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

 
 
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Old 07-24-2013, 04:29 PM #8
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Klaus Klaus is offline
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Klaus Klaus is offline
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: England
Posts: 302
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I was driven up Mt Teide on Tenerife with lingering PCS symptoms (at 3,718 metre/12,198 ft, it's much smaller than Kilimanjaro). The last bit was by cable car. Did you ever blow up too many balloons at a kids' party and feel really weird and have to sit down? That was how I felt as soon as I got up there.

It wasn't actually that unpleasant as long as I didn't panic, stopped hyperventilating and had a good long sit down about every 10 steps or so. Any actual serious climbing would have been totally impossible.

See also this:-

Quote:
Ten university students who had recovered from minor head injury between one and three years previously were given vigilance and memory tests at a simulated altitude of 3,800 metres. Their performance was significantly below that of a matched group of students who had never had a head injury. The finding supports the proposition that even minor head injury has persisting effects, though they may be subtle and only emerge under the effects of stress.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/1...9#.UfA_lClwb4g

If you're asking me, considering climbing up Mt Kilamanjaro at the stage of PCS that you describe sounds like a really, really bad idea - and a very dangerous one at that. You can't even run and you want to climb the highest mountain in Africa?

I generally don't like telling people that they can't do things, and I know you came on here looking for hope - but for the first few months after my concussion I had unrealistic expectations as well, and I know from experience how the brain can make up for a lack of insight with overconfidence. I took risks at work that could have turned out really badly, and I needed someone to tell me 'look, you're not up to this right now'. So I'm not trying to come across as all high and mighty or anything, I've been there too.

If not doing the climb is not an option (and I can see it's very important to you, understandably so) then I would postpone it, go another time perhaps with different people when your brain has healed a lot more. The symptoms you describe are your brain's way of telling you it needs rest. Your sponsors should understand if you explain it to them - and so would your dad.

You've had a brain injury (yes, a concussion is a brain injury) and that is not something to be taken lightly. If you had broken your leg, you would not be on here saying "pulling out is not an option" and asking if anyone had any experience of climbing huge mountains on crutches with a leg in plaster - you and the organisers would think it was perfectly acceptable to wait until your leg had healed before undertaking such an extreme physical challenge. An injured brain is worthy of just as much protection as a broken leg - more so, I would argue. Colon cancer research will still need funds a year or two from now.

Apologies again for putting a downer on things But I'm really worried for your safety & recovery from PCS.
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mTBI March 2011, spent around a year recovering.

Since recovery I have achieved a Master's degree with distinction in Neurological Occupational Therapy
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