[Blessed_with_PCS...]

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for reading. First post, so let me give a brief overview of my situation. I suffered a mild concussion on March 21, 2015 by slipping on a tile bathroom floor, falling backward, and hitting the back of my head on the door. I fell to the ground pretty hard, tried to get back up, and fell again. I was definitely feeling out of it, but since alcohol played a role, I thought I was just hungover with a severe headache and moderate neck pain the following day. I didn't notice cognitive symptoms until Wednesday at work (I am an engineer) when severe dizziness and brain fog set in. I foolishly toughed it out at work the rest of the week and finally saw a doctor on the following Monday who diagnosed me with a mild concussion. CT scan was normal. I was told to go on brain rest for the rest of the week, which I did. I went back to work the following week, felt a little dizzy with a recurring pressure feeling in my head, but did okay. After a few weeks, the dizziness subsided and i was only left with intermittent head pressure, which I was told was normal and would eventually subside.

In June, I had a setback likely caused by stress, which left me with mild dizziness for a few weeks. Then in August, I had another setback likely caused by me thinking it was a good idea to go tubing off the back of a speed boat. This dizziness again lasted only a few weeks, and did not really affect my work too much. In September, I started running on a treadmill every other day and felt great. The pressure in my head was less frequent and my head felt the clearest it has been since March. I thought PCS was behind me for good...

Until the beginning of October, out of the blue, I was hit with extreme dizziness while at a County fair. I did not ride any rides and wasn't very stressed out, so I'm not sure what triggered it. However, I did drink a soda and a lot of sugary junk food that I don't usually eat before the dizziness set in. It is now 6 weeks later and the dizziness is still there. Two weeks ago, I switched to a part time work schedule since the dizziness, brain fog, and head pressure is worse when at the computer and doing brain intensive work.
On top of that, lately I have been hit with extreme anxiety and find it hard to relax when I am home alone not working. I just don't understand how I could feel so good in September and have the PCS symptoms come back out of nowhere and last longer than they have before. I keep thinking that they will never go away and that scares me to death. I feel the anxiety just makes everything worse. I also get really dizzy from too much stimulation from being in stores, public places, family gatherings, etc.

What should I do? I am seeing a neurologist but only had one appointment so far and just this week had an MRI and EEG done. I suspect these will be normal as well. I just don't know where to turn and am looking for any recommendations, words of wisdom, insight, or anything to make me feel a little better. Every day these past 6 weeks has been a real struggle. I started the vitamin regime two weeks ago and am taking L-tryptophan and L-theanine to help calm me down. My primary doctor gave me Xanax at a 0.25mg dose as needed, which actually helps but I am afraid to use it on a daily basis.

This first post was way longer than anticipated, so again thanks for reading!

-Jake

[Mark in Idaho]

Jake,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Your experience is not uncommon.

The fair event likely had a few components. Too much stimulation, lights, sounds, etc. Food maybe. Any beer ? Possibly a contributor. Your current issues with over-stimulation suggest you just did not realize your limitations to stimulations in the past.

I suggest you find someone other than the neuro. If he believes all these tests are worthwhile, it sounds like he is taking shots in the dark. Maybe a concussion clinic would be better.

You should try to find something to do when you are not working. Some gentle brain stimulation and mild exercise ( walking) to keep good brain blood flow will be good. Any form of hand/manual activities are usually good. An idle mind feeds anxiety.

You may have an upper neck issue than needs attention. The water tubing suggests maybe some whiplash from your fall was aggravated.

Good head and neck posture while resting and sleeping is important.

Do your anxiety issues come with an increased heart rate ? For me, I do just as well with a beta-blocker (propranolol) to reduce the heart rate so the anxiety reduces. Beta-blockers are easier than benzos (Xanax) and quicker acting for those occasional needs. But, keeping your anxiety levels low is important so do what you have to do. If you anxiety become chronic, an SNRI or SSRI may be a better long term choice. But avoid them until you have exhausted other means.

My best to you.

[Blessed_with_PCS...]

Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho

Jake,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Your experience is not uncommon.

The fair event likely had a few components. Too much stimulation, lights, sounds, etc. Food maybe. Any beer ? Possibly a contributor. Your current issues with over-stimulation suggest you just did not realize your limitations to stimulations in the past.

I suggest you find someone other than the neuro. If he believes all these tests are worthwhile, it sounds like he is taking shots in the dark. Maybe a concussion clinic would be better.

You should try to find something to do when you are not working. Some gentle brain stimulation and mild exercise ( walking) to keep good brain blood flow will be good. Any form of hand/manual activities are usually good. An idle mind feeds anxiety.

