[Mark in Idaho]

bootsins, Sorry to hear of your struggles.

Headaches are a common problem. I can go weeks without a day of no head aches. Fortunately, my usually respond to Tylenol.

Do you have a blood pressure monitor kit? It will help to know if you head aches are BP (blood pressure) related. As you said, stress is an issue. We need to find better ways of responding to daily stressors. PCS and stress do not get along at all.

Tell us a little more about yourself and your struggles so we can try to help more. What meds have you tried? What does your doctor say? What diagnostics have been done?

As I have posted many times, go to www.tbiguide.com and download the TBI Survival Guide and print it out. have everybody close to you read it.

PCS responds well to help by friends and family. When they understand, they can help reduce stress and other triggers.

I need to go take some Tylenol. My head ache for today is late but needs attention.

My best to you.

[Bootsins]

Mark,

I am currently on lexapro, vicodin, tramadol, and numerous migraine meds.

I get relief but it is only temporary. My Dr's aren't sure why the headaches haven't disappeared but I am certain that being an AP at a high school and the father of 4 children 8 years to 10 months has to be part of my issue. I find myself exhausted at work and have caught myself falling a sleep while driving. I have constant mood swings and the tinnitus prevents me from a true nights sleep. I had none of these symptoms pre accident. Now that I have complained, let me also thank God for allowing me to watch my children grow. I could have been killed or worse my son could have been killed.

Thanks for the support.

[Mark in Idaho]

bootsin,

Do you have one doctor who prescribes all of your meds? Your mix of meds have lots of adverse drug interactions. Vicodin can cause tinnitus.

I would seriously suggest you talk to a good pharmacist about mixing the drugs you are on. The combination could be causing some of your problems.

Plus, falling asleep while driving is a risk of Vicodin and tramadol. Can you car pool to school?

Have you tried using music or other sounds to help with the tinnitus so you can sleep? You need your sleep. Otherwise, your brain will never heal. It will just get worse.

I have some music that I know will allow me to fall asleep. It has a tempo that appears to match the tempo of my brain. Try experimenting with different music or sounds. Some use the sound of a water fall, or wind in tree branches. Google "sleep music. "

Keep looking until you find someone who instills confidence about the drugs you are taking.

My best to you.

[nancys]

Elavil (amitriptyline) is an older depressant that is used to treat PCS headaches. It can also help with sleep. My daughter didn't use it (though I think would have benefited from it early on - but didn't get prescription until 5 month into it and she was on something else at the time and didn't switch).

I don't have PCS - but have had a hard time falling asleep with all of my daughter's PCS issues. I had been taking Ambien off and on but stopped because I didn't like the side effects when I stopped taking it. I have since found something that knocks me out every night. It's an application that I downloaded on my Android phone (there is an iphone/itouch version too) called "Deep Sleep with Andrew Johnson". It's kind of a guided mediation kind of thing. I listen to it - only half paying attention - and every night - no matter how stressed I am - I fall asleep before it's over. I plan on having my daughter try it as well.

[Bootsins]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

bootsin,

Do you have one doctor who prescribes all of your meds? Your mix of meds have lots of adverse drug interactions. Vicodin can cause tinnitus.

I would seriously suggest you talk to a good pharmacist about mixing the drugs you are on. The combination could be causing some of your problems.

Plus, falling asleep while driving is a risk of Vicodin and tramadol. Can you car pool to school?

Have you tried using music or other sounds to help with the tinnitus so you can sleep? You need your sleep. Otherwise, your brain will never heal. It will just get worse.

I have some music that I know will allow me to fall asleep. It has a tempo that appears to match the tempo of my brain. Try experimenting with different music or sounds. Some use the sound of a water fall, or wind in tree branches. Google "sleep music. "

Keep looking until you find someone who instills confidence about the drugs you are taking.

My best to you.

Mark,

My neurologist prescribes most of my medication. The Tinitus began after the accident and I don’t believe the medication has much of an effect. I have tried sleeping with the TV on and it helps me get to sleep. Eventually, I wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, which makes it extremely difficult to function. It also increases the pain in my head because I’m exhausted and that causes anger and mood swings. It’s a vicious circle and I can’t stop it. I am scheduled to enter a pain clinic in July so I just need to hang on until then. Sixteen months is enough. I have decided to take the remainder of the school year off to protect family and myself from being fired from my job. I can’t afford to snap and go off on a student or employee.