Hi all, my name is Jessica and I'm 19. You're all a very supportive community, and I really trust your knowledge. I'm looking for a sense of closure at the moment. I need some words from others, so I can know how to feel about everything.

I've looked into concussion a lot over the past 4 months, and in all honesty I've been quite affected by how devastating they can be. I don't feel I have it in me to keep striving for success after my concussion, knowing that I may have real limitations now.

I lot of it is down to belief, but concussions are very real, and can easily define you. I'm afraid I've let this happen.

I study literature; my 3rd year is next year, but I was hoping to go on to have a career in Health. I was under severe stress in July, and at the end of July I had 4 wisdom teeth removed.

5 days in to recovery from that, I was hosing some plants under an outdoor staircase (on an Australian Queenslander home) when I suddenly remembered I was going to do something, turned around quickly and realised the left side of my head hit flat against the steal support beam on the staircase.

The noise vibrated all the way through the beam, and I retreated indoors, rested, then slept. I was at home alone, and did not tell someone until 10 weeks later what had happened. I had no initial signs of concussion, but if I did, I mustn't have connected them to being concussed. They were subtle.

The same night, the worst panic attack of my life came over me, though. And 5 days later, I went for a check up at the dentist, came to a busy road and felt as if I was going to lose control. I was feeling detached from my surroundings. A week later, I tried to get back into my life, and uni, to no success.

I couldn't study, I realised something was not right. The detached feeling was with me and I seemed to be having cognitive difficulties, trouble thinking mostly. But as for the physical symptoms of PCS, I was symptom free.

At one stage, I was disorientated, became lost in a building, and a week later I got on board the wrong bus. A was also derealized, and was suffering from extreme anxiety, which went on for 2-3 months, leading to mental fatigue, and sleep problems, and cognitive issues. I had to take propranonol to stop the panic at one stage.

There are a number of things that could have caused this. What I'm holding on to however is a disrupted nervous system and shock. My brain seemed to be in lockdown mode, and I could no longer function properly.

I have too many questions about this. I have had a CT which was negative. But could someone please help me to confirm that this has been a type of PCS. And if so, how damaging could it have been? My doctor has told me that it was just anxiety. Does anyone else believe it might have been due to my meeting with that support beam? Or could it have simply been a shock to my system from surgery, and stress?

Any thoughts would be really appreciated.

Jessica,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry for your reason for being here.

It sounds very much like you have PCS. The anxiety is a symptoms of PCS so your doctor is half right.

I have propanolol ready in the cupboard for those extreme situations like you mentioned.

Your symptoms may have also be exacerbated by the anesthesia from your dental surgery. Sort of a chemo-brain condition.

There are a few things you can do right now.

First, work at becoming more deliberate with your movements. Prior to your concussion, you had more of an unconscious ability to move about with more coordination and safety. Your peripheral vision was probably much better. Until you recover more, you should try to slow down a bit with movements.

Second, Try to limit the amount of stimulation you subj4ect yourself to. Less visual and auditory stimulation will help your brain focus on the tasks at hand.

Third, When you are struggling to focus, try closing your eyes for a moment to pull your thoughts together. This may become a much needed skill.

And, try to relax as much as possible. most of the daily tasks that we get all stressed out about do not require anywhere near the level of stress we tend to put on them. Life is just a lot simpler than we usually make it.

At school, you should be able to get some assistance from the Disabilities Department if you are struggling with note-taking or testing, etc. If you feel like you do not have enough time to complete a test, you should be allowed some extra time. The concussed brain is slower at processing and memory retrieval and such. You may do better is a secluded room when taking a test. You need to speak up about these needs.

There are lots of good people here with experience dealing with schools, etc. feel free to ask any question. There are no dumb questions.

And, download and print out the TBI Survival Guide at www.tbiguide.com

It will help you understand your symptoms. Unfortunately, most doctors are not much help.

And limit your caffeine and alcohol intake. It does not help the concussed brain.

My best to you.

Hi Mark,

does that chemo-brain condition result in long term impairments? And are chemical imbalances life long? My anxiety may have been psychological also. I was very anxious even before I hit my head.

Basically, all this time I've felt as if I was still recovering from anaesthesia. It was just that kind of feeling. But, if you say that it was PCS, why didn't I have any headaches or dizziness whatsoever?

Thank you for your reply, and sorry about my questions. I just need closure and answers. I'm sure you understand.

Also, it is clear that my brain has suffered from the combination of all the things, might this be life long?

Not all sufferers of PCS suffer from head aches. I rarely had head aches until my last concussion. I had about a year of head aches after a concussion in 1996 but they cleared up.

My concussion in 2001 has left me with chronic head aches. I believe many of my head aches are due to the sleep problems I have had ever since the 2001 injury.

You can help your brain detoxify with good supplemental nutrition. B6, B12, Omega 3's, all of the anti-oxidants, in daily doses of up to 10 times the RDA can help the brain. It will take a few months to start to see a difference. The nutrition regimen should become a lifelong habit to help the weakened brain tolerate the stresses of life.

Your injury is lifelong but you don't need to suffer from it with good disciplines regarding nutrition and reducing stress.

Making choices to learn anxiety reducing thought patterns will make a big difference in your life.

My best to you.

All I did was bump into a beam, and have my wisdom teeth out... it's simply not fair for me to believe I now have those kinds of life long issues. It doesn't fit with me to think it was PCS, or that that particular accident would rob me of so much.

I have a damaged brain now, and I'm sorry but being positive about that is not in my nature. My brain was over toxified, so now I must have permanent deficits? It's not adding up.