Long term effects of concussions? - Mental Health Message Board

YellowCrayon · 06-04-2006, 12:05 AM

Back in February I suffered from a pretty bad concussion. I did not black out at any point, but I do have problems remembering what I did for the few hours afterwards. When I was taken to the ER I ran into a friend I've known for 7 years and it took me 10 minutes to figure out who he was. I was sick to my stomach for 2 weeks afterwards.

After recovering I felt back to normal. About a month later I went through a period of a few weeks where it felt like my memory was completely lost. I would ask someone to pick something up from a store for me and they'd come home and hand me the bag and I'd stare at them blankly and ask what they bought me. Gradually that too got better. I still suffer from memory problems, that I don't think I had before. I usually have a pretty good memory, and most of the time I still do, but I have these "lapses" where I just blank out.

My main concern now is mood swings. The past few weeks I've just had some really uncontrollable mood swings. My patience is almost gone and the smallest things will tick me off. I feel like a 8 year old because I feel like throwing temper tantrums when things don't go right and I just want to throw everything. (And a lot of the time I do) Then I'll go back to being completely happy and can go out with friends and laugh and joke and have a good time. But when something doesn't go right or someone gets angry at me I get all upset really easily. I'm generally a very easy going person and it usually takes a lot to really set me off. I tend to let a lot of things slide and not bother me at all. And now I can't seem to get past anything. My emotions are just one huge rollercoaster.

I don't want to automatically assume this is from my concussion, for all I know it could just be a phase I'm going through. But since I don't know a lot about concussions and long term effects, I figured it'd be wise to find out. How can I tell if this is just a phase or something else?

trg247 · 06-04-2006, 02:09 PM

It seems to me you have been suffering from this way to long and it may be time to go see your doctor again.

take care
trg247

mimgregg · 06-05-2006, 12:34 AM

I suffered two head injuries within 3 months of each other. The first I had no problems, the second I seem to have lost most of my short term memory. I suffer mood swings, confusion, exhaustion, chronic pain, and am on lyrica for nerve pain. I would check into a neuro psychologist to test your abilities and then research your school IQ scores to compare it to. I found mine through my school I went to in 2nd grade. My IQ had dropped 29 points from 2nd grade til now,and according to my doc I should add at least 15 points to my 2nd grade IQ score since I have had so much education. We are now evaluating me for disability, and have found a local Traumatic Brain Injury support group on the recommendation of the psychologist I have been assigned to to help me deal with my emotions, fear of being around large amounts of people, going new places, being unable to learn new things well b/c of short term memory, and just plain trying to adapt to being someone I never was before. I suggest checking into a local TBI group in your state. Do a google search. Good luck to you!
~Mim

dcl297 · 09-12-2007, 08:17 AM

I'm new here and am concerned for a loved one who may be suffering from repeated concussions. I was wondering fter reading your post . Did you find help? What kind of help did you recieve? Or is there any help for this.
Thank you
D

jestys · 09-30-2007, 08:04 PM

it was terrific to find this site. I had a car acident on September 6,2007.My physical injuries are being teated with therapies and are truly not as bad as they could have been; I can walk and move minimaly. The major concern for me is what has seemed to happen to my memory. I cant find my way around new surroundings and I can't think of why I walked into a room or what the keys I have in my hand might be for. I am concerned about what this means in the long term regarding career etc.. Has anyone experienced short term memory loss that has lasted and what can be done about it. How do I trust my own thinking and behavior. Also , I can't sleep more than a few hours at a time and I am having diahrrea every day.
I would welcome any advice or reading materials so that I might better understand what to expect in the long term.