Hello world...

[ClareO1986]

I'd like to introduce myself, if I may.

I'm 29 years old and normally am quite an active person. I love indoor climbing, walking, taking photos, playing the saxophone, all things space and mechanical, and playing with narrow gauge steam engines... which brings me to the reason for joining this community. 

Over the Easter weekend I was volunteering at a steam railway - something I do on a regular basis. Anyway, long story short, I whacked my head, resulting in a superficial cut that was glued by the local A&E, I was checked over and sent on my way with instruction to get someone to watch me and contact the hospital if anything untoward happened. It didn't, and for the remainder of the week I felt fine, if a little more tired than usual and quite headache, but this was managed reasonably well with paracetamol. 

During that first week I developed neck pain that was later diagnosed as whiplash. It was since then that I started to get more problems. 

It started with random nosebleeds, that I guessed were as a result of starting to take ibuprofen for the whiplash, on the advice of my GP. A week later I came down with a horrendous virus, probably picked up from working with young children, that knocked all the energy out of me. I experienced fatigue and weakness like I'd never felt before. My joints hurt and my skin itches. I was away from home at the time so saw the local out of hours doctor, who confirmed that it was just a very nasty virus. She said that it had probably been made worse by being "post concussion".

Up until then (a week ago) I had never heard that term used in relation to what I was experiencing. At the time of my injury, I'd not even suspected that I might have had concussion because I'd felt pretty much normal. 

I'm not one of those people who has frequent trips to the doctor. Quite the opposite. I tend to just soldier on. My GP would not necessarily know this as I am relatively new to the area where I live and have only ever seen one other doctor at the practice for something that was very easily dealt with. I think my third trip to see the GP in as many weeks was a nudge to him that actually I did need taking seriously. 

So, as things stand, have a neurological exam coming up and am awaiting results of blood tests. I've also been asked whether I have any personal or family history of anxiety. There is quite a strong family history, but I am wary of dwelling on this too much as I myself have never previously experienced anxiety, outside of the usual interview or music performance nerves. That said, I am starting to notice that if I get a symptom that I have not experienced before I do become more attuned to it and start to worry (much to the probable annoyance of my parents, who both work in the medical profession, and have had constant text messages about my worries). 

In the meantime, I have spoken to a very useful and reassuring person at Headway, who gave me some invaluable advice and pointed me in the direction of this forum. 

I'm generally not a forum user but talking to a friend who had a more serious head injury than mine has been very helpful. That said, his injury was much more severe and I'd be interested to hear experiences from people who have had more minor head injuries like mine.

Apologies for the rambling post. I am quite a complex case, even my GP has told me that! 

[steve55]

hi clare yes i heard of the condition, thats why if a rugby or american footballer take too many hits theyre sidelined for a length of time.

   gps know shit thats why you were referred to the forum. all head head injuries, no matter how seemingly minor should be investigated.

     youre not complex, your gp is trying to get you to admit that you suffer anxiety or panic attacks so  he / she can pop you on anti depressants and get rid of you.

      you go back to your gp demand an mira scan and inform him him that you have noted the dates that you have visited and what was said and that you would like to eliminate the possibility of a brain injury.

                                          good luck

                                               steve

[Danslatete]

Although brain injuries are actor groused mild moderate and severe the effects can be quite debilitating. 

Minor injury can cause some pretty annoying symptoms that can hang around for week, months or even longer. 

Try not to worry and try to keep a diary of symptoms ss and when you notice them, how does it affect you, does it improve over weeks etc. at least then you have something for the doctors to work with. It might be useful to have someone who knows you note what difference they have seen too. 

[Stardrop in reply to Danslatete]

Good advice Danslatete, GP's (and consultants) often take things much more seriously when the patient arrives with a friend who can see the difference in the person since the time of the bump on the head. A locum GP made me feel such a fuss pot I went back to work the next day when I should have quiet and time to mend to get the best possible recovery.

