Hi guys,
I thought i'd compile my previous posts on this forum over the course of my recovery, to showcase how far i've come.
Although my initial injury was October 30th, 2009, I was not in the right mindframe, nor did I have the visual capabilities to use the computer until a few months into my PCS.
My first post here on March 18th, 2010, five months into my PCS...
Quote:
Hi guys,
I suffered a hockey stick blow to the temple on November 30th, 2009. I did not lose conciousness. Immediately I felt a ringing in my ears and pain in my head for a day, with difficulties catching sleep right away. A few days later my vision went extremely blurry (tunnel vision like). A few days following I got the worst dose of nausesy I ever felt (immobilized for 24 hours straight). Lathargeay hit me and lasted for weeks as well. The unfortunate thing about this time was that my family and I assumed that I had a flu and then a cold, never putting together that I had gotten a concussion till a month later. I continued playing hockey/ball hockey during this time, taking further blows to the head. Over the course of the entire time up until this point, I have experienced a variety of syptoms:
headaches
dizziness (only days after the accident)
impaired balance (only days after the accident)
nausea (only days after the accident)
fatigue or sleepiness (for the first four months)
inability to sleep (up until very recently, i'm trying to wein off my sleeping pills)
decreased libido (recently come back)
sensitivity to noise or light (extreme case in the beginning)
ringing in the ears (only first day after accident)
blurred vision (all throughout, getting better over time, still very noticable)
irritability
anxiety (two weeks ago I had an anxiety attack, it's been off and on since)
restlessness
depression (experienced through the worst of my symptoms and lasted for a month and a half)
lack of emotion (throughout my depression)
emotional lability or mood swings (I became dependent on the girl I was seeing)
lack of ability to tolerate stress or alcohol (stress makes all symptoms heighten)
aggression (a stage of my recovery)
amnesia or difficulty remembering things
confusion or impaired cognition
impaired judgment
slowed cognitive processing
difficulty with abstract thinking
difficulty concentrating
decrease in work performance
Today, March 18th 2010, I am leaps and bounds better than I was. I have very recently been able to start entertaining myself again (computer games, tv). Many of my symptoms still persist however I have recently recognized that they seem to become amplied throughout my workday. Because of my injury, I took a semester off University and have worked full time 9 hours a day, 6 days a week with a job that has a moderate to high level of physical activity. Analyzing this fact now, it seems very irresponsible and damaging to myself. I now believe that I have prolonged my concussion by exhausting myself on a daily basis, not allowing my brain to heal. At the time cutting back work was the last thing I would have wanted because it was the only thing that got me through the day and made me forget about my deep feelings of sadness (depression). My question to you guys now is that i'm seriously considering cutting back the hours I work. I don't need this money to survive and I think i'm doing much more harm than good. What are you thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
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URL:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread117042.html
After writing that, it would be a long time before I would post again, December of 2010...
Quote:
Hi guys,
I went to my neurologist for only the second time (health care in Canada is a joke as it takes half a year to see a specialist.) Let me just go over the hell I went through with PCS.
On October 30th, 2009, I was struck in the side of the head with a hockey stick while playing hockey. Initially, I did not even know what horrors were soon to follow.
Starting that very night, I could not sleep. Little did at know at the time, I did not sleep (insomnia) for 8 months. After two weeks, I was prescribed sleeping pills in which I had to take twice a night to fall asleep (two pills every four hours).
Approximately three days the initial blow, I experienced extreme nausea, the most I had ever experienced in my life. Two days later, all of a sudden, my vision went completely messed up, with an extreme case of tunnel vision in which it would take me approximately two-three seconds for images to come into focus, and even then I was able to see a very little amount. My vision issues would soon prove to be one of the worst and debilitating symptoms both physcially and emotionally. I suffered extreme amounts of pain in my eyes for a week. I also experienced pain from ringing in the ears.
Within two months of my concussion, depression onset. It was the lowest time of my life in which all I would do is stare at the clock and cry. I suffered depression for approximately two months, and unfortunately did not recieve anti-depressents (horrible family doctor as well.)
Some other symptoms I experienced:
nausea
blurred vision and sensitivity to light (extreme amounts of each)
slurred speech or saying things that don't make sense (even months after my injury, I still had issues pronouncing some words)-
difficulty concentrating, thinking, or making decisions
difficulty with coordination or balance (such as being unable to catch a ball or other easy tasks
feeling anxious or irritable for no apparent reason
feeling overly tired
lack of libido
anxiety (at about the fourth month, I suffered an anxiety attack after which I suffered constant anxiety for over six months)
I'm sure there are other symptoms i'm forgetting.
Now, 15 months later, the only remaining symptom is blurred and delayed vision. This symptom has improved INCREDIBLY but it is such a slow process that I am still suffering some issues. I look forward to being healthy more than you could imagine...
I have also seen an optomologist (eye doctor) twice during that time period. Both times they did a multitude of tests, and concluded that my eyes are physically fine.
Anyways... I went to my neurologist yesterday. I explained all my symptoms and what I was still experiencing. His answer? "You are not experiencing symptoms of a concussion and you have no neurological issues. Go see your optomitrist."
Needless to say, I was initially very angry and sad. How can my ONLY lifeline to such a horrible expeirence deny the existence of the injury symptoms? Apparently because I wasn't initally "knocked out" I can't still be experiencing symtoms of it. Hello... it doesn't take a neurologist to conclude from my issues that it was due to the blow. I was PERFECTLY healthy before the injury. But no... not concussion related...
Also, he said that because I wasn't experiencing headaches or hadn't due to the concussion, that it can't be that serious. In my entire life, I have NEVER had a headache. The fact that I didn't get any due to the concussion doesn't suprise me.
What do you guys think? Yes, it has been a year and three months, and most documentation (that I have found) states that concussions rarely last that long (especially without initial knockout). My neurologist said the longest reported symptom of a concussion was 18 months and that I in NO way qualified. Please give me your opinions. To me, it's clear. This is my final remaining symptom, also my worst initially (which makes sense). I have very slowly made progress over the last 15 months, including my vision. Please reassure me that my neurologist is mistaken, that this symptom (like the rest) will dissappear with time, and that this damage is not permenant (my progress indicates this should go away with time.) I believe this to be true, and I am extremely frustrated with the medical system.
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URL:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread144270.html
I regret not writing more information down, as these two posts are tiny snippets of what I was going through. Even prior to writing the first one, I went through the absolute worst five months of life. The gap between the two also lapse quite a considerable amount of time.
The purpose of this post is to illustrate my success story. Today, 18 months following my initial blow, I am virtually symtom free. The only thing I experience is some visual issues, but they are showing impressive improvement thanks to a recent visit to a vision therapy center.
I write this today after cramming 10 hours almost without breaks for a statistics midterm in a couple days. I absolutely despise statistics but the feeling of happiness simply makes everything I do these days a joy. Even my family and friends notice how bouncy I am. My sister recently told me, "your back to your old silly self". Today, I can't be prouder or happier to be who I am. I've battled the hardest feat of my life. Nothing will stand in my way.
I wish all of you the best. Rest up, and always keep your head up.
03-22-2011, 11:22 PM
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