Hope?

Proverbs 3:5-6

Thank God for His faithfulness.

Dear Sturgeon,

I am wondering if you heard my jaw hit the floor when I read that your neuropsychologist said that "we will have to see what kind of person you become"? The lack of compassion in that statement is horrible to say the least and his follow-up explanation was even worse. I am so sorry that you had to go through that. That is not helpful at all. Your doctor should be supportive and not bring you to tears.

Anyhow, it only half surprises me because many just don't get it. My daughter has PCS and it still amazes me to hear some of the things people say to me and her.

You have every reason to feel optomistic and to believe that you will return to the excercise, energy, and things that you love. It is still very soon after your accident and you are healing. Be kind and patient with yourself. You have been through a lot and your body is recovering. It will get better in time.

I am reading a book called:

over my head by Claudia Osborn

It's about an MD who is diagnosed with a concussion and PCS after an accident with nothing showing up on her MRI or CT Scan, like so many of us!

The very good news is that she eventually heals enough to return to work after four years of recovery and rehabilitation. (My stepmom told me what happens to bring me some hope; she already read it!)

It's an inspirational book so far and just wonderful to read about some of the details of her experiences because I can *so* relate!! (Luckily, my symptoms have finally reduced their intensity enough to allow me to read it, albeit in pieces, now.)

I'm getting better, it's been ten slow months, but I hope to post here someday with my own story of a full recovery!

I would just like to share with you that a dear friend of mine suffered a severe tbi 10 years ago. She was affected so badly by this that she forgot how to drive and completely forgot everything about the life she had before. Now she is driving, typing, and has made a great life for herself. Just know that there is hope in any situation. It just takes action a prayer, faith anf patience. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone out there.

~Jenna

I'm glad I thought to look for support groups, I banged my head and had staples just about a month ago. The ER doctor didn't do any imaging, told me she didn't think there would be any concussion. Well THAT was wrong. Three days later after feeling somewhat OK I got severe severe dizziness, sleepiness, nausea...and I have vertigo already, I can tell you THAT dizziness was much worse than my usual. After I went back and got a clear CAT scan and a diagnosis of concussion I took two weeks off from school and felt better when I went back. Then after about a week the dizziness returned, the nausea, the headaches, anxiety, mood swings, forgetfulness, I was having panic attacks because I didn't understand how this could be happening..I was going through my final testing to be a nurse's assistant which involves some lifting and critical thinking and to be honest it was 3 days of hell. I just barely passed a course which should have been easy for me.
Now I've just finished yesterday and I looked around and saw that I had post concussion syndrome and that it takes time to go away. But my secret fear has been that I will never get better, in fact that I will just get worse and worse until I'm demented...not knowing much about what's happened to me. But I'm almost in tears here to see other people saying that yes others have had it and have fully recovered, even if I'm sincerely praying it doesn't take 2 years......BTW what do you do with yourself if you have to live this way for 2 years??

I've always wanted to post in this thread. Now, I think I can. I'm a 28 yr old male in good health. On May 27, 2011 I sustained a mTBI. I was trying to break up a fight and punched 3 times in the head. Immediate symptom was feeling very dizzy. For the rest of the day I felt dazed. Taken by ambulance to hospital. No imaging done.

The next day was when pcs hit full force. I had HORRIBLE fatigue. I slept the whole day. I was very nauseous. My vision was off (things appeared smaller as if I couldn't focus properly, which was by far my worse symptom). I didn't have bad headaches although they were present. No dizzyness, but I was always sleepy.

The next few days I had HORRIBLE insomnia. I woke up every 45 minutes of the night. On top of that I was always sleepy. I stayed in a dark room all day. Depression set in. I thought that my life would suck forever and I'd always have these symptoms.

I read Mark In Idaho's posts of how important nutrition and rest were in the healing process. I bought a high potency fish oil supp from GNC. I also took Vit. D and B 12 supps. I ate 4 whole eggs each day and one serving of pasta. Eggs have high levels of B12 and choline. Pasta contains high levels of folate i believe.

About 2.5 months I started to see recovery. My sleep came back just like that. My eyes also started to focus and I could see things the way I saw them before (my biggest relief). The fatigue also went away. Today I can lift weights, read for hours, play video games and not get any symptoms.

