I'm a new member
 

Hi Everyone,
I joined this morning to get help with taking care of my 65-year-old husband, Monty, who has PCS. He sustained the concussion on December 22, 2012 by falling at home and striking his head on a tile floor. The impact site was just above his left eyebrow. Alcohol was involved. No obvious symptoms besides a big bump and bruise until 12/28 when he began to walk unsteadily and had vision problems while at the computer. The next day he agreed to go to the ER and went into a rage in the car because I had called a friend whose husband was the doc on duty. I kept on driving and he settled down. He could not place one foot in front of the other without listing to the right and needed support to walk. CAT scan was abnormal but I did not get specifics. He was admitted and spent 3 days in hospital. December 30 MRI was normal. Symptoms now are periods of dizziness while standing followed by deep depression. We cannot get an appt with a neurologist for 3 weeks. I am trying to help him by giving lots of liquid and protein drinks, high protein-low fat meals, arnica tablets, and foot reflexology focusing on the big toe/brain. This morning's 1 hour treatment seemed to lift the depression. He has spinal stenosis in L3, 4,and 5 so lying down for prolonged periods is painful. He walks around the house for a while making sure I am nearby or he has something to hang on to if he gets dizzy. I am very worried about another fall. Until he can see the neurologist our resources are 911 and the ER. I am giving him extra potassium for severe leg cramps and that pain has resolved. All that liquid (90 oz/day) is flushing his system. This was his 5th concussion over a 40+ year period. The last one was 6 years ago, also a face-down fall. He is 6' 3" and has orthostatic hypotension. He worked out daily until the concussion and has a resting heart rate in the low 60's. I will be deeply grateful for any help you can give me. Peggy:confused:

Hi Peggy and welcome to NeuroTalk.

This latest concussion is relatively recent, so it's understandable that he is having the symptoms you describe. Did he have PCS symptoms before this latest fall? These could include headaches, blurred vision, vertigo, sensitivity to light and noise. The neurologist should be made aware when you do get to see him.
In addition to the care you are giving him he should stay away from alcohol:

http://www.msktc.org/tbi/factsheets/...c-Brain-Injury

http://www.tbicommunity.org/resource...Spring2008.pdf

Lots more support here in the TBI/PCS forum:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html

Best to you both.

Hi Peggy!
 

Welcome to NT! :hug:

You've come to a wonderful place of support and understanding. People here genuinely care and you'll get good input.
Check thru all the different forums. There's good support in the 'Caregivers' forum, along with the health conditions, such as TBI, in which Lightrail gave you the link.

Make yourself right at home. This is a very down-to-earth place and people are easy to talk to. :)

It's good of you to come here on behalf of your husband.
I wish you both the very best of this New Year!

Caring,
Rae
:grouphug:

Great to meet you!!
 

Peggy,

:Wave-Hello: It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Thank you so much for serving our country. Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you. :smileypray:

:hug:

I am new here too and think I started threads rather than making posts. Can someone help me? I need to talk to someone in chat or something. I'm so lost here.

Thanks so much for the links and support. My husband had no PCS symptoms before his 12/22 fall. Alcohol is forbidden and he made the commitment while still in the hospital. He was a light-to-moderate drinker, i.e. 1 oz of scotch at our "cocktail hour". The fall was the result of a holiday binge and I think he drank about 8 oz of scotch over a 3-hour period, matching drink for drink with a friend who weighs 100 lbs more than he does. My husband is 6' 3", weighs 180, and does heavy cardio 5 days a week. His resting heart rate is 62 bpm, which freaked out the hospital staff until I explained his workout schedule. He also has low blood pressure-110/80. Sober, he has to be careful not to stand up too fast. When drunk, he is a disaster waiting to happen. Two weeks on he is a little better each day. Dizzy spells are followed by deep depression. He now knows to lie down and block out light and noise as soon as he feels dizzy. Sort of like the aura before a migraine. He plans a light workout today with me by his side. If he does well, great, but he's the type to push the envelope so I worry. With no neurologist to help until 3 weeks from now we're playing by ear. Best wishes, Lightrail for your continued recovery. Peggy:hug:

Sounds like you are doing the right things. The fact that he had no PCS symptoms before the recent fall is a good thing. The fact he was physically active before the fall is a big plus. Lots of quiet rest is very important. Go easy on the workouts, and have him stop immediately to rest if he gets dizzy or starts getting a headache or blurred vision. Good nutrition, B complex vitamins and good hydration are also important. All brain injuries are different and they heal on their own schedule. As head injuries go his is very recent and significant improvement should be expected.