Could PCT be the cause of all my problems?
 

Hi everybody.

This is my first post here and I was just wondering if anybody could help me with some problems I've been having because I don't feel like I can continue much longer.

I'm 26 and had a bad bang to the head 5 years ago. I fainted and smashed it on a hard surface. I was in hospital for a day and told I had a concussion. They let me go without any further treatment despite having a bump the size of a golf ball and having no memory of the previous day.

I have felt awful ever since. Below is a list of my symptoms:

More Fainting (I had never fainted prior to the one mentioned above)
Depression
Anxiety
Mental Fatigue (This is the worst symptom)
Irritability
Mood Swings
Concentration Problems
Memory Problems
Emotional Problems
Light Sensitivity (Has got better)
Trouble Sleeping

These symptoms have plagued every aspect of my life and have made it very difficult for me to get anywhere in life. I dropped out of uni, had difficulty with relationships, can't progress in my career etc.

In this time I've explored many different avenues for a solution. I've been treated for Clinical Depression and ADHD (innatentive sub type). I have had very mild success with therapy and stimulants but nothing has worked really.

Another thing I am currently exploring is my problem with sleep. I always wake up in the night with a dry mouth which is stopping me getting a good nights sleep. I have trouble breathing through my nose and have had surgery to fix this. No benefits so far unfortunately.

I am also trying to take enough vitamins and fish oil etc.





If anybody has any insight or suggestions they would be really appreciated. I don't know what to do.

I should also add that I've had a mild concussion since this one 2 years ago. It wasn't as bad and I didn't go to hospital or anything. It was due to a faint in my house.

I've also banged my head a few other times since the first one but I wouldn't describe these as concussions.


I really hope somebody here has an insight. I can't live like this anymore, going from to day to day in a blur of depression and anxiety. My mind is so foggy and the lack of energy and ability to concentrate makes me feel like I'm losing a grip on normality.

As I said above the mental fatigue is the worst part. I find it exhausting to do anything that requires sustained mental effort. This has absolutely destroyed my ambition and motivation and as the reason that I'm in such a rut in my life. I do also suffer physical fatigue but this is probably linked to the mental fatigue because I do try to excercise every day and manage to normally.

Adamboy,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Your situation is not uncommon. Have you found anything that may be a trigger for your mental fatigue ? Have you been examined for hormone functions ? Thyroid and other hormones can get out of balance and cause fatigue.

What kind of activities do you do in a normal day ?

Hi Mark thanks for replying.

I've had blood tests and they've all come back normal.

Nearly anything that requires mental effort causes my fatigue. Socialising, work etc. It's very general in that respect. This also includes decision making. Even doing something very basic like trying to decide what to do if I gave 2 choices totally drains me and stresses me out.

My work requires me to walk a lot but I've avoided taking on responsibilities that would require mental effort. I'll try to do some jogging, weight lifting or yoga most days. And I'll probably just watch TV or play video games.

I just don't know how seriously to take this line of enquiry. Or due to the time scale as well as the fact that I've already been diagnosed with depression and ADD If it will be taken seriously.

Video games can be very intense for a recovering brain. You should try stopping all video gaming and reduce your exercise levels.

Hey Adam,

Trouble sleeping and the mood swings is quite common in PCS. Anxiety was the worst for me until I got treatment for it. If you are in treatment with a psych for depression, maybe you ask for an addon to help you sleep.

Sleep is essential to recovery. Deep REM sleep is even better. I was on Remeron for a few months during recovery and then was taken off by choice. My sleep levels returned to normal later on.

Treatment for the depression also helps. A medicine like Cymbalta or Paxil for example could help you. For the ADHD, I was on a stim until I was recommended by my psych for Strattera, a non-stimulant for ADHD. Works like a stimulant, but without the stimulant jitteryness and crash. I felt calm and collected rather than jittery with heart fluttering.

Strattera has helped me with my ADHD and I noticed a difference with my anxiety levels combined with Paxil. Hope this helps you!

Consider (Elisa)

I second the suggestion of no video games . . . it's too much for you to process . . . including most tv . . .

I would suggest a good concussion dr and chiropractor . . .

Thanks for the replies :)

It sounds as though video games isn't a good idea. I appreciate the advice. I wouldn't have thought this would apply to me though seeing as I've not had a concussion for a couple of years or so?


Sleep is potentially the cause for most of my problems. I'm hoping the surgery I've had might help this situation somewhat. But I'm not convinced it will.

I'm currently not on any medication for anything. Just good old fashioned vitamins. Ritalin was good for my Innatentive-ADD in short bursts but had too many uncomfortable side effects for my liking. I tried Escitalopram for Depression but I didn't really think that worked either. They are the only medications I've ever been on so I guess I've not really given many of them a chance. I'll look into the meds that you've mentioned thankyou :)

The problem is that I'm not convinced with my ADD diagnosis. I know that I have all the symptoms and they have been prevalent most of my life. But I can't help thinking that everything went 10x worse after my big concussion 5 years ago.

I think if I go to my Doctor he'll just say there's no tests they can do or anything or that my concussions were too long ago to still effect me.




Thanks again for the responses. I'd love some more insight if anyone knows anything relevant to my situation

Also, since my big concussion 5 years ago and whilst having a few other smaller ones I've really been pushing myself physically and mentally.

Physically I have been excercising like crazy in that time. Probably an hour a day 5 - 6 times a week quite intensely. I also have a fairly physical job too.

Mentally I've really tried to push myself in the time. 2 weeks after the big concussion I went to uni and worked myself to the bone only to discover that I couldn't learn anywhere near as well as I did previously. I dropped out shortly after. Even after I left uni I continued to pursue intellectual improvement on my own at quite an intense level. This was quite hopeless though as my cognitive ability seemed to be a lot worse than it once was.

I tried uni again and the same thing happened.

Now I tend to avoid anything mentally challenging as I have failed so many times before.

Is it possible that I have slowed the healing process by doing this for so long since my initial big concussion?