No problem, glad to be of help.

I hit my head into someone's chest doing a bit of wrestling, for lack of a better description. I felt a bit buzzed, but I was fine within a day or two and back to where I was before. I've had a couple of other regular knocks with no effect at all.

The less you stress over it, the quicker you'll bounce back.

Hi windseeker!

I think you definitely should start taking supplements and vitamins. My neurologist is basically in agreement with Mark's advice here. She has also agreed that I can benefit from taking some other supplements, like CDP Choline, D-Ribose and Phosphitydlserine. Before you start going into things like that though, make sure it's ok with your neurologist, just in case.

I think you might be able to sleep better if you take some kind of natural sleeping aid, like 5HTP, or PassionFLower. But again, ceck with your Dr.'s as to whether it's ok to experiment with them. You're right that your body might just be wacked out due to all the chemical changes. It will stabilize. And you'll feel better. But it will take a little time to get there. (Based on friends experiences, I'd guess it'll take maybe a month or so to withdraw from the pot to a point where you're sleeping is much better.)

As far as whether you should continue to skate - that's a personal choice. Were you wearing a helmet when you first hit your head? Do you wear a helmet now when you skate? It might not be the "coolest" thing to do, but it will help you to protect your head.

As far as sailing is concerned; I think getting hit with a boom is pretty rare. Don't drink or do do anything that might increase it to happen; so you can be aware of everything around you, etc.

It sounds like you're pretty active. I was pretty active too before the injury I sustained. I miss the endorphins.

I think you might discover that you can continue to be active in less dangerous sports and activities if you want to protect your head more. Like going to the gym, hiking or swimming instead of skating. Pilates can give you that core work out similar to skating and it's not as dangerous. It's not usually outdoors though.

I think you'll be fine soon enough, but as Mark recommended, it's probably best for you to be cautious of what your head comes into contact with and how hard for the rest of your life so that you don't end up with some permanent issues that will make it so that you can't be active at all anymore.

Much Luck!!

FYI: my specialist, who has seen a lot of head injuries in his career, said sailing-related concussions are not uncommon (his wife actually sustained a sailing concussion). I think sailing is great, but I'm concerned about impacts from the boom (especially in a small craft like a laser or albacore) or from getting physically bounced around in windy or stormy weather. I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to give it up altogether, but I might - I believe I've had a few prior concussions - despite only one diagnosed one - and my recovery has taken a while (10 months so far, and despite some good progress, I'm not out of the woods yet).

I was unfortunately not wearing a helmet at the time of the initial accident. I was "too cool"...... . I can give up skateboarding. Thats no problem. I'm not a "Star" It's not going to make me any money. I'd rather keep my head safe after these experiences. In a simple sentence. If skateboarding were to leave my life suddenly (well....it kinda has) I would not fall into a depression or anything like that. I'd rather play it safe.


But the boom........I sail racing dinghy's. Lasers to be precise.(no pun intended The boom is quite low and you get hit more often than you realize. I don't want to give up sailing as I instruct children in a small community. If I give up sailing, I feel like I'm giving up on my students. There are not many people who could fill the void if I left. (It's a small sport here)

Nonetheless. These things don't matter until I recover.

Supplements:

I am currently on a B-Complex vitamin
I am taking a Cod Live Oil supplement for the EPA and DHA but I'm not dosing heavy on it as to avoid too much Vitamin A

I am trying to get out today to get some ALCAN but I am kinda hesitant to start loading up on supplements. I don't want to inadvertently make things worse.

Thoughts, opinions and experiences are encouraged. I feel like you guys understand.

I'd add ALCAR to the supplement list, and take D3 daily.

I took B vitamins and DHA in the summer and didn't feel much benefit. It could have been that things just weren't ready to normalize again, but it honestly felt like it was doing nothing for me. Since starting ALCAR, major change.

My dad has a sailboat, and I've sailed with him several times before I sustained the head injury and none of us would ever get hit in the head with the boom. I had no idea racing boats were so dangerous! Thanks for the info!

Maybe you will consider wearing a helmet when you sail then? You can teach the kids that having a working brain is much cooler than not wearing a helmet.

Well I got some ALCAR yesterday and Took 1 500mg around 6:30 PM. I took a second one at about 11PM but I halved the gel cap. So I imagine i did around 850mg. My head feels........different, a bit better but surely different. (its a little hard to tell with my withdrawals what is what) Boy did that stuff sure compound my insomnia. Couldn't sleep a wink. Spent the whole day in bed today trying to make up from last night. Ill try again with a much smaller dose tomorrow or the the day after once i get my sleep cycle back to something normal

It is of concern that it carries a seizure risk. I can't believe people down grams of this stuff.

Nonetheless it certainly "Thinned" out the fog a bit.