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Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS). |
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01-15-2013, 10:47 PM | #1 | |||
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Have you ever had any episodes of smelling something no one else could smell, like something burning?
I woke early today and could smell a hot oven, like something was burning. In my mind I thought "oh my husband set the oven to self clean" and I tried to go back to sleep. The smell was driving me crazy. It was so strong. No one else was awake. Eventually I went back to sleep. Woke later. Totally forgot about it and tried to cope with day. Suffered severe, 8/10 pain scale headache today and a very noticeable increase in speech problems. Stalling longer between words. Stuttering. Slurring. This evening I asked husband why he set the oven to clean overnight like that. He said he didn't. I said, but I could smell it. Big time. I explained what I'd experienced this morning. He said no, there was nothing burning anywhere at all. He got very concerned. Tried to talk me into going into the ER tonight. I decided not to because I think it might just be another awful brain injury thing. It can wait until Friday's doctor appointment. I hope. Anyone ever have this?
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About it: October 26, 2012 I fell backward on an icy parking lot at work. I was on Workers Comp for 9 months. My PCS : everyday headaches became once in a while headaches, and neck pain became manageable. Still have occasional mild dizziness, sometimes fullness in the ears, convergence insufficiency, sequencing struggles, short term memory struggles, verbal processing delays. CT neg, MRI neg. Therapies: prism glasses, acupuncture, icing neck, resting, supplementing, Elavil 20mg at bedtime. NEW: Completed 12 weeks of physical therapy and returned to work full time. About me: I'm a marketing manager, a mom with a blended family and wife to a heart attack survivor. I believe my brain injury taught me more than it cost me. I'm grateful to still be me! |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Brain patch (02-25-2013) |
01-15-2013, 11:28 PM | #2 | |||
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I smell all different things that others don't smell. I also hear things that they don't like bells, alarms, phones, music. Its soft but there. Things also didn't taste the same but I think that's getting better. I have read about yhese symptoms and think they're normal but you should mention it to your doctor.
The one I'm kind of concerned about is that I choke on food or drink about once a day now. Never did that before. You know where something goes down the wrong way and you start to cough/choke? Nothing serious so far but one day who knows. Do you have this? I'm sorry to hear you had such a bad day. Have you tried meditation? I've found just 20 minutes a day to be very helpful with anxiety/stress and quieting my brain. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you! CC
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I'm a 39 year old, female, accountant. On July 2, 2012 I crashed my bike at the end of a 65KM road ride. I was fine that day but woke up the next morning to my current world. Ongoing symptoms include: dizziness, blurred vision, light and noise sensitivities, cognitive problems, uncontrollable emotions/depression/anxiety, headaches (but they're getting better), mental and physical fatigue, difficulty communicating and sleep disturbances. Currently seeing a fabulous Neuro Psychologist and vestibular physiotherapist and hoping to soon see a neuro ophthalmologist. I am currently doing 20 minute stationary bike rides daily, 20 minutes of meditating, 15 minutes of Lumosity and lots of resting. I have not been able to work or drive since the accident. The things that have helped me the most since the accident are vestibular therapy, gel eye drops (for blurred vision, sensitivity and dryness), amitriptyline (10mg), and meditating. I am finally starting to see some slight improvements and am hopeful! My brain WANTS to heal itself... I just have to let it and stop trying to get better! |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Brain patch (02-25-2013), MsRriO (01-17-2013) |
01-16-2013, 09:06 AM | #3 | ||
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01-16-2013, 10:37 AM | #4 | ||
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MsRriO,
Have you every had migraines due to overwhelming odors? I never did before but after my adventures in concussion, I can get bad headaches from certain kinds of exhaust or perfumes. Plus, I somestimes get the wonderful side affect of cognitive dysfunction, where my congnitive function get really foggy, quite quickly. I'm predisposed to migraines but never had problems until I had this concussion (had my concussion when I was 45) and it has seemed to open the can of migraines. I also found out the same thing with a dentist's local anesthesia. Brain fog. My neurologist said I have a sensitive brain. Yeah, I'd say. Good luck with this, but also keep in mind what things trigger this for you. Mike
