<Mood disorders are the most likely conditions from TBI, even a mild one.>

This statement sounds like what I have heard multiple times from psychologists.

<irritability, anger, GI problems, appetite, fatigue >

I have the above problems due to my concussion history. The GI problems and fatigue come and go. I have occasional paralytic ileum that is possibly tied to either the concussion or a neck injury associated with the head injury. I also suffer from hypo-tension (low blood pressure) that may accompany the GI problems.

In my experience, may of the "mood" problems try directly to my ability to function cognitively. The anger and irritability problems are tied directly to my brain injury. I have undergone three or four notable personality changes, each after a concussion.

My personality may have improved after a time but never back to the same as prior to the respective concussion. I attribute most of the personality improvements to realizing and learning to adjust my choices and environment. Just because many physicians prescribe anti-depressants as a first line, usually for the anxiety from the cognitive problems, does not mean that the depression was the major symptom.

It is common for psychologists to diagnose depression due to the large overlap between depression and cognitive dysfunctions in the MMPI-II test.

They may help with the anxiety and such, but they do little to help the cognitive problems. It is like giving coffee to a drunk. You get a wide awake drunk. Give anti-depressants to a concussion patient with mild cognitive impairment and you get a mildly cognitively impaired patient who has less anxiety.

This PCS survivor will forever stick up for the other PCS survivors who are told their problems are all "in their heads" as in depression.

Push your physicians for better diagnostics. As others have said "typical of hypertension" is a lame or ignorant cop out, not a lot different than "typical of stress."

If your CT was immediately after your injury, another would be justified. An MRI will not show much different if it was an aneurysm, especially a very small one. A CTA or MRA will do a better job of pinpointing a small aneurysm with CTA showing the smaller aneurysms. A CTA is similar to a CT with contrast, in some cases, the terms are interchangeable. CTA is also much quicker and affordable, so probably more accessible than an MRI/MRA.

Spoke to my parents on Friday - they told me i need to snap out of it and get a grip and that i have stuck myself in a rut and need to get over it. Was really upset.

Thank you for the info on CT etc..

Have Neuro-Psychologist appointment tomorrow lunchtime. Wonder what he will have to say.

Sx