Hello all,

I'm not new to forums and at a glance can see that I have a good amount to read already (which I'm thankful for). I will try to be brief... I have had 7 concussions in the past 4 1/2 years. The first was in a bad car accident that opened a large flap on the top of my head and needed 17 stitches to close. Since that time, I have not been able to drink alcohol like I used to. Sometimes there is no effect, sometimes I after 1 beer I will feel "concussed" or have the "hangover" that I see others have described. I also had to give up caffeine. The past 8 months it has been worse, where I can't even get through a beer without it kicking in and now sometimes it shows up unprovoked. When it does I'm irritable, short-tempered, frustrated, embarrassed, can't focus (especially at work), have vocabulary issues, short term memory loss etc.

I was diagnosed with PCS and PTSD after the car crash. I had been doing EMDR Therapy for the PTSD but had to stop in December when my insurance changed. I have had a brain MRI and they found nothing (wrong). This is very difficult to live with so I'm hoping to find some answers/support on here. I have an appointment with my Neurologist, but he is very good so I can't get in before September. Anywho, that's my story and why I'm on here. I appreciate any input and help in advance.

RollerDerbyCoach,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear you are struggling so.

First, many of us have been able to live long and full lives without alcohol and/or caffeine. If the beer is causing a problem, I think you know the answer. I can not tolerate one beer. For me, a single beer causes a miserable hangover/foggy feeling the next day.

Some people get no benefit or a negative reaction from EMDR. Studies show that for many, properly targeted CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy) is as effective or more effective.

Are you doing anything nutritionally ? The anxious brain is usually in serious need of B-12 and the rest of a good brain health vitamins and supplements regimen. You can read the Vitamins sticky at the top and get a good idea of what the brain needs.

Other than the intolerance to alcohol and caffeine, what other symptoms are you struggling with ?

I do take a b-12 pill daily as I had read that it could be beneficial. I have not look in to nutrition passed that, though.

I get migraines from time to time. I take meclizine for them and it normally calms them down pretty well. I am concerned that the "foggy" feeling has just popped up when I awaken here in the past few months when I haven't had anything to drink. I have a difficult time getting to sleep and take trazedone as needed to help slow my brain down so I can and my symptoms are worse when I get little sleep (like this entire week).

Yeah, sadly I'm afraid that I do know the answer. I'm in IT sales and do technical work as well, so it's embarrassing being the only person not drinking. I get a club soda and "pretend" most of the time... Coming home and not having a beer on a rough/hot day like today is a tough pill to swallow. I know it probably sounds dumb to most, but it's frustrating to feel so "abnormal". I was hoping that there would be a treatment or medication that could counter what I've been going through...but it seems that this foggy/hangover/concussed part of PCS is actually pretty common?

If a beer is the worst of your symptoms, jump for joy.

If your coworkers make fun of you over a drink they are pretty shallow but maybe you can explain to them alcohol does cause your injury problems....I would bet they would be understanding.

Bud

I suggest you be honest about drinking. Just say you suffered a concussion and are taking meds that both preclude drinking. If your co-workers have a problem with that, it is their shortcoming, not yours.

The foggy mornings can be simply not getting good sleep or not getting sleep where you are breathing properly. Sleep apnea can be made worse by concussions. The tri-cyclic antidepressant usually used for post concussion insomnia is amitriptyline or sometimes nortriptyline.

I take gabapentin to help my mind and body relax.

A single B-12 daily is just the start. What dosage and version of B-12 are you taking ? 1000 or more methylcobalamin B-12 is a good start but 2500 mcgs would be good. A B-50 complex, D-3 and magnesium are all important.

Yeah, I like the idea of mentioning a recent concussion. Tonight, just for the heck of it I decided to try a fathers day non-alcoholic beer at dinner (having never triend one before). I didnt get 1/2 way through before feeling it coming on so I stopped. Like de-caf coffee, I know they still have a trace amount of alcohol but it's very frustrating.

