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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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01-25-2013, 03:25 PM
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I have contracted the flu. Sore throat, aches, nasal congestion. I'm at 3 months post injury, no meds given to me. I take some OTC pain meds as needed.
I am trying to find info on whether I can take anything for this cold & flu. It's really making everything worse, head and neck pain, ears full, brain fog. I feel like I'm underwater. Coming up short for research plus I can barely think. Anyone know what's safe? If anything?
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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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01-25-2013, 04:36 PM
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Legendary
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I doubt if taking a Tamiflu and ibuprophen would be a problem. Load up on anti-oxidants too.
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Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | MsRriO (01-25-2013) |
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01-25-2013, 05:26 PM
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Sorry to hear you have this on top of everything else
 the only suggestion I have is chicken soup and lots of vitamin c. I've never read anywhere that its not good to take flu medication with PCS so if you really need tylenol flu or something I'd say go for it. Especially for sleep. I hope your son is feeling better at least. Take care 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: | MsRriO (01-25-2013) |
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01-26-2013, 12:23 PM
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I had read that pseudo ephedrine or something, is bad for those with TBI.
I believe that particular cold medication is banned in Canada anyway. I took Tylenol cold and survived another day to enjoy this wonderful PCS business. Quite miserable. Son is healing from his concussion day by day. That is good.
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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: | cyclecrash (01-26-2013) |
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01-26-2013, 02:44 PM
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Sorry to hear you've got the flu bug! Hot showers, eucalyptus body wash by Burt's Bees, lots of fluids and rest are what got me through it in Nov. This was prior to my 2nd concussion, so I think you should give yourself extra time to recover. Mine lasted about 2 weeks but I was fatigued for quite some time afterwards.
How is your son doing? Sending healing hugs to you both! 
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Musiclover . PCS "survivor" - first concussion 10/2010 with PCS for nearly a year. Hit back of head on a shelf. Symptoms were head and neck pain, vertigo, nausea, lethargy, anxiety & depression. Experienced greatest amount of recovery between 9-12 months, with the following year being much, much better . 2nd concussion 12/2012 - hit front left forehead on wooden edge of couch. Currently dealing with a return of PCS symptoms including headache, nausea, vertigo, brain fog, and lethargy. . ~ just trying to take it one day at a time . ~ |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | MsRriO (01-28-2013) |
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01-27-2013, 05:43 PM
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MsRrio,
Echinachea drops are the best. Every half hr then less after first day. Do not take for more than 12 weeks. These will kick your immunity and you will feel better almost immediately. Drink water. The reason people get so ill is dehydration.
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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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| "Thanks for this!" says: | MsRriO (01-28-2013) |
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01-28-2013, 03:31 PM
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I can't believe I forgot echinacea. Thank you!
Actually, I forget to eat and drink so it shouldn't surprise me that I forgot echinacea but STILL, thanks! Lol My boy is doing well and healing nicely day by day. Very encouraging to be reminded that healing is possible. Slow but possible. 
__________________
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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01-28-2013, 03:49 PM
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Glad to hear he's doing better!!! Is he back at school and what symptoms do you think are still lingering a bit? Sounds like you might be feeling a bit better from your flu? I hope it didn't set back your PCS symptoms.
Any news on the neurologist appt? Did you have any luck finding a neuro psychologist? I think you were looking for one weren't you?
__________________
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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01-28-2013, 04:18 PM
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Quote:
He was off all last week. Today and tomorrow we are trying a half day at school. The symptoms lingering for him are confusion sometimes, neck pain, headaches when tired. Oh and he has insomnia lately so the key is to keep him calm, so he doesn't fret about not getting enough sleep. He has anxious tendencies like his mama. Flu definitely set me back with PCS symptoms but because of some other nice person here who had posted about that (I forget who) I knew what to expect so I didn't freak out. I knew sick would equal bad brain/pain days so I'm accepting. Cold meds are helping and I'm going to take echinacea starting today. Last time I saw doc she said she wanted me to see a neurologist and psychiatrist. The psych appt is a week away but I'm cautious about it. It's with the locum doctor here in my wee city and I'm less than hopeful he will know much. But, we'll see. Trying to keep an open mind but am admittedly jaded. As for neurologist well WCB wants to just add that person to the assessment team that I'm supposed to be seeing because my case is "under review" for taking so long to heal. The assessment team will have an MD, a neuropsych, neurologist and physical therapist I believe. I think that's what she said but I get confused. I countered with, shouldn't I get referred to where my doctor wants instead of what WCB wants? Will I actually get any time with any of these specialists? Wll I actually be prescribed therapies or medications? Or just assessed and discarded? But my argument wasn't valid, to WCB. My case worker says this is what they're going to do, so that's that. A team approach. If I don't want to be threatened week by week that my benefits are going to be cut off, I will just sigh and comply. I will be sent to a nearby city for a full day assessment which I've heard is utterly exhausting. Their main goal and objective is to get me back to work at the expense of my health so, they will likely win. However if symptoms persist I will have to find a second opinion. I told my case worker, I just want to get well. If the cheques I receive are in the way of me getting well, then just keep them, and I'll find some actual medical help. She relented a bit at that point and the conversation was soon over. Lol oops.
__________________
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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01-29-2013, 01:24 AM
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I'm glad to hear he's starting back to school! I hope the half days are going well. One thought on the sleep problem.... have you thought of giving him gravol? It is a fabulous sleep aid, is non addictive or habit forming and it would help him get restorative sleep. I'm not sure if there's children's gravol but the normal ones split easily into 4. You could start him out really low and increase if needed.
That's great that you're going to see a psychiatrist so quickly! He may not know much about PCS but he can help with anxiety/depression etc in general. And I bet he'll be working for you not them. I've had two medical assessments in the past when I was on leave and I was terrified. I too thought they were going to be out to get me and I would be cut off. Neither time did that happen. I answered everything truthfully, did everything I was asked and it worked out. Their job was to make sure I wasn't lying and abusing the system and when they were satisfied I wasn't and had no financial reason to be they were ok with me. The one thing I didn't like though was that they wouldn't answer my questions. As the one doc put it...they weren't there for me. So no advice, medications etc. Worker's comp might be different though. I hope so for you. Funny story....the one doctor wouldn't give me any advice at all but then spent a good 15 minutes trying to convince me that smoking marijuana would make me feel better and had I tried that/I should try that. I can only assume it was a stupid test to judge my character. Didn't fall for that one! If workers comp is responsible for paying for your doctors appts because you were hurt at work then maybe this appt will be like real doctor visits. That would kill a bunch of birds with one stone. You might even get the super expensive neuropsych testing done! That couldn't all be one day though. Just remember...if these doctors don't give you any advice....the number one, and possibly only, thing that's going to make you get better is time. You're not missing out on some magical cure! I know we are all excited about each new doctors appt we have but not much seems to come of them. Ughh 1:30 in the morning and my head hurts, can't sleep.... gotta turn this thing off! Wishing everyone a good day tomorrow... CC
__________________
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: | MsRriO (01-29-2013) |
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Flu plus PCS = no meds?
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