It's been over 12 months
 

Following my occupational TBI, I was diagnosed with small vessel ischaemia some months down the road. Whilst I noticed some odd changes in the two months immediately following the accident, it was until after that stage when I took an anti-histamine when all he'll broke loose. I had some of the most dizzying sensations and terrible headaches for a few months until I finally thought it was subsiding, then I accidentally took too much fish oil, which I believe to be the cause of waking me up one night from sleep like I had been kicked in the head.

This resulted in another round of headaches and odd sensations in all areas of my brain which have been last since early December last year up until about a week or so ago when I finally thought I was mending up.. Then I foolishly ate these oily fish burritos with a side of chips which resulted in similar feelings I had from last December again, except this time, it is like I have those sharp stabbing pains at a very certain point in the back left of my head.

I already had an MRI scan to determine the small vessel ischaemia a few months ago or so, but I was wondering if anyone else has suffered from small vessel ischaemic changes as a result of a nasty concussion?

I just want to some decisive advice which seems to be sorely lacing from the doctors I have seen because they all seem so nonchalant about this, when I deal with the chronic pains every day of the past 12-13 months of my life.

Thanks.

Welcome hesitation marks. :Wave-Hello:

Someone will be along to help.

I wish I knew more about small vessel ischemic issues.. Can you describe the pain? I am only 7 months in and have very specific places where my headaches are..

I am sure Mark In Idaho will be along soon

I am sure Mark knows much more than me but I was told the small vessel ischemia can cause migraines.

I have lesions of the frontal lobes and was diagnosed with migraines, never had them until after my concussion.

Also have terrible memory problems, I think what you have can cause memory problems or do they have to be in the frontal lobes??? can't remember!

Were you told where the problem is located, frontal lobes, temporal lobes?

Thanks for the responses.

My headaches are in very specific places too, but are always moving around etc. I think in terms of pains, I have experienced pretty much every sort of pain/ sensation available for the brain to feel. Sometimes they are very sharp stabbing pains in specific spots and a few months back it was a general pressurised feeling with the same sensations.

Last year after I took the antihistamine was easily the worst, I was having vision problems and balance issues as well. It was basically really hard to get a good grip on reality and I would have some nights where I woke up in shock because it felt like I had been kicked in the head, and then I would wander downstairs dazed and confused and not even know what was gong on. I have made progress well beyond that point, but the core issue after this many months is still apparent. I know this because a couple of weeks ago I was actually feeling okay/ somewhat normal again and then I went ahead and ate that really oily/ salty food and had a bit of caffeine and that seems to have kicked me right in the guts again so to speak. I don't really know what to do any more, except just keep on waiting. The depression it gives me is maddening, it becomes so hard to enjoy the simple things in life.

To answer the second question, they said the issue was in the paranchyma, or grey matter (I think). And the core blood vessel damage was the same area of the TBI.

It's very frustrating indeed, I hear you.

I also have depression and it's awful. My headaches can be weird, not always the same and sometimes, actually quite often, I get this weird "moving" feeling in my head, hard to describe, anyway was told they are migraines and was given Topamax which isn't helping yet.

I'm seeing an neurologist and he's running some tests, not sure if you're seeing one.

Hope you feel better soon.

First time I took anti histamine (50mg diphenhydramine) and was spaced out well into the next afternoon having never taken it before. I would say the effects of the anti histamine on me were like side effects listed on the leaflet.

Maybe you should have a follow up MRI? Doctors seem to be champion procrastinators.

Yeah, sure would be cool if he could shed some light on things...

Doctors' seeming nonchalance may come from their lack of understanding of the brain. Indeed, science knows very little about the brain. Even if docs know what is wrong, what part of the brain is malfunctioning, often there is no cure or treatments. Doctors are probably at a loss as to what to tell you. Certainly, this has been my experience. Any odd/strange symptom was blamed on the brain injury, the end of story.

I have had pains similar to yours for just over a year. I am progressing, but still have constant pain and strange sensations (it's like a pain orchestra up there. add constant ringing in the ears and it's a full house) My brain has adverse reactions (pain, fever) to vitamins and supplements, so I completely understand that medications can produce even stranger effects.

Hang in there.