Hey all, figured I would share my story so maybe somebody could give me some insight or direction on what to do and things to do and also so maybe others can see similar symptoms of theirs to mine and get some relief I know it helps me some

So it started on August 11th I was playing flag football and during the game I took an elbow from a guy bigger guy about 250 I'm about 160, I didn't think too much of it at the time other than I had a massive headache, went home and still was just like its a massive headache no big deal, was kinda fatigued, tired ish, at some point my anxiety was starting to act up was able to get up splash some water in my face and that was that, a couple of hours later I tried going to sleep and then out of nowhere anxiety kicked in and was freaking out I didn't know what to do I had suicidial thoughts that I couldn't control, I didn't want to wake my mom up and scare her, finally I got myself some what calmed and was able to fall asleep.

The next 2 weeks I had depression and anxiety but each day it was getting better i didn't do too much except played video games ànd stayed inside watching tv, went to my cousins youth football practices and walked with my cousin and somedays lifted but around that 2 week mark I started feeling great kind of like my old self again so I decided I was gonna go play flag again, well bad idea I took a couple elbows to face and a knee to neck (not going to explain that one lol) I had headaches again and had nausea drove home and told my m and she said let's go to the doctor went to the ER and had a CT scan done it came back clean but I failed all other concussion tests they did, they told me I had PCS, and to follow up with my regular doctor

That Tuesday I went to the doctor he did your normal eye test pupil thing, he told me he believed I received a concussion the first game and 2nd game along with PCS, he told me to take it easy and get some rest and it would get better in a couple of weeks

About a week after that I ended back up in the ER because I had ecru emery strong suicidial thoughts, they brought in a counselor and she said she believed I didn't have any mental illnesses and that TBI/Concussions were newer to her she said that she did do some research and said I was common for frontal lobe injuries to cause these kind of things and they sent me on he way the ER doctor told me just to take my temazepam through the day and come back in situations like this and to follow up with regular doctor

Finally got into the doctor yesterday now he told me this was going to be a long healing process now and he prescribed me lorazepam (Atavin) for my anxiety, told me it was okay to walk and lift but not to run that he didnt want any jaring of the head and he scheduled me a meeting with a neurologist (October 8th) and meet back with him on October 5th

My symptoms are:
Headaches, generally all day usually no less than a 4 on a scale 1-10
Fatigued easily
Concentration loss
When I read for a bit it seems like the words all come together and it's hard to make out what it was
Sometimes I get these purple spots in my sight not too much though
Depressed
Anxiety
Loss of appetite (Atavin has helped)
Disturbed sleep patterns, difficulty sleeping
I'm slow to do things
Short term memory loss
And even long term memory loss it seems like its hard for me to remember stuff about times I would normally remember
Have no motivation a lot if times
Cry a lot and easily use to never cry
Mood swings
Irritable
Sometimes I get these energy increases like I'm back to my old self and do things
Tremors
Weakness in the legs sometime/balance issues like if I'm trying to put jeans on I kinda fall over
But the one that bothers most is suicidial thoughts and ideation it's like I can't get it out of my head I've never been suicidial except once and that was when I smoked pot with a friend and once I was done being high I didn't want anything to do with being suicidial and was able to forgot about but these are like hey remember when you thought about it and hey I haven't thought about it for so and so long, I don want to be suicidial it's just there

Somedays are really great then the next days its like bam worst day ever I'm not used to it I used to enjoy everyday so much before hand pretty much no downs and was a bright side to every down now I'm kinda pessimistic like this isn't too to get better but then at times I'm positive saying I'm gonna get through this I'm gonna live more than just a normal life I'm gonna graduate college get a good job and have a family

My anxiety is so high that I find myself googling symptoms and scaring myself that I have it

I'm 19 and was leaving for the Air Force and now I'm at home with no plans possibly going to college next semester and starting work here soon like maybe 16 hours a week something to help with the anxiety and depression because sitting here letting my thoughts wander isn't helping

I'm kind of looking for guidance like what should I do, what shouldn't I do, what should I eat drink and stuff like that things to stay away

This is the hardest thing I've ever gone through especially with the up and down moods like the whole I'm happy and cherry then bam it's ripped away from I could be perfectly content with all these physical symptoms I just want to be back to my old self the happy cheery me the one that was family orientated outgoing and fun now I'm this highly anxious nervous 19 year old

Sorry for the length of the post it's just I'm lost and looking for some guidance, hope, thanks to all and if any who respond

Welcome. Sorry that you are having to join this "club". I can't speak for anyone else, but the best thing you can do right now is rest (my injury was to the occipital/parietal areas of my brain). Your body/brain need time to heal and it doesn't happen overnight. The less stimulus like television, reading, even hanging out with other people is stimulus you could probably do without. Bright lite and noise still bother me and it's been 2 years since my accident.

