TBI and PCS again...
 

Hello everyone. My name is DeVon and I suffered my 2nd TBI on January 19th in an auto accident. I was not wearing my seatbelt and what a painful lesson that was.

My first TBI was in November of 2012, due to a fall when I lost consciousness from dehydration. My head hit a free-standing wall sink when I fell.

To be honest, this time around has been harder and I feel lost. I was transported by ambulance and had a CT scan of the head/neck which apparently showed nothing of concern.

I followed up with my primary care provider and then made an appointment with my psychiatric provider a couple of weeks after the accident to keep him in the loop. (I have been treated for major depressive disorder/generalized anxiety disorder for a long time.)

Normally I'm a very laid back person. I seem to get frustrated, anxious, angry very easy. It's like I go from 0-100 mph with those emotions in an instant. It scares me.

The other thing that I really struggle with is the need to sleep a lot. It's like I can do maybe 30 minutes of activity (running errands, housework, etc) and then this overwhelming need to kick back in the recliner and nap takes over.

I am unable to work the little job I had, 6 1/2 hours a week helping two elderly ladies. I am on permanent disability and that job helped me feel good about myself.

I am scheduled to see a neuropsychologist in April for further evaluation, but I just feel lost right now.

Thanks for listening.

DeVon,

Everything you are experiencing is common to PCS. Many of us have experienced the same symptoms. I am of the belief that antidepressants/anxiolytics can make PCS worse, especially fatigue.

Have you tried to identify anything that triggers your outbursts. Many of us find that over-stimulation with just the right conflict/confrontation can be like dynamite.

Many of us also find great help from a vitamin and supplement regimen like the one in the Sticky at top called Vitamins and Supplement. Check out post 101 from Nov 2014. It has the latest update.

My signature explains how I got off SSRI's and am doing much better. I don't advise it without a doctor who understands but it is worth the effort to to find a doc to follow you.

Mark, thank you so much for the reply. It's a huge relief to find someone who understands what I am going through. When you talked about triggers and overstimulation, a light bulb came on. I know there are certain situations/people/settings that trigger me. I am going to make a list of triggers and make a conscious effort to avoid them. You have been a big help and no doubt I will have many more questions in the future.