[concussedGuy]

I've been doing a lot better and feel pretty normal a majority of the day. I suffered two concussions less than a month apart both while drinking. I posted my story a while ago and have recovered a lot more since then. My worst symptoms were head pressure and anxiety that coincided. The head pressure felt like my head was ballooning into a bowling ball and I someone was constantly pressing on my skull from the inside out.

I have pretty high pain tolerance but this wasn't physical pain, it is however the worst feeling I've ever felt in my life when it is at it's worse and it was there for a long time. Anxiety gets triggered with it too which was awful. When the feeling gets really bad I would sometimes lose control of my eyes for a period of 3 seconds and have double vision almost like a stroke

I drank about a month after the 2 concussions and that is what triggered the PCS and the main symptom of head pressure.

I was sober for another 10 months and when I thought I was recovered I tried smoking weed again for the first time since the concussions because I had seen some promising testaments and research that it could alleviate PCS. That triggered the head pressure/anxiety/episode of a loss of control of eyes. I'm not trying that again. I tried 3/4 of a beer for the first time (3 months since the weed) tonight and even that has triggered the head pressure/anxiety hopefully not for long, I'll see.

I smoked a little of a plain cigar weeks ago and that semi-triggered the symptoms. It seems as though the worst triggers of this awful head pressure is 1. Alcohol or weed 2. Smoking tobacco 3. Exercise if I already have head pressure. I don't need to be told to not drink or smoke. I'm not going too. I just want to know if this sounds like common PCS symptoms that others share, if their can be anything done, and what the actual mechanism of these symptoms are in my head. What is going on in my head when smoking or drinking? Inflammation, cerebral blood flow issues?

[Mark in Idaho]

I don't know the mechanism behind your return of symptoms but I have read about pot and PCS. The therapeutic doses were very small, not enough to create a high. Plus, they only worked for specific symptoms, not as a broad based treatment. I don't remember what symptoms they helped with. Some research has suggested that something that causes mild relaxation can be helpful. Again, not enough to create a high or buzz.

It sounds like your brain is very sensitive to chemicals. Likely, your sensitivity causes inflammation.

[concussedGuy]

Thanks mark, I appreciate it. Any tips on how to recover from that feeling quickly aside from the usual vitamins/supplements?

[Mark in Idaho]

The important thing to learn is to recognize your triggers and learn to avoid them. If you can't come to grips with the reality of your triggers, you are in for a long haul. Exercising when you already have head pressure is not a good idea. Other than rest and avoiding triggers, there is no other way to avoid or recover from symptoms.

I think you have some serious soul searching to do to stay symptom free.

[concussedGuy]

Thanks again mark, I meant I don't need to be told to refrain from drinking and smoking because I am not going to be drinking or smoking. Id much rather be sober than to feel that awful feeling. If it means I can never smoke or drink again, so be it