Hey guys,

I'd made it to about my seventh (eighth?) month in and my symptoms had been going pretty wonky. I would have good/okay days, then absolutely horrible days for a week or so and I'm not quite sure what to think of that. My mom would think that I was completely better, but I think that's kind of just because my pain threshold or whatever is all messed up and I was trying to work through the headaches and crap and to cover it up because I was tired of being the kid with issues. I had been working with my family doctor a lot with my medications for my headaches, depression and insomnia so I don't know if it could be all that or the stress of school that was messing with it or what, but I'd like to hear your opinions on why symptoms would fluxuate so much 7/8 months in when i'm supposed to be "better" pfft.

I guess, more out of curiosity now since a couple weeks ago I rolled my mother's car and fractured my C2 vertebra and cracked a few others. I don't remember rolling the car and my head is really tender so I'm thinking that my symptoms will probably return full force anyway. mmm great I have already felt more nauseous, headachy, confused, dizzy, etc. etc. Blah. since the accident so I'm pretty excited to see how this turns out Does anyone have any input on how this second injury might affect me now? I'm supposed to see my neuro in a couple days for a check up so I'll see what he has to say as well, but you guys just seem more knowledgeable/helpful

Many Thanks ~ Kaitlyn

Hey, Kaitlyn!

Ugh...so sorry about your accident.

I'm not sure if you've gone to your neuro or not, but when you do please make sure you are incredibly honest with him/her about your symptoms before and after your recent injury.

Request all the testing people on this forum suggest, such as: full blood panel (including hormones, adrenal function, thyroid, etc); get a referral to a neuro opthamologist; get a referral for a dentist to check your jaw for TMJ; make sure whoever is treating your neck/back injuries is aware of your previous and current head injuries and is experienced in treating head injuries. Finally make sure you get a referral to an ENT to check out your vestibular system (very complicated ear-type stuff) and ask for a neuro-psych assessment by a qualified neuro psychologist.

In other words, try get your whole body checked over so that you can be sure to take care of any underlying problems that might be interfering with your body's ability to heal. It seems like a lot to manage, and it takes a lot of organizing and time, but it will be worth it.

As for the medications you have been working on to address sleep, depression, etc: DO NOT underestimate how powerful those meds are. If you are going on and off of them, mixing them, etc., you need to be carefully monitored by your doctor. My daughter is close to your age I think (just turned16). She went up to 30 mg Elavil over a month's time, stayed there for a few months, then tapered off to zero over about 4 months time. She had lots of side effects every time we increased or decreased her dose (headaches, nausea, heart palpitations, etc). So make sure your mom and your doctor realize how powerful those meds are.

All the best, good luck with your neuro.

[QUOTE=Waste of Kaitlyn;646116]Hey guys,

I would have good/okay days, then absolutely horrible days for a week or so and I'm not quite sure what to think of that. My mom would think that I was completely better, but I think that's kind of just because my pain threshold or whatever is all messed up and I was trying to work through the headaches and crap and to cover it up because I was tired of being the kid with issues. I'd like to hear your opinions on why symptoms would fluxuate so much 7/8 months in when i'm supposed to be "better" pfft. QUOTE]

I can relate, I keep feeling like I should be better by now (I'm ~6.5 months), and very impatient that I'm not. It seems like most of us have setbacks or relapses when we overdo or do the wrong things. I hate being the person with issues too! Patience/acceptance does not come easily, but it seems that it is the only way to get through this, you can't force it. PCS Learner gave you great advice, hang in there.

WoK,

Your post stunned me. Rolling your mom's car is scary. Since you do not remember what happened, may I suggest a few scenarios. You may have had an absence seizure. You may have fallen asleep. You may have lost track of the road due to your PCS symptoms. Or, you may have some amnesia of just before and after the roll-over due to hitting your head. Either way, you need to not be driving.

Do not try to push through your symptoms. You brain is symptomatic for a reason. It is telling you to slow down and give it a rest. Coma is the same thing. It is your brain saying, I am going to take a deep rest until I feel a bit better.

