Originally Posted by qtipsq

Be cautious about dictors. All my doctors pointed me to the wrong path. This is a relatively new condition that doctors dont have a handle on. Your best doctor is your body, it will be giving you all sorts of signals. Listen to it. Also journal your recovery its theraputic. A super healthy diet is also key.

Originally Posted by poetrymom

So, read the vitamin stickie at the top and get what you can going in your system. These things will help you deal with stress which the injured brain does not like.

Vitamins and supplements are no cure all though.

Get your upper neck checked too. This can get out of whack in a car accident and the neck can mimic concussion issues.

Hang in there. You will pull through, but take it easy and reduce stress.

Take care!

poetrymom

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

LilyNYC,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your injury. It sounds like you would have a personal injury claim so that may be a way to get some financial help. Disability programs sometimes are easier to get if you agree to refund disability payments from future recovery in a Personal Injury claim. Check out to see if he has referrals to your area. An injury like your needs a knowledgeable attorney, not just any ambulance chaser.

You may be able to keep working if you can lower the activity/stress/intensity level. As was said, learn your triggers and avoid them if you can. An ER is full of stresses and triggers. What kind of work do you do in an ER ? Are you also a full time student ?

Jane McGonigal has some interesting things to say but her experience is unique to her. You mileage may vary. There is a saying. "If you have seen one head injury, you have seen ONE head injury." Pushing through because you are determined to get better can make for a long roller coaster ride. But, journaling your days, activities/symptoms is worthwhile.

Although it is a great goal to not get anxious or depressed, the injured brain often has less ability to tolerate stress thus making it difficult to avoid anxiety. But, try to not let your thoughts create anxiety. Your brain's reaction to environmental and cognitive/emotional stress ( sounds, light, cognitive load, emotional stress/relationships with people, etc) will create enough anxiety.

You don't say what your current symptoms are except struggling with anxiety attacks, etc. Likely, there were triggers that caused the attacks. It may have been an accumulation of small triggers or a single trigger.

The injured brain needs extra nutrition. The Vitamins sticky at the top has a good regimen. The most important are B-12, a B-50 Complex, D-3, Omega 3 oil, magnesium/calcium (they work better together). Vitacost is currently doing a BOGO 1/2 off sale if you need to stock up. I like their house brand.

As was said, most doctors are clueless. Without more severe symptoms to indicate a need, a CT Scan right away would have a premature high dose of radiation. Most are done to protect the doctor and profit the hospital more than benefit the patient.

Try to avoid responding to every little change in symptoms. The roller coaster of PCS is to be expected.

BTW, 85% of concussions resolve spontaneously within 6 weeks or so. Too much activity can extend this 6 week period.

We are here for you so don't hesitate to ask for help. But, try to avoid using a Smart Phone to follow online issues. Smart Phone users tend to become too anxious. Try to be patient and things will get better.

My best to you.

Mark in Idaho

Originally Posted by Hockey

Hi and welcome.
The others have given you some great advice, which I will second, and try not to repeat.

Instead, I will address an issue we share, problems with the sense of time. Yes, that is a manifestation of your TBI. In my case, hours and hours could pass, and I'd have no sense of that. I'd get up in the morning and then be surprised to find it was already dark.

In most instances, this goes away with, no pun intended, the passage of time. My awareness is better, now, but not perfect. I have yet to recover my ability to project time. You know, things like when you estimate how long it will take you to get somewhere, to meet someone.

As you're recovering, when you identify deficits (or others point them out, because TBI can induce a lack of self-awareness), you need to find ways to work around them. Don't deny deficits, or beat yourself up, trying to do things the old way. With TBI, the trick is to do what it takes to let you function as smoothly as possible.

In my case, on the time thing, I started to wear a big wristwatch, my family made a point of telling me the hour, several times a day, they would point out how long I'd been doing particular things, they helped me devise a schedule and used egg timers to help me move from one activity to another, etc...

To this day, if I need to project time into the future, my husband has to help me devise the schedule and, then, write it out, so I don't forget. I just can't keep it straight.

I was impressed that you were able to meditate your way out of the panic attack. That puts you in good stead to deal with that issue.

Still, I would suggest seeing a psychologist, who understands TBI, as soon as possible. I'm sure the lawyer, that you should also get ASAP, will recommend that. As well, he/she will tell you to carefully document all of your symptoms, etc... I'm not always sure that that's always best for the psychological wellbeing of TBI patients, but it is essential for the adversarial world of litigation.

Originally Posted by Bud

Lily,

I hope you pass through this real quick.

Don't be afraid to ask questions here if needed.

I really wish I would have started Marks vitamin regimine earlier...I started about 5 weeks ago and can tell a subtle but welcome difference, some of the rough edges are a bit smoother.

I have dealt with a ton of anxiety since my injury. It is part of the ride for some of us. You can conquer it, you might still sense a storm going on but you can make yourself calm down.

Bud

Originally Posted by Mystical

Welcome! Yes, definitely follow Mark's vitamins regime. The best advice I got was from neuropsych and psychiatrist. Eat healthy and exercise when you can. But rest a lot at first, then watch for trigger signs and take breaks.

Hang in there! Stay strong!

Originally Posted by SuperElectric

The fact that you can recognise when a panic attack is imminent and calm it down is a positive sign. Sounds like mediation a few times a day could help a lot. Certainly brain rest, it's not always easy easy to recognise brain fatigue as it's not like tiredness and you can't push through it.