So its been about 10 months since my injury I had a CT scan back in August that was fine. But after going to the neuro again last week he sent me for a MRI, I got that done yesterday (I'm sure that will be fine too). I'm still waiting to hear from my insurance about a neuropsych/tbi/cognitive eval. But I'm due to go back to neuro july 3rd. Can't wait to see what the singleminded doc has to say this time. Ughhhh! I'm also due to go away mid july to take care of my father and visit a friend whose getting married soon but I just found out that come August 2nd I don't have insurance?!

Anyway, I'm not sure if I can keep all this going. Between my headaches, the dizzy spells, my lack of focus and balance and well everything else I'm just getting so fed up! Not yo mention he put me on Neurontin for my headaches which aren't that bad and now I'm worse then before. My headaches last longer and are a different kind of headache. When I take then meds at night my heart punds out of my chest, my eyes get bright red, I get soo jittery, and when I wake up in the am I feel hungover!? I'm due to start a morning dose tomorrow and I'm so scared as to how I will react to that.

I'm just so done! I want my life back. I want to be able to runand evjoy the life of a normal 22 year old! I want to finish school and get a good job but from the looks of it I'm going to be living off others for the rest of my life and gain even more weight from lack of exercise. I just feel like all my hopes and dreams have been ripped away only this time I don't know how to push through to get them back. Sorry I'm just so sick of this!!!!

I am so sorry. Hugs to you. I wish I could say something that would help it go away! Are you allowed to not take the medicine? I know I would totally stop taking it if it was making me worse. (but that's just me, not telling you what to do )

Good luck; wish I could offer more than just saying that. I am glad you got to vent though. How are you feeling today?

Jaystar89,
I really feel for you. I can relate to the problems with the headaches and medicines. I have changed meds quite a few times becuase I am so sensitive to the side effects.

You should talk to your doc again about it and see if they can try something else. You shouldn't have to feel worse than before the med.

I completely understand how frustrating this whole recovery proicess can be! I have found this group to be my sounding board of support. They seem to understand when knowone else can.

I hope things get better for you.

Thanks, my doc wants me to stay on the meds until I go back. I haven't had any "bad" reaction according to him. Lucky him, he isn't me trying to live my life but if this whole feeling worse keeps happening I will not keep on them. I can handle my headaches so I don't think I need it. Now if there was a medicine to bring bak my memory and concentration I'd take that. But Today I don't feel as bad but I also didn't take my meds last night cuz I got back too late from my MRI to take them and still wake up early. If tomorrow when I start my morning dose and I get even worse during the day I might freak but its is what it is and when it comes down to it oits my decision to take them or not, right?

Thanks, I too have the problem of medicines affecting me too strongly. During my visit we went thru a list of meds and this was the only one he thought wud be good or tht I haven't tried already. This one for sure has the least effects on me but it still makes me worse. I feel im better off taking nothing.

You are quite young. One thing you should understand with doctors is that they are not you, and they do not always understand what is happening with you. The better doctors will tell you to stop taking medications that cause you pain or side effects. The worse ones won't. You need to be look out for yourself. If I was having adverse reactions, I would stop my meds. Perhaps you should look for a new doc, or at the very least explore a different medication with the current one. Be aware of how you feel, not how the doctors say you feel.

I am so sorry to hear that at your young age, you have this kind of injury. There are alot of folks on this site who have experience with TBI, either with themselves or a loved one. I do know, that things can get better. I am by no means any kind of expert, I just read the posts, and know that many younger folks do recover and have a normal life. As far as Gabepentin goes, if this drug is effecting you so negatively ( it does me too) contact your doctor before you up this medication. It made my own condition and my mood with depression 10 times worse. Do call and get advice before upping the medication. Many get over the initial side effects, or get none at all. There are others who just don't tolerate it. Keep posting, and don't give up. There will be support here, and information. Hope is something to cling to. Your young age, works for you in recovery. Mark from Idaho, is extremely knowledgeable about this injury, and I sure hope he can respond to you, giving you some positive feed back. This site has done me a world of good with my own conditions. I hope you receive the same kind of help that I did. Please be good to yourself every day, in some small way. Do you have support at home?, or with some good friends? that is important, and we all need that compassion in our lives. ginnie

Hi Jaystar,

I know it's tough, but try not to give up hope.

I've been recovering from a mTBI for almost two years and I wasn't able to work at all for more than a year after the accident I was in. It's been almost two years, and I still couldn't imagine going to school right now - my brain is just not in a good enough place to be able to handle it - although I am working more than I was when I first started, I'm still not working full time.

The good news is that, even though I'm still living with the help of my boyfriend and family paying for my expenses and loaning me all sorts of cash to do so - I can finally see that someday I'll be able to support myself again.

And, if I continue to heal, that I'll be able to return to school.

Right now, I kind of think of this time as a "pause" button has been hit on my life and I'll get back on track someday if I'm lucky. But at my age, it's not the best time to have a "pause" button hit!

I don't know whether I'll need another degree or to change my career since the one I'm in is very demanding and stressful and I'm not sure that my brain will heal enough for me to be able to do it to a satisfactory level. About six months ago I told myself that I'd give myself another year and try to reassess what's going on.

I suggest you do the same. Don't jump to the conclusion that you're never going to be able to support yourself, or finish school - that probably only makes you feel bad. Try to focus on thoughts that make you less stressed out or actually feel good because that will help you to heal.

Just keep your goal of getting better in mind as much as possible.

I've gained weight too. It's not fun. I get sick of this process too. Just try to persevere as much as possible and after some time you can hopefully look back at this time and think, "Hey! I'm doing a lot better now that I was then!"

My therapist tried to tell me that after it had been ten months after the accident I was in and even though I knew I was doing better - it wasn't enough to make me feel better emotionally - now it's been enough time and even more improvements that I am able to recognize it and feel good about it. Just hang in there!