I hear your frustration Eddy. I'm back in "the fog" at the moment because of a big sneeze. A sneeze for heaven's sake! The slightest tap or jostle can leave me feeling wretched for weeks. I'm REALLY careful, but I can't cover myself in bubble wrap - that stuff's a b#@*h to accessorize.

Cheers

Most neurologists will look at you as weird if you ask about decompensations or new injuries. Concussion is not well understood by the neuro profession. They prefer to treat brain issues that show up on an EEG or x-ray, MRI, CT Scan.

Concussion is an unknown that has symptoms that are entirely subjective and based on self-reporting by the patient. There is not neuro-test they can do to diagnose PCS. The attempts to classify concussions is haphazard. The best approach is to treat or deal with the symptoms. Trying to arrive at an accurate prognosis is very difficult.

I agree that sheds is in a state of recovery, not constant decompensation. Until he has abstained form the trigger activities to see what his brain does when not under any stress, he will never discover his new baseline of the "new sheds." It is very helpful to understand the new post injury person.

There is a need to say good bye to the old person. The old person may show up from time to time but is subject to decomp if not treated properly. The new normal person is the person who takes care to avoid triggers and other stressful environments. The new normal take better care of the brain nutritionally and with proper sleep, etc.

I know what my best state is. I also know what my usual or normal state is. Then I have my bad or decomp state. If I am in my best state, I might be tempted to drive a short distance. I rarely drive in my normal state. I usually don't even go out in my bad state. That state is nap time with quiet music.

I can push myself for a long period if I do one of two things. I either have to rest up beforehand, or I need to have rest time available after. I can no longer work a sixty hour week and have anything left for the week-end or next week, even if I rest all week-end.

But, I have decades of experience. Each successive concussion taught me more need to modify my normal behavior.

Hockey,

I fully understand your sneeze pain. I am a marathon sneezer. I never get by with just one sneeze. My family knows to wait for me to sneeze at least five times. My daughter inherited my marathon sneezing. When she has a sneeze attack, she will glare at me.

I can have those same two week long recovery times. I too, take all kinds of precautions.

A sneeze can be troublesome for two reasons. The sudden head movement plus the momentary extra pressure to the brain.

A concussion is nothing to sneeze at.

Mark, not even my migraines were as painful as that pun.

Very good pun - groan!

Lynlee

I can relate...well on my daughter's behalf I suppose I can relate.

Since her original concussion she has had four days of fever with infuenza, two "minor" bumps to the head, a sinus infection, lost her grandmother, first boyfriend, first experience with boyfriend/girlfriend jealousy, school stressors, loss of sports, etc. I should not be surprised that she still has headaches!!!

I would love nothing more than to lock her in her room. Life marches on as PCS heals. I guess just protect yourself wherever you can. Wish I had an answer for you.

PCSLearner,

I can understand what you and your daughter are going through. I had my first girlfriend at the same time as my sophomore soccer concussion that caused an academic collapse. I think the distraction of having a girlfriend helped me get through some of my struggles.

She was a classmate I met in an AP like study group the previous year. She knew I was intelligent as was she, even if I was struggling to get the B's that resulted from my cognitive struggles. She was the first person to witness one of my absence seizures (we called them petit-mal in 1970).

On the second day after Christmas 1970, I had undergone an exhausting EEG. Was given a prescription for Dilantin for my seizures. Was told I could not go snow skiing until my seizures were under control. Was told to stop playing any contact sports. Was told I could not get my driver's license until I was seizure free for at least six months. Took my girlfriend out to see Love Story. Had a seizure while waiting for pizza after the movie. (Hadn't had a chance to get the prescription filled yet) Had my first kiss as my brother was driving us home.

It was a busy day and Christmas vacation week.

This was the same time as when the birth control pill became available. Somehow, I got a large coffee mug that said, "Have you taken your pill today?" We used it as a reminder for me to take my Dilantin.

Being a teen with PCS is not a recommended activity. Do what you can despite your PCS. There is life with PCS. It just might be a little different than expected.