Hi all,

I'm am 23 years old and suffered a blow to the head when I fell in my driveway in March this year. My concussion syndrome didn't start until about a week later. I was also diagnosed with epilepsy which premeditated the fall. I've been getting better and then relapsing several times until the last two weeks when I developed degenerative intellect. My parents have been noticing that I am slower when doing simple things and I myself feel like I am getting somewhat senial. It wasn't until I started on Oxcarbazepine in late March that I started to really get annoying symptoms. I've had terrible anxiety that kept building up to the point where the last three times (out of five) that i've been to the hospital, it was for panic attacks. Now, I feel numb in the head and don't feel like a have a brain anymore. I'm on Ativan which helps a lot so far with the horrible anxiety, but I still feel frightened about all of this. I'm trying to go off of Oxcarbazepine and onto Vimpat, but I feel like something is eating my brain. Does anyone have an idea of what I should do?

Breathe. Relax.

You are recovering from a brain injury. Your brain needs rest in order to heal.

Anxiety and a decrease in intellect (I call it a decrease in cognitive functioning, because it effects me in many areas other than just my intellect) are common symptoms of PCS.

Symptoms can manifest for (usually) up to three months after a blow to the head, if it's an uncomplicated concussion. One of our members had new symptoms appear four months after his injury. I had symptoms develop six months after the concussion I sustained but that was because I was dealing with a rare side effect of concussion that hadn't been addressed yet. Every brain injury is different.

After trauma to the brain, chemicals that are created inside the brain as a result of that trauma can trigger a cascade of death to different neurons and axons and that process can take some time to complete itself.

amys23,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. You have found a good place.

As EsthersDoll said, Relax.

You are not only recovering from a brain injury but you also have the epilepsy diagnosis to deal with. This can be a complex situation.

How long have you had the epilepsy diagnosis?

Let me try to help you with your other complaint. You are very unlikely to be suffering from any level of intellectual deterioration. There is a vast difference between cognitive and memory struggles and intellectual deterioration.

Concussion can often cause cognitive and memory struggles but any impact on intellect is usually very minor if at all.

You may feel like you are going stupid but all you need is to learn new ways to use your intellect. My various measures of intellect are in the top 10% to top 1% but my memory skills and processing speed are all in the bottom 10%. To access my intellect, I need to use new skills of mental processing.

You are also very early in your recovery. Resting and simply putting up with less intellectual achievement for a while will reduce your anxiety level and help your brain recover better.

I have been on 3 different anti-seizure meds. Finding the right med is an art not a science. It may take a while to get the right one. Doctors often try to use the latest and greatest when an older med may do better.

Has anybody suggested any nutritional changes to try to help your brain? You may need to aid your brain with nutritional supplements.
The common regimen many here use is B-12 (500 to 1000 mcgs daily) A B-50 complex, Omega's, magnesium, calcium, all of the anti-oxidants, good protein for the amino acids (pork is a good source of the most essential Broken Chain Animo Acids) and

Avoid caffeine, artificial sweeteners (aspartame/Equal,Nutrasweet is the worst) high sugar content food, especially with high fructose corn sweetener (adds to memory problems) alcohol, MSG, and drugs or meds unless recommended.

I recently read about how some who are very neurologically sensitive to gluten ( in wheat) and casein (in milk). I only consume non-homogenized milk because the homogenized milk fat does not digest properly and can cause problems.

I am sure you will read many more ideas from others. I already gave you a fire hose full.

Just remember. Relax, Rest, and give your brain time to heal. Please don't get concerned about deteriorating intellect. You have no basis for such anxiety.

My best to you.