I hit my head twice when I fainted (completely unexplained) and have been suffering from PCS since. It's been over a year now and I don't feel any better. I am a sports teacher and when I hit my head I only had 3 days off and went back to work for another 2 months - I then got a scan and found that I had swelling on the brain from my injury and was signed off work for a month. The swelling went but the PCS still remains, and I am scared that because I didn't rest, I have made this recovery process so much worse. I am currently awaiting more tests (inner ear - crystals) but would like to know if anyone has expericned the same as myself and what avuce would you give me? I am a very active person and I think this is getting me down because I really struggle to do any sort of activity anymore as it makes me dizzy and feel sick.
Thanks for any feedback!
Written by
Ksi008
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Sadly a brain injury often has lasting consequences, especially balance and memory issues, and the fact that the diagnosis of your injury was delayed might have complicated matters further..
PCS can persist longer than 12 months and, being active by nature, you're possibly more impatient than some to get back to your previous fitness level. There's invariably a heap of disappointment following brain injury unless you're prepared to make allowances for the deficits caused by damage, and even then it's hard.
I hope you'll be one of the lucky ones who achieves a good recovery but please be prepared, somewhere along the line, to face a degree of compromise. Best wishes to you, Cat x
randomphantoms , I'm confused by you saying PCS is based on length of unconsciousness rather than level of injury. I have PCS but didn't lose consciousness at the time of impact. Please excuse my ignorance if i've misunderstood.
That is sort of the point . You can have a brain injury without being unconscious at all.
The specialist explained to me that PCS is not generally used until a minimum of 6 months ........but more often a year after any head injury when loss of consciousness, if any, has been less than 20 minutes.
Ksi008 I doubt very much that your recovery has been hindered by your initial three days rest. I am ten years on from my accident & still have illness, cognitive problems etc on a daily basis. I didn't know if to comment or not as I realise my experience is far from encouraging. Sincere apologies if my reply has been a hinderance rather than a help. cat3 is right in that life after BI requires compromise & disappointment, this is a lesson I am trying to come to terms with. I would advise only that you don't push yourself to prove medics or yourself wrong (the inevitable crash & burn is never pretty & can be soul destroying), take rest before fatigue floors you (tiredness increases the intensity of my symptoms) & avoid stressful situations.
Best wishes
CCxx
Hi, please do not fret about not 'resting'! The brain does its job when you are asleep and when it has a big job to do it simply 'pulls the plug' when it needs to! You may have felt particularly tired - and the dizziness/nausea are also you body saying 'nope'. Do not fight it just accept that for quite a while this repair task is the priority. My personal theory is that if the conscious brain is cooperating the sub-conscious brain (which, let's face it, runs the show) is easier on you and cuts you a bit of slack to do things... Stay hydrated, make sure you get all your vitamins and go tee total. Trust your brain!
Have a chat with Headway and get some of the e books from the website.
Apart from that, have a look at drdiane.com for her book on PCS and the diet book based on her advice by Tina M Sullivan, Nourish Your Noggin. Perhaps changing your diet will give you an added boost and who would say no to dark chocolate! Yes, that is on the diet in moderation. Thai curries with coconut oil also fit into it.
Hi Ksi008. I really do empathize with your dilemma. I too went back to work after only three weeks rest post concussion and was very symptomatic and worse as days went on. Six weeks latter I had a focal seizure, tingling , numbness and pulsation on my left side. My head CT showed a subdural hematoma that was 'old' enough ' to be from my fall six weeks earlier. What was new was some new fresh blood causing the seizure. I am on seizure medication, not allowed to drive and out of work since Dec 12. It is frustrating to hear but wise to heed the rest needed for recovery. It can take months or years. Each of us has to decide what to do. I know your struggle as do many on this site. I wish you well and hope this site provides the support that you need. Namaste' , Marty
Thank you everyone with your comments and suggestions, I'm glad there are people around who share the same struggles. I do think it's about realising that for a long time you are not going to be the person you was and accepting that is the biggest hurdle. something I feel like I am starting to accept now. Thank you again for all your advice, I really do appreciate it and it has already helped me x
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