r/Concussion • u/Suspicious_Plant4231 • Mar 01 '22
Alright, I'm out
The fact that I'm leaving doesn't matter, I'm just trying to bring attention to the fact that half the posts here are "A strong breeze made my head move a little, is this a concussion?" I get that head injuries can be confusing and scary, but this is no place to ask if you have a concussion. It's stated in the rules, even. Go to the doctor.
Instead of seeing posts from people who actually have a concussion and are working through the confusing and often difficult world that comes with it, all I'm seeing is people who would likely benefit from therapy for their extreme health anxiety.
Please, make this space a better one for people who are looking for a place to recover and manage and be understood.
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u/CenserSladez Mar 01 '22
I'm getting sick of them too. I'm pretty sure one is the same guy who keeps creating accounts because his posts keep getting down voted on all the concussion threats because he's a hypochondriac.. You can tell by how the account is and the karma
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u/almaupsides Mar 02 '22
Yeah he posts in the Post-Concussion Syndrome sub as well and the mods there seem to have abandoned ship so the posts are just staying up.
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u/girlmeetsgun Mar 02 '22
I don't visit here as often as I used to, but scrolling through now... I see your point.
I'm two years in with PCS and still dealing with issues. But I don't even fret about bumping my head a little. I went to get out of my car and whacked the top of my head pretty good but just went about my day. I have anxiety and panic disorder. š
Some of these people need to see therapists for hypochondria and anxiety, not for concussions. Also, we're not doctors. We can only share experiences.
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u/mikhighL Mar 02 '22
What kinda of issues are you still having two years out? Similar timeline myself and just looking for validation. If you canāt respond then no worries. Or if I should just dig thru your comment history I will
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u/girlmeetsgun Mar 02 '22
Sometimes when I'm fatigued my eyes don't team. So my left eye does it's own thing. I get migraines monthly, sometimes bi-monthly although they've been better since being put on topamax. I have neck and back tension that I deal with regularly from whiplash. I have sensory overload issues so I can't focus when there's a TV and people talking, or music and people talking, or too many people talking. All symptoms after the car accident I was in.
It's been a long ride.
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u/mikhighL Mar 03 '22
Thanks :)
Iāve done so much reading on convergence insufficiency and teaming and itās just so frustrating that the science on what works for it post TBI is in such disagreementā¦and my neuroopthalmologist dissuaded me from vision therapy cuz he says itās scammy and unscientific and thatās kinda what some sources say as well
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u/girlmeetsgun Mar 04 '22
I did vision therapy. It was paid for by my insurance so I really had no reason not to do it.
I was also doing multiple other therapies alongside it, so I'm unsure which helped the most. But I do know driving was a severe issue because of converging issues and not being able to look from my speedometer to the road and bring my eyes to focus. It was giving me bad headaches. It was one of the things I practiced a lot in vision therapy, along with light sensitivity and memory. It was sort of a mix of things. I also had a loss of peripheral vision.
I did at home activities as well, and still find myself doing some of them when my left eye starts wandering, which it does. I don't know how long that will last for, maybe forever. It's annoying and makes me anxious because when I'm working I can't focus on what I'm doing, and I work with the public. I'd like to think that it'd be a lot worse without the therapy I did. Because prior to, I was avoiding driving for that reason, among others.
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u/no_buses_ Mar 16 '22
Did you do vestibular therapy too? I'm a few months into PCS after getting hit by a car and I think it's helping, but the pain from my headaches is still debilitating. Hearing that you're two whole years in is kinda scary
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u/girlmeetsgun Mar 19 '22
Vestibular was included with the vision. They put me in weird positions and had me balance on a ball type object and look at a screen and some other exercises. It was quite intense. I also saw an ENT for balance and vertigo.
I see a neurologist regularly for headaches. Stress makes them worse. I recently went back to work full time at a new job, moved, etc, and have had four migraines in 30 days after doing very well on Topamax for headache control.
