For people with post concussion symptoms over a month, the first Dr. appointment you should make is with a neuroopthamologist that can prescribe tinted/prism glasses. I would've saved myself a year of suffering if someone had told me this right away. Instead, I bounced around from neurologist to physical therapist to chiropractor and spent thousands of $ when the issue all along was my convergence insufficiency.

My eyesight was fine so I never thought about getting it checked but the way my eye muscles work and team together was messed up big time.

There is a reason that when Hillary Clinton got a concussion she was seen wearing these prism glasses. People well off get the health care they need right away but it's up to the rest of us to figure it out on our own.

From my own experience I feel that a lot of the physiological PCS symptoms such as noise and light sensitivity, insomnia, headaches and sensory overload are exacerbated by the psychological symptoms and vice versa. It was only when I was prescribed the antidepressant Cymbalta at the four month point of PCS that all of my symptoms reduced. The medication combined with quiet rest got me on the road to recovery.

1. I can't drive yet. I don't trust my perceptions. It is OK to ask for help.

2. Use Advil or its active ingredient for a headache -- not Tylenol or acetominophin

3. I will have good days (not so dizzy, not so light sensitive) and bad days or days where I OVERdid it and symptoms come back.

4. Vestibular therapy is helping me.

5. Take good vitamins. See the vitamin thread.

6. Eat good food. Not much junk food and limit or really try to quit caffeine

7. This message board is amazing the people are willing to help and share here. I am blessed to have found it.

I wish I had known that I had a concussion from the start!No M.D.'s or hospitals would tell me!They said soft tissue After a year and half of my own battle with PCS & M.D.'s I finally made it to the person I needed BOOM neurologist and a neurosyc test that gave me my DIAGNOSIS!!! YA I KNOW GREAT STORY HUH LOL

I, like Mia went a long time (years) before getting the correct diagnosis of PCS also. I am amazed after telling lots of different doctors about my concussion history from passing out and hitting my head on concrete so many times that they did not send me to a neurologist long ago. Especially after the MVA.
I wish I would of known to see a qualified neurologist/movement disorder specialist. I wish I would of known to get neuropsychological testing done. I wish I would of known of this support group and that their are others out there who understand and are going through the same thing. I have gotten the best advice on here and so much support and help with feeling not all alone in the world or like I am just extremely weird or mental. I wish I would of known about earplugs and white noise. I discovered sunglasses and meditation for myself. I especially wish I would of known not to take Tylenol and Lortab or Lortab and extra strength excederin together because it will cause you to overdose on Tylenol and cause liver failure. I wish I would of known to see a back and neck specialist and had MRI's done of both as well as my brain while I still had insurance. I wish I would of known about pain specialist doctors before. I wish I would of known what was going on with me and how to explain it properly to my family so they could help me because I was unable to help myself.
I am very grateful for all I have learned and how far I have come.
Brain

Ditto - just went to a behavioural optometrist who as I write is organising glasses for me to counteract a number of issues. 40 to 60% of injured folk will have visual impairments which can cause nausea, dizziness, depth of perception (reason why I walk in front of oncoming vehicles) headaches, light intolerance, how the list goes on. It was a psychologist who suggested I go because I have issues with understanding plots in books, films etc and the examination has given answers to so many of my other problems.

Just because the lable says mild TBI does not mean the effects to you will be minor.
My functional level was basically nil. I slept. I could not read, follow a tv program make a cup of tea, look after myself or my children.
I hit deisel on a country road, was doing around 30 mph, my car span and hit a verge causing it to roll across the other side, it went into a hedgerow up an embankment and rolled back down.
I only remember the wheel being whipped from my hand as it span out.
I wish someone had not let me sign myself out of the hospital. I wish that I was aware enough to follow pt/OT/ and doctors advice. I thought there was nothing wrong with me.
I wish someone had told me that it can take years to recover and you will not get everything back.
I wish someone. Could have told me about the stress of legal action. I just accepted a payout at 8 yrs post accident because I had just had enough of it.
I saw a neuro phsyc at 2 yrs, to find I have severe executive function difficulties and congnitive difficulties. I have poor working memory and other memory issues, flexible thinking is affected.
Neuro ophthalmologist sorted out double vision issues with botulinum injections and prisms in my specs, also I have reactolite lenses that cut out lots of light as I am photosensitive.
I got fed up of being told you'll be better, a week, 4 weeks,6months then told you will bet better but not completely. I spent many futile months trying to prove I was intelligent and not broken. Things only started to improve once I had accepted my new limitations and adjusted accordingly.
Brain injury is scary, confusing, enlightening, funny and exhausting.
I could sleep anytime anyplace anywhere! Listen to your body!
Keep a diary. Then when Drs ask how have things been? You don't look a complete fool by having not a clue or even any idea if you have seen them before.
Thing can and do improve. I'm now working part time. It feels like full time and I really could not do any more.
I have also been told at some point that I had somatoform disorder or functional neurological disorder. This was during the medico legal process. I believed all I needed was some phsyc appointments to get well. It didn't work, I got distressed because they lied, I felt like a failure and fraud. It set my recovery back no end.
Work with what you have got, don't be afraid to try something new. Believe in yourself!

"Just because the label says mild TBI does not mean the effects to you will be minor.
My functional level was basically nil. I slept. I could not read, follow a TV program, make a cup of tea, look after myself or my children.

I hit diesel on a country road, was doing around 30 mph, my car span and hit a verge causing it to roll across the other side, it went into a hedgerow up an embankment and rolled back down.
I only remember the wheel being whipped from my hand as it span out.

I wish someone had not let me sign myself out of the hospital. I wish that I was aware enough to follow pt/OT/ and doctors advice. I thought there was nothing wrong with me.
I wish someone had told me that it can take years to recover and you will not get everything back.

I wish someone could have told me about the stress of legal action. I just accepted a payout at 8 yrs post accident because I had just had enough of it.

I saw a neuro psych at 2 yrs, to find I have severe executive function difficulties and cognitive difficulties. I have poor working memory and other memory issues, flexible thinking is affected.
Neuro ophthalmologist sorted out double vision issues with botulinum injections and prisms in my specs, also I have reactolite lenses that cut out lots of light as I am photosensitive.

I got fed up of being told you'll be better, a week, 4 weeks, 6months then told you will be better but not completely. I spent many futile months trying to prove I was intelligent and not broken. Things only started to improve once I had accepted my new limitations and adjusted accordingly.

Brain injury is scary, confusing, enlightening, funny and exhausting.
I could sleep anytime anyplace anywhere! Listen to your body!
Keep a diary. Then when Drs ask how have things been? You don't look a complete fool by having not a clue or even any idea if you have seen them before.

Thing can and do improve. I'm now working part time. It feels like full time and I really could not do any more.

I have also been told at some point that I had somatoform disorder or functional neurological disorder. This was during the medico legal process. I believed all I needed was some psych appointments to get well. It didn't work, I got distressed because they lied, I felt like a failure and fraud. It set my recovery back no end.

Work with what you have got, don't be afraid to try something new. Believe in yourself! "

Wow, you got a lot of bad care and counsel. Welcome to the club.