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 After a couple of hours of waiting in the ER, Liz gets an ice pack.
August 2nd, 2011
07:18 AM ET
My concussion: Be nice to your brainElizabeth Landau is a writer/producer for CNN.com. This is her story of recovering from a concussion. I write about health issues every day but I honestly thought that concussions happened only to football, soccer and hockey players. Since kickball is the only sport I play competitively - and there's an obvious limit to how cut-throat an adult kickball game can be - I never considered that a serious head injury would happen to me. But at kickball in mid-July, I was standing in my usual less-than-important position in right field when the other team's kicker sent the ball flying right toward me. Excited to be useful, I jumped to catch it. Unfortunately, so did one of my teammates, according to my friends who watched in horror. They say we collided in mid-air, and the force of his body knocked me to the ground. But all I remember is seeing the ball, feeling pain, and suddenly struggling to breathe and speak. After a few seconds I was able to tell everyone "I'm OK" and lift myself off the grass, with assistance. One of the refs came over and suggested I go to the hospital. I wasn't having trouble speaking or thinking, but I remembered that actress Natasha Richardson said she felt fine immediately after she fell while skiing, and died later of an epidural hematoma - when blood accumulates in the area between the lining of the brain and the skull - in 2009. My friend Christina drove me to my apartment to grab my insurance card, and then to the hospital, where my boyfriend, David, met us. In the waiting room, I attempted but failed to even halfway finish a game of Sudoku on David's smartphone, and tried to read the Economist but can't really tell you which articles I read. My head hurt and I was having a hard time concentrating on anything; as hours went by, I became increasingly annoyed that the ER staff did not seem to take my complaints of head injury seriously. At around 12:30 a.m. I got to see a nurse practitioner, who tested my eyes and reflexes and sent me to get a CT of my head. Finally, at 2:30 a.m. one of the nurses told me that my CT was clear, and handed me a few printouts about what concussion means and how to treat it. In the morning I further read up on concussions from such trusted websites as the MayoClinic, with a much different eye than if I had been writing an article about them. Apparently I had already violated the "don't use a computer" rule simply by looking up this advice. And I'm a 27-year-old with a high-intensity job and music projects on the side; telling me to "slow down" and take a rest from mental activities is like telling a mouse to not eat the cheese that's right in front of it. But I did end up sleeping for much of the day, with David working from my couch to make sure that I didn't develop more pain or other new symptoms. Admittedly I did use my computer to check Facebook, and appreciated the outpouring of support from friends who'd read my status message about my injury. I consider myself extremely lucky that my injury was as mild as it was, but I've still experienced a bunch of little symptoms that I never used to associate with concussion. During that first week, anything that jarred my head in one direction or another - even nodding "yes" during a conversation or walking fast - made it hurt more. Riding Atlanta's subway for 20 minutes at a time made me nauseated (although some friends say that this is their normal experience). So I've had to make some adjustments. Antihistamines are out because they'd make me exceedingly sleepy, so I have to make do with a stuffed nose. I tried watching a psychedelic laser light show at a planetarium recently, and couldn't keep my eyes on it for more than about 30 seconds before I thought I would vomit; no more big-screen action movies for a little while. And I'm not supposed to drive until my symptoms go away, lest I lose concentration or get distracted by lights. It's hard not to stress out about inadvertently stressing my brain. Suddenly, I've had to take care of myself in a whole new way, which includes healthy habits I'd neglected before. I've had to make sure to get eight hours of sleep or more so that my head doesn't hurt as much. I've had to eat normal meals on a regular schedule, otherwise I feel weak, nauseated and unusually grumpy. Noises are louder and lights are brighter, so I've had to avoid ridiculously loud environments and make sure to wear sunglasses outside. I take over-the-counter acetaminophen as a painkiller for my head since ibuoprofen and naproxen can increase the risk of bleeding. I worried about taking my scheduled flight to Oregon six days after the accident, but I didn't really feel increased pain or nausea during the ride there. Coming back was tougher because I'd bumped my head earlier that day, hadn't eaten well, and there was some turbulence. Doctors say concussion symptoms usually clear up in a matter of weeks to months after it happens. My biggest fear is injuring my head again. After a person has had one concussion, it's extremely dangerous to have a second one before the brain has healed. If an athlete comes back to play too soon and gets a second head injury, it can result in something called second impact syndrome, a rare phenomenon that can lead to paralysis, epilepsy and even death. Of course, head injuries can happen in non-athletic settings too. When I got into a cab Thursday, I hit my head on the door frame and panicked, but the impact wasn't that hard and my fears about losing consciousness made my body feel all the worse. But it was a wake-up call to be extra careful about keeping my brain healthy. I feel a whole new level of sympathy for the countless athletes and and non-athletes who have concussions happen to them - an estimated 300,000 concussions happen annually to professional, college, and high school football players alone. I wish everyone else out there with similar problems a smooth recovery.