So, hang in there. Hopefully the neuro will have some good news and a plan of action. And learn from someone who had to learn the hard way-if you aren't happy with the neuro-get a second opinion. Mine left me hanging with "You should continue to improve"....two years later I'm finally getting the adequate care I should have had.

Hey Man,

OK. It is still only a month since you got your first injury, so let's look on the bright side here. Most people do get better within a year. You got better withing a couple of weeks. Now I think you have said yourself where you went wrong. You went out and got yourself elbowed and kneed in the head again. The lesson to learn here is: if you get better after another two weeks don't put yourself where you are going to get elbowed and kneed in the head again. It looks like you might have a bit of a problems there so; don't play flag (whatever that is). You have to take your health seriously. Chances are you will recover in time. Don't blow it next time!

Good luck.
CS

Starting to think its more than just PCS, it's like my mind jumps from one thing to another and they aren't even close to one another on topics, and I don't hard on to these thoughts too long it's like ill be thinking what I want to do for the day and then all of a sudden something random pops in nothing to do with what I was thinking, is this normal? Could it be caused by my severe anxiety and over stimulating the brain or is it something more

No, I think that you got it dead right: it sounds as though you are really anxious. Now that is something that could happen about a lot of things not just PCS. PCS is something to be anxious about; however, in your case it seems as though it has become a problem in itself. Perhaps you can get some reassurance from a doctor and chill for a few months and see if you get any better. Good luck, CS

Thank you, sorry for all these questions but one more what activities are good for recovery, it seems like if I do too much I get overstimulated and my body energy shoots sky high and I can't control anything and if I do too little/nothing same thing happens and I bug out, so if you had the time could you list some activities that helped you or have heard of ones that help other people

Hello 94,

Hang in there and really, really work to reduce stress in your life every way you can.

I know it's scary to think you are in this mystery condition that no doctor really understands greatly, but if you are smart, you will learn to live an extremely dull life for awhile, and if you do this right you can help yourself get better.

It's maddening, but reduce screens in your life. No TV, limit the computer, and just get off your phone if you can.

What can you do? Here is what I did.

1. Listen to audio books.

2. Listen to calm music on the radio.

3. Took walks, but not long ones at the start.

4. Called people, but I found conversations tiring too.

5. Do something with your hands, but not too stimulating. I love to knit and can now more, but in the start it was way too tiring. Can you pet a pet with your hands? Fold clothes? (I am serious)

6. Took hot baths.

I know this is frustrating and you are scared, but we are here for you. This ordeal is a marathon, not a sprint. You will have to learn what your triggers are, how to work around them, and give your brain the time it takes to heal. No one can tell you how long that will take, but keep asking questions.

You are experiencing normal things for PCS, but you are early in this so hang in there for better days to come.

Take care,

pm

Nature sounds! If you are in the country, they come naturally, if not a CD of nice calm sounds is nice


Don't try to read too much. It's too tiring.

But one book that helped me a lot was the book Brain Lashed by Gail Denton. It is free from your public library.

Check out the vitamin thread and think about the nutrition in your body.

Most of all, keep a positive outlook. This condition can change you for the better. It has me. Keep postitive people in your life, and don't even TRY to "push past"the pain. That is no healing for the brain.

You are in the uncharted waters of brain recovery and we are here to help you.

I pray every day and I pray for everyone's recovery.

Hang in there! You are not alone, but you may feel quite lonely in time to come. Just hang in there.

Sincerely,

pm

Thanks for the advice PM it means a lot, went to church today and it helped leaps and bound, I'll take your suggestions, my mom is a pretty artsy person so she'll be able to help a lot, I'm starting to come to terms with this being a long healing process and I think I'm ready to take it on and once again thanks for the advice

any update?