Post Concussion Syndrome and My future
 

I understand a lot of you had read my posts and you're probably annoyed with me, but you have to understand that I have never gone through this before and I need to talk to people who have because i dont know anyone who has.

Anyway, I got my first documented concussion March 26, 2011 during my lacrosse game. I didn't lose consciousness and felt fine after the hit. Later that day, I started feeling not "myself". I felt fatigued, foggy and kind of out of it. That monday the trainer at my school referred me to a concussion doctor and he confirmed it was a "mild" concussion. Well, two weeks went by and I started to feel pretty good, although i will admit now that i was not 100%. I would say i was at like 85%.

Anyway, when I came back for my first game three weeks later. I got hit kinda hard, but I felt fine and kept playing. Later that day, i started feeling tired, got a migraine, and felt nauseous. I went back to the same doctor and he told me that he thinks I re concussed myself. He told me that my season was over (which I was upset about) and told me to take it easy. And that is exactly what I did. My life revolves around weightlifting and I do it everyday. I had to stay away from the weight room for two months, wich mentally took its toll on me. Well, June came around and I started feeling pretty good. The headaches were very mild, the fatigue was wearing off and I was starting to feel myself again. I saw the doctor one more time and he told me to gradually get back into the swing of things, but not too quick! And low and behold, I was jackass and didn't listen to him. The day after he told me that i went to the weight room and went hard as hell. I felt fine, but I still was not 100%, but I was sayign to myself "the hell with it".

Since then, I have bumped my head a few times, taken some falls without hitting my head, not hard at all, just a regular old bump on something, I have done dives off diving boards and it seems my head isn't feeling "worse" just not better.

9 months later, here I am. I have mild headaches every day, I get lightheaded all the time, my vision is kinda foggy, sometimes my ears feel like I am on an airplane and feel like I want to commit suicide thats how much I can't stand living like this. My short term memory has gotten a little worse, concentration has gotten a little worse. Last week I went back to that doctor and he told me that I HAVE to stop the weightlifting for a while and this time I listened. he also prescribed me amantidine for the fogginess and it kinda works. The only physical activity I am doing is bodylastics bands in my basement. I start vestibular therapy next week and I hope it helps.

I have also had an MRI and it was negative

Another thing that I have been suffering from my whole life is hypochondria. I have really bad anxiety and the concussion has made it worse.

I have been thinking a lot lately that this may be permanant. I mean, the symptoms haven't gotten worse and they have gotten quite better, I just can't imagine myself without feeling this way. I have just started vestibular and occupational therapy and I pray to god that it works. I have bumped my head a few times in the past year, not very hard (i hope i didn't get more concussions than I think I do) but they havent made me feel any different or worsen my symptoms, but they have freaked me out.


Two weeks from now will be my one year anniversary from ym first concussion,

So, does anyone have a story where they have recovered from this and is their a light at the end of the tunnel?

penguinesfan,

You keep repeating the same post and questions. This can be a manifestation of poor memory from you concussion, rigid thinking, again from your concussion, or OCD which can be from your concussion or pre-existing. Either way, I don't think you will improve until you have made progress with your OCD and hypochondria ( a common manifestation of OCD). They are all connected.

In response to your final question, yes, many have recovered to substantially improved levels to allow them to live a full life.

But, I don't think you can pursue a full life until you have resolved your OCD and hypochondria. You need to seek help for this. Your home life has patterned you poorly. Getting free of the influences that negatively impact your life will give you a better chance to improve your life in all areas, including your Post Concussion Syndrome.

It appears to me that your OCD has you obsessing about you physical presentation and athletic activities, too. I suffer from OCD and know how it can make life difficult. Now that I have it being successfully managed, my life is much better.

Have you tried to get help for your OCD and hypochondria? You will be amazed at how it can help you.

My best to you.

Haha believe me my memory is fine i know that I keep writing these, i just can't stop thinking about it

I can't offer you any advice because my situation is quite different from your's. Its also much more severe. However, I can tell you this...

My brain was actually damaged enough to show up on the MRI. There is damage to my left frontal lobe and a pool of dried blood on my brain. That, is going to be there for the rest of my life. I'm 9 months into my recovery and my life is HELL right now. The left frontal lobe is in charge of executive functions. Lots of important s***, okay? I'm probably never going to be able to work because of this. I'm 27 and there's a strong possibility what I'm dealing with today is going to be stuck with me for the rest of my life...and get worse as I get older.

You know how it happened? I was assaulted. Randomly. For no freakin reason at all.

You know when you take a test a school...and it feels like your brain is straining to concentrate and think of the answers to the questions. Its an uncomfortable feeling...your wiped, mentally exhausted. That, my friend, is how I feel ALL the time. Regardless of what I'm doing. I don't get any relief. Actually, the only time I get relief is when I'm ASLEEP.

I struggle to simply interact with my son and take care of him. I open my mouth sometimes and nothing comes out because there is nothing there...in my head.

As Mark told me...there are people in this world, right now...that are living their life with half a brain. There is always going to be someone that has it worse than you.

I felt that I needed to say this to you. I understand what your dealing with sucks right now but its not even CLOSE to what other people are living with right now.

Just be happy that its only a minor concussion with minor symptoms and that its nothing worse than that. Give up your life as an athlete and pursue something else...protect your brain from any further damage.

I'm sorry to be so blunt with you, but I think that's what needed to be done.

Good luck.

I am sorry to hear about your accident, it's a shame it had to happen like that and I appreciate what you said to me. Believe me I don' think I have it terribely and from what I have read mine is considered mild to moderate PCS. The only reason I am the way I am is because I have never gone through this before and it is not very fun, but all I want to do is hear from people with personal experience becuae I have no one in my life who has gone through this. Again, yuo were blunt, but that is what I needed. I am determined to recover and I hope you can recover as much as your brain lets you.

Thanks, I don't think there is any hope for me though.

I'm worse every day that I wake up. I'll be a vegetable or dead by the time I'm 30, maybe sooner.

Good luck.