You may have an upper neck issue than needs attention. The water tubing suggests maybe some whiplash from your fall was aggravated.

Good head and neck posture while resting and sleeping is important.

Do your anxiety issues come with an increased heart rate ? For me, I do just as well with a beta-blocker (propranolol) to reduce the heart rate so the anxiety reduces. Beta-blockers are easier than benzos (Xanax) and quicker acting for those occasional needs. But, keeping your anxiety levels low is important so do what you have to do. If you anxiety become chronic, an SNRI or SSRI may be a better long term choice. But avoid them until you have exhausted other means.

My best to you.

Thanks for the quick response! I did not have any beer at the fair. I, too would just chalk it up to too much over stimulation had I not taken my wife and two daughters to an amusement park the prior weekend without feeling any setbacks. I think this is what makes it so difficult for me. Being an engineer, I tend to analyze everything and just don't understand how I could be doing so well then have this huge setback out of nowhere. I am beginning to think the anxiety is what is causing this last setback to endure so long because the anxiety wasn't really an issue before.

I too am not impressed with my neurologist and will look into a concussion clinic, although, I am not sure how helpful that will be at this point. I do have an appointment on Wednesday with an Atlas Orthogonal Chiro to see if my neck is part of the problem and any corrections to my atlas need to be made. I am also seeing a psychologist on Thursday to see if that can help my anxiety.

My severe anxiety attacks do come with an elevated heart rate, but general anxiety does not. Most times I am just extremely restless and have a difficult time sitting or lying down and relaxing. At this point, by anxiety has more or less been there for almost 6 weeks, so maybe I am at the point of trying an SSRI? Is it possible 5HTP could help more than the L-tryptophan? I thought about ordering some but have heard it isn't as safe. But it would be a better option than an anti-depressant, right? I'm just trying to figure out my best course of action at this point. The past 6 weeks have been a nightmare and feel like I need to try something else.

-Jake

[Mark in Idaho]

You could try some 5-HTP. It is easy to find at drug and health food stores. I get mine from Vitacost.com. Start out with 50 mgs twice a day. After a week, you could increase to 100 mgs. A symptom of too much 5-HTP is excessive sweating. I doubt 100 mgs twice a day would be a problem.

[Blessed_with_PCS...]

I have ordered some 5HTP online, but ordered the 100mg capsules. Would it be okay to start with one 100mg capsule every day instead of breaking it into two 50mg doses? Also, should I stop the L-tryp. entirely while taking the 5HTP. I also usually take a 150mg L-Theanine every day as well.

I was on the fence about it, but decided to attend my niece's 3rd bday party with the family. I decided to take a xanax to help with the anxiety, but did okay. Managed to make it through wearing earplugs and staying away from the screaming kids in the basement. I feel okay this morning and think I escaped a setback. A few weeks ago I was exhausted the day following an event like that. While painfully slow, maybe I am making some progress.

[Mark in Idaho]

It is easy to break a 100 mg 5-HTP. Most are the long tablets that break easy. I think it would be a good idea to start with 50 mg twice a day. 5-HTP has a very short half life so it does not stay in your blood very long. You can stop the L-Tryp but L-Tryp will not cause an overdose. I take both. The L-Theanine does not interact with the 5-HTP.

[Bud]

Blessed,

I think everything has an answer or explanation except for pcs! I have learned to have to accept some of the ups and downs as beyond my understanding. Didn't make me very happy at first but if a doc can't explain it to me how can I.

I had terrible anxiety starting at 6 months post injury. It sounds silly but laying down and being still frightened the crap out of me. I could sleep for no more than a half hour and only when exhausted, it was a fight for my life. I couldn't sit still for more than a couple of minutes and was afraid to go next door to the neighbors, much less around the block.

This year I still have monsters at times but I can watch an entire basketball game again without pacing and having to go to the bedroom to calm myself down, same with football! I am a bit nervous about the noise but tonight I am going to a Sacramento Kings game for the first time since my injury, I am expecting it to do ok with a little nursing along the way, like a couple of extra trips in the hall to escape noise.

Been huge gains at small increments.

Anxiety is a skilled liar and reminds me of the Big Bad Wolf, it huffs and puffs a lot but is toothless. The hard part is trusting that it is a liar and logic and experience are correct.

You can do this...especially if you have family, that was and is my greatest motivator and trusting God.

Bud

[chasann]

How I love your sentence, just might have to quote this one day . . .

Anxiety is a skilled liar and reminds me of the Big Bad Wolf, it huffs and puffs a lot but is toothless. The hard part is trusting that it is a liar and logic and experience are correct.

Cheers

[Bud]

Chasann,

Glad u liked it...it sure was a hard earned sentence!