Newcomer
 

Hi budman and everyone on the board,

In late January I was in a skiing accident and suffered a concussion although I didn't realize it at the time. I didn't blackout so I thought I'd be okay and for 2 days after, I continued my routine of going to the gym in the morning and then off to work. On the 3rd day I could barely wake up and about 2 hours into my work day, I could barely make out words on my computer screen or concentrate when having a conversation.

I am looking forward to reading all of the success stories on this site. I am hoping this will be an inspiration - I firmly believe that one's beliefs and thought patterns can contribute to the healing process.

On with my story...
I went to see my doctor that afternoon and have seen him every week since. I also see someone who practices osteopathic techniques, a massage therapist and my symptoms have been decreasing slowly. A list of my symptoms include: migraines; a feeling of fullness all around my head; disturbed sleep - there have been many sleepless nights and various days where I could sleep for a full 24 hours; increase in dreams every time I sleep; dizziness when getting up from a seated position; daily nausea; a film over my vision; problems retaining information and difficulty concentration. I also experienced ringing in my ears 3 different days and a general feeling of being in a dream state.

The symptoms are improving, meaning they are less strong and less frequent. I still experience them most days. I have to say when I have a good day and feel more like myself, I feel GREAT! Then there are the days where I feel like I did during the first few weeks and I become depressed. My doctor has recently prescribed a drug for my migraines which is a very low dose of an anti-depressant. It's only been a few days so I can write more about that in the next few weeks.

I think it's important to see a therapist or life coach that can support anyone in this situation. There are so many emotions that come along with PCS and I have found it helpful to have one on one sessions to talk it through.

I wish everyone a successful recovery :hug:
SkiConcussion

Hello From a First Time Poster
 

Hi - I am so relieved to find a place where there are people like me who can understand. I too suffered a concussion in late January and still struggle on a daily basis with speech, memory (the worst symptom of all!), headaches, attention issues, processing, the off and on sleep, ringing in the ears, etc.

I just wanted to say I agree about seeking help for the emotional aspect of this injury. I was told to accept my state as my "new normal", but I refuse to... at least at this time. I am a female over 40 who is normally a hyperactive school teacher. Now, I LOVE resting and doing nothing. This is not because of depression, but because of exhaustion, and maybe a little depression. I am able to teach a couple of hours a day now, but that takes everything out of me.

Back to the heart... I recently started up with a psychologist at the concussion clinic where I go. Not only is she coaching me emotionally, but the speech therapist and physical therapist also give me a lot of guidance and support. My husband and I are attending a family support group next week at the clinic. I finally get to meet people like me in person. If there is a brain injury clinic/concussion clinic near you, I would highly recommend it. People who specialize in our kind of injury, approach you with a different kind of understanding.

Good luck with everything! We are not alone!

Thanks milli,

I am happy to hear that you are receiving support. I don't have a concussion clinic nearby however I do have 4 people on my support team that help me including my doctor and therapist specializing in different areas. All of them show a great deal of compassion and understanding for which I am grateful.

Accepting this new reality is the hardest and it takes time. I can see you are doing all the right things. How much time depends on how much we grieve and let go of the "normal" life we led before. I have found that even when I reach a point of acceptance, I sometimes think about how much I want to run or workout at the gym and then I cry a bit more.

Can I ask what the speech therapist is doing to help you? This is a field that I've grown very interested in over the years and have thought about studying.

Take care and good luck to you too :hug: