Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS).


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Old 12-12-2016, 12:25 AM #11
todayistomorrow todayistomorrow is offline
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You described exactly how I feel. My biggest symptom is brain fog and headaches. Unless you have a brain injury, I don't think its possible to understand the pain and frustration living in this fog and how isolating it is.
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Old 12-12-2016, 01:58 AM #12
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GG,

One thing I learned during eye therapy is clarity of vision and interpretation of that vision are 2 separate functions.

There are times when I see something but interpret it slower than in the past.

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Old 12-12-2016, 06:16 PM #13
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Bud,
I noticed in one of your previous posts that you are based in Northern California. What neuro optometrist/ophthalmologist are you seeing? How did you find one that was acquainted with brain injury?
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Old 12-12-2016, 07:27 PM #14
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gg, Bud sees a behavioral optometrist in Auburn that NORA.cc has in their database. I helped him sort through the options. I searched the bay area with NORA and found limited selection. Google behavioral optometrist and berkeley.
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Old 12-12-2016, 09:43 PM #15
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I too have found limited selection in the Bay Area. Unfortunately I haven't found any behavioral optometrists in Berkeley/Oakland/etc. In San Francisco there are some who do behavioral optometry but it seems to be mostly for child development. It seems like it would be crucial to find someone who understood vision issues which stem from brain injury? I'm thinking of calling UC Berkeley optometry clinic, but am doubtful they will be in the know...
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Old 12-13-2016, 12:24 AM #16
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I'm sorry it has taken me a few days to respond. I really appreciate your detailed message.

When I struggle to sleep I find that my mind is constantly "going." This is similar to what is going on during the day with my mind being hyperactive. My response to being foggy and mentally struggling is to work harder than ever to try to compensate (to no effect, clearly). I find that I am very aware of every noise in the house. While I sleep I find myself slipping in and out of the pre-sleep hypnagogic state where one's thoughts are almost hallucinatory. Prior to sleep (maybe 20 mins before) I try to have a high protein snack, do some meditation, and listen as well as possible to an audiobook. I usually spend 2 hours trying to fall asleep and wake up about 8:30.

I think you are correct about my brain being unable to filter out noises/sensory information in order to sleep. My psychiatrist said something similar and has prescribed Abilify at 2mg to help me "filter out" more effectively. I am somewhat skeptical but he says it should not have any neuro-toxic effects even if it is ineffective. Would you agree?

Regarding cognitive functioning, I made a typo. What I meant to say was that "I think your theory about derealization/fog resulting from the cognitive overload produced by impaired processing abilities hits at the true heart of the matter. " Having slowed processing speed distorts everything, I would think.

I'm not sure what you mean by being a finite thinker, but in any case, I clearly am not coping too well with these PCS symptoms. It is hard to imagine that what seem to be deep-rooted cognitive deficits can improve after what most consider the organic healing period has elapsed. I know that others deal valiantly with it for decades...but it sounds like recovery means accommodation, acceptance, and ingenuity to find work arounds?

Any ways, thank you as always for your response.
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Old 12-13-2016, 01:42 AM #17
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By finite thinker, I mean you look at things as black or white or try to understand and/or define everything. You don't appear to have any gray areas or be willing to let things slide. Just my observation.

What do you do in the few hours before trying to fall asleep ? 20 minutes is not enough time for many to get settled for sleep. You should never lay in bed for 2 hours trying to fall asleep. If you allow your brain's sleep cycle to function without interruption, you should be falling asleep within 20 minutes at the most.

Have you tried using foam ear plugs to help with the ambient sounds ? How about music or other sounds to block ambient noise ?

Can you get comfortable quickly and easily when you get in bed ?

I need soft pajamas, very carefully selected sheets, a warm bed, a carefully selected pillow, etc. so when I get in bed, I can quickly get comfortable. I use an electric mattress pad to prewarm my bed and turn it off when I get in bed. Those few minutes of cool sheets will often be a problem so a prewarmed bed solves that problem.

If I am not asleep within 20 minutes, I get up and sit in my recliner and do something mundane with the lights down low until I feel sleepy again. You should not be getting in bed until you are sleepy. You may need to get up earlier so you feel sleepy earlier.

I also take 600 mgs of gabapentin to help my nerves (mind and body) let go.

A neurorehab specialist expressed how important quality sleep is to the struggling brain. The brain can only detoxifies during slow wave sleep. If you are not experiencing REM sleep, slow wave sleep is not happening. So, finding a way to get good quality sleep in important.

When I am not getting quality sleep, my day will be a mess including foggy brain and the rest.

btw, I struggle with Central Sleep Apnea sometimes. When I have CSA episodes, my days are miserable. My CSA is due to inflammation in my upper neck. I know what a day feels like when my brain has been starved of oxygen.

Regarding slowed processing speed. I have clinically diagnosed slow processing speed. It is not something that can be self-diagnosed. Mine is somewhere between 10% to 25% of what it should be, depending on the scale used. But, for me it is more of an imbalance. The occipital lobes are at 10 to 25% of normal but my frontal lobe is at 4 times normal. So, I have a serious imbalance between occipital (primary sensory processing) and frontal (cognitive) that is like trying to read a license plate of a car doing 5 mph as you drive past at 60 mph.

But, regardless of my dysfunctions that include seriously poor visual and auditory short term memory, I can still perform at high levels. I just do things a bit differently.

I know what my diagnosed dysfunctions are but I only use that to accept that when I have a struggle, not to try to push through but instead to slow down and use work-arounds.

Research shows that those who learn to use work-arounds rather than push through do much better.
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Old 01-21-2017, 05:37 PM #18
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What sort of acupuncture were you getting? Where were they focusing it?

Quote:
Originally Posted by RidingRollerCoaster View Post
GoodGrief -

I know exactly the feelings you describe. Mine was really intense for a long time, but it does begin to subside after a while. Do you have any vision and/or vestibular problems? For me, I think a lot of the feeling came from vision and vestibular problems - my perception was distorted so much that it was giving me all types of strange "psychological" sensations. Vestibular and vision therapy helped with that along with acupuncture. I still experience it, though not nearly as bad.

Mark & Mrs. D -

How does one know how to balance neurotransmitters? For instance, I have been taking taurine 1,000 mg for a while now and have not noticed much change. I actually have tried different amino acids and never really notice much difference from them.

And how does one get a QEEG?

Thanks
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Old 01-21-2017, 09:38 PM #19
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oolongmonkey,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Accupuncture and various needling techniques have been used by many with PCS.

What are the symptoms you are struggling with and hope to use acupuncture to resolve ?

What other symptoms can we help you with ?

Please feel free to tell us about your injury and start your own thread by using the New Thread button at the top of the PCS index page.
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Old 01-23-2017, 01:40 AM #20
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GG,

My apologies, I never noticed page 2 until tonight.

I see Corrine Odineal in Auburn. Nice folks.

Bud
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