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May 31, 2009: Concussion from syncope due to low blood volume resulting from severe dehydration. Occurred after finishing my 9th marathon. 100% of symptoms cleared by August 2009. December 15, 2009: Major surgery due to diverticulitis. 6 weeks after surgery, dizziness, fog, cognitive difficulty, anxiety, some panic, lots of headache. These symptoms largely gone, but still cannot exercise above a very low threshold otherwise resulting in severe headache and cognitive fog. Same for overwhelming odors. Meds: Nortriptyline and Naratriptan as needed to rid severe headaches (exertional migraines). |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Brain patch (02-25-2013) |
01-16-2013, 04:28 PM | #5 | |||
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Some reading today suggests it was an aura of migraine as previous posters spoke of. Could very well be. The metallic taste that coincides with my worst speech, plus this smell of burning, plus the incredible head pain, could add up to seizure territory. They may try an EEG on me (as I understand it) but unless I'm having an episode right that very second it will show normal. If they can pass it off as mental health related instead of physicality in the brain tissue they will. So really at this point it's just speculation that any doctor would give a darn at all, enough to do some testing, (potentially as useless as CT and MRI) As for meditation.... I could try it I suppose. I just don't know where to start or frankly what on earth that means. Lol just being honest. I have always had such an active brain (thoughts going a mile a minute, the right personality for marketing and sales) that I cannot imagine what they even MEAN by clearing one's mind. How foreign! It just doesn't compute. Lol!
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About it: October 26, 2012 I fell backward on an icy parking lot at work. I was on Workers Comp for 9 months. My PCS : everyday headaches became once in a while headaches, and neck pain became manageable. Still have occasional mild dizziness, sometimes fullness in the ears, convergence insufficiency, sequencing struggles, short term memory struggles, verbal processing delays. CT neg, MRI neg. Therapies: prism glasses, acupuncture, icing neck, resting, supplementing, Elavil 20mg at bedtime. NEW: Completed 12 weeks of physical therapy and returned to work full time. About me: I'm a marketing manager, a mom with a blended family and wife to a heart attack survivor. I believe my brain injury taught me more than it cost me. I'm grateful to still be me! |
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01-16-2013, 08:18 PM | #6 | |||
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~Rio~
I have smelt a burning smell as well that I had to call a family member over to smell if it was really there.... **This has been a REALLY BAD last 2 days for me and I'm still trying to wear a smile even though I really feel like I am going crazy @ a rapid pace and all the doctors have me on stand bye while I get worse** I am in the USA and waiting to see psychiatrist for meds....by the time I get some meds I will probably be back @ first step bed rest and lose my.......
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What Happened: In 2011 I was in a MVA . Symptoms: Physical: I am always cold in any season!!I cannot tolerate anything pressure on my head(sun glasses,hats)longer then a hour,Lock jaw/Displaced TMJ, Dropsey, Hands go numb, Arms go numb, back of head numb (when asleep),Muscle spasms in face & upper body,migraines, concentration headaches, dizziness, nausea, neck and back trauma (from accident), tinnitus, extreme light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, EXTREME fatigue, impaired vestibular system, balance off, Pupils NEVER equal, disrupted sleep cycles,speech problems. Cognitive: Cognitive Behavior, Brain fog, impulsivity, speech problems, word finding problems, slowed processing speeds, impaired visual memory, impaired complex attention Emotional: Unable to handle stress or overstimulation without getting extremely irritable or angry, easily overstimulated, MAJOR depression, major anxiety, Panic attacks Treatment so far: Treatment for PCS,PTSD,Depression & panic,Vestibular therapy, Physical therapy, Vitamin Schedule,Walking,No Dairy, No eggs, No caffeine, No artificial coloring, Sleep with 2 pillows, Very little sugars consumed, Eat healthy,No alcohol, Medications, limit stress and overstimulation. ~*~Learn to treasure yourself and your Divinity. Be willing to accept yourself completely. Be yourself, be graceful, be kind, be wild, be weird ... be true to yourself~*~ |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | Brain patch (02-25-2013) |
01-17-2013, 12:17 AM | #7 | |||
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Mia, I feel for you!!!
