Looking for any feedback food has had on the recovery of PCS. I had 3 concussions ending 12 months in 2008. I still suffer some headache symptoms and find that protein or sugars seems to alleviate the symptoms. It is not a normal hunger headache. Many thanks for any feedback.

Every head injury is different. If you have found something that works for you, you are fortunate. I need complex carbs to help me with insomnia.

My headaches really started clearing up during the depression recovery program I did when I began eating a whole foods vegan diet high in omega-3s and tryptophan. I maintained that diet for two years and still find that I am less headachey with it than without it.

I feel like blueberries and salmon make me feel really good. Wheat and sugar make me feel terrible. Completely terrible. I try to avoid them, but it's hard because I have been having some insane sugar cravings lately. (I usually hate sugar, so this is weird for me)

I ate half a cake yesterday. It was a homemade cake with 3 sticks of butter and a ton of sugar, so you can imagine what a bad idea that was.

ETA: Forgot to mention that I heard sweet potatoes are good for concussions. I have been eating more of them lately.

I've been trying some of the recipes found here: http://www.drdiane.com/weekly-recipe-lemony-quinoa/

The recipes are created by a doctor. A neuro-psych, I think.

hi eowyn! i am contemplating going vegan for numerous reasons, including daily headaches. i was wondering if you could please share more information regarding your experience with a vegan diet? what was the transition like? any resources you would recommend? thanks

doreoh,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Please feel free to introduce yourself and tell us how we can help. Have you suffered a concussion or more ?

Have you heard of the anti-inflammatory diet ? It may be more targeted at your needs.

hi mark, thanks! yes, i've sustained several concussions and my most recent one (aug 19) has resulted in post concussion syndrome. i have headaches everyday, all day & experience major fatigue. i haven't tried the anti-inflammatory diet. have you tried it? where can i find more info?

After noticing that eating more refined carbs (pasta, rice, flour) one day made my head feel much worse, I cut them out of my diet completely. I went full ketogenic (low carb/high fat), and have been for 7 months or so. That point was when I really started making progress with my recovery from PCS. I still have symptoms if I jostle my head around too much, but it no longer rules my life.

I surmise it is the anti-inflammatory properties of the diet, so I would second looking into that type of lifestyle. Whole food, no sugar/flour, no processed food. Something of that nature. Doesn't have to be as extreme as going very low carb, but cutting out the worst offenders will do wonders.