Hi all,

Yesterday I woke up really dizzy, couldn't walk to the bathroom on my own. Once husband helped me there I took a shower but not enough energy to wash my hair.

Later on that morning, my mum turned up and offered to take me out for coffee. So I leant over the bath and washed my hair. As I stood up, you can imagine the effect.......I was lying on the floor reaching for the next half hr.

Mum and husband got me on the sofa, then came the pain. I took paracetamol and a high dose of diclophenac. Waited a half hr but the pain was really bad, so I took a high dose of codeine which the doc has prescribed me.

Pain good enough to go out, mum took me for coffee. I needed some mllk, so we walked into 1 shop got some milk and it was like all my energy disappeared. I was lying on the floor crying.

The staff put me in a wheelchair and to the car and mum took me home.

BUT in the pm I was so mentally focused I made my daughter a dress!! How is that possible?? It was like I was someone else. Then the pain struck again and I went to bed with painkillers.

Today I cannot see well and am lethargic and dizzy and in pain.

Any ideas?

At this stage you are exceptionally sensitive to even a minor shaking ofthe head. Perhaps washing your hair give you a jolt and set something off again?

The pain killers will oftern mask a lot of things and when their effect wears off the symptoms can come flooding back.

I am not a doctor but I am not sure if you should be taking the codeine the information on it does not indicate it is ideal for those with a head injury

from drugs.com

"Stimulates opiate receptors in the CNS; also causes respiratory depression, peripheral vasodilation, inhibition of intestinal peristalsis, stimulation of the chemoreceptors that cause vomiting, increased bladder tone, and suppression of cough reflex."

CNS

Agitation, anxiety, convulsions, disorientation, dizziness, drowsiness, dysphoria, euphoria, fear, headache, impaired mental and physical performance, insomnia, lethargy, lightheadedness, mental clouding, mood changes, psychic dependence, reduced libido, sedation, weakness.


"The presence of head injury, other intracranial lesions, or a preexisting increase in intracranial pressure may be exaggerated because of the respiratory depressant effects and the capacity of codeine to elevate cerebrospinal pressure"

I had to avoid taking all the tablets I had for chronic joint pain to help my head out.

I get these fluctuations too. Some days I'm so lethargic I can't even lift my head from the pillow. I sleep for days, only getting up to eat and use the bathroom if I have the energy.

Other days I'm wide awake, I can't sleep for being so wired.

Sometimes I'll start the day feeling energetic only to crash out of nowhere.

I don't think I've ever felt mentally focused since though. It takes me several efforts to write things and almost always I follow effort with a nap.

I don't think much is normal or consistent with TBIs unfortunately.

Yes you are right Sospan about the codeine but my GP gave them to me on thursday for severe pain which I have been getting. I use them irregularly. However you have made me aware of the effects they may be causing along with this injury.

Thank you.

No problem, I always check what the doctors give me these days. I occiasionally have to take co-codomol which contains morphine - relieves the pain but my head suffers afterwards

Hello peacheysncream,

Washing my hair is still the worse thing I can do since the accident. I got a 2 inches cut on my scalp, where my head hit the door's frame edge. So you can imagine how my hair was after I left A&E first time, with all the blood dryed out stuck to my hair. The doctors said to me - you can't wash your head for a week!
It was traumatic. The cut is healing now, but it still hurts when gets in contact with the water and shampoo/conditioner.

When I first washed my hair it was so painful and draining that I have done it only 3 times since the accident, roughly 1x a week. My hair is long and get badly matted because I don't brush it at all, only when I wash it and even so I need a lot of conditioner to help it happen. I did it yesterday. It took me 2 1/2 hours to wash my hair, detangle and dry it (no hairdryer, just towel). After I did it, I went straight to bed, got nauseous, bad headache, blurred vision... It has been like this everytime. I now chose a day that I have nothing to do, or nobody is visiting to get it done, because I know that once I washed the hair the day is done.

I'm not exaggerating, I was talking to my husband that I'm even considering cut it short now. The problem will be to find someone to cut and style with the cut in the scalp and the TBI. You know, these days everything can become a law suit, so people don't want to get close to problem.

In your case, I also wonder if you are not doing too much... If you weren't feeling well, maybe that wasn't the best day to go out for coffee. And when you had the energy on the afternoon, maybe you should have just saved it for your brain, instead of making the dress... You need to rest to recover.
I get friends coming around almost everyday, mostly because I was on my own until last Friday, and they are getting bored of staying in with me, so I started to get the invites now for coffee and lunch out... I know I still can't do it, so I try to explain to them that I'm not there yet. Some don't understand, but they respect me and still call and come around. Now they started bringing different food when they come to see me, and last week a friend brought some wooden brain puzzles for us to try to solve it while she visited. I thought it was lovely of her.

So yes, maybe a bit more of bed rest will make you fell more stable. What do you think?

Thank you Mrs B. Yes I suppose I am going thru the frustrated stage where any sign of normality is grossly taken advantage of.

I am a hairdresser and I do advise that you lightly plait your hair for now after you wash it to stop it matting. Clearly you cannot stand it being pulled around so the salon experience will be torture for you.

There are some brilliant conditioners on the market. The best I have found (look up stockists on net, cos it's rare) is called Morrocanoil. There are 2 with the same name. One is seen everywhere like Fenwicks, John Lewis and then there's this one.
It is a white bottle with pale blue writing and is about £16.

I have very long hair too, I love this one. Just follow the instructions on pack.

Thank you for reminding me to slow down xx

This happened to me too. The friends that spoke to me after the accident eventually got bored of not going anywhere or doing anything so they started to only call me to invite me to things like parties and the pub on a Friday night. And music concerts! They just didn't understand and now I don't hear from anyone at all. Better without them, i think. Sounds like you've got some true friends.

Interesting how certain "friends" react to illness.

One of my mates said "now your off work you have plenty of time to build your house but If I get the timber can you build be a fence when your not busy"

They just don't get it

good grief!