Symptom relapse is pretty common, right?
 

I've been just lurking for awhile. Original injury in Jan 2012. Started feeling really good in June, stayed pretty mellow through the summer. Now school has started for the kids, things got super busy at work, having trouble keeping things under control & haven't established the new routine yet--and I feel about like I did 4-5 weeks into my PCS. Brain fog, insomnia, anxiety is ramping up, I'm forgetting appointments (standing weekly ones), struggle for words, etc. I'm trying to back off, but people seem much more unwilling to understand this go-'round. My boss gives me the "been-there-done-that" look & my friends are sort of rolling their eyes at me. In some ways, this feels worse, since I feel like I have to defend myself more right now. I'm really satisfied with my recovery thus far. The only thing I've found totally out of reach for me is that I cannot read choral music--I used to sing in a choir & cannot do that. I don't enjoy music as much anymore, either.

I know part of the relapse is a too much/too soon scenario. I've had three weekends of company, which hasn't helped.

I guess I'm not really looking for advice so much--I KNOW what I must do to return to a more functional place--but sometimes there's strength in a shared journey. So, this is "normal"? As normal as the PCS brain can be, anyway...

I had something similar happen... My injury was in february, and this summer, things were going very well... I had headaches, but it wasn't horrible, usually very manageable. WE went away to visit family, and while there, I tripped in a darkened theater. I basically erased about 3 months of recovery in one fell swoop. We had another vacation planned (late honeymoon actually), and I managed to make it through, but only by ramping up my headache med usage and sleeping several times a day.

One of my best friends then layed into me for not visiting her and her new baby... which would mean another vacation... she said that because I had been away that I no longer had any "excuses" for not coming... I wasn't thrilled with her, and landed up writing a very frank email letting her know how hard it is to have an injury that no one can see, and that her insinuating that I was now just using my injury as an excuse was hurtful... she emailed back immediately letting me know that it came off wrong, and that she was sorry...

I am now much improved, but still not where I was this summer. It's frustrating, and has led to me delaying my Masters till January instead of starting in September.... but I feel better knowing that I am taking the time I really need to heal... But I am fortunate in that I am not working, and will not be cleared to go back to work until january...

Take the time you need to heal.. If you need to get sick days, get a doctor's note... HEre in Canada we have employment insurance which will cover up to 16 weeks of sick leave at 60%... it's not great, but it IS better than nothing!

leebeemi,

This sounds like a common over-stimulation relapse. If you need help telling others about your continuing struggles, the YouTube video series, "You Look Great" may be helpful. It is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Xso...ature=youtu.be
It is 6 segments long and takes about an hour. Maybe you can email the link to your boss and others.


Try to lay low to help your brain recover.

My best to you.

Thanks, Mark. I have viewed the series & passed it on to others. I had good support earlier this year. But, time heals all wounds--except for the ones in the brain--and it's harder to get a "buy-in" this time.

I talked to my husband today, and he's VERY supportive, wants to help make things easier to let me recover further, etc. But at work, this is going to be an issue. "I thought you were better" is the way it's going. Yes, I was. I am. I will be. But today I'm not again, and might not be tomorrow.

It's harder for my boss & coworkers to understand this time around. I get that, I understand it.

I guess I mostly wanted to whine to some people that understand, as I'm not finding a lot in real life today. I have taken some meditation breaks & a walk outside, and I feel better.

I need to be mindful of taking care of myself, as I think I forgot to do that. Along with my son's dental appointment. And the laundry. And my sister's birthday. And...I'm sure a whole lot of other things!

leebeemi,

Some similarities with my setback. My injury was in November 2011. Come mid May I was feeling pretty normal and returned to work for about 6 weeks. I had in total about 10 weeks of symptom free days and they all came back.

Had a new baby in May and some insomnia issues, so likely as Mark suggested to me I exhausted my brain energy.

Been 2 months now since my setback and much better again. More cautious and wise I hope. Sounds like we may of learned the same lesson, my best to you and good luck. Take brain breaks when you can.

Good luck and take care.

I've just had a setback as well and it's so frustrating. My 13th concussion happened December 7, 2012. Fell off a six foot folding ladder getting off a trailer on a flat deck truck at work.
Played football in high school and University so got a few there as well as water skiing, motorcycles, Tae Kwon do etc. The last one I had had, was almost ten years ago and it wasn't nearly as bad as this one.

Although last time I was KO'd when my ski hit my head. So being 40 now I assumed it would take longer but it's still brutal. MRI shows some scar tissue but no bleeds...and my doc and the neurologist both have tried different meds. I guess I was just wanting to see if anyone else has had lots of PCS symptoms and if a relapse was common. I thought I was taking it easy but apparently not...

Boydo,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. You have found a good place with good people.

What you are experiencing is the difference between a serious concussion at 30 and a serious concussion at 40 years old. The brain at 40 has far less tolerance for injury and stress.

Please tell us about your symptoms and the treatments and meds that doctors have tried.

Hello Leebeemi,
I posted earlier about musical performance. If you haven't yet read the responses, please see the thread. I had good advice, and it helped me understand my current deficits. I completely understand the frustration of not being able to do what you have probably enjoyed doing for a long time, but as it was pointed out to me, just RELAX and wait to see what heals.

I used my music as a way of relaxation, and altough I cannot perform as I once did, I can still get enjoyment and relaxation from LISTENING to it. If your inability to read or sing to music is driving you to worry more, try something that is instrumental only. Your appreciation of music can be stretched to another genre without focusing on your problem right now.

Try something that has fewer instruments, so you're not processing too much info all at once, and close your eyes to reduce distractions. I think you'll soon find your love for music can exist on a different plane right now.

With all the other things going on with you, I encourage you to not make something that gives you pleasure turn into " another loss" for you. I am playing the "wait and see" game myself, but I try to be grateful that I can still listen and enjoy music, and that it still has power to speak to my heart and soul.

Wishing you steady healing and patience, Music-in-me

I'm currently having a setback and it's been 2.5 weeks (I think). In my case, just about everything causes a relapse - walking up the stairs without taking breaks, any shaking of my head, even braking aggressively when I'm driving - the list goes on.

In this particular case, me and my son bumped into each other, no consequences for him (thanks God!), but I'm on my third week of my setback.

And I know exactly what you are talking about when you wrote that people roll their eyes at you. I'm going exactly through the same thing - for people I look perfectly normal (except for my broken ankle), so they just simple do not believe me.

Well, what helps me is that I just learned to not expect people to understand - they don't. Just do what you can/need to do to recover and don't expect people to understand that. My life became a little easier when I started doing that. People will roll their eyes anyway.

You will get better, we all do eventually :grouphug:

I too have had a set-back and am on week 2 of that. Insomnia was the first sign, and I waited too long to talk to my doc about it. Now I have brain fog, extreme fatigue and difficulty reading. I know it gets better so I am just being patient :)