[angelite]

Hi Clare,

Sorry to hear you are still having problems after your accident. I have never had concussion myself ( well, not knowingly, anyway ) but can tell you my son's experience. My son had a few blackouts in his youth. On one occasion he hit the library concrete floor at UNI, was only 'out' for a few seconds but felt unwell for a few days afterwards : couldn't concentrate, wanted to sleep a lot and described  feeling 'unreal', like he was in a dream. Luckily he was back to normal after a week off. The next time he blacked out was a bit more dramatic. He had just enroled in work experience in an office and hit his head hard on a metal filing cabinet on the way down. He was out for 4 minutes.  This time he suffered anxiety quite badly, it lasted about 3 months and he unfortunately lost his work experience placement due to not being well. He was found to have extremely low vit D during blood tests, so was given high dose supplements. We have continued with general vit supplements since, as insurance and he has never had another blackout incident to this day - about 3 years now.

I'll pop a link to NHS website on concussion, hopefully you may find it useful :

nhs.uk/Conditions/Concussio...

If you look under the complications heading, you will find post concussion symptoms like my son experienced. I was able to  talk him into feeling calmer by explaining that these feelings of anxiety, whilst unpleasant and scary, were because his brain had taken a knock and the signals had been upset and needed time to settle down again. Hope this helps.

Kind regards,

Angela x

[ClareO1986]

Thanks everyone for your support. It is much appreciated and reassuring to know that people have had similar difficulties with getting properly diagnosed. 

One thing I forgot to mention was that when the virus I had really hit I got quite bad itching and tingly sensations in all my joints. When I last saw my doctor, I think it was this that prompted him to suggest a neurological assessment. A little bit of Googling has told me that all three of my current problems (the head injury, the whiplash and the virus) could cause nerve damage. It's interesting though that these symptoms only started after I got the virus. 

I had already started to note down symptoms that I have had and tried, as much as I can, to note when they started. I really hope this helps the doctor make sense of what's going on. 

Lots of people have said that I've not been myself, even more so since getting the virus. I've spent many mornings recently in a puddle of tears on my partner's shoulder either because it hurts so much or out of frustration, and sometimes both! I can tell he is trying to be sympathetic but I don't think he really fully understands.

Yesterday was a good day, today.......... not!

[Elenor3]

Hi Clare, and welcome, you've come to the right place. I can't add to the great advice others have already posted, but do understand the horrible feeling you're having of worrying symptoms, and thinking that no one rally understands what's going on, no wonder you feel so anxious.

After nine months, (and thank heavens for the support of every one here), I finally met anther bi victim this week. It made a huge difference just talking to him for ten minutes, and calmed a lot of my fears of never getting better. I've never used an Internet forum before or a chat room or anything similar,mso I was worried about joining this group, but I don't think I'd have survived without it. 

I also play music, so with the injuries I'm dealing with am amazed that I can play at all, never mind do a gig in a busy pub. Lots of my ongoing symptoms are trying to get in the way of that, but it's all down hill now to a year since my accident and things definitely look a whole lot better than they did last year. 

Keep on keeping on, make sure you get a scan and an appointment with a neurologist at the very least. Try not to worry about the effects of the virus. Having been isolated from people for such a long time I've avoided all the normal cold and flu viruses I'd usually get working in schools, but hubby unintentionally brought me one home for Easter and I had similar symptoms to you accompanied by a feeling of my head being on fire..........paracetamol didn't help. It wiped me out, and took a long time to shake off, but eeverythings back to my new normal now - whatever that is lol Good luck with your recovery and let us know how you get on. Take care x

[ClareO1986 in reply to Elenor3]

Hi Elenor,

It sounds like we could almost be doubles! I get what you mean about still being able to focus on playing music. I've not done much playing - only twice since my injury and nothing since getting the virus, but it didn't really cause me any problems aside tiring me out from focusing. 

Slightly off topic, my undergraduate dissertation and a lot of my masters work looked the effects of music on the brain. My research was mostly focused on work with people with autism and various other learning disabilities, but it did provide insight into how it impacted on other neurological disorders. To me, it is not really a surprise that we can still play, even with the ongoing symptoms getting in the way. 