Hope you get help soon. Today for me no burnt smells. But good to know I'm not alone, it's funny how we feel like we're "losing it" til we hear of someone else having the same issue. Thank goodness for this forum!
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About it: October 26, 2012 I fell backward on an icy parking lot at work. I was on Workers Comp for 9 months. My PCS : everyday headaches became once in a while headaches, and neck pain became manageable. Still have occasional mild dizziness, sometimes fullness in the ears, convergence insufficiency, sequencing struggles, short term memory struggles, verbal processing delays. CT neg, MRI neg. Therapies: prism glasses, acupuncture, icing neck, resting, supplementing, Elavil 20mg at bedtime. NEW: Completed 12 weeks of physical therapy and returned to work full time. About me: I'm a marketing manager, a mom with a blended family and wife to a heart attack survivor. I believe my brain injury taught me more than it cost me. I'm grateful to still be me! |
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"Thanks for this!" says: | MiaVita2012 (01-17-2013) |
01-17-2013, 01:37 AM | #8 | ||
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Legendary
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If you get overwhelmed with a anxiety causing smell, try wiping some Mentholatum or Vicks Vaporub on your nostrils. It will hopefully be a recognizable smell that will help you relax. This also works for really bad smells.
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Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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01-17-2013, 07:10 PM | #9 | ||
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Dear Rio,
I often smell cigarette smoke when it is impossible that it is any where around. I accept that the brain changes rapidly during the healing process. Since my accident nothing smells like it used to and many things taste wrong.
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I am a 36 yr old female who has played football, as a hobby, for 13 yrs. In July 2012, during a game I was slammed to the floor by two angry guys who hit into me so hard that one of them broke their ribs. This knocked me back onto hard ground leaving me unconscious. I awoke to chronic head and neck pain, sickness and the inability to see or balance. The paramedics made me walk to the ambulance, instead of placing me on a spinal board, where I was taken to the ER. I was hospitalised with suspected brain hemorrhage for 1 week, then on complete bed rest for 1 month, in a wheelchair for 2 months. I have been left with PCS, moderate constant head pain, little short term memory, no memory of the accident, balance and sight problems, depression and exhaustion. The worst problem is collapsing regularly. This has finally been diagnosed as Hemiplegic Migraines , these cause my brain to regularly shut down when I am tired and I then feel the full effects of a stroke (without the bleed on the brain!!) of which the symptoms last 2-4 days. I have had 6 CT's, 2 MRI's and am under 3 specialists. I believe everyday is one more towards improvement. Mainly I believe in the power of acceptance not the weakness of complacency or resignation. |
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02-24-2013, 11:35 PM | #10 | ||
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I have had a "something's burning" smell off and on over the past seven years.
Recently, it started up again about a week ago. Normally I would use Vicks VapoRub to cover the smell, but last night, I didn't have the Vicks, so I pulled up my t-shirt, covered my nose and breathe through my shirt for about a minute. After removing my shirt from covering my nose, I didn't have the smell for about an hour. I did notice that while I had my nose covered with my shirt, breathing through my shirt, I did not experience the burning smell. I have read that this is a neurological problem, but if that is true, then wouldn’t I still smell the burning smell even while breathing through my shirt? I know for certain it is not a smell in the room or the house. About two years ago, I purchased a Sanyo ABC-VW24 Air Washer Air Purification System with Electrolyzed Water Technology. It runs 24-hours a day. If an odor or unclean air is in the room, the clean air indicator turns from green to red. The air purifier is so sensitive to odors, that when I walk in the room with a fresh cup of coffee and close the door, the clean air indicator immediately goes from green to red. I also read somewhere that the burning smell happens when dryer sheets are used during your clothes drying cycle. The t-shirt I covered my nose with was dried in a cycle using a dryer sheet. So for me, the dryer sheet is not the cause of the burning smell. I am so confused. So now, when the smell comes, I use my shirt or a handkerchief or tissue to breathe through. I wish I had the answer and the cure. |
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