present, is associated with poor psychosocial functioning and persisting post-concussive symptoms."

According to researchers, depression is often a symptom that develops after a traumatic brain injury has occurred. Most recently, scientists and medical professionals are reporting increased numbers of brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, which is a mental anxiety condition that affects individuals who have experienced extreme stress as described by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), because of soldiers returning from the war in Iraq.

Signs and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury, Depression

According to the Department of Health for the state of Pennsylvania, the following are symptoms among adults that may indicate a brain injury has occurred:

* headaches and neck pain that does not dissipate
* difficulty remembering, concentrating or developing their own decisions
* unusual behavior or personality changes begin to develop
* vomiting begins after 1 to 2 hours following the injury
* difficulty walking
* seizures begin to occur or sudden onset of fixed stares
* blurred and/or double vision
* the pupils of the eyes are different
* loss of smell, taste and ringing in the ears
* blood or clear fluid begins to flow from eyes and nose


Often, a victim may be unaware of the seriousness of their injury or they may self-diagnose and be at a greater risk for a worsening TBI condition, which is why it is imperative to seek medical attention immediately upon any indication that a brain injury has occurred.



If a brain injury worsens or goes untreated, a number of brain injury side effects can develop, including depression. Additional side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic, may include the following:

* skull infections, including meningitis
* nerve damage
* language difficulties
* personality changes, including more anxious or depressed
* sensory problems
* post-concussion syndrome
* Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease
* seizures
* cognitive disabilities
* coma


While depression may be a complication that has developed as a result of a TBI, its signs and symptoms are also important to watch for among both TBI victims and everyday individuals. The NIMH reports that some of these signs and symptoms of depression include:

* persistent sadness, anxiousness or empty moods
* hopelessness, pessimism
* feelings of guilt, helplessness, worthlessness
* loss of pleasure and interest hobbies once enjoyed


Overcoming a Traumatic Brain Injury

Patients who have suffered from a traumatic brain injury are encouraged to seek medical attention immediately. Not only does the risk of long-term TBI side effects decrease the sooner a victim seeks medical attention, but some studies are finding that if a TBI victim seeks medical attention immediately following an injury, they may be able to reverse the effects of a brain injury altogether, as a TBI treatment is currently being studied regarding this.

Unfortunately, millions of Americans suffer from TBI - approximately 1.4 million are injured annually according to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA). Of these 1.4 million, approximately 1.1 million are treated and released, 235,000 individuals are hospitalized for their condition, and close to 50,000 individuals perish because of their injury. It is imperative that medical attention is sought to not only provide treatments for a medically injured victim, but to also prevent a worsened condition.

Hi Vini!

Thank you for your post....

As always, you give such enlightment via your research to our 'conditions' which has helped me a lot and I'm sure others too.

Melek

Someone try this and see if it helps the ''Blow Dryer'' on the head.

Chill
 

Hi Tomywrestler,

Iam the reverse of blowing hot air at your head!

I find that if I keep my head chilled I have less pain in my brain and can concentrate for a longer period.

Problem is that nobody else can stand being in the room with me and my hands and feet end up going blue - which I usually don't notice myself! Also a very very cold/semi frozen drink helps.

When I have become over tired my head heats up and feels like it is on fire!

Lynlee