[Galaxy1012]

Hello everyone,
I got a concussion 3 months ago from hitting the top of my head on a concrete wall(MRI Negative). I have tinnitus up and down throughout the day and extreme sensitivity and discomfort on the top of my head to road bumps. MY first neuro gave me citicoline,acetyl-L-carnitine 500 mg, resveratrol 50 mg and mecobalamin to rejuvenate the nerves in my ears and told me not to stop the medicines even if I am not able visit him after a month. I took them for a month and stopped it as my psychiatrist told me that they are not required and instead prescribed SSRIs for 7 days as I have a major depression. I was worried about the sexual side effects of SSRIs and didnt take them and consulted the other neuro.

The second neuro(a renowned experienced neuro) diagnosed me with PCS and prescribed Nortriptyline HCL 25mg to treat my depression and told me to stop all the medicines as he couldnt see anything wrong in the MRI. He said my symptoms are mostly anxiety related although he doesnt deny my symptoms(oh, really?) and he said I dont even need any suppliments or vitamins and I can just move on and do all the activities and can go everywhere and do anything(That felt terrible and reassured my stubborn family members that its all in my head !). So most of the doctors are treating my emotional response and not correcting the physical cause.

I am confused now and need some advice regarding best course of action.

1. Should I have continued with my first neuro's treatment? Although it didnt seem to do much for me but just maybe if I had continued with them for a longer period? It will be difficult to convince my family members that I need to go back to him! I am yelled and screamed all the time that I need to move on now and not pay much attention to it and just take antidepressants if I need them.

2. SSRIs or Nortriptyline HCL 25mg?

3. Regardless of any depressant I take, is it safe to take a B12 suppliment(Mecobalamin 1.5mg, AlphaLipoic Acid 100mg, Folic Acid1.5mg, Pyridoxine HCl 3mg) and a fishoil suppliment along with antidepressants?

I have given up searching for a right doctor who will understand me. Maybe I can get some advice from the people on here who understand me. Any other advice will be appreciated Thanks

[Hockey]

Originally Posted by Galaxy1012

So most of the doctors are treating my emotional response and not correcting the physical cause.

I wish doctors could understand that there is no distinction between, what they term, the "physical" and the "emotional/psychological."

Your "emotional" responses are SYMPTOMS of your TBI. You don't have PCS symptoms because you're are depressed and anxious; you are depressed and anxious BECAUSE you have PCS. That's a CRITICAL distinction, lost on many physicians.

I know it's hard, but try not to give up on finding the better doctor you need. You might want to consult your local chapter of the Brain Injury Association of America www.biausa.org Perhaps they can steer you toward doctors who don't use the "emotional" cop-out to fob off patients with health issues they are too arrogant to concede they can't handle.

[SarahSmile0205]

Originally Posted by Galaxy1012

Hello everyone,

2. SSRIs or Nortriptyline HCL 25mg?

3. Regardless of any depressant I take, is it safe to take a B12 suppliment(Mecobalamin 1.5mg, AlphaLipoic Acid 100mg, Folic Acid1.5mg, Pyridoxine HCl 3mg) and a fishoil suppliment along with antidepressants?

I have given up searching for a right doctor who will understand me. Maybe I can get some advice from the people on here who understand me. Any other advice will be appreciated Thanks

SSRI's are a touchy subject here... I personally like them... I have a need for them and use Lexapro. Yes, there are side effects, mostly sexual... however... the benefit of Lexapro and my lack of ups and downs and the fact that I do not need a xanax 2-3 times a day outweigh the risks...

As for the supplements... take them... they are not hurting anything.. if you feel that there is a positive reaction with them... continue!

As for a doctor... at times I get very frustrated with my neuro and the "time is the best prescription" line I keep getting fed... however last month she saw a change that was alarming to her... and she was on it like white on rice! She has become very aggressive to find out what happened and how we can fix it... so I look at it this way... Had I jumped ship and gone with another doctor, would he or she have noticed the change and been as aggressive? Just a thought...

[Mark in Idaho]

I suggest you continue with the vitamins and supplements. Many doctors have a bias against any vitamins or supplements. Just try to ignore their comments. My doctor fully supports my use of vitamins and supplements while taking an anti-depressant.

The nortriptyline is faster acting than an SSRI. It may give you quicker relief with less side-effects. It is also easier to discontinue.

[MomWriterStudent]

Originally Posted by Hockey

You don't have PCS symptoms because you're are depressed and anxious; you are depressed and anxious BECAUSE you have PCS. That's a CRITICAL distinction, lost on many physicians.

This made me giggle because I actually said something like this to one of my doctors today. I said, "Yes, I do have anxiety...anxiety about the fact that my freaking neck and eyes hurt 24/7!"

[Sitke]

Damned if you do and damned if you don't!!

Sorry you're having a rough time, I know how frustrating it is, we all do here. Yes, I'm depressed cos i'm in pain and my brain is not working properly, anyone would be, it's a circle.

Yep, you're anxious because of blah, blah, blah...also doesn't mean everything is fine if an MRI comes back normal, Dr's know this.

I'm on Wellbutrin for severe depression, made worse with the accident, it's a life saver for me, honestly right now I would not be worried about the sexual side effects, you're not well so really who cares at this point, much, much more important is that you need to get to feeling better.

If you feel the first neuro is a complete you know what, change to another, until one takes this seriously, you deserve it and you know how you feel.

As many others here, I had terrible pain/pressure on the top of my head all last summer, they stopped for me most of the winter then are now back with a vengeance, I am really wondering if weather has anything to do with it plus last year they diagnosed migraines from the concussion.

Take good care of yourself, keep fighting and keep looking for answers, oh God I know how hard it is, we understand here so you are not alone.

[Hockey]

Originally Posted by Sitke

As many others here, I had terrible pain/pressure on the top of my head all last summer, they stopped for me most of the winter then are now back with a vengeance, I am really wondering if weather has anything to do with it plus last year they diagnosed migraines from the concussion.

I've meet several TBI patients who feel that hot weather aggravates their symptoms. Problems regulating body temperature are not unknown.

[SuperElectric]

Why don't you try the CBT route before getting prescription AD's. If that fails I've heard people use 5-htp to boost their serotonin levels in place of AD's, ok it's not as powerful as citalopram for example but had less serious side effects.