People keep telling me that I should press for an appointment with a neurologist and get scans done. The other side is that I have family who work in the medical profession who keep telling me that I won't be referred if the GP doesn't see an immediate need. The problem is, I can understand both sides of the argument - tests cost money and more often than not nothing shows up post concussion, and would be even less likely to because my injury was fairly minor.

I suppose we shall see what the GP says later...

[Miss_Dizzy]

You are right to pursue this.  I suffered, on the face if it, a minor head injury in November 2010.  On the Thursday my 9kg toddler threw his head back into my face.  My teeth made the inside of my lips bleed and my eyes watered but that was it.  Didn't think anything else of it.

By the Monday at work I had bad neck pain and a nasty, what I now know was, 'occupital' headache.  GP on phone dismissed it, I was floor sleeping next to the toddlers cot so I put it down to this.  Took myself off to the chiropractor who diagnosed a trapped nerve between c1and c2, X rayed me and started manoeuvres the next day.  He had been told about the bang as my friend who was with me though it might be relevant but he too paid no attention to the accident.  Treatment relieved the pain somewhat so we continued.  I also now know this was the worst thing we could have done with a torn artery.  In fact chiropractors are known for causing strokes in this way I subsequently found out.

Two weeks later I had a major brainstem stroke from where the impact had torn my vertebral artery.  This too was missed by paramedics, A&E and the gp who refused to visit me at home.  Five days later I was admitted to an HDU HASU ward and began 3 months inpatient recovery.

Had my 'minor' injury been dealt with properly none of this would ever have happened.  If you do not feel right, make them listen!  The tear was not identified until I had a contrast dye MRI post stroke.  My stem damage did not show on CT, but is clear as day on the MRI.  I was a mess by then and am still paying the price of residual neuro damage.

Just because serious damage is not usual from minor head injuries doesn't mean it doesn't happen.  You only have to catch yourself at just the wrong angle, etc etc and minor damage can have catastrophic effects.

I don't mean to make you more anxious but that's what happened.  If you know you're not right, don't let it go.  The mention of neck pain just rang bells, search VAD and CAD and see if it fits.  They are usually a form of 'hyper extension' injury when caused by an accident but I don't know the mechanics of your head bang.  Sometimes the tears themselves can cause more subtle neuro symptoms.  Strokes only occur in 15% of tears.

Good luck  x

[ClareO1986 in reply to Miss_Dizzy]

Do you mind me asking, how long was it between you hitting your head and the stroke? My head injury didn't involve hyper-extension (quite the opposite as I was working in a confined space at the time) but I've have been experiencing some but not all of the symptoms you describe. However, people keep telling me that I shouldn't worry because my head injury was so long ago now.

[RogerCMerriman]

I'm another, mild/high functioning get a number of simular folks at the local headway meetings. Some didn't even loose conscious. So attempted to just carry on, not to say that you may not recover, every one is different.

[gabimou]

Hi again Clare,

I was never a worrier or anxious, rather flippant actually before I was taken ill. Did a lot of travelling and working overseas as a holiday rep for many years and was lucky enough never to suffer ill health.

Nowadays I don't smoke after the craniotomy brain abscess very rarely drink and have completely changed my diet to more healthy eating such a big turn round for me and of course I'm older to realize that life can change within minutes.

So push for that CT scan and even visit your A&E I don't mess around now and I've never visited the dr's as much as I have these last 3 years than all my life.

I won't take anti depressants and told my neurologist, also my cholesterol was high and told him I didn't want to take statins.

He listened to me, so by doing it by diet and using herbal cholesterol tablets gave me so many months to see and luckily my recent blood tests last week shows its gone down quite alot so my next visit to him looks positive for that at least.

This has been over a period of nearly 6 months when I do my blood work for my anti seizure tablets I take, and my next step is another EEG to see how and if the tablets have made a difference even though I have noticed some things have again good days and bad depends on sleep and how much stress .....