confussion about symptoms
 

Hey,
I am sorry, but I would like to ask if you could give me some advice/opinion. I had a minor incident five weeks ago and I still have problems, but I don't know how to connect these to and it is slowly starting to get in my head.

Five weeks ago I bumped into a low-hangig lamp. Despite being startled, I didn't feel any symptoms immediately and it didn't feel painful. Some mintues later I started to feel my spacial orientation was slightly off and I felt amlost unnoticably nauseaus.

The consequitive three days I sometimes felt slightly off when moving quickly, but I was mostly fine. On the fourth day I bumped into another low-hanging lamp at the dentist, but the impact was so slight that it did not even hurt. Later that day I started to get headaches that lasted for two weeks straight. Sometimes I would feel a stitch on the side of my head (mirror weaker on the other side) or a preassure or burning on the forehead. Those were the strongest headaches I remember having.

When the headaches faded I felt very light headed to the point where I cannot concentrate or feel like I forget things more easily. But this is very subjective. Now I occasionaly get headaches that won't leave me for a day or so.

Initially I was not very worried, only over time I am feeling increasingly uneasy about this situation. I was not worried, because all of the symptoms I have felt before (even some weeks before) and I did not feel anything immediately, but not with this persistence (even though it is fading).

I had established a rule for myself, that when I don't feel any immediate symptoms I should be fine. What worries and confuses me most is that it feels increasingly hard to reconcile this with my perseptive reality.

I am due to make some important decisions in my life. I am greatful for any clearance, this would make things much easier. Sorry for so much text. Thank you.

Evol,

From everything you have said, I don't believe you suffered any brain injuries. You suffered a painful skin injury from the first lamp hit. That skin and nerve pain can last.

You sound very much like the many people who have concussion anxiety. You look for symptoms so you find them. Every time somebody asks about a headache and I read their post, I get a headache. It is the simple power of suggestion. If you look for nausea, you will sense some nausea.

The prime indicator of this being an anxiety reaction is quite simple. Nausea is rarely a concussion symptom, especially a primary concussion symptom. There are many other symptoms that will manifest before nausea manifests.

But, nausea is a very common first symptom of anxiety. Even if you don't think you worry about concussion, by checking for symptoms, you are worrying about a concussion.

Add to this the fact that you are concerned about making some important decisions suggests you lean toward the perfectionist/anxiety end of the scale. That is a tough life to live.

So, do yourself a favor. Tell yourself that bumps happen without causing injury and get on with your life.