1 year 2 months PCS - an update
 

I haven't posted here for a long while, so I thought it would be nice to give you guys an update!

As my signature says, I'm a 17 years old male who sustained a concussion on 27 October 2014. I then developed Post-Concussion Syndrome.

I have ADHD and OCD, and currently am taking Adderall (10mg IR once a day) to treat my ADHD. It works very well.

Here's an update on my current situation:

- Less headaches
- Improved short term memory (not 100%, though)
- Faster recovery from brain fog
- More resilience to emotional stress
- Slight dyslexia that has risen with PCS has improved, I make less spelling mistakes right now (I still do sometimes, and this didn't happen before the concussion - however, I'm sure this will continue improving).
- Confusion seems to come and go; I'm sometimes confused a bit and think slowly, but it happens less frequently recently and is worsened by sleep deprivation
- Physical sensitivity in the head - slight bumps hurt more than they should hurt. This is a weird symptom, and I hope it will improve.

Basically, when I'm not stressed, I'm doing pretty well.

However, when I'm stressed, my symptoms tend to manifest and become more bold.

One of the best things during my recovery is that I recover faster - whereas stress previously (2-3 months PCS) would have caused brain fog for long periods of time, sometimes even 2 days, now the brain fog caused by stress usually disappears in less than 2 hours! Sometimes it's even 30 minutes.

Adderall works GREAT for my ADHD. I'm very happy with it, however I also thought about experimenting with a vitamin and supplement stack in a few months from now to treat my ADHD. I also like this option because I've read here (Mark especially says this) that vitamins and supplements can help the brain heal more efficiently, and also improve current brain function.

I thought of the following supplement stack for ADHD (I might experiment with it in a few months):

Zinc
Omega 3
Vitamin B12
(all the three above for general cognitive improvements)
Magnesium (to promote relaxation)
Melatonin (to help me sleep more deeply and longer)


What do you guys think about my recovery? I'm personally very happy and hopeful. I've done a major progression in recovery (especially in the last few months after applying the techniques I've learnt in CBT to reduce anxiety), and therefore I am confident that I'll continue recovering and my situation will further improve!

What do you think about my supplement stack, also? Is it a good replacement to Adderall, if I decide to eventually start taking it? As I said, I'm happy with the Adderall, but might try supplements in a few months from now.

Thanks,
-ProAgonist

In my opinion, the supplement stack is way too late in the game and severely lacking. I doubt it will replace the Adderall. Melatonin is a before bed supplement, not a daily stack supplement. It does not stay in the blood for very long.

A full B vitamin regimen with D3 and anti-oxidants should have been your first effort. B's help with stress tolerance. They help the brain fibers heal (myelination).

A supplement stack is not an effective short term experiment. It takes months to see the true value and requires a lifetime to maintain that value.

These are all things you have been told in the past. I am confused as to why you are still questioning them.

Pro,

Glad to see you so much more optimistic! Thanks for the post.

Happy New Year and continued improvements.

Bud