Hello all, about a month ago i was drinking with some friends and was told i fell out of the back my buddys truck fell on my butt and hit my head against a building, i don't recall this because when i drink i get black out drunk

i thought nothing of it because i felt fine the next day, a couple days go by and i start to feel pressure on the left side of my head, this feeling goes on for about a week when i decide to go to the er and tell them what happened

a ct scan was done and i was told nothing was found but it looks like i may have a sinus infection, i was prescribed some antibiotics and sent on my way, after a few days on the antibiotics i notice no change

after a period of over 24 hours of no sleep and still feeling pressure i go back to the er and told that it sounds like i do indeed have a concussion and i am prescribed temazopam for sleep and lortab for the pressure

the sleeping pills haven't worked and nor has the lortabs although i only took 2 of the painkillers because once they did nothing i didn't want to keep taking them, the sleeping pills seem to have some effect if i take a couple of them but i still only get 3 hours of sleep at the most

i don't seem to have any other symptoms such as nausea, sensitivity to light, or any of the sort but i continue to have this feeling in my head constantly from when i wake up to when i lay down, im worried because the insomnia has lasted for a good 2 weeks or maybe more and i know rest is essential in recovering

I was under the impression that after a concussion one would get headaches frequently but not one that is constant all the time, i have been really worried about this and don't know what to do, i have an appointment with a neurologist next week

Abel,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. I hope we can help you.

First, if the Temazepam is not helping you get to sleep, you should stop taking it. Benzos like it are rough on an injured brain. Many of us live with head aches of varying intensity 24/7. Sleep is a good way to escape the discomfort.

Some head aches are blood pressure related. If your BP is a bit elevated, the injured brain struggles to moderate that pressure in the brain. The brain's BP and blood flow regulating mechanism is commonly injured by concussions and even alcohol or its toxic metabolites.

The fact that you black out when you drink is a BIG sign of your brain's health. I bet you were a big drinker in your adolescence. If I am wrong, please forgive me. Research shows that the brain is conditioned to be overwhelmed by alcohol in later adulthood by 'blotto' drinking during adolescence. Understanding that your brain is not tolerant of alcohol will help you move forward in your life.

I take gabapentin, an anti-seizure med before bed to help my brain settle down to sleep. It is far safer than a benzo like L.

I also use aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) for my strong head aches.

Do you know what you blood pressure is? 120/80 or lower should be your maximum target. It it is a bit higher, your brain may be struggling to tolerate and control the higher pressure. A home blood pressure kits costs $20 to $30 at places like WalMart or WalGreens.

How old are you? Age has an impact on these issues.

My best to you.

Abel,
it sounds like you need something more than the ER. Can your Dr. refer you to a neurologist? It might be time for an MRI. Don't go too long. Sometimes problems take a little while to show up.

Be careful with the alcohol. That can make the problem worse. If you developed a subdural hematoma, alcohol can increase seeping of blood and effect clotting. The two don't mix well.

Sam

thank you for the responses, yes mark i was a heavy drinker im 22 didn't start until i was 18 but binge drank alot since then, i don't have a regular dr i go to but every time i go to the er or a clinic they do say my blood pressure is high, im also over weight, 6'2 about 347, do you think the best idea would go to a gp and have my blood pressure confirmed or continue to go to the neurlogist

Abel

I think you have your work cut out for you. You need to do three things. Get your blood pressure down. Get your weight down. And cut WAY down on your drinking to no more than a single serving per day. I doubt you can get your BP down continuously without some weight loss. Your heart is straining to push your blood through your whole body. The head ache is simply your brain's reaction to your body's struggles to pump your blood.

As I said, the injured brain loses its ability to regulate blood flow through the brain.

Alcohol is horrible at contributing to diabetes. Diabetes is miserable for a struggling brain. Plus, alcohol is a sugar that offers nothing but empty and inebriating calories. You are likely seriously deficient in B-12 and folic acid due to your alcohol consumption. That makes everything much worse.

