Todzilla,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Where did she get her recovery protocol information ? Some of it is very old. She should not be sleeping any more than normal. Sleeping needs to be quality sleep not quantity sleep. The brain recovers best when it cycles through all of the stages of sleep with REM and slow wave being the most important. REM and slow wave are best when the brain's normal sleep cycle and mechanism is used.

She should be getting up at normal times, having a healthy meal, then keeping busy with low stress activities. Inactivity is just as stressful as too much activity. She should be avoiding naps other than a short nap if an activity caused fatigue and sleepiness.

She should be doing the activities she is avoiding but in short periods. She will never know if she can return to work unless she learns how to pace her use of screens and such.

The important issues are:
Quality sleep, not quantity sleep
Proper activity to stimulate blood flow in the brain
Proper nutrition, see the Vitamins sticky at the top.
Moderating but not avoiding those things that may be triggers or stressors.
Walks or swimming can be good exercise.
Foam ear plugs can help when she needs to be in noisier environments.
Mack's brand are good. Walgreens sells them.

When you say 'hit with a heavy plate' do you mean a serving platter or such ? What immediate symptoms did she have and what were her symptoms a day or two later ? Did the impact cause her head to whip back in a whiplash motion ?

Has she tried using a computer screen with the brightness dimmed ? Laptops have this built in based on the Fn key and a solid sun (dimmer) and hollow sun (brighter). FLux.com offers a free software program that can dim other screens.

Are there any concussion clinics where you live ? Most high schools and college athletic departments have access to them. The team trainer will know who is good.

Where do you two live ? Maybe we can find a concussion specialist in your area.

This idea of shutting down everything in her life can lead to anxiety and depression. Moderating those things is healthier.

She should be OK using the computer for 10 minute periods so she can post her own comments. It will be good for her to make contacts.

My best for you both.

JBuckl, thanks for the input on the glasses. I will relay that to her

She's gotten her information from a number of sources, neurologist, her boyfriend (me) reading the Internet, friends whose children have been concussed, but she is very eager to get more information, hence this site.

That is interesting. She has gleaned that sleep is important. As far as I know, she is getting very good quality sleep, but lots of it too. As someone with sleep issues, I am envious of her somnambulistic skills.

Good info, thanks.

This was a recent recollection, the plate incident. I don't think it was a full serving platter, just something from a shelf when she was getting something out.

As I recall, it just hurt like hell on her face, between her eyes.

As far as I know, no.

No, but I'll suggest this.

Cool. I'm an IT guy, so I'll investigate.

I don't know. We live in Durham, NC, home of Duke University Medical Center and a world class Sports Medicine program, so I would assume so.

Good point.

I will convey that. thanks.

If she is getting quality sleep, she should be waking up alert. If she is not getting quality sleep, there is often a tendency to snooze. Fatigue is often an indicator of less than quality sleep. Excessive snooze sleep disrupts the sleep mechanism so proper sleep is harder to achieve. There are two things she could try. A fit bit and/or a recording pulse oximeter (better choice). Google recording pulse ox. They are affordable.

When I was getting lousy sleep, I could sleep 14 hours a day and still feel fatigued. Now that I know how to get quality sleep, I never need more than 8 hours unless I have been stressed.

What Asian supplements is she taking ? Some can be counter to her needs.