You need to slow down and back off so that you have months of symptom free time. It is these symptoms free months where your brain gets to heal and catch up. Every relapse (decompensation) takes you back a few weeks or months in your recovery.

Some sports medicine specialists are starting to realize that athletes need to be symptom free for six weeks or more before returning to play. The Buffalo graduated exercise program is designed to slowly increase effort without causing a return of symptoms. If you look at the time schedule of the Buffalo protocol, it takes months of this graduated exercise before returning to play.

Thing of concussion this way. Persons with PCS don't have issues. they have a renewing annual subscription. They need to be watchful for years after.

It is not something you can feel guilty about. You have no control over your symptoms. You need to memorize this line for when you need to back away from an activity. "It is going to take quite some time for my brain to recover from my concussion. If I over do it, it will take even longer."

When you can say this with authority as if you believe it, others will believe you. They will likely be concerned for you rather than question or pity you.

Now, go convince your mother and friends and yourself that your brain needs more time to heal.

My best to you.

In addition to resting, get your doctor to prescribe the following hormone tests. If he words it as a possible pituitary dysfunction caused my trauma, your insurance company should pay for them (of course, make sure to check with them before ordering the tests). You may want to run a google search on "hormones, brain injury" before you go into your doctor so that you can provide him/her support on why you want these tests done. It is estimated that 30-40% of TBI patients have hormone complications. Here are the tests:

IGF-1
Testosterone
Estrogen
Progesterone
TSH
FT3
FT4

Also, make sure you google what the optimal ranges are for your age and sex. Most doctors today still rely on the antiquated reference ranges set by the FDA when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

And, of course, I always recommend getting on some type of rehabilitation program if you can afford it. LENS neurofeedback is a good one among others.

These days I've become incredibly fearful of being in vehicles. I do not want to know what my life would be like after another serious concussion, probably end up in diapers, heh. :|

Thanks for all the advice for my neuro visit, but sadly my appointment was a bust.
My neuro figures I'll be fine with this new injury, he didn't really do anything. no tests, changed one of my medications again, didn't even let me say anything about my symptoms that have changed in the past few months since i've seen him, before or after the accident. it was a 15 minute visit. pretty much the same as every time I've seen him...pbblt

I still don't know how I'd go about getting these tests which really doesn't help with the fact that everyone still doesn't want to do any tests.. blek.

But my mother did freak out and take me to the ER at one point last week because my Neurosurgeon that is dealing with my broken neck said to do that if any new symptoms arose and I got my jaw checked out (pain from my neck brace pushing on it), a new CT scan done and they've made sure there is nothing "physically" wrong with my brain (no bleeding, bruising)(also have bone fragments pressing against my vertebral artery--causing facial numbness and twitching among other things), and they did a few blood tests but I'm not sure what they tested. probably just general stuff? And now my mom says we'll never go back unless I'm on the verge of death

actually when I had the accident I was going *way* too fast on loose gravel and I hit the ditch (I love driving fast..) ~ I remember that, but I don't remember the actual rolling. from the looks of the ditch I probably rolled 4 or 5 times and from what I remember with the time on the clock and from the time I was found I'm thinking I was unconcious for about 20-30 minutes. A big chunk of my hair is stuck in the window and now I've got a big alflalfa sprout on my head :P I also had to get my right ear stitched up because it almost got ripped in half. it was pretty delicious anyway I won't be driving for 3 months atleast now until I get this big neck brace/collar off. luckily i didn't get put in a halo

And yeah, now this whole medication thing... :X bleh. It's just really complicated and doesn't even really help... ~ But you all know about these things ~

Anyways, here I go rambling again, thanks for the responses and support through this little.. relapse? Pffft

Kaitlyn,

Wow, I'm sure some of the more knowledgable forum contributors will have a lot to say. Your car rolling accident sounds awful. It's probably a good thing you aren't driving for a while. It seems to me like you need to find a better neurologist, all docs are not equal but there are some good ones around who listen and are openminded. Good luck with your recovery, sorry you're having such a stinky time of it.

Take care,

Becca