Btw guys, neuros and GPs are useless when it comes to mTBI. Mine did absolutely nothing but listen to my story and nod his head. He told me I'll be fine and 100 % better in no time.

Today I have almost no symptoms. However, I do notice every now and then I'll fumble when typing. Before the concussion, I was very good @ typing on a keyboard, rarely making mistakes. Sometimes I stumble over words when talking, although this is also rare. In addition, it has left a psychological scar on me that I don't think I'll ever be able to shake. Every now and then I worry about the fact that having a concussion puts you at a higher risk for alzheimer's and parkinsons.

I do believe that something good came from all this. The first few days I was very depressed. Lol I even cried a few times. I got on my knees and promised God that if he healed me, I would serve him until I died. Today, I feel as if I am back to my old self. And that promise haunts me constantly. Before, I lived a pretty carefree lifestyle. Today, I am a better Christian. I feel in my heart as if a divine power had something to do with my healing, (although most neurologists would disagree) .

My best to all of you.

Can you tell me more about the "alternative" treatments (accupunture, etc.) and how they were used and if they were sucessful? My doctors keep talking about them in encouraging ways, but when I press them for details or referrals, they seem to run for the hills.

Hey friends, I am new to this board. I have been going through PCS for almost a year now (March 3 will be the anniversary of the day I hit my head). I am a preacher so this has really shaken me and has utterly brought me to the depths of despair. It started a week after I hit my head. I would describe it as hell on Earth. I had extreme anxiety, depression, migrane headaches, OCD, confusion, no good feelings, and horrible thoughts. I had the words of Jeremiah the prophet,"Cursed is the day that I was born" in my heart. It got so bad that this past month I almost died. The doctor told me on February 1, 2012 that my body entered flight or fight mode, 24/7, even when I slept. He said that I had to literally reverse the chemicals in my brain, regenerate dead brain cells and neurotransmitters. However, he did say that I was going to live and talk about this one day. They wanted to put me on prozac, but, I did research on it and decided not to. I was at my wits end and last hope. I decided to do my healing the natural way. I stopped eating fast food, processed food and red meat. I started eating everything organic and researched brain super foods that brought healing to the brain. Within three days, I saw a significant difference. Then I added all natural raw milk to my diet. I read that raw milk is actually nature's perfect food and regenerates brain cells. You just have to find a farm that has a license to sell it. Just a few days after that I had everything get better. I also added working out to my regime. The brain needs blood flow to heal so working out helps alot. I also only drink Alkaline water. I am taking Beyond Omega-3 Better brain Vitamins from Garden of Life, B-complex and St. John's wort. I also take RAW Meal Supplement by Garden of Life. I am now on day 28 of actually doing something to get better and now everything is getting better. I am dealing with the OCD part of this still, although it has slowed down tremendously. I know that I am going to get fully healed in the next month. God is faithful. I thank Him for showing me the way to get healed.

Your diet has a huge role in your healing. Many of the processed foods have chemicals in them that alter and damage brain function. Stay away from things with MSG and high-fructose corn syrup. Really, anything artificial well not do well for your brain. Anyone who has an ear let them hear.

I am not a doctor. Just one who seeks the truth in everything and a fellow sufferer of the horrible post-concussion syndrome. May Christ be with you in the time of sufferings.

Hi all-

I posted in a thread a few weeks ago "When should I resume activity" where I explained my situation?

Since then I have made a rapid recovery and am almost back to 100%, both at rest and with activity, almost 40 days after my concussion.

I know that my situation has not been as bad as many of yours' but always remember to keep hope.

It does get better!!! My symptoms are all related to my eyes.

I did extensive research all over the internet to find a answer. I figured if I could solve the problems with my eyes the rest would take care of itself.

I found a site on photophobia and PCS. I contacted the individual that posted the information. He e-mailed me back and referred me to individuals that did similar work. After 5 months of questions, a few conversations, a little persistence, and some humility by not demanding help, just asking for help, I was able to get a binocular eye exam.

They placed prisms in my glasses and 10 days later I actually have periods in a day without headaches. I have to rest when they act up and be smart about what I do, but it is getting better - Finally Relief!!!!

Don't give up, the answers are there on forums like this and all over the internet, just have to be persistent and patient - it does work itself out once you find the answer that works for you. The key is what works for the person because no one is the same. Figure that out and you start to make progress.