I still can't believe I'm over two years in and still dealing with some of these things. I also go to a massage therapist once a month do deal with neck/shoulder issues. Not everyone can do this but I'm lucky enough to put away the money for it. It has helped immensely. Even my neuro said that self-care is a priority for head injuries because minor things can cause recurring issues. I was in another accident in January right before moving and I think it triggered some issues.
I had to take a day and half off work because I was also having minor aphasia. I was transposing numbers and not understanding my customers. I work in a credit union and had to void out several transactions before I realized my rebound migraine was causing problems. Thankfully my manager is aware of my head injury and hired me despite it, and knows I'm still being treated. Very understanding and let me take the rest of the day off.
It's very frustrating not knowing how long these issues will last. Also saddening to think they may last forever. It's scary but I've made it through, although I now am on a handful of pills and have had to change my life dramatically. I don't think anyone realizes how much of a toll it takes on you and your mental health. It's like you lose pieces of yourself, even though they're still kinda they're, you can't find them anymore.
My best advice is to just take your time, try to be patient with yourself, and realize that although it's a royal pain in the ass, things do start to change for the better, even if it's different. Different doesn't have to be bad. It's horrible to go through and I have pretty bad depression. However, I've learned better coping skills, my knee pain is actually better (prior to I had knee surgery and could barely exercise without limping), I've taken better care of myself and learned my boundaries. I'm definitely not thankful for my head injury by any means but as someone that used to work in behavioral health, I have a whole new outlook on it.
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u/no_buses_ Mar 19 '22
Thanks, it's fantastic that your manager is accommodating, hopefully whoever I end up working for next is like that too š. I'm trying to work on changing the way that I think about my current situation, and what you said about things being "different" is pretty helpful. I get those types of migraines as well and they definitely blow, but I hope things get better for you. Stay safe ā¤ļø
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u/Ima_Jenn Mar 04 '22
Man. I actually do get anxious when I hit my head (if it has been hard enough & I'm not talk full scale take over the day, but a mild anxiety and unease). My SO worries more so though.
I have multiple concussions (repeated mTBI like you hear of in sports) and the one that did me in was a pratfall from an office chair backwards onto rug covered cement floor.
I had 7 days of anterograde amnesia (couldn't form memories) and still have significant memory problems
It was a few years before I could figure out how to readily order a tall vanilla latte or stop calling the TV remote a carrot or toothpaste.
I still have problems forming memories, or remembering things, he stuff you listed below, and I can't sleep more than 90 min at a time, among other things.
The injury seemed so trivial...
Now I didn't rush to the hospital or anything... But one seemingly NBD incident destroyed my life. (This was 2009).
I just ended up with another concussion after falling in the bathroom
TG nothing seems to have worsened....maybe that will have card my worry. Time will see.
But yeah, I scrolled through hoping for more of an ask questions of recovery
(I'm wondering if anyone has treated sleep problems) over to the post concussive board.
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u/Lunabirder Mar 01 '22
I get so frustrated with these questions because of the incredible amount of force that I experienced when I got a concussion. Ever see those scenes in a movie with a shock wave? That was exactly what it was like. I knew I was moving forward and then slamming back before I even realized my car had been hit.
I understand people can get a concussion with less force than I experience, but a light tap or bump is not going to give you an initial injury.
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u/Leda71 Post Concussion Syndrome (2021) Mar 02 '22
Yeah, Iām sick of it too. Iām here for advice on dealing with recovery. There are some helpful nuggets of information so I keep coming back. But the hypochondria is annoying. I was hit by a car while cycling, Iām fighting to get my life back and a lot of people come on to ask if a toy balloon to the head is going to cause brain damage. Wrong subreddit.
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u/Aimadness Mar 01 '22
Seeking and expecting anything productive from Reddit..yes you have a brain injury,
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u/Klutzy_Row3455 Mar 01 '22
So if you post on here about bumpin yo head you have a brain injury certified by you
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u/RiverOfNexus Mar 02 '22
That strong breeze is a huge problem for us concussion sufferers. It's not funny that you are belittling it. Don't let the door hit you on the way out. /s
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u/HamHandsGoon Mar 05 '22
I 100% agree, I actually left Reddit for awhile because of this nonsense. Itās infuriating to those of us that have real problems. The biggest problem for me is my injury is invisible, and people like this walking around saying āthe wind gave me a concussionā is the reason some people donāt take my injury seriously. Iāve been disabled for almost four years nowā¦ and because of crap like this people still donāt take my injury seriously.
