Blackouts
 

I have had sporadic blackouts in the past 15 years since I suffered a concussion in Sofia, Bulgaria in Jun 2002 (I was 24). The same is for the vertigo I have sporadically experienced since then - between 1x per 4 months and 1x per yr. Sometimes its years between occurrences and other times weeks. Is it possible for vertigo and blackouts to not show up immediately following the concussion but remain dormant and then appear years later down the road? For example I had some vertigo spells (not confused with dizziness) during that first year past my concussion which tapered off to less than 1/yr; but, no blackouts except for when the concussion happened. The first blackout I remember was when I rode the "Batman the ride" at 6 flags in Arlington, TX and I blacked out as it hit the zenith and came back down and that was May 2009 ~7y after the concussion. The next few I remember were this past year while in the performance of my duties as a Hospice Chaplain visiting patients. I'd blackout for a sec or two but the occurrences average out to 1/mo over the last year.
I guess the "wild card" here would be that I also have significant PTSD and are blackouts common with PTSD?
The "Ace in the Hole" is that I am 6'5" and constantly bumping my head on the following items since the concussion due to a loss of spacial awareness: door jams, magnetic door locks that hang down from door jams, low hanging ceiling light fixtures, the roof of my car as I put my kids in and out, bottom of countertops (picking something up or putting something away), bottom of the table (picking cleaning up the floor), bottom of cabinets, shutting the car door on my head, scraping my head on the ceiling of stairwells. Could those actions I listed be enough to aggravate the old concussion injury? and is loss of spacial awareness a symptom also?

Yes, a lifetime of bumps and bangs could likely compound a pre-existing concussion. Especially since 15 years ago was in the dark ages of concussions and brain health.

Have you ever had a balance test that checks your visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems?

Rev Army Vet,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

From what you have told us, I don't think there is an answer to your question. The blackout are undefined. Are these syncope (fainting or passing out where you end up on the ground) ? Are they just a loss of awareness such as a absence seizure?

It really doesn't matter what caused them unless you are trying to get a disability rating that needs to tie to military service.

Have you ever been tested for BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and orthostatic hypotension.)? This is where the body does not maintain proper blodd pressure to the head. I've had a mild but chronic case of BPPV for 20 years. I've ended up on the floor twice. Usually, I recognize the onset and grab and hold on. I also suffered from absence seizures in my youth that my doctor believed were from a reinjury/reconcussion.

It would be worth getting a thorough assessment of blood pressure issues, heart function, vestibular function and such. If this is BPPV, one can often learn to manage it as I do. If it is absence seizures, then meds and driving come into the mix. If your heart is skipping a few beats, that can be addressed. The diagnostics may be a challenge but with a family, getting an understanding of what is happening is important.

My BPPV came on years after a concussion. I had anesthesia for knee surgery and never seemed to get back to normal.

Your issues may be related to your concussion or they may be something else. It is just difficult to say. You may have a vasovagal system malfunction.

My best to you.