My doctor appointments
 

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to update everyone about my doctor appointments.

I first went to see an opthamologist at Stanford who checked everything and did an MRI of my eye and did not find anything. She said my left eye which I've been having problems with in terms of light sensitivity is a little bit off on the perscription and that I should try to get my vision checked and change my lens. Other than that, she told me to wait it out . I asked her about convergence insufficiency (double vision) and she said that I dont have double vision. She has referred me to a neuroopthamolgist in July.

I also went to see the director of the headache clinic at Stanford. He was really nice and gave me a lot of comfort. He told me that because of the impact my brain chemistry has changed and that in order for it to get better I need to try to do the things that I was doing before which will make the brain adjust itself and relearn. He talked about brain plasticity and how the brain is very plastic and that if I just sit at home and do nothing the brain will never readjust itself. He said right now my brain is in a "danger mode" as its afraid of getting hurt again. He said the number is 6 months and that I should heal by them. I am currently 2.5 months in PCS. He said that i'm still early in the recovery timeline process so I should wait it out and that if i don't feel better, i should come in to see him again. He said that he would be worried if i wasn't improving at all after 2 years. He perscribed nortriptalyn which I haven't taken yet.

I've read many posts in this forum and that everyone's recovery is different. It may not necessarily be 6 months but can be a few years. I belive that there isn't a set timeline for recovery. But I guess in my case being 2.5 months in that I still need to wait it out.

I just wanted to get your opinion on what he said about plasticity and trying to return to normal life so the brain can relearn. It does make sense to me. But I do think that jsut returning to normal life is easier said then done.

Thank you eveyrone so much.

Hmmmm
 

I'd be interested to know what people think too. Trying to do normal things got me into trouble about 6 weeks after my third concussion, and I got worse than I ever had been. So I now know that the best way for me to get better is to ease slowly back into things. I'll get there eventually. If any doctor told me otherwise, I wouldn't take him or her seriously.

As for the convergence insufficiency, you don't have to have double vision to have convergence insufficiency. If your eyes are compensating, you won't. One eye can take over and do the work for both eyes, and the dominant eye can switch back and forth. A regular opthamologist doesn't diagnose it, so I am surprised yours said that you didn't have it!

Glad you are getting in to see a neuro-op! It's better to be safe than sorry IMO! Good luck in your recovery!

Yes I do agree. I remember after my concussion I didn't rest at all as I was still in school and it was actually a very high stress high workload situation. So I think that may have contributed to my symptoms and slower recovery. After leaving school, I do feel better. I do believe in slowly easing into things and being careful not to aggravate your symptoms. I'm jsut curious about what he said about brain plasticity and the brain relearning.

I'm just curious how do doctors test and diagnose for convergence insufficiency? I knwo I dont see double vision but I do know there's something funny going on with my left eye. Thank you again so much DFayesMom!:))

Is there any way for you to see the neuroopthalmologist before July? You might try to call directly and explain your situation.

Convergence insufficiency is when your Left and Right eyes don't work together in binocular fashion. This can lead to double vision, or the brain will turn off images from left or right because it can't reconcile the images it receives (the dominant or weaker eye).

Neuro-opthalmologist test this with a variety of exams, but it can be tracking a moving pen/object from 18" out to your nose, then left and right. They will also use green/red eyeglasses to check if you can see red/green objects. They will also probably have you look through polarized lenses at different objects.

It is a very extensive (90 minute) exam which also includes your visual field.A regular optometrist will be able to diagnose convergence insufficiency or not by looking at 20/20 or visual field exam.

Good luck!

BerkleyBrain, when you said, "A regular optometrist will be able to diagnose convergence insufficiency or not by looking at 20/20 or visual field exam." is that what you meant to say? I thought the opposite was true!

The two tests I remember involved 1. looking at a tongue depressor with a picture on it as he moved it closer and closer to my face and noting when it went double and 2. looking through prisms where he held them over my eye and asked me to tell him when my vision would double.

There are lots of other problems you could be having with your eyes due to a head injury. If you read my siggy, you can see the names of some of them. Convergence insufficiency just tends to be a more common one.

Sounds Hopeful!
 

Hi Blue,

What your doctors are telling you sounds really hopeful. I am nearing my 3 month mark of this journey and am feeling better --but it's so tricky trying to figure out what to do and what not to do.

I did drive on the highway today! Whoo hoo! I didn't drive alone though and I was ready to stop if I felt overwhelmed or --- tired, or like I couldn't do it. My husband and I did go into a store too with the glaring fluoresenct lights -and I had on my sunglasses, but shopping was all right. Even so, I can tell when the colors are becoming too bright and I need to get out of there and do something else.

So, I hope you can find ways of doing some relaxing things and building yourself up with all of that relaxation and then trying it out to see what you can do -- but do that gently.

OK I am going to stop because I don't even know if I make sense.

BTW, I am reading the book Brain Lash -- very good book about mTbi etc. I highly recommend it as it might help you. You could order it from your library too.

all for now
pm

Thank you! I will definitely check out this book. I was thinking of maybe keeping a journal? Its hard to find my own triggers as my headaches seem chronic . Thanks again!

QUOTE=poetrymom;983786]Hi Blue,

What your doctors are telling you sounds really hopeful. I am nearing my 3 month mark of this journey and am feeling better --but it's so tricky trying to figure out what to do and what not to do.

I did drive on the highway today! Whoo hoo! I didn't drive alone though and I was ready to stop if I felt overwhelmed or --- tired, or like I couldn't do it. My husband and I did go into a store too with the glaring fluoresenct lights -and I had on my sunglasses, but shopping was all right. Even so, I can tell when the colors are becoming too bright and I need to get out of there and do something else.

So, I hope you can find ways of doing some relaxing things and building yourself up with all of that relaxation and then trying it out to see what you can do -- but do that gently.

OK I am going to stop because I don't even know if I make sense.

BTW, I am reading the book Brain Lash -- very good book about mTbi etc. I highly recommend it as it might help you. You could order it from your library too.

all for now
pm[/QUOTE]

Journal
 

Yes! This Is a great idea. I actually think journal writing helped me get better because it allowed me to look back and see my progress. Now that I'm at about 90% better, I still keep a journal but not daily. I found it helpful to give my days a grade, because I could actually quantify my progress and see myself getting better! And hey, maybe you are rewriting some neural pathways by writing?

Yes, DrFayesmom, you are correct. I meant to say the opposite!

It is very common to have 20/20, have good field of vision, and still have convergence insufficiency. I forgot the tongue depressor! There are other exams as well to test your vision efficiency.

:) Just keep advocating for yourself in terms of finding the right neuro-opthalmologist! Trust your experience and instinct!