Thanks Mark. Has anyone else tried ginko? If so, can you tell me at what dosage you took it? Thanks.

I live in CT and am looking for a well trained, skilled and experienced Homeopath or doctor specializing in PCS in my area.

My 15 year old daughter had a Traumatic Brain Injury in Jan 2008 and has not recovered. She hit the left back side of her head on the ice when sled riding. It is labeled as Post Concussion Syndrome. She gets a headache when she is exposed to loud noise, reading, concentrating, light changes or even physical activity. This headache is not very painful necessarily but it causes her to have to stop activity and rest. It makes her not be able to remember what she has studied or continue to study. She is unable to attend school. We have to keep her in quiet envirionments and modify all her activities. Otherwise, she suffers the consequences of the over exposure to her brain.

If she rests and the headache does not relent it can continue to get worse until she can only whisper, then not speak, tears run down her checks yet she is not crying and then her body begins to shake arms and legs like a seizure. She can answer by shaking her head but not speak. She can't squeeze your hand but a little pressure with her thumb. It lasts about 10 to 20 minutes. Afterward she is very tired and needs to sleep, she will easily get headaches and not be able to study for 3 to 5 days afterwards. She will have periods of blurred vision, dizziness or nausea.

Thank you for your suggestions.

Hi Linda,

I would suggest looking into neurofeedback. Just google it and you'll find loads of info on its use for brain injury rehabilitation. It basically teaches the brain to act normally again through conditioning. You could also look into hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Good luck.

To: mhr4,
Thank you for responding. We did do hyperbaric oxygen 40 one-hour treatments Nov 2008 - December 2008. It was expensive and no difference in her major symptoms except she seemed less tired in the evenings. We also tried the neuro-feedback about 4 times but it gave her a really bad headache. She didn't want to continue.
Again Thank you - Linda

Sorry to hear of your daughter's struggles.

This is a tough situation, especially at 15 years old. Been there, done that, while living in Naugatuck.

What part of CT do you live in? Maybe we can find a good resource for you.
I was fortunate to find a good neurologist in Waterbury but that was decades ago.

Sounds like you need a neuro with experience with trauma induced epilepsy. I was put on anti-seizure meds at 16. This age is tough for concussion because the brain is working overtime as it matures and the body goes through many other maturing changes.

Has she requested help with school work? Find the CT agency that advocates for the disabled. She is currently 'disabled' by medical standards. The Advocacy agency should have a PATBI case worker. (Protection and Advocacy for individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury)

Here is a link that might get you started.

http://www.ct.gov/opapd/cwp/view.asp?a=1742&q=447008

http://www.drcfc.org/gbda.htm
or
http://www.ct-dac.org/

Also check with the state BIA group at http://www.biact.org/



She will need an IEP, Individual Education Program until she has recovered to be mainstreamed. She will have access to PSAT, SAT, and ACT tests without a time limit. These organizations should be able to direct you.

Until then, help her relax. Stress is the worst thing for a concussion. You might consider getting her hormones tested. Thyroid, DHEA and all of the sex hormones can get screwed up. She may have a B-12 and folate deficiency too. Common with PCS. These can all be tested with a few vials of blood.

Keep her away from caffeine, artificial sweeteners, MSG, high sugar content foods, etc. Her brain needs protein and essential fatty acids. Get her sunglasses and the yellow foam ear plugs to wear when she tries to go out.

I could not survive without my sunglasses, wide brimmed hat, and yellow foam ear plugs. Noise and light will over do me if I am not careful

Down load Dr Glen Johnson's TBI Survival guide at www.tbiguide.com

It is the best resource. Have the family read it. This will be your life while she recovers.

A good part of her recover may be learning skills for how to deal with her struggles. I have many "work-arounds" that enable me to get things done.

I have been living with PCS for over 40 years. Between recovery and work-arounds, we can have a full life.

My best to you and your daughter.

Thank you Mark for your response. That is a lot to digest and follow-up on. It will keep me busy for awhile. I appreciate ALL of the information especially on the advocacy agencies for schoolwork & SAT's, bloodwork and supplements.

Did you have any experience with using Homeopathy? How about Omega 3 Fish Oil? I've heard a lot on the radio about that being helpful for memory and brain health.

