[hesitation marks]

I've been dealing with mine for about a year and a half now, and find it difficult to find any information about this effect of PCSs at all. It feels as though I have had to navigate the recovery process myself and experiment with what exacerbates the headaches and what diminishes the symptoms. I just wish there were others out there who could share their direct experience with it so that we can help each other out, give some pointers etc..

So far I have found the two worst things that make headaches inextricably worse and set my recovery process back many months are oily foods (high concentrations of vegetable or fish oils), and vigorous exercise. I have no doubt a lack of sleep worsens it too, but sometimes my headaches are cracking pains that wake me up out of my sleep, so it is hard to sleep as well.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Mark in Idaho]

What do you mean by blood vessel ischemia ? What are the symptoms ? How is it diagnosed ?

[hesitation marks]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

What do you mean by blood vessel ischemia ? What are the symptoms ? How is it diagnosed ?

I had an MRI done about 6-7 months after my concussion as none of my headache issues were resolving. Upon receiving the results the doctor highlighted that my brain wasn't exactly 'textbook', but said it could mean almost anything. He said that the changes that showed up on the scan were small vessel ischemic changes in the paranchyma, which is basically a change in the blood flow in the vessels, and that there was vascular damage near the point of impact for my head injury (as was expected.)

The symptoms for me have been the most excruciating headaches I have had in my life so far, and not in the sense of dull or normal type headaches, but incredible imploding, burning, stabbing and lightning bolt type pains with everything in between. Usually PCS type symptoms in the months immediately following my head injury such as the usual ringing in ears, sensory sensitivities, motion/ balance etc, though personally I can tell you the ischemic changes themselves have developed as a result of chemicals affecting the already damaged blood vessels in that particular part of my brain. The first thing to cause me big problems was a antihistamine drug, and the second thing to cause me big problems was a large quantity of fish oil. I believe that the these chemicals/ supplements have affected me so adversely because the blood vessels in my brain were already vulnerable from damage.

As for how it is diagnosed, they just pick it off your MRI scan. You have to get it checked by a neurologist though, and better for a couple to check for the sake of second opinions..

[hesitation marks]

I suppose the main issue I have is that I have been unable to find many at all who have claimed to have had the same thing show up on their scans, and there is evidently hardly any information on it online apart from indirectly related odd medical journal here or there.

I just wish there was someone to say, avoid this, do that and perhaps she'd some light on the seriousness of it and how likely recovery is if you stick to a strict regime.