Best products from r/Concussion

From hearing that you have had problems with your eyes, I'd highly recommend this book - https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-My-Brain-Concussion-Plasticity-ebook/dp/B00OZ0TOLC

It's an inspiring story by an remarkable professor who documents his journey after getting in a car accident and suffering a concussion. Vision therapy worked wonders for him. I think I've seen someone on this sub take time off from work/school to travel to the same center he went to so that is an option. Conversely if you went to your local optometrist they would no doubt have recommendations for local vision therapy centers. Here's a fairly recent study documenting the successes of vision therapy.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27505624

I really wish you the best. I'm nowhere near you in life so I may not be qualified to give advice but if I did I'd say that school is secondary to you feeling better. I'm not as familiar with graduate programs as I am undergrad, but if you can take time off without repercussions I would highly recommend it. Concussions are no joke, as you know. But the brain does heal. Good luck friend!

Thanks. Have you considered earplugs as well? I tried a bunch and this was the best for sleeping:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000BYAP7I/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pretty good comfort, but great for blocking noise if applied properly.

I also tried a bunch of sleep masks out. From a comfort and coverage perspective, this one was best:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B075L8D4SB/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also bought a dog whistle to silence the neighbor's dog.

I can recommend musician's earplugs I ordered on Amazon awhile back. They reduce the volume but still let you hear sound clearly.

These 'eardial invisible earplugs' are rated to reduce sound by 11db. The foam earplugs block a lot more sound than any musicians earplugs but musician earplugs still do a great job and are more functional. This model is on the smaller side and fit my ears better than any other earplug I've tried. Just a warning thought they aren't actually invisible just somewhat hard to see imo.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P2NTVPA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Another one I've tried are these 'eargasm high fidelity earplugs'. It's rated to reduce sound by 15db. Both of the earplugs I linked to come with a keychain holder that comes in useful when out and about. If I had to choose between the two I'd go with the first because it fits better but they really both deaden noise to a more tolerable level when my ears are sensitive.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019M576XW/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?pd_rd_i=B019M576XW&pd_rd_wg=S8FDT&pd_rd_r=PW0MM4F611SPCQ5S1DF8&pd_rd_w=yCiIT&th=1

See a vestibular therapist and a neuro-optometrist for dizziness. For me, I always felt like I was “in a video game” and had severe issues in crowds or busy intersections. What I found, after 3.5 years of seeing docs, was that my eyes and ears weren’t communicating well.

Dizziness can be a variety of things. But you’ll want to google “vestibular therapy” near you and call them to see what you need to do to get an appointment. Vestibular therapists deal with a ton of concussion patients and are in the trenches every day. They can provide guidance and relief.

It’s also possible your eyes got messed up. I had undiagnosed depth perception issues for years that really screwed me up. A neuro optometrist helped me. (But maybe not! Your issue could be unrelated. Every body is different.)

As for the cognitive stuff, there is therapy for that also. I will leave the websites for the therapists that helped me in Chicago, as well as a book that talks about them, but you can try to look for similar services in your area that provide “cognitive fitness” through brain puzzles and neuroplasticity.

It sounds like the dizziness thing is the most pressing issue though. Get in with a vestibular therapist (and maybe a neuro optometrist) and see what they say.

Good luck! You will get better.

https://www.designsforstrongminds.com/


https://mindeye.com/


https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-My-Brain-Concussion-Plasticity/dp/0143108298

Hi

Your brain needs to adjust to this new stressor as it is a different combination of stimuli. You do need to ease back into it. Try to see if you can take it easier on all the "extras" and focus on letting yourself re-adapt. The right combination of "challenging" yourself but allowing some recovery. It gets easier but the transition is hard. But you need to make that first step. You wouldn't run a marathon in one day but you need to slowly challenge your system for RUNNING if that what you want to get good at.. training for something else will still make running hard.

If you are still having some lingering untreated extra challenges (such as visual deficits) that can drain your battery faster so make sure its not your vision thats really making you feel awful. Or your vestibular system still not being in good shape.

If you have counselling, its probably a good idea to continue. You need to reduce your stress levels as much as possible as it will affect your sleep and ultimately your resilience and adaptability to new stimuli. The brain has a profound capacity for adaptability but it also needs the right environment.

​

EDIT: I forgot to add that you should try using tools to maximize your performance and reduce extra strain until you are ready like blue light reducing glasses or musician ear plugs to dull sounds etc.

I used these:

https://www.amazon.com/SPEKTRUM-PROSPEK-Computer-Professional-Blocking/dp/B00RJ3OYWG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1536599877&sr=8-3&keywords=spektrum%2Bglasses&th=1

(I started with the yellow tinted version b/c it blocked more blue light and then transitioned to these as I felt better)

https://www.earpeace.com/products/earplugs?variant=43678121796

Then conserve your energy until the times you NEED to do something and as you build more stamina.. make it harder.

Ok watch this

https://youtu.be/_NNUdptowZU

Use this cheaper alternative on your frontal lobe and all over your head for now:

https://www.amazon.com/Illuminators-Infrared-infrared-Night-vision-Security/dp/B00QNC2ICM

You can grab the vetronaser too. It's way more expensive but worth it. Equivalent lasers will cost you at least 5 times as much.

http://vetrolaser.com/