Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


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Old 03-21-2013, 02:24 PM #1
Mokey Mokey is offline
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Default Birthdays are difficult!

My second birthday with a brain injury. Have to admit it is better than the last one. But still pretty awful and somehow quite difficult. It coincides with Not feeling great and having no energy to do anything useful. Sitting...waiting....not being able to rest but feeling SO tired! Just waiting for each hour to pass. Yuck.

My spouse and kids want to take me out which is really nice of them BUT there are no quiet restaurants! I suggested getting take out (always a challenge because we have some dietary restrictions) but it doesn't seem special to them.

No wild parties, not a lot of phone calls....18 months out of the social circuit so I guess we fall off of the radar.....

How do others feel about birthdays and how do you 'celebrate'? I guess we shouldbe grateful for being alive!
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What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺).

Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky!

Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance.
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Old 03-21-2013, 02:37 PM #2
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Happy Birthday Mokey!

Try and do something special that you really enjoy. Nice long bath? Massage? Eat something you love, maybe a really decadent piece of chocolate.

I'm sure it's not how you want to celebrate your birthday but it's just one day so try to make the most of it.

My husband's (and his twin brother's) 40th birthday is next week and his family wanted to know what I was planning for it. I'm turning 40 in a couple months too and hubby and I agreed we were doing nothing for either of them. We can't afford it and I can't handle it. They are insisting on a surprise party for the twins so looks like I'm going to a party.

Maybe we should try to celebrate birthdays just to make other people happy and to try to feel more normal?

Anyhow, I understand how mixed your feelings must be today and I hope you are able to make it a special day!

Again, happy birthday!

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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Old 03-21-2013, 02:58 PM #3
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CC: thanks! I had a big one last year that went uncelebrated, so I know how you feel too. My argument was that I would add on the months I have spent in recovery....because I didn't feel like they counted as time lived!

Good suggestions! I finally got properly dressed so when I pcik my kids up from school I look somewhat festive. Will stop to see an uncle in the emerg. Dept ....he may be on his last days....a good reminder of the fragility and joys of living.

Ps. A fav song by Ewan McColl and recorded by many others: The Joy of Living. Puts it in perspective!
Thanks.
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What happened: Legs pulled forward by a parent's hockey stick while resting at the side of the rink at a family skate....sent me straight back. I hit the back of my head (with helmet) on the ice, bounced a few times, unconscious for a few minutes. September 11, 2011. Off work since then…I work part-time at home when I can. It has been hell but slowly feeling better (when I am alone☺).

Current symptoms: Vision problems (but 20/20 in each eye alone!) – convergence insufficiency – horizontal and vertical (heterophoria), problems with tracking and saccades, peripheral vision problems, eyes see different colour tints; tinnitus 24/7 both ears; hyperacusis (noise filter gone!), labyrinthian (inner ear) concussion, vestibular dysfunction (dizzy, bedspins, need to look down when walking); partial loss of sense of smell; electric shocks through head when doing too much; headaches; emotional lability; memory blanks; difficulty concentrating. I still can’t go into busy, noisy places. Fatigue. Executive functioning was affected – multi-tasking, planning, motivation. Slight aphasia. Shooting pain up neck and limited mobility at neck. Otherwise lucky!

Current treatments: Vestibular therapy, Vision therapy, amantadine (100 mg a day), acupuncture and physiotherapy for neck, slow return to exercise, magnesium, resveratrol, omega 3 fish oils, vitamins D, B and multi. Optimism and perserverance.
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Old 03-21-2013, 03:36 PM #4
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Mokey,
Happy Birthday! You have got to make the best of it so try. Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised and have an enjoyable time out. I hope so. You have your wonderful family who loves you and you are still alive. I know how you feel and how hard it is but try to enjoy and not think of this PCS for today. Find a nice restaurant and have a good meal and dessert!
Brain
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Brain patch.
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Had MVA in 2006 resulting in post concussive syndrome manifested by cognitive impairment, chronic pain/ fatigue. Chronic pain of head, neck, back, left leg.
Other problems include REM sleep behavior disorder, nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy, chronic migraines associated with nausea/vertigo, episodes of passing out, hypoglycemia, liver dysfunction (had accidental overdose of acetaminophen in 2009) had liver and kidney failure, hernia, degenerative disc disease with compression of nerve root, PTSD, and other problems associated with functioning problems from traumatic brain injury (light, sound sensitive, easily overloaded, easily distracted, cannot focus, anxiety problems etc.)
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Old 03-21-2013, 06:12 PM #5
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Heart Happy Birthday

I hope this birthday is better then the last one.Hope you have a good day!I cannot remember my birthdays for some years.
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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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Old 03-22-2013, 12:37 AM #6
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The best gift we can give ourselves is to live truly in the moment. I hope you were able to capture a moment just for you today, one that made your breath catch in your throat. That is to be truly alive, and in the present moment, without the burden of the past, the guilt of the present, or the fear of the future. It is my birthday wish for you. It can be redeemed every day, since it's always wished in the present moment, whenever you think of it. Happy Birthday.
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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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