Fantastic news to report.

I recently got written up for my attendance. My condition is growing worse so I had a meeting with my boss today. I told him what's going on and he suggested that I might have to go through FMLA and/or ADA. I suggested I go back to a reduced schedule of working 32 hours a week and he agreed.

With this, I will get a lunch and two 10 minute breaks which I can divide up into four 5 minute breaks. I figure I will do four 6's and one 8 hour shift, but if I feel up to it, if I want I can do extra hours up to 40, so I may do three 6's and two 8 hour shifts.

Mad cat,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your injury and struggles with WC. We have seen this same WC struggle many times before.

Propranolol is not a blood thinner. It is a non-selective beta-blocker. Propranolol works to inhibit the actions of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that enhances memory consolidation.

It is used to reduce blood pressure, anxiety, and tremors.
It can have a negative side-effect on the central nervous system: light-headedness, mental depression, insomnia , vivid dreams, disorientation, memory loss.

I think you may want to try going back to the old dosage. It sounds like you did better at the lower dose.

I am confused at to what your current symptoms are. Please tell us all your symptoms so we can offer better support.

You should read the Vitamins sticky thread at the top. Getting good brain nutrition will be a help. Have you had any diagnostics or therapy for your upper neck ? Your impact sounds like it may have damaged the C-1 to base of your skull. This can cause a myriad of symptoms and make concussion symptoms worse. The first way to treat this is icing and being careful about neck posture.

More later when we hear more about your current symptoms. I doubt the placebo effect did anything for you. Propranolol can be a beneficial drug.

My best to you.

My current symptoms:

Headache, Light-headed, disoriented, lose eye focus, short-term memory loss, foggy long-term memory, fatigue, light sensitivity, color sensitivity (I find I cannot look at bright/white screens on my computer for very long), over-sensitive brain (which result in the "phased-out"), concentraition issue, iritiability, anxiety.

I have looked at your nuitrician plan, unfortunately some of that I am not able to follow at this time, but still a good read.

The fact I was told it was a blood-thinner confirms I need to find a new neurologist.

Funds right now are very tight, is there anything I can do to confirm any issue with my C-1 without going to a Radiologist/Doctor? I would hate to go and there be nothing wrong.

Icing your upper neck and being disciplined to minimize poor posture and head movement can help. I need to use tri-focal lenses in my glasses. Tilting my head back to use the bottom lens causes problems. Falling asleep with my head tilted forward or to the left causes me problems too. I sleep on my back with my pillow curled around my head so my head does not tip to the side.

This injury does not usually have any pain. It may occasionally have a clicking feel. It can cause inflammation that restricts blood flow to part of the brain and it can cause muscle spasms, especially those muscles that attach behind the ears. Any soreness to touch behind the ears is a good indication of this injury.

What parts of the vitamins and supplements can you not take ? Is there a drug interaction issue ?

Maybe there are other ways to get your brain this good nutritional support.

taking of the vitamins are not an issue, but like most people dealing with this...money is tight and while these things might help me, they are also a luxury I cannot afford right now. I do use a lot of canola oil in my cooking, that is high in Omega 3 and 6, buy a lot of fruit and vegtables (especially leaf spinach), and try to get meat when I can. As far as vitamins go, I would rather speak to a doctor about this before I really start taking anything extra.

The part I do have difficulty with is caffeine. I drink soda, and probably will for a long time. I'm sure it is bad for me with my current condition, but it is bad for you if you are perfectly healthy. Caffine doesn't really boost my energy, I just enjoy how it tastes. Right now I am attempting to reduce my intake and trying to drink more water again. Alcohol and tobacco, while they are a once in awhile thing, I do enjoy them and when used in moderation, can be helpful. It's next to impossible to avoid MSG, and I try because I am allergic to it, but most cheap food uses it.

Your suggestion is a nice thought and sounds like it does wonders for you, but I need to be in a better place finacially before I can really consider any aspect of your regiment.

At a minimum, the injured brain needs additional B-12, Vit D3, and a B-50 complex to balance the other B's. You will find that it makes a big difference. I would put it far ahead of sodas (expensive empty calories or such) wine, beer or liquor.

The three I listed will cost about $30 total. If you have access to a Costco, the B-12 they have is good.

You will never get the additional quantities your brain needs while it heals from eating fruits and vegetables.

This will pay dividends by allowing you to become financially productive.

Any help you want to quote to me about my medical problems...I am more than happy to listen to. But just because I don't follow your advice doesn't mean I don't listen.

There's a fine line about telling me how to budget my money. I will ask that you don't cross that line. What I choose to buy with my money is my business and I don't mean to be rude here, but I want to state how I feel in this situation.

I would love to have an extra $30 to buy vitamins, and maybe down the road I can, but for right now, that is a luxury I cannot afford. Maybe it will improve my mind...but I cannot afford it. Please leave it at that. I don't like talking about my money problems, which add to my stress and I came here to try to get rid of stress.

Hi Mark
This is my first post. I suffered a concussion at the end of November 2012. The past five months have been a living hell. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for the first time in my life and I am 49 years old. The Dr put me on Lexapro 10mg which seems to help a little but I still have my moments of feeling sorry for myself. I seem to dwell on my condition all the time even though I know that this is making things worse. I have slowly started to get better but not soon enough for me. I was extremely active working out with weights and aerobic exercises nearly daily. The exercise always made me feel good. Since I had the concussion I lost about twenty pounds. I am just starting to put weight back on. But I still cant work out. I am so afraid of doing something to trigger the anxiety and depression that I have just shut myself out of exercising. I try to walk about a mile a day but I worry about hurting myself. I know it is irrational but I still cant help myself. My wife of thirty years tries to be supportive but it has taken its toll on her as well. I saw the neurologist again on Tuesday and he said that I am fine, I sure don't feel fine though. I just waiting for the day that I wake up and this nightmare is behind me, it doesn't seem that it ever will. Thanks for listening I am just having a bad day today.