Linda

I have not tried any homeopathy. It requires finding a homeopathic doctor who has a realistic understanding of the brain. Just like chiropractic, there are those who are science directed and those who have a mystical interpretation of the body.

I am taking Omega 3 fish oil. I use the Carlson brand that is lemon or orange flavored. It is in a oil form, not a capsule. It is the most potent and best value, comparable to gel capsules.

I have only been taking it for about two weeks. Before, I was taking flax seed oil. I am still learning how to take it without getting the fishy aftertaste, usually on my lips. I mix it with juice. Sometimes it separates too fast and I get fishy taste residue on my lips.

I am deficient in DHEA, testosterone, Vit D3, and possibly dopamine. Dopamine deficiency is hard to remedy. Physician hopes getting the others to a normal level will help with the dopamine.

I better go have breakfast. This morning, I have been struggling to get my mind started. This online work is usually a good way to get my brain stimulated. Instead, I is making me very sleepy.

Print out my post. I know it has a load of info. A printed page can be reference from time to time and lessen the overload.

My best to you and your daughter.

I never realized how much my injury effected my family, mostly my mother. I learned recently that after my first injury at 10 yo, my mom said I was not her 'sweet little boy' anymore. Now I understand why I lost most of my friends at school during that time. Personality changes can be brutal. My serious decompensation as a sophomore led to phenobarbital and that softened my personality.

When she acts different or combative, remember, it is the injury and not her that is acting up.

My wife is a saint in dealing with me, although I can tell she mourns the loss of the older me.

Mark,

Again, thank you for your response. It is very encouraging to finally have someone to talk to who knows and understands what we are dealing with.

I'd love to try the fish oil but she would never take it in the liquid form. I'd have to find the best capsule option and hope it didn't leave an aftertaste or a body oder of fish.

We are going to visit a homeopath next week. I'm really hoping it goes well in the long run. We have not felt comfortable going down the road of anti-depressants even in a low dose because of the side effects and because of the lack of understanding they have on what it does to the still developing brain. I found a double blind study that was done at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston the report is dated December 1999. It was conducted on patients 2.93 years from injury. They had a variety of symptoms not unlike you or my daughter. The results indicated a significant improvement using the homeopathic remedies versus the control group. This was published in the Journal of Head Trauma/Rehabilitation December 1999.

Also, we are standing on God's word for healing. I love your signature scripture. My pastor's wife just gave me a small plack yesterday to hang up that says "Be still and know that I am God." It is all we can do and sometimes it is the best place to be - and know the power of His might who is able to do abundantly above all we ask or think.

Linda

There are enteric coated fish oil caps now, that don't break down until they get to the stomach. This gets rid of almost all fishy taste issues, unless there are huge gas problems bringing up stuff from the intestines.

There is also a pudding called Coromega.
http://www.coromega.com/

There is also a DHA only supplement made from algae.
There is no bad taste with this either. I suspect the DHA is the main player in the brain anyway, since it builds membranes.
EPA portion of fish oil is anti-inflammatory mostly.
One brand is Expecta (which targets pregnant women, but anyone can take it) or Neuromins. There are many others too.
These are also called vegetarian formulas.
(some fish oils have more DHA in them like Carlson's...so read the data carefully on the label).

The Carlsons fish oil is not bad tasting. It just can leave a fishy taste on the lips. I have learned to mix it with some cran-raspberry juice and some 7-up. I have not had any fishy lips aftertaste since.

My wife has been taking it for 1 1/2 years. She puts it in her Emergen-C vitamin drink. She has a hard time taking pills.

I learned that having some tunafish in the fridge is helpful. If I have a fishy aftertaste, I just have a bite of tuna and it goes away. I think the tuna masks it with a flavor my palate understands and likes. My wife likes to keep some tuna prepared for sandwiches in the fridge.

As mrsD has said. There are good enteric capsule versions available. My physician has done some research and found that the 60 to 70% EPA and DHA are the most affordable. Higher potency can be expensive. Lower potency is not enough Omega-3.

Is your daughter on any seizure meds? Sounds like she is having seizures. The speaking issue could be a form of psychomotor seizures. These are usually Temporal Lobe problems.