After receiving head trauma from boxing in early July (stupid sport in reflection), I've basically been diagnosed as having my second episode of severe depression. 2 senior psychiatrists in the health authority (UK) tell that my ruminations about brain damage are just obsessive thoughts/psychosis - direct symptoms of depression and nothing to do with any head injury.

While I'm not looking for someone to say, yes you have brain injury, I feel quite lost and pessimistic about the long term outcome, fearing something has been overlooked. I know Mark In Idaho has helpfully suggested DTI MRI, but at the moment, the only person that is entertaining I have had head injury is me.

I can't believe how much or sudden I feel I have changed in the last 2 months, I am the mirror opposite of my former confident, active, social, outgoing and positive self. The psych doctors are putting this down to emotional / psychological trauma / reactive depression.

One of the medications I've been given is known to cause low blood pressure and I've been on an increased dose of this for the last week. I completely fainted late on Friday night and fell hitting the back of my head on the stone tile bathroom floor. There was no lasting pain, just a buzzing sensation and for a few seconds I was just lay there thinking "I can't believe this has just happened anxiety, this is going to make the first concussion worse".

Bizarrely, on Saturday I actually felt much better about things - the jolt to the head may have shaken up my neurotransmitters again. I've had a bit of a headache since and my touch typing has gone a bit squiffy again. I've now been advised to reduce my medication because of the risk of fainting.

Has / does anyone else experience the following symptoms with PCS and, where appropriate to share, treatments/strategies that have worked for them?

Low motivation - especially getting out of bed
Low libido and related dysfunction
Emotional flatness / loss of empathy

The symptoms you list are all part of depression. They may exist in the brain injury community but it is difficult to say whether they have a cause other than depression. Your rumination about what may be is counter to your improving health.

In the US, there are 5 million or more concussions each year. But, life goes on. Very few cause any substantial prolonged symptoms. Since you symptoms are depression oriented and do not include any symptoms that are specific to brain injury, I suggest you try to move on with your life. Focus on recovering from your depression and the rest will be fine.

It is important that you resolve the use of this med that causes you to feel lightheaded. Falling down and hitting your head will eventually cause trouble, especially if you do it repeatedly.

So, trust your doctors and deal with your depression.

Thanks for your kind and wise words Mark.

I forgot to add that the prescribing doctor has decided to reduce by half the med that is causing me to feel lightheaded

There are plenty of meds that help with depression. Maybe you need to try something different. What AD med causes lightheadedness ?

Are you doing any vitamin supplementation ? B-12 should be the very basic starting point.

Hi Mark (& anyone else reading this thread)

its been a while since I posted here - sometimes I get a 503 gateway / access permission error and am unable to access the site.. anyways

I've had a good few weeks and I feel I have turned a corner, had a few days recently where people in my personal life have let me down, this has made my depression slighty worse again along with a slight decline in cognitive symptoms. This indicates a lot of my PCS symptoms, regardless of their true etiology, are clearly linked to mood (depression/anxiety) and therefore a lot of PCS is treatable

To answer your last question, the AD I am taking is actually an AP (anti-psychotic) called quetiapine, although designed primarily for schizophrenia/bipolar conditions, it is often given for major/severe depression too - a pre-existing condition that was in remission prior to me receiving head trauma. Quetiapine is known to affect blood pressure - especially on standing quickly after sitting/lying down - this is what caused me to faint and bang my head.

I'm also taking my supplements religiously now and I'll list these in new thread below for ease of reading/topic separation....

Supplements currently taking

Fish Oil EPA/DHA
Good quality Multi B Complex
Vit C 1000mg/d
Vit D
D-L Phenylalanine (DLPA - dopamine precusor)
CoEnyzme Q10
Ginkgo - Brain Blood Circulation/Memory
ZMA supplement at night

I've also read up on ATP / Mitchondria energy production which is quoted as being responsible for the fatigue often cited as a symptom PCS and have purchased the following

L-Carnitine or Acetyl L Carnitine (the second version can cause insomnia)
CoEnyzme Q10
Magnesium

Creatine (also mentioned for energy production when fatigued - this needs to be used carefully and 'cycled' on/off)

I should probably start off my BCAA's again

I will feed these additional supps in one by one gradually to asses benefits/side-effects




I've also experienced post-exercise fatigue but I'm going to post a new thread about that

You are missing B-12. A B Complex is usually lacking good B-12. Looks like a Body Building stack. ?????

Amongst many other things, my B-Complex is loaded with

B1 100mg
B2 100mg
B3 100mg
B5 100mg
B6 100mg
B12 500ug

I've also had a full thyroid and pituitary function check done recently (still awaiting pituitary) but my thyroid tests returned a B12 level of 544 picomoles/litre (based on lab references where Deficient <140, Insufficient 140-250 and Consider Reducing Dose >725), so I have currently have pretty healthy levels.

500 ug of B-12 is a small dose and likely cyanocobalamin, not methylcobalamin. 1000 ug or even 2500 ug (mcgs is the more common unit in the US)

The lab standards are low. My doctor wants to see about 1000 pcgms/mL for B-12. Blood levels do not always indicate cellular absorption levels.

I was struggling with the same symptoms in a much more pronounced way and B-12 shots and mega-nutrition made a huge difference. Again, you symptoms sound more like depression than PCS.

Some research suggests probiotics can help, such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus (these three types of bacteria that have been shown in the past to mitigate anxiety and depression).

Have you have sex hormones tested ? Testosterone, Progesterone, Estradiol, DHEA, etc.?

From Drugs.com:

"Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with quetiapine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines (eg, used for cancer, depression or other mental or mood problems, hepatitis C, high blood pressure, HIV, infections, inflammation, irregular heartbeat or other heart problems, narcotic abuse or dependence, nausea or vomiting, pain, Parkinson disease, restless legs syndrome, seizures, stomach or bowel problems, trouble sleeping), multivitamin products, or herbal or dietary supplements (eg, herbal teas, coenzyme Q10, garlic, ginseng, ginkgo, St. John's wort) because they may interact with quetiapine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure if any of your medicines might interact with quetiapine"

You are taking quite a few that are on the interactions list, including some that are included in a branded product.