What did the doctors say at your first exam after receiving your concussion?
 

The thread is not to discuss what doctors have said but just to list the various terms and excuses doctors have stated to minimize the diagnosis after a head impact.

I have heard:

You can't get a concussion from just shaking your head.

You can't get a concussion from a roller coaster ride.

You can't have a concussion because you did not lose consciousness.

You can't have a concussion because the impact was not severe enough.

You can have a concussion because nothing actually impacted your head.


How about the myriad of lame comments from your doctors?

We could write a book and send it to those same doctors and to the Congressional Committee on Concussion.

Well, I can't resist this thread!


"You probably have a virus".

"Best not to do any aerobic exercise for a while" (you think??).


And my favourite comment, repeated in a patronising way by 3 different doctors as the symptoms got worse and worse and I didn't know what the hell was going on:

"It's not serious" (oh, that's a relief, I'll just go away and stop wasting your time then, silly me)

mine said "its a little brain bruise" rest the weekend...you'll be fine.

A few things i've heard
 

"The symptoms should go away in a few weeks.... typically the symptoms can last for sometime after the injury."

"[weeks later] The symptoms should resolve itself in a few months."

"[months later] Don't worry, these symptoms can last up to a year or two."

"[A year or two later] Well, it looks like you have PCS."


Another common thing is that my doctor will never say that I have PCS, he always says I have post-concussion headaches, and other problems...

A months after my concussion...

"Your brain will heal on it's own. The longest documented symptom of a concussion is 18 months."

A year later...

"Because you didn't lose consciousness you can no longer be experiencing PCS symptoms. Have you looked into the possibility that you're having migranes?"

Migranes that have caused my vision to become incredibly malligned four days after my concussion, and continue to persist today in a lesser form, 15 months later. How stupid of me doc... how could I possibly think this is related to PCS.

2 months after my concussion I had a relapse after being released to run and workout again.. SEVERE depressive episodes, similar to the ones that I had initially after my concussion..

This was the first time seeing this particular gp. She said:

"I can't see how this is related to your concussion. You didn't lose consciousness during your concussion? Are you sure you're not pregnant? Pregnancy causes mood swings. Is there anything else going on in your life?"

She then proceeded to give me a prescription to Lexapro..... what?!

First of all, how INSULTING. I'm 19 years old and the fact that she wasn't even listening to me, yet inquiring if I was pregnant or if something else was making me upset, was extremely frustrating.

It's pretty much common sense that it was related to my concussion:
1. never had depression in my entire life
2. similar episodes as initially after my concussion
3. last time I checked, pregnancy does not cause suicidal thoughts/uncontrollable crying spells for hours a day/inability to function in society emotionally
4. the only thing that had changed in my behavior is the fact that I started running and working out again, which exacerbated my symptoms... DUH!!!!!!

As you can see, I was extremely frustrated from that appointment. Luckily, I found a great doctor shortly after who specializes in concussions. I'm so glad you're doing this thread. My venting session is now over. :)

"I've had a million concussions myself while skateboarding...you'll be fine in a couple weeks" (hmmm....)

My favorite (as the mother):

"I think our biggest problem right now is MOM." (couldn't possibly be the double vision and other optic nerve issues we discovered 8 months into her journey)

I would never put myself under the care of a doctor who suffered multiple concussions as a skateboarder. This demonstrates two things, he is not concerned about the repercussions of risky behavior, and he may not be using all of his marbles, so to speak. Not to mention, he is an ignoramus concerning concussions.

Yup...we didn't go back to him. And I filed a formal complaint with the clinic he was associated with. He isn't there any longer (whether because of me or something else I don't know) but he's out there somewhere...

Ha - "ignoramus" I like that word. I was concerned that he had such a cavalier attitude about head injury in front of a teenager.

Are you sure that you are not allergic to something?

Are you sure that these headaches started after your concussion?

Yep, you look concussed alright, you have that concussed look in your eyes, but you will be fine.

I would go talk to your regular doctor about your headaches.

I have never heard of activity causing worsening of symptoms...are you sure?

Are you sure? YES!!!!!!!!