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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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05-10-2013, 09:40 PM
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My brother-in-law came over with his girlfriend, and I had 1 1/2 beers (is this anything to feel guilty about I wonder?) but my husband had, oh, I'm guessing six, so he's passed out on the couch, snoring. Our daughter is fast asleep upstairs, blissfully unaware, her lullabies still drifting down the staircase. I've been sitting here for an hour, just wishing my husband was awake, so I'd have someone to talk to or at least someone not snoring so loudly.
I miss doing the things I love to do. I miss riding my bike, reading books, playing Just Dance on the Wii, hiking, gardening, and writing. There was a time when I used to love getting this kind of alone time, but now, it just feels like a waste because I feel like I can't do the things I enjoy. I can only console myself with the thought that, slowly but surely, I'm getting there. I'm so close really, but it's just such a slow, painstaking process. Any little step you take could be the wrong decision, could set you back, and sometimes it is hard to tell when you are doing too much or not taking care of yourself as you should. My husband is great, when he's not passed out snoring, but he can't understand how frustrating and depressing this syndrome can be! So my fellow sufferers, I hope you don't mind that I'm complaining, and may the end of your nights be better than mine!
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I have recovered my cognitive function, and I've overcome severe vertigo through sensory integration therapy. Wellbutrin has helped me escape depression. I have recently had a few stress-related migraines, as well as headaches stemming from eye strain. I'm also dealing with tinnitus, lack of stamina, extreme light sensitivity, and eye pain. Diagnosed with 9 different vision issues: convergence insufficiency, pursuit eye movement deficit, egocentric visual midline shift, photophobia, visual information processing delays, accommodative insufficiency, saccadic eye movement deficit, lack of coordination, and central peripheral visual integration deficit. *First concussion: October 2010. I was pregnant and got rear ended. I associated my mild PCS symptoms with baby brain and blamed my light sensitivity on allergies and dry eyes. *Second concussion: December 2011. I hit my head on a wooden beam, saw stars but did not lose consciousness, and I had very disturbing PCS symptoms but didn't go to the doctor. *Third concussion: August 2012. I caused a car accident as a result of PCS symptoms. Thankfully no one was injured but me. My husband confronted me, and I finally sought help and took medical leave from work. My symptoms worsened, and I developed severe vertigo. *Fourth concussion: November 2012. I was riding in a car with a friend and we were hit head on by a driver who lost control of her car. I didn't have a big increase in PCS symptoms. |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | Abel_in_Fl (05-12-2013), greenfrog (05-11-2013), Living_Dazed (06-04-2013), poetrymom (05-10-2013), Su seb (05-11-2013) |
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05-11-2013, 12:37 AM
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I have always said to people who really care that this is a very lonely injury. One can go out with an elbow in a cast, or receive lots of visitors at home if you have a broken leg. The social isolation has been very difficult.
I hope you feel better tomorrow. You will continue to improve. Slowly but surely.
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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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| "Thanks for this!" says: | berkeleybrain (05-12-2013), DFayesMom (05-12-2013), greenfrog (05-11-2013), Living_Dazed (06-04-2013), Su seb (05-11-2013) |
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05-12-2013, 12:11 AM
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Further to lonely....missed another party tonight. My spouse was encouraging me to go even for an hour. It was an end of season party for an organisation I am involved with. I had lain in bed all day (more or less) trying to recover from a busy day yesterday...and just couldn't face the noise of a big party, multiple conversations, music, etc. so another declined invitation! And I don't get many after 20 months of solitary confinement!
But next year I will go. We have to hope!
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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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05-12-2013, 12:24 AM
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05-12-2013, 06:26 AM
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I am having particularly bad week. I have been really dizzy and nauseous. It is hard also when you can watch t.v. or read a book due to my vision issues. Listen to the radio is becoming stale. The isolation at times can be crushing, but I keep hoping for better days, these set backs are really depressing but I keep trying to put one foot in front of the other and keep going on. It WILL get better. |
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05-12-2013, 06:44 AM
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Oh my this can be lonely.
