standard blood test
 

Hi, it´s me again.
Had my concussion almost 6 weeks ago (an assault) and I am still not feeling ok. I have a couple of good days and a couple of bad days. I still experience anxiety, fear and panic attacks, intensive nausea - to the point where you are feeling like you are going to vomit (this used to be a constant symptom, now it´s more sporadic), weakness, dizziness sometimes, weight loss (I lost over 12 pounds during the first 2 weeks after the concussion, now I can´t gain my weight back although I eat almost regularly, I slowly continue to lose weight), frequent derealization, memory problems, fatique - I feel very tired but I can´t relax because I still feel this wierd restlesness, like something is wrong). My neurologist really don´t know what is wrong with me. So I decided to take a blood test too. It came back ok, no abnormalities. Is this encouraging in any way or are these standard blood test totally irrelevant when it comes to a concussion/brain injury?

I know this is more like a question for a doctor, but one dr says it´s irrelvant, another says it could reveal a brain injury.

So what is your experience?

Thanks

I'm not a doctor but from what I have read I'm not sure how a blood test would reveal a TBI. I think the relevance would be to ensure you are getting proper nutrition (particularly vitamin levels) to facilitate the healing process.

I thought that when you suffer an internal injury, some chemicals are mixed into your blood, so a blood test then shows some abnormalities. But in case of a brain injury, it´s probably irrelevant.

Anyway, thanks for the answer.

The indicators of a brain injury are not part of a normal blood test. S100b and Tua proteins are not tested except in research or other extreme situations.

B-12, folate, D3, magnesium and such can be indicated in a normal test if the test was broad enough. The normal for B-12 is 200 to 970 pcgs/mL. An injured brain needs about 1000 pcgs/mL of B-12. Folate should be above 20. D3 is also important.

Are you getting quiet rest? Your brain needs it to start to recover. The nausea may be a cause of your weight loss. As much as you are concerned about struggling to gain some weight back, please don't complain too much. Plenty of us would like to be able to lose a few pounds. LOL.

Thyroid testing might be worthwhile as it can relate to weight loss.

Treatment for the panic attacks is worthwhile. I use a beta-blocker for panic attacks. I only take it when I have an attack that I can not use quiet for recovery. I rarely have a problem any more. I have learned to avoid the triggers.

Please feel free to tell us about your struggles.

My best to you.

:)

Hi Mark,

I try to rest as much as possible. I also sleep a lot, that makes me feel better. Anyway it´s been almost 6 weeks after the concussion and many symptoms are still here. They are not constant (I have a short periods of time when I feel back to my old self), but these symptoms come in violent attacks and then go. I think I could get better but I understand that it requires a lot of time. I am seeing my neurologist next week so let´s see if she has any ideas of what may be wrong.

Bye