I do take Nortriptyline nightly and have for about a year now. I will take trazedone on top of that when needed. I'll have to check, the b-12 is a generic vitamin though. I'm going to read up on the suggested vitamin suggestion and give it a try asap.

Thank you for the great input, I really appreciate it! Is it common that people will have these effects 4 years in? =( Just today after 1/2 of the non-alcoholic beers I was dizzy and foggy.

I doubt the minute amount of alcohol cause your sensation. More likely an memory based anxiety reaction. Or, you may be allergic to an ingredient in the near beer. Much of a hang-over is an allergic reaction.

I see lots of negative comments online about Nortriptyline and trazedone combined and about using trazedone as a sleep aid.

What info are you looking for about the vitamin regimen ? None of it should be a concern except in very rare circumstances. I and many others would choose the nutritional approach before the side-effect laden drug approach.

Has Cognitive Behavioural Therapy been suggested as a way of treatment? It might be worth looking into.

As for kicking alcohol, I used to like a drink or two but since my injury given it up and all but given up caffeine. It was hard at first but now I'm not bothered about having a drink, last time I had a beer I didn't like the taste much! If I go to the pub I don't have to worry about drink driving and just pretend I'm an athlete lol. Giving up drink has probably been the only good thing to come out of this.

That's interesting about the memory based anxiety or allergic reaction. Is there a way to test to see if it's allergic?

I can't say that I've seen/experienced anything negative about combining the two (yet). I will say that when starting the Nortrip, that I woud have VERY crazy/disturbing/vivid dreams (which I normally do not remember dreams).

I'm not a fan of pills either and would be happy to look at a nutritional approach. I'm mostly curious about which vitamins or nutrients could be lacking and enhancing what I'm feeling and how to off-set that possibly through proper eating, etc.

I did work on this, along with EMDR and it did help with the PTSD issues. I'm very much trying to find another therapist that honors my insurance...It's just frustrating trying to find one that I like and having to start all over with my issues. =/

I used to drink, socially, quite a bit when partying. Since the accident I only try to drink on occasions/rarely and had been ok if drinking in moderation. The past 6-8 months though, I seem to have zero tolerance. Thankfully, I don't crave caffeine of alcohol. I don't miss caffeine minus the taste of good coffee, lol. As for the alcohol, it's mostly the social aspect that is embarrassing. When having a meal with my GF and she wants to drink...She asks if I mind, which I appreciate but feel guilty telling her that I do. It doesn't pain me to see her drink, I feel akward always having to order "water or sprite" lol.

You can get blood work to check for deficiencies. B-12, folate, D-3, magnesium, calcium, Thyroid levels (4 tests I think), hormone levels, are a good start. Most docs use low levels as OK but many with TBI issues need to be at the top of the range.

It's unfortunate you feel so awkward around alcohol. There are plenty of people who abstain 100% without any guilt. In fact, there are those who look at those who drink as weak. So, you can only make decisions for your own well being. When your GF asks if she can order a drink, you could say, "Sure, I'll drive you home." You have more important issues than whether she has a drink or not. Please, try to let that one go.

It sounds like it would help if you decided on a plan for yourself. You appear to be wandering in the wilderness of PCS. Vitamins and supplements at the dosages we use have very little risk of adverse reactions. The flush from niacin is expected. I was prescribed a regimen similar to the one I have on the Vitamins sticky by a psychiatrist 32 years ago. I was a PCS and depression basket case and he got be back functioning in less than 8 weeks. He had me on much higher dosages of many of the supplements.

I was on AD/AX meds for 14 years and now do great without them. I wonder if I suffered damage from using them long term. Some doctors suggest that is the case. I do have some residual side-effects that first manifest when I started the AD meds that have continued after quitting them. Any time there is a possibility of avoiding AD meds, it is well worth trying. That is unless one is in a crisis situation.

I hope you can find the strength to make some decisions to move forward with.

My best to you.