A week ago or so I sent my hubby, daughter and her friend to a play I wanted to go see too - but just couldn't ***yet*** Thank goodness for this place to share ourselves with others who understand and care. Here's to imagining better days to come. pm
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[SIZE="1"]What happened. I was in a car accident 2-23-2013, and got a mild concussion from it. I had some time off for brain rest, got somewhat better, but slipped into PCS in March 2013. Symptoms I had: dizziness, light and sound sensitivity, fatigue, tinitis, occasional headaches and migraines, Symptoms as of 5--2013: poor sleep, tinitis, some confusion /short term memory blanks, balance. The other symptoms are mostly gone, but flare up if I OVERdo something. Therapy I had: vestibular 3 months in: I could drive more and for longer distances. I felt like a younger, happier version of myself and I feel so blessed to have this feeling. 9 months in and I am working full time. I do get tired, and some sound and light sensitivity from time to time, but mostly I am over most of my symptoms. I pray every day and I m praying for your recovery. Over a year in: I can multi task (limited) and have humor in my life. But when I am tired, I am very tired. |
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05-12-2013, 12:35 PM
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It's such a hard balance-trying to be engaged with our family and world and yet trying to provide solace to our healing brains.
Yesterday, I went to a small pre-school family fun day for two hours (armored with sun glasses, ear plugs, extra propanolol and L-tryptophan). I wanted my youngest son (5) who is graduating to have a memory of me with him having fun after 10 months of saying no. And today, I am in bed, recovering from the event which brought on a migraine. I'm trying not to feel bad, but it's a reminder that when we do push our limits, these limits sometimes have to physically reinforce themselves through pain so we respect them. Sometimes we say no, sometimes yes. Through time, hopefully, we get to more yes. Hugs to you all.
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The event: Rear ended on freeway with son when I was at a stop in stop and go traffic July 2012. Lost consciousness. Post-event: Diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, ptsd, whiplash, peripheral and central vestibular dysfunction and convergence insufficiency. MRI/CT scans fine. Symptoms: daily headaches, dizziness/vertigo, nausea, cognitive fog, light/noise sensitivities, anxiety/irritability, fatigued, convergence insufficiency, tinnitus and numbness in arms/legs. Therapies: Now topamax 50mg daily; Propanolol and Tramadol when migraine. Off nortryptiline and trazodone. Accupuncture. Vitamin regime. Prism glasses/vision therapy. Vestibular therapy 3month. Gluten free diet. Dairy free diet. On sick leave from teaching until Sept. 2014. |
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| "Thanks for this!" says: | Living_Dazed (06-04-2013), MiaVita2012 (05-13-2013), Mokey (05-12-2013), poetrymom (05-12-2013), Su seb (05-12-2013) |
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05-13-2013, 11:11 AM
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I am paying for it today. Not only did I get in bed late, but I had trouble sleeping and tossed and turned all night. Plus I had a few beers. Yesterday I was feeling GREAT.. almost like myself again. I even cooked a big mexican dinner for my family for mother's day. And today I'm groggy, tired, dizzy, foggy, and not feeling like myself. I just want to go rest. I am hoping this event did not cause a huge setback for me and it will only take a few days to recover. How depressing. I used to go to concerts all the time not thinking twice. Now it's such a struggle. And nobody really understands unless they've gone through this. BUT I'm staying positive because I feel I am on an upward trend. My physical therapy is helping and I feel with a quiet day of rest today I will get back to where I was and hopefully continue that upward trend.
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I was in a snowboarding accident on January 19, 2013. I caught an edge on my snowboard while carving down the mountain without a helmet. I smacked the back of my head hard on the ground. I was not knocked out and it took about a week for symptoms to come into full effect. Since my accident I have been in a cycle of feeling better and then relapsing. It has happened many times. Although I think the overall trend is slowly traveling up. My symptoms included headaches, anxiety, sensitivity to light and noise, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, trouble concentrating, brain fog, loss of social interest, irritability, and mood swings. Many symptoms have since resolved and I am left with slight dizziness, sensitivity to large crowds and busy environments, small amounts of anxiety, and brain fog off and on. I am currently under the care of a neuropsychologist at the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic. I am also undergoing balance/vestibular physical therapy to help with my remaining symptoms. |
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05-14-2013, 08:13 AM
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I certainly can sympathize with you. These circumstances can be very isolating, and we already live in a way which encourages too much isolation, too much distance between us.
I have no solutions to offer because I also experience such feelings of isolation at times, looking after my wife. But you have my sympathy. geo |
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05-14-2013, 08:39 AM
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I agree George. The spouse suffers too.
__________________
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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