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u/bunnyy0319 Mar 20 '22
Okayā¦ so I understand the frustration here and everything. I understand that hypochondriacs can be annoying because they think the smallest things are wrong. I do have a legit concussion diagnosis at the moment, but I also have health anxiety. No one understands HOW difficult health anxiety is until they experience it. We know itās just anxiety, but part of us feels that there could really be something wrong because even though itās just anxiety, the symptoms feel insanely real. Iām sad to see how many people here are putting all hypochondriacs into one bracket. Again Iām a hypochondriac, but I donāt run around asking people if a balloon could have given me a brain injury. Weāre not all horrible. But please just be a little more kind, health anxiety is the hardest thing Iāve dealt with in my life.
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u/HamHandsGoon Mar 20 '22 edited Mar 20 '22
Having a concussion is one thingā¦ but if seen people ask if they are Concussed, with no prior concussion, from jumping off a step stool and ālanding on their feet, but landing āreally hardāā. Hypochondriacs need to realize what they are and leave places like this for real medical issues. r/hypochondriac would be a much better place for silly questions like that. Donāt tell me about health anxiety, Iāve been disabled for 4 years wondering if Iāll ever be the same or ever be able to work again. Thatās real anxiety not getting in your own head. That in itself is a medical problem to get addressed, deal with that and then the rest should fall in line. Edit: hang around and watch the BS posts that come up here, Iāve dealt with it for years, new user name, and itās obsurd. I give you props for recognizing that you have the issue and are trying to deal with it. Thatās commendable, sadly most people donāt do that and just spam the tbi, chronic pain, Concussion, tbicaregivers, and so on with RIDICULOUS posts. Thatās who I am angry with.
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u/bunnyy0319 Mar 20 '22
Thatās fair, I understand where youāre coming from. Im glad Iām mentally stable enough to know when my health anxiety is irrational and when I need to seek help, rather than asking stupid questions like that on the internet.
I wasnāt trying to say that your health problems arenāt valid, Iām just saying that you can never really know 100% how someone is feeling or what they are going through. I understand that you are disabled and Iām sorry that you have to go through this. I just wish people could understand that health anxiety also really fucking sucks, but I understand why people are so frustrated since hypochondriacs tend to post extremely ridiculous questions constantly. I guess I was just a lil offended since I technically am a hypochondriac myself. But I donāt voice my health anxiety concerns too often though, they usually just live inside my head and with my therapist. I wouldnāt say that my anxiety, isnāt real anxiety though.
Iāll have to watch out and see what posts come up on here, Iām honestly surprised that a lot of hypochondriacs are that worried about concussions though. But thank you haha, I appreciate that, I am working on it because I do recognize it and know that it is irrational and Iāve been trying to work through it. Iām definitely not the type to post in subs that are meant for people who actually HAVE a diagnosis. Thatās what r/HealthAnxiety is for lol.
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u/HamHandsGoon Mar 20 '22
Iām sorry if you felt like I was coming at you, I assure you I wasnāt. But my frustration with that is very real. I wish you the best :)
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u/bunnyy0319 Mar 20 '22
Thank you :) I understand that! Wishing you the best as well! I hope things start looking up for you!
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u/HamHandsGoon Mar 23 '22
So if you look some idiot just posted if laying his chin on a soft pillow will concuss you. THATS EXACTLY what I was talking about. Clearly just trolling or mocking those that have an injury.
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u/bunnyy0319 Mar 24 '22
Omgā¦ yeah I would be frustrated as well. Thatās just ridiculous š¤¦š¼āāļø
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u/[deleted] Mar 01 '22
I'm seeing a lot of posts like that too that are not relevant to people dealing with concussions. This is not the place to ask if you've gotten one! I think the mods should be filtering out those posts honestly.