Hey Trevor,

I would appreciate keeping in touch. You're right, it seems we have a lot in common.

Frustrating beyond belief to feel like we've been taken out of life when it's just beginning. I've already taken this last year off, and I suspect I may not be able to go to college this coming fall, either. But I'm staying hopefully. If not next fall, then next fall.

The good news is I have read/been told by doctors that younger brains are more resilient/neuroplastic, and have supposedly better times with recovery.

I'm beginning a new rehab program that supposedly yields good results. The walls of the facility are lined with signed thank you photos upon signed thank you photos of High shook and college athletes who recovered and returned to their sports. Granted, I'm sure there are plenty who don't. But hey. I'll let you know how it goes as time progresses

To Mark and Bud, really appreciate the helpful advice guys, I definitely agree it seems the more you obsess the worse it gets. Had a pretty bad coughing fit a couple hours ago (felt pretty jarring), instead of obsessing like I usually do I just put on a podcast and took my mind off it and seemed to not have any symptom increase. Nowadays I can manage my stress level as long as nothing catastrophic happens (like a fall or a significant jarring). I do wonder (not obsess) how it is near impossible to find any website or neurologist that will acknowledge how people that are dealing with PCS have heads that are ultra sensitive to any kind of inertia or movement. I imagine the neck has something to do with it but there has to be something else going on. Do you guys have any ideas what it might be? Thank you and God Bless

To Nick, we definitely do have a lot in common man and I really appreciate your reply. I so feel you about the college thing, I'm having to hang back at the moment too, taking an online class at the moment but that's it, simply too much going on in a campus environment for our condition right now. That's some good news about the neuroplasticity. How is your memory doing? It seems despite the concussions my memory and speech are pretty unchanged (although short term unimportant thoughts escape me faster and academic tests are more difficult it seems). I did some memory and balance/reflex tests with a neurologist a couple weeks ago and I passed them all relatively easily, so much so that she wouldn't take me seriously about how sensitive I was to movement. I imagine like myself your main concern is this extreme sensitivity to movement or any type of inertia, makes outdoor life somewhat of a dangerous encounter unless you are monitoring your every move. I will keep you posted bro, I'll let you know how I'm feeling after I get a few hyperbaric appointments done (although the 20 minute drive each way might be counter productive) Ill talk to you soon man, God Bless

Sincerely, Trevor

My memory and speech are really bad, unfortunately. I have a lot of cognitive difficulty. My speech isn't very good. I don't slur words, but I don't fare very well in conversations. I struggle to convey thoughts. This drives me *crazy* as I used to be a conversationalist. It's really frustrating, especially with the random increase in symptoms I'm having. I really hope that goes back to normal someday

Granted it's only been 5 months since my last injury

Trevor,

If the HBOT treatments help, you will not usually notice a difference until after you have had 40 to 60 treatments. But, maybe you are highly suggestive to placebo effect and will see improvement. If your memory and cognitive functions are good, I wonder what symptoms you are seeking treatment for.

I really think you should spend your effort getting a vestibular assessment to see it that is the cause of your movement sensitivity.

Nick,

I'm going to repeat myself about speech.

Stuttering became a big deal for me, like you I spoke easily and due to my moms influence I have a nice vocabulary....stuttering bothered me and made me withdraw and become quite.

The withdrawal eventually became unacceptable and I had to figure out:
1. How to work around it.
2. How to not worry about it.
3. I eventually began to let people know when I was having a stuttering episode why and to bear with me, if I felt it appropriate to the situation, not to be used as a crutch though. Mostly this set my mind at ease and gave me the freedom to be patient with myself during the conversation.

My work around became slowing my mouth down and THINKING before I spoke, something I actually value greatly now...I had to plan somewhat what I was going to say. At first it was embarrassing though I was the only one that was aware of it!

I actually put my foot in my mouth less now, even eloquence whenmisspoken is still a foot in the mouth.

My point is search for the bright side and make that a strength. Don't look at what you see now as a loss, make it an opportunity.

Give yourself time, you are pretty early in the recovery process, you will recover and move on but take advantage of the learning opportunities, you want to go to college, you are in it right now, the college of life!


Eventually my speech has mostly returned but I now catch myself, at times, before I say something eloquently stupid.

