New to PCS and Post Traumatic Migraine HELP!!!
 

Hello Everyone,

My name is Suzanne and I would like to say thanks for your post, I have learned alot just by reading your post and seeing how yal are dealing with this.

I fell on July 3rd at the grocery store in my small town. The manager had been putting out bread and had stacked the empty trays against the shelfs. I got my bread and turned to walk away and just as i turns one of the trays slid down and I stepped in it and fell forward and hit my face on the bottom shelf. I fractured my cheek and nose and had to have surgery to correct and clean the sinus. I thought the symtoms I was having was because of the injuries to my face and that when it healed I would be back to my self boy was I wrong.

I was having the worst headackes Ive ever had and could not think or put the right words together was thinking I was going crazy and this was making things worse it was like I had no control of anything and for me this was the worse thing ever because Im a control frick. My ENT kept telling me I had aclosed head injury but I didnt know what he was talking about so I finally got to a point that I could stand to do a little research and couldnt believe that what I was finding was spot on to the symtoms I was having. After three months he finally sent me to a headache clinic and the Doc diagnosed me with post traumatic migraines and PCS.

My life has gone from kinda stable to totally crazy. Im a single mom raising my kids alone no help from their dad (no money, no nothing) I also have to help take care of my parents. I worked in a bank for 16 years as the Vice president of PR and loved working with people until 10 years ago when I was dianosed with COPD and respiratory dystonia and had to go on disability. It took along time to except this but I had finally come to peace with what I could and couldnt do and life was good I did all I could everyday and had found new hobbies that I really enjoyed. I use to play Golf and SKi and Fish and just enjoyed being outside but iwas nolonger able to do these things so I started doing alot of things on the computor like geneology and couponning which really helped with my budget. Then I fell and this all went out the window I cant work on my coupons or my family tree it just takes to much thinking and my head feels like its going to explode. I have just got to the point that I can read alittle on sites like this without feeling like im going crazy.

When I think that ive got to start over again dealing with new health issues and find another way of life or a new me again I just dont know how to handle it. My family is great but they just dont understand and Im not sure I understand all this myself. I cant do my house work without resting about every 15 mins and when I have to drive my parents to doctor appointments Im useless for the rest of the day and alot of the next day. Im about 4 months out from my injury.

I just want to know if anyone here has recovered from this syndrome and how long did it take. What can I do to help myself heal. How do you tke care of your family and your home and do the things they tell you like total rest no stress are they kidding how can you do that. Please any advice any help or tips on how to take care of your family and home and parents and deal with PCS.

Sorry I went on and on this is the first time ive posted on one of these sites and I quess i needed to vent.

Thanks for any Help.

Suzanne,

SOOOO sorry to hear your story. Don't worry; you have found the place where people really understand!!

From my experience, yes, you do have to take it easy -- rest and no stress. I am a teacher and parent, and I pushed myself through the first week after my injury. Even after I stayed home to rest physically, I was still checking work email, sending in lesson plans, etc. I didn't REALLY start to rest my brain until almost a month after the accident.

Basically, what I had to think about (and push my family and co-workers to think about) was how they would do things if I were dead. I could help them a little bit (for example, I sat with my husband while he paid bills so I could answer questions), but really I could not do ANYTHING right at that time except very minor verbal support. We had to pull in a lot of support from family, church members, etc. DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

I am currently nine months post-concussion and have improved a lot compared to the early days. I'm back to work part time in a low-stimulus environment but still get headaches if I overdo it. It does get better, but really it can only start to get better when you REST. Do that as soon and as much as you can.

Take care, and stick around. There is a ton of great info on this board.

s505,

Your question <I just want to know if anyone here has recovered from this syndrome and how long did it take. What can I do to help myself heal. >

It is not of any value to ask and compare your recovery or lack thereof to others, There are no answer to this question that are valid except, Everyone and every concussion is different. Even the specialists who truly understand concussion as well as it can be understood will tell you there are not ways to predict recovery. There are some anecdotal and even some weak statistical time lines but they are just that. The fact that you did not recover spontaneously in the few weeks after your injury support the concept that your recovery will be slow.

The anesthesia you underwent to repair your face has likely added to your condition. Anything to help your brain cleanse from the anesthesia will be good.

The best thing you can do to help your brain heal is to minimize stress of all varieties, emotional, physical, environmental, chemical, etc. and to do anything that can increase the health of your body and such in these areas. No caffeine or alcohol (maybe one serving per day), no MSG or processed soy foods (contain free process glutamate, a toxin to the brain) and increase your consumption of nutritional foods and supplements. B2, B3, B6, B12, all of the anti-oxidants, Omega 3's folic acid, some meat protein, and a few other things that I can't remember.

I suggest you check into whether you can access some support for your parents such as a visiting nurse or home worker.

Also, download and read the TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com and check out the YouTube video series (6 videos totaling about an hour) called "You Look Great."

You may also want to check out www.tbilaw.com to understand the legal pitfalls as you deal with getting compensated for your losses and other needs. There are serious issues an attorney needs to be on top of to protect your rights. The average Personal Injury attorney is not always up to date on TBI issues, especially since your condition can take quite some time to fully understand and project into the future.

With your history of COPD, you also need to be very diligent at maintaining good blood ox. The injured brain is much more sensitive to minor changes in blood ox. Although not proven to help with most concussion injuries, your compromised pulmonary system may mean you may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy or at minimum an O2 concentrator or such. Ask your pulmonologist. Research shows that the concussed brain, even when the patient appears to be fully recovered, is still sensitive to lower oxygen levels.

Hope I haven't overloaded you. You can always reread this post.

My best to you.

Thanks Mark
 

Im on oxygen and have had it for years I use it only on a as needed basis. I watched all the videos and read the guide during the times my headache is at its dull stage and did get alot of good info. Thanks for your advice. I havent hired a lawyer yet I had no ideal I would be dealing with this after I fell. I thought I would try to settle myself but I cant seem to get organized and Im afraid I may mess things up so I may start looking for one, before the accident I wouldnt have thought twice about handling this myself but now Im just not sure. Again Thanks for the advice and all your post here and on others I have learned alot reading your post.

Suzanne