How I ruined my life...
 

So it will be 7 months since my last concussion (of at least 5) next week. I have been reading these boards for a while now but never registered until now.

What Happened

I was having the time of my life, my school grades were great, I was applying to university (I live in Canada). I was snowboarding at my highest level. Things were amazing!

Then...

I was on a training trip during April in Breckenridge, CO. I decided to try a new trick (double cork) and I landed on my back and dinged my head. I remember forgetting what happened in the air but otherwise I was fine. After that for the rest of the day I felt great. That night I went trampolining and that is where I started to feel really weird. Every time I did a flip it was like I just blanked out and forgot what I was doing. Things only deteriorated for the next few days. I had the worst nightmares of my life, I would get up in the middle of night and see faces in the walls. I thought I was going insane. I went to the Hospital on the 3rd day. They gave a a CT scan and said I had a 'mild' concussion. Once I was home I slept alot, and was really worried that I may be retarded for the rest of my life. I went to the doctor and he said I was fine, that I just needed some time (I wanted a referral to a neurologist). I feel like I have made some big progress since then. However, I have recently had some new problems. I just started University and I am in a Computer Science/ Business Double Degree program. I am surrounded by geniuses and I feel like some retard who hit his head one too many times snowboarding, things are pretty rough. I also have some wonderful bouts of depression, and these weird vision problems. If I look at something black and white I will start to trip out, like everything starts to move, and lights flash. And sometimes random stuff just appears in my vision and it has been getting worse lately. Not to mention that my memory, and my spelling has become very poor, I forget words all the time, what I was thinking, and I randomly shake. Probably the toughest thing is that I find it so hard to solve problems, and I am doing a lot of math.

I'm going to see my doc in December to hopefully get a referral to a neurologist. But in all honesty I know there is nothing that can be done. I just feel so bad and like I have ruined my life. I used to be smart, and I used to be able to snowboard. My passion in life. Now I have nothing... what is there to live for? Everyday I wish I could go back in time. But I can't.:(

I also find it very weird that my problems aren't typical of PCS, I have no headaches what so ever. I was also very optimistic over the first 3 months, but nothing has really gotten better, it has now been 7 months. I don't know if I can live the rest of my life like this and I am only 18.

T-Fox,

Sorry to hear of your struggles. I went through a similar experience in college. Went from getting honors grades to struggling to just pass my classes.

Have you done anything with your diet and nutrition to help your brain detoxify? It should be your first thing to do.

No caffeine, alcohol, MSG or foods containing processed soy.
Start or increase your vitamin and other supplements, all of the B vitamins with extra B6, B12, plus E, D, Omega 3's, and all of the anti-oxidants. It takes a month or two to start to see a difference. Lots of toxins to purge from the brain.

You need good rest. REM sleep is when the brain heals. Low stimulation, sounds and visual, etc.

I am having a rough morning, head aches and foggy brain. Maybe more later.

My best to you.

i can relate to you completely t-fox. i had a motocross accident which led to my concussion. im only 19 and this has been the worst 9 months of my life. i was also pretty optimisitic over the first few months as all the internet definitions say this lasts 3 to 6 months at most.

hoping you and i both get better here real soon

T-Fox,

I'm sorry your having a rough time. I know the longer the symptoms are around the more depressing it can be. If I were you I would call a nuero directly and make an appointment. Nine months is a long time not to have one. The Neuro may be able to start treatment that will help you.

I was wondering if you have gone to an eye doctor just to make sure the accident didn't damage anything.

Hang in there. I know its a struggle everyday.

Yea, the first thing I got done was an eye exam. Mainly because my eyes have been really red. The doctor said my eyes were fine. But I am now red-green color blind. Which I never was before my concussions.

T-Fox,

Try to find a Neuro-Ophthalmologist. They have more understanding of situations like yours.

My best to you.

My symptoms are a lot different from yours - except for the headaches. I didn't have them either until I was about 9 months in. They've never been the excruciating pain that others describe.

And, yes, the no-headache thing doesn't help the doctors know what in the world to do with you. :rolleyes:

T-fox, I sorta know how you feel. I am 18 years old and was in a car accident 7 months ago where i suffered a mild concussion and was kept overnight in the hospital. I didn't have any real memory problems then but I've started to forget alot more than I used to and it's simple stuff like making coffee and mopping at work that I forget to do. Its starting to affect my job and it never had before this. My co-workers and the people around me have said its really only been in the last 3 weeks or so that its started to happen. I'm wondering if there's more to this than just the concussion.I also forget simple things at school. I was getting A's and B's and now im getting mostly C's and D's. so please let me know if you find something useful out. good luck! :)

In my case, my concussion symptoms crept up on me, and I didn't experience the full spectrum of symptoms until a two or three months later. Basically, every week I had a new symptom.

Six or seven months later seems a little long for memory issues to manifest themselves, but it's probably a good idea to talk to a medical professional with concussion expertise to see what's going on in your case.

Handling Challenges
 

Dear T-Fox,
Hang in there dude, life is full of challenges, and things never stay the same. You know you cant go back in time, and if you did, and undid your head injury, maybe you would have walking across the street and gotten run over by a bus and be dead by now. So stop thinking about what couldv've been and focus on what is and getting better, cause your life is a gift that you have to make the most of. You will find a lot of self respect in realizing how strong you really are getting up each day and dealing with a less than perfect health situation. You will get better, and you will be stronger and wiser for it.

Definately find out who is the best Neurologist in your area and see them right away. Maybe they can help, maybe they can help some, maybe not at all. But never give up trying. There are so many things you've yet to learn about and things to try that WILL make you better. Start by taking Mark in Idaho's advice by nurturing your body with the best, healthiest food, diet and basic excersice program you can do. Keep moving, keep your blood pumping, dont stop!

There are people who love you and want you to be 'yourself again'. Love yourself the way you are and it will enable you to grow and heal from there.

Sorry for preaching. I just get a little nuts when someone young with their whole life in front of them thinks they are ruined and have nothing left. You will be amazed at how great you will be, your just going to have to work a little towards what used to just come naturally.

I'm done. Good luck. If you ever need or want it, feel free to pm me.

AzManAtHeart