[fkd5322]

My names Jason. I'm 20., I've posted on this sight I few times. I'm in such a tough spot in life right now. It's been 7 months since my concussion, before my concussion I was in a huge depression about loosing my first love. We dated twice, once from age 14-15 and another time from age 17-20. All together I've been infatuated with this girl since I was 14. She was not only my love, she was also a best friend. We spent everyday together. After she broke up with me I fell into such a depression. I didn't know how I'd ever get out of it. I'm still in it, S a matter a fact. But then on top of that, this concussion.


I got this concussion on new years eve. I moved to california to try and get a new start on life. My family lived out there so I stayed with my brother and my dad. Things were a lot better. I was skateboarding. And meetiń new friends, spending time with family. When new years came around I went to a party with a new friend a made. The house where the party was at was located on top of this huge hill, a really massive hill. Before new years arrived another friend of mine asked if I wanted To go get food with him, I was in a good mood so I said yea. We walked out of the front gate of the house. I jumped on my skateboard and proceeded to ride down this hill. I got speed wobbles and the next thing I know I'm back at the house throwin up. My friends who dot really know what to do in a situation like this let me sleep it off.

I woke up the next morning feeling like ****. I went home and since I don't have health insurance my dad told me to try and rest it off. I tried to rest it off for three days until eventually he had to take me to the ER. I got a ct scan and they found bruising and bleeding to the brain. Two contusions. The doctor prescribed me some form of steroid medication, something like dexamethasome.
I took that for about a month and it made me feel really energetic and also hungry. I had such a big appetite. Looking back on it, I know that everything tasted normal so I didn't have any loss of smell or taste.


After a month of being on those mess. I went to the doctor and he took another ct scan. The bleeding had stopped an he asked if there was anything else wrong. I said just the headaches. A couple of weeks later out forge blue my smell becomes all distorted. So a month and a half after the accident it becomes all distorted. Is this normal? Is there a better
Chance of it coming back because of this?


So now I have so many things on my plate. Serious problems. The biggest one probably being the heartbreaker I'm enduring from this breakup. It really hurts me inside.... When I think about old memories and realize how
Much things have chaned and that I may never have her back again.... I want to die. On top of that my concussion is preventing me from moving on with my life. On top of thatt, my smells distorted and I get depressed over that when I think that it may never come back. I smell unpleasant smells and I cant live like this. I just can't. It's been 7 months and everything's still distorted.



I feel like of my smell came back things would be much happier on my life. Can. Anybody please give me advice. I can't seem to get per all this, I can't seem to even get by, everyday is hard enough to get through. I have dreams about my ex and wake up almost having a heart attack.

There's this clinic in washington dc that I plan on going to. It's loads of money but apparently there specialists in smell and taste disorders.

I had to quit my job out in California. I'm now back in the town where my heart was broken to a million pieces. I need I now forward. I can't live like this.




Sorry about the spelling errors, I don't have Internet except on my phone.

[TBI/PTSD]

Jasonleon92,
I am so sorry you are in such a rough spot. All I can share with you is my experience with my TBI. I was roller blading, my wheels go locked up in a twig and down I went. I knocked myself out. I came to, went home and threw up a couple times. I didn't think anything of it or that I needed medical attention. I carried on for two days and realized I was not the same. All of out symptoms are different. I went to a neuro doc and he told me I had TBI. I realized I was really confused, not focused, running stop signs and stop lights. I didn't want to be around anyone because I now stutter and I can't remember anything like people I know. I was and still am pretty much a hermit. It is very sad to realize that the rug can get pulled out from under you and you life can change beyond your wildest dreams. My doctors have told me that the more concussions one has suffered, the lower the chance of coming back all the way. I don't know how many you have had and I sure hope this is your only one. This was my fifth. I have to end my career, possibly sell my house, and who knows what else. When I get really bummed out about stuff, I make a list of things that I do have. I am not sure what life holds for me but there must be a reason for being here. I also try to practice acceptance. Not sure if you are spiritual or religious or believe in anything but acceptance has really helped me. God will not give you more than you can handle.

My doc put me on medicine that changed my taste. I asked to try a different one that didn't effect me the same way, that was one of the things I am grateful for. I am also grateful I can walk and run paddle board etc....those things really help me.

I don't know what to tell you about your love except that I am sorry and you never know what God has in store for you. You gotta have hope and believe that things turn out just the way they are supposed to and accept it. You never know what is around the next corner.

Your post touched me because you are so young and I am sorry you are having a rough time. It is good that you posted, since you did and if you read other pistes you will read about people that have a lot in common with you. I sure hope you feel better soon and you are certainly not alone.

[rmschaver]

I feel for you it sounds awful what you are going thru. I do not have the loss of taste smell as you do. I did have some terrible mood swings for a while doctor prescribed depacote which has helped tremendously. It helped some of the other symptoms I was experiencing also. You might be experiencing deep grief from just wanting your old life back. Do you have anyone you can talk to?

[Mark in Idaho]

Jason,

Where did you move back to? There are plenty of high caliber specialists in California between UCLA Medical Center, Stanford Medical center, Univ of Calif San Francisco Medical Center, UCDavis, and others.

I suggest that your first priority is getting some help with your depression. The overlap of depression and PCS makes it difficult to understand your PCS. You are not the only one who has had his heart broken. Life goes on. We go on.

When we address one day at a time and one issue at a time, we find ways to get going and get better.

I hope you can find the help to do the same.

My best to you.

[pcslife]

Did you talk to the Dr. Henkin? He seems like a nice doctor. Another NT user's daughter also has plan to see this doctor. Seems like you are aware it will cost quite some money. I sure planning to go there at some point though my smell and taste improved a lot but still I believe he can make it perfect. But I have to spend money on other things insurance doesn't cover like Prolotherapy etc., so this will be on hold for a while.

I know my smell and taste can get back to normal because some days are really good. I can make it good if I drink a glass of wine or I go for Neurofeedback session. My uncle's (who is an MD) explanation is something to do with GABA transmitter and/or sodium channels in brain. Who knows?

But mine really started to get better only after 2 years. May be Dr. Henkin can address the biochemical issues which can be a culprit too. Looks like he does lot of research on this field. I understand completely how getting your smell and taste back can help your depression bcuz it did for me. I am not depressed much anymore.

Also be cautiously optimistic since there is no guarantee whatsoever but sure worth a try and keep your spirit up.

Cheers!