Thanks Mark. I am still just very confused about what I am dealing with. I hit my head one time very lightly, and every other setback was triggered by alcohol (5 times). While I understand your point that it is imperative to look forward, I don't think the right treatment could be assigned without knowing what exactly is the issue.

I am wondering if the tearing feeling I got after drinking was a result of axonal damage or the fact that I don't feel like myself at all (being blocked off from that thinking) is a result of damage to the white matter.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if I don't know what the problem is (I'm only aware of the symptom I am experiencing) how could I possibly start trying out solutions, and expecting them to work.

So, wondering what tests I should get done to understand where the damage is. I have currently only gotten done an MRI, and EEG. Both were negative.

Would a DTI test make sense? Anything else you could think of?
- It's clear that connections that after my first few times drinking after the concussion would repair in time, are now no longer repairing OR taking a very long time to repair.

Please stop trying to diagnose a physiological injury, axonal tearing, white matter, etc. This is just anxiety. No specialist can tell you the answer you are looking for. The standard is to treat the symptoms. There is no way to define the damage to treat the damage.

A DTI MRI will not tell you what was damaged. It will just tell you that your brain is struggling in a specific area. A DTI will only image symptoms of an injury, not the specific injury.

40 days of rest is a very short time as brain trauma is concerned. Rest alone is not a treatment. You need proper stimulation to encourage good brain blood flow. You also need to deal with anxiety as it causes a cascade of bad chemistry through the brain.

You could be simply suffering from depression. Have you seen a mental health specialist/psychiatrist ? Depression can cause severe brain fog. Believe me. I was in a severe fog from depression 32 years ago that lasted for over 6 months. That is why I was told to start the vitamin and supplement regimen. B-12 was a big part of my recovery. It took 8 weeks to see a difference. Not everybody responds the same as I did. If anxiety is a factor, other therapies may be needed to overcome the learned anxious thoughts.

Stop doing internet research. Axonal damage, white matter, etc. are all just terms you can use to increase your anxiety. The more you find terms like that, the more likely you will struggle with anxiety.

So, please seek a professional diagnosis.

My best to you.

Mark

Mark, thanks again. I am seeing a psychiatrist and a neurologist. They also recommended taking B12 and Folic so starting that right away.

I just don't know how to keep moving forward when I feel nothing like myself, and can't connect and communicate with a single person out there. I'm 24, all my friends are dispersed all over the country, and none live near me. When I talk to them on the phone, I feel like I'm a stranger that I don't even recognize. I am alone all day, and constantly fighting depression, you're right.

I am worried about starting depression medication because that might mess with my thinking even if it begins to clear. I took depression medication 6 years ago when my father passed away, and felt like they just confused me. My doctor mentioned anxiety medication, but my heart racing/ panic moments are very rare (less than once every 4 days). When I feel anxiety building up, I try to engage in some activity and that pretty much stops the panic because I'm also very aware that anxiety is counter-productive regardless of if I'll ever get better.

The only reason I don't think what I am experiencing is just depression is because of actual physical headaches I feel all day when trying to think. Also, as mentioned earlier, the two days since July when things did begin to clear up, I felt extreme mental exhaustion and pain as I tried to communicate.

I hear you. I'll stop trying to diagnose. I just wonder if the same treatments you are suggesting (mild stimulation, rest, good brain blood flow) would work for me considering I have none of the other symptoms commonly experienced by multiple concussion patients. Realizing here, like you said that no two brain injuries are the same.

Why are you not taking the whole vitamin regimen as recommended in the Vitamins sticky at the top ? B-12 and folic acid are a very minimal effort. You also need a B-50 Complex (it has folic acid) to get all the B's for proper balance. D-3, too. Your brain suffered a toxic event. You need good brain nutrition to help it heal from that.

Mild stimulation, enough physical effort for good blood flow is good for any neuro condition. None are quick fixes. It take weeks of discipline to see improvements.

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to update on this thread in case someone else with a similar situation has been following. I spoke with Dr. Allen from Cognitive FX and they think I'd be a great candidate for the treatment. I am definitely skeptical but debating whether I should just go in for the treatment anyway. If anyone else is considering it or has received treatment at Cognitive FX would love to hear how it went.

For now, since October 1st I have had absolutely no improvement and still am unable to think, with persistent pressure headaches on my temple. I have been successful with my anxiety to a high degree, and that has been a great help with coping.

Of course you are a candidate. They claim to be able to treat just about any neurological condition. The qualifier is a willingness to pay. Be very careful as you decide about such a large financial expense.

Personally, I'd be doing intensive nutritional/vitamin/supplement therapy for a few months before spending $7000 to $10,000. No amount of cognitive and such therapy will overcome a toxic condition.

I definitely agree with that. I am planning on continuing this vitamin regimen for another month before making a decision. if there's absolutely no discernable improvement after 2 months, I am pretty sure I'd be happy to pay the $500 deposit for treatment to get even a semblance of my self back.

The doctor mentioned it was a brain cell energy issue, and those issues can be reversed by therapy by targeting therapy that trigger the right areas in the brain. Since I have had clarity since the last time I drank alcohol, I would like to think the initial alcohol toxicity is no longer the problem, but the overall energy is. What do I know.

$500 deposit is just a small part of the fee. Don't let them force you into a financial corner. Medical expenses are the leading cause of bankruptcies in the US.

I definitely understand that Mark. They are booked up for two months, and the $500 fee is to hold a spot for the eventual treatment that will cost $7900. If i do go forward with the treatment, the $500 fee can be used as part of the $7900 total cost. If two months later I were to realize that I am actually improving and don't need the treatment I would lose that $500.

I definitely understand the high cost of this. I am going to wait and try to see if there is any improvement doing this by myself.

Since October 1st like I said earlier I have had absolutely zero improvement. I am going to wait till November to see if I even want to place that $500 deposit for a treatment. I feel if after two months there is no improvement (while in the past in my recovery there had been improvements and relapses at least every month), then I have to try other treatments.

Wow, they have a two month waiting list but still charge a $500 non-refundable fee to get on the list. I bet they keep a lot of those $500 fees.

Personally, I'd would be very hesitant to do business with a company with a fee structure like that. I'm sure they fill every spot that becomes available when a client cancels so they do not lose any revenue.

What symptoms are you still struggling with ?

Have you sought help from a NeuroPsychologist ? They can assess your thinking skills. They are often covered by insurance so the financial risk is much less that Cog RX.

Did most of your symptoms start to manifest just as school finished ? Your timeline sounds like that may be the case.