The only help a doctor will offer worth anything is to get you on blood pressure meds. BP meds may leave you at risk of dizziness and passing out and falling and hitting your head again. btw, You do not have to make contact with a hard object to suffer a concussion. The whiplash effect on your head can cause the concussion.

Do you have a positive support structure to help you get going on improving your health? You will not likely be able to make these changes alone. At least we are here for you if you can put up with us.

Read my post in Patty's thread "New Here, hello" that lists my suggested nutritional regimen. It is my second post in that thread. You will need to double the dosages.

Hope you can find a way to take on these challenges.

My best to you.

thank you for the advice mark, yes i already quit drinking because this has scared me straight so to speak, im constantly thinking about it and wondering if ill ever be normal again, ive already started to walk every day but i do need to get on a good diet regimen

although i have had a lost of appetite on top of the insomnia so im only eating once or twice a day, i did a search for paddy's thread but couldn't seem to find it, would it be at all possible to get a link?

it is hard to exercise when im tired all the time, will the insomnia go away on its own? and do you think it would be a good idea to get tested for high blood pressure and prescribed blood pressure medication or try to deal with it on my own with eating and exercise? would the medication help the headaches?

sorry for the double post but i found patty's thread so no need for the link, also do you think it would be a waste of time and money to go to the neurologist next week because i am unemployed at the moment and uninsured

and i forgot to mention this is my first concussion that i know of, is there any chance that all this will all go away because i never used to get any headaches or have problems with sleeping

is it my weight that could have made it this severe? because i was told i was fine after i hit my head and knew what was going on but then again we were inebriated.

Here it is. It was three pages back. Been a busy few days.

The injured brain needs to do two things, First, it needs to cleanse itself of the toxic remnants of the injury. Second, it needs to regain strength (heal) in the damaged areas. B vitamins are the most important. I suggest:

B-12 (500 to 1000 mcgs daily)
a B-50 complex, for all the other B's so you get a good balance of B's
a high potency multi-vitamin like GNC Mega Women. Centrum and One a Day are too weak.
Some extra anti-oxidants, Vit C and Vit E
D3, plenty of this, 1000 to 5000 iu's
Omega 3, 6, 9 fish oil
Calcium with magnesium

I also have added
Curcumin (pricy but worth it) 950 mgs daily This is a Turmeric extract
DHEA, 25 mgs, a hormone that helps the body balance the other hormones
a Costco High Energy multipack (7 pieces) in place of the multi-vitamin


good meat protein for the amino acids, pork is the best or for vegetarians,
a good amino acid supplement including essential fatty acid and BCAA (broken chain amino acid). Vegetarian diets are usually deficient in these so they need supplements. Spirulina is suggested as comprehensive enough.
avoid trans fats.
No caffeine, alcohol, MSG, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn sweetener, and only moderate natural sugar.

My regimen based on the above costs about $1.30 to $1.50 per day including some non-brain supplements (arthritis).

I was started on the brain basics by a psychiatrist 30 years ago as a way to treat PCS depression and avoid medication. It was very effective. I am tempted to replace my paroxetine with 5-HTP but have not been able to find any conversion factors.

The B-12 and folic acid in the B-50 is important for repair of the myelin sheath that protects axon and dendrite fibers. The rest are for improving brain metabolism.

My best to you.

sorry to keep pestering you but i also wanted to know if i should stop watching tv and using the computer and if so for how long, and what kind of sleep aid i should seek because diphenhydramine(same stuff thats in benadryl) isn't working either

I take gabapentin, a prescription. It helps my brain and body settle down. Otherwise, my mind keeps racing.

When you reply, if you use the button at the bottom left, it does not quote the previous post. Saves lots of screen space.

Limit TV to low stimulation programs. Nothing that is upsetting or exciting. All screen time should be limited. Any time you feel your eyes starting to glaze over, it is too much.

What do you do for a job?

My best to you.