Headaches and fatigue
 

Hi all,

Looking for some collective wisdom on these two topics.

1. Headaches. Does anyone know more about vascular headaches? My headache pulsates when I go from supine/sitting to standing. And when it gets worse with triggers it also pulsates (and does other things too). Has anyone had an MRA? Under what circumstances? Also wondering about an EMG and non-vascular headaches.

2. Fatigue. Someone else started a thread about stimulants like ritalin. I was curious if anyone had any success with these for fatigue. I have this dragging feeling--sometimes just feel "awful" (like I can't move because I feel so terrible) but don't know if this is part of my fatigue or something else.

Thanks!

Last year (my year #3) I was Rxd Provigil (modafinil) for daytime sleepiness and enduring daytime fatigue, even without exertion.
It worked well for me.

However I have to add a footnote to that: in the end result, I 'overdid' my genuine capacity, and ended up in a terrible relapse ... a very long 9 months. I was over-doing it, without being aware of it, until the final end result: a total collapse.

However as always, your experience/results may vary.

Good luck with your course of recovery, wakey.

wakey,

I have had an MRA. It is basically a double MRI. During the MRI, they set up the sensors to only recognize the non-blood tissues in the brain. They then subtract the MRI image without the blood showing from the complete MRI image. The result is the blood vasculature. The images are quite interesting. Mine shows a 'slight out pouching' in the top of my brain stem that would be considered an aneurism if it was larger. The small size is not a concern. Lucky because brain stem aneurisms are all but impossible to treat.

There are ultra-sound images they can do to look at the vasculature in the brain. It is called Dopler Ultra Sound.

Have you had a tilt table test? This evaluate how your body reacts to changes in postural position. Some times, a therapist will prescribe exercises where you slowly change positions to stimulate the vaso-constrictors to operate better. Injury to cerebral vaso-constriction function is common with head injuries.

I have both problems, like you. I had good success with amantadine for fatigue but with only 100 mg I also got insomnia, and figured I needed to sleep more. Stopped it but am contemplating giving it another go!

Best of luck with healing. (it does seem like luck, doesn't it?!)

Thanks Theta Z, Mark, and Mokey.

Mark, I know someone that had a tilt table test. My sense is that passing out is common. Did you have that experience? Does it give the same information as an MRA, or slightly different info?

Mokey,

I'd stay with Amantadine for a little while if it's helping fatigue--that's a good sign. I know it's bad to overmedicate, but perhaps you could try a natural substance for sleep like melatonin or valarian?

For fatigue I recommend a high protein diet and trying to cut down on bad carbs. Building up your strength gradually through walking. I hear a lot of people talk about lethargy but without knowing your personal, typical life course and position it's hard to assess what can change.

Obviously being the right weight helps, drinking lots of water (8 glasses/day), good vit n min regime, sleeping well at night. Sometimes we forget the obvious things and only focus on our PCS or TBI. Go over my list and see if there are things that are positive that you can do to aid yourself without meds.

Yes, this is good advice. I do all of these things. I may start some B vitamins but my body has rejected vitamins in the past. I took them for a few months and noticed no diff (multivitamin and fish oil).

Re: Fatigue
I know those feelings all too well. My family physician suggested a sleep study and I was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. The sleep device I use is doing wonders for me, I look more alert and i am more alert, and my short term memory seems to be improving some as well. However, mental exertion still tires me. All in all, the benefits of the device far out-way the risks of untreated sleep apnea.