Take Care,
Bud

Maybe sometimes when I explain my symptoms I sometimes play them down a bit (I think I do this for myself to keep my outlook high) when I said my memory wasn't really changed I was more referring to long term memory. As far as short term memory and learning new things and remembering what people say is definitely a struggle. Sometimes I will listen to my tutor talk for about 5 minutes and when I think back and its really rough to even recall anything she said. Sometimes I will walk to a part in the house and it will take me about 10 seconds to even remember why I went there. As far as speech I can't sound normal when I am on my A game, but if I am tired I will most likely slur a bit if I'm not paying attention to it. I was hoping the hyperbaric treatments would help heal whatever is making my head so sensitive. I know last night I was walking pretty quickly and tripped on a comforter, granted I didn't let myself fall but when I stumbled my head went forward and jerked it up as I caught my fall and I had to run it out for about 5 heavy steps because my body had so much moment from the trip. I wonder if those big impacts from my feet pounding n the ground did damage to my brain? I am not obsessing but am genuinely concerned. After it happened I had a weird pressure on the back of my head, luckily I didn't get a headache and was able to go to sleep about an hour later. Definitely felt a bit word after it happened I definitely could feel some pressure on my head directly after that stumbling instance happened. Is it possible this did any damage or could make me any more sensitive to movement? Also just went to Whole Foods and picked up the 365 everyday value vitamin b50 complex (thank you mark for recommending the b50) . Also is it bad to smoke a hit of medical marijuana before bed? I don't use lighter fluid I light the bowls with organic hemp rope, was wondering what you guys thought of that. And to Nick I would say keep your positive attitude and time is definitely on your side. My speech and cognition have seemed to improve a lot since I was when I was 5 months out from getting my last concussion in 2015. I also recommend you use this magnesium I just got, guy at the HBOT place told me it is one of the only patented magnesiums that is able to cross the blood brain barrier, it is called XYMOGEN OPTIMAG NEURO. Literally seems to be helping sooo much with headaches, basically have none now that I'm off the antibiotics and am taking that magnesium daily. Love hearing from you guys, were all in this together. You are all in my prayers.

Sincerely, Your Friend Trevor

Thank you for this bud.

Yeah I try to remind myself that I'm still early on, and have tons of time for improvements. It's just scary having multiple injuries under the belt. Really praying for a full (or at least 90-95%) recovery, and it can be unnerving when doctors pause wide eyed and go "that's a lot of concussions for a person to have" and "yeah that's going to make things a lot more complicated."

Like when I had my first PCS rodeo, during my second concussion, I wasn't that worried. Took 6 months and was frustrating, but I had 100% belief I would recover. And I did. 99-100 percent.

But Now that I'm at 4, that thought just lingers in my brain. What if you've done too much damage. What if it's too late.

That's a really, really good point about the learning aspect of it. WHEN I do get to college, I'm going to be a much much much more mature man than I was had I not hit my head that third/fourth time (Hopefully I can still get some of carefree-ness back too, tho! Just with a little extra emphasis on protecting my head hahaha)
Just have to remind myself that the day will come where I can live freely again, eventually.

Last reply still bing approved while you posted that last one nick. You will get to that desired point of recovery bro, your so young, your dedicated to recovering, time is absolutely 100% on your side. Especially that you are only 5 months in your brain has soo much time to heal. I know it's super tough right now but it will improve with time if you listen to your body and let yourself heal. Much love- Trevor

Sorry meant to put "can sound normal when I'm on my A game" not "can't"

nickd,

4 concussions is not such a big deal. I had over 8 by 20 years old. I had some struggles in college but I was also entirely self-sufficient since graduating high school. I've had 14 concussions by 46 when my more serious issues started manifesting. My second concussion at 10 years old (1965) was a severe concussion. Hospitalized 3 days due to slurred speech.

There was no help understanding concussions until 2000 or so. My neuro at 16 just told me to stay away from alcohol. I just had to tough out everything else.

My strong suit was nobody was scaring people about concussions with things like CTE, etc. There was no anxiety about every bump. Just a caution about taking risks.

So, count your blessing that you have only had 4 concussions and know to reduce your risks. But, don't worry about the little bumps. Of my 14 concussions, I have not counted any of the little bumps. Only those impacts when I knew I had rung my bell.

Move on. Stop looking for symptoms. Take things slow when you feel you are pushing too hard. And, try to learn how to do as much as you can by working around your limitations.

You will get much better. Often, improvements come when you stop paying attention to your symptoms and limitations. You have 'ah ha' moments when you realize "I have not experienced symptom 'xyz' in weeks."