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Get a behind-the-scenes look at the latest stories from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and the CNN Medical Unit producers. They'll share news and views on health and medical trends - info that will help you take better care of yourself and the people you love. Recent Comments
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Scary situation to think one day everything can be going well and then it can become tradgic hope you feel better.
Henry – Yours was the first post up on the story when I read – you seem like a nice guy – I hope something good happens for you today.
Concussion can happen to anyone. I slipped on a patch of ice this winter and gave myself a severe concussion. While I was recovering I went to the funeral of a friend's father who had done the exact same thing and died of bleeding in the brain. There is nothing scarier than looking at a dead man in a coffin and feeling your head pound and knowing that just a little harder impact would have had you laid out beside him.
What hospital was this that took it's time in looking you over?
yes they do its the same way here in Texas makes me so mad
One reason health care is such a big issue these days is that if you don't have insurance or money, you have to go to the emergency room for treatment as an indigent. And if you guys think it's just Hispanics, drive out across the midwest and ask at the hospitals there. Blue eyes or brown, they're all at the emergency room.
And we're all footing the bill for it
There was a study done recently that said immigrants, illegal or otherwise, don't use emergency rooms any more frequently than the average native-born citizen. You know who does? Poor people and elderly people.
But I'm sure you'll all go on believing what you want to believe.
Roadie – they all do this, every hospital I've ever been in or seen. And the other posters are right, a lot of people use the ER as their primary physician, and ambulances as their ride there. My brother in law is an EMT in Wash DC, the stories he tells are ridiculous. "I have a stomach ache" and "I have a toofache". Basically they're making free (except to tax payers) house calls to a lot of these people.
Fortunately for some, the brain is not a vital organ.
I grew up around a guy named Jorge who would prove your point.
I got my bell rung pretty hard in a car accident in 1981. It was over two months before symptoms altogether disappeared. I remember telling everybody that I felt fine, even though I knew I really didn't. It can be a bit bewildering. You take care and take it easy!
Adult kickball can be very dangerous. It's a wonder they all don't liver cirrhosis.
what?
He means they're a group of adult-kids that use kickball as an excuse to get plastered
Thank you for your well written article Liz! Nice that you were able to focus to accomplish that–age is on your side. At age 51 months stretched into years for my recovery. After 1 1/2 yrs I could start to drive again without headache–and mine was a MILD traumatic brain injury. We'll be learning a lot more about head injury as our soldiers return, but your mainstream press is a great help!
I suffered a concussion and rotator cuff tear back in September 2010. My symptoms have yet to go away completely, but are getting a little better. The funny thing is that no one checked me for a concussion at the time of the accident even though I had a number of symptoms right away. I strongly urge anyone who has been in any type of accident to get checked out right away and listen to what your body is telling you. It may be a "minor" concussion but it is still a head injury and should be taken seriously.
You went and saw laser Floyd after your concussion?
It was actually a Radiohead laser show - a silly decision, considering my state. I didn't last more than a minute
Thanks for reading!
Elizabeth Landau, CNN
Elizabeth -
It's nice to see the author of the article following up on comments to her article. I wish that more journalists would do what you are doing. We appreciate your communication with us.
- Petercha
And I accidentally tripped stepping down from a curb. Landed right on my nose. The initial diagnosis was just a broken nose. I asked the ER doc if I should stop my aspirin therapy, and they said no, they were more concerned about clots than bleeds. My primary care physician (PCP) and neurologist both agreed that I should continue the aspirin therapy, and said the headache that I was experiencing was normal and discounted the sleep disturbance. When I asked my PCP about my concern about a subdural hematoma she said that would have been more of a concern if I had hit the back of my head. Two and a half weeks later, when my headache became unbearable, I went back to the ER where I was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma. Two surgeries later, I felt fine. (The bleed came back and had to have a second surgery 1 week after the first.)
And, by the way, I was texting, on Facebook, solving sudoku within hours after each of the surgeries. It kept me sane and in touch with my friends. I was back at work 3 weeks after the second surgery. And 2 months later it was like nothing had happened – other than a bad haircut.
My suggestion regarding flying after concussion is to wait until the headache goes away. And all physicians should recommend stopping aspirin therapy immediately after any head injury.
You are not a doctor. You should not make any recommendations about stopping aspirin after a head injury. Hopefully people will not listen to your advice, and will listen to their doctors advice. Your case is unique, and an outlier.
I was hit by a car and comatose for 2 weeks when I was 13. Then when I was 26 and drinking at a bar, I broke a inch glass beer pitcher over my head purposely smashing it with blood gushing out the top. I went home and patched it up with duct tape & cleaned all my clothes and went back. I got used to smashing my head & changing my brain frequencies. You'll survive.
Must be your head injury at age 13 made you stupid.
I'd say you have changed those frequencies too many times. You ain't normal no more.
That's pretty harsh zzz. If you're that desperate for stimulation I suggest you get off your fat a$$ and participate in a high risk sport like base jumping.
Nice article and I had the same concussion 4 years ago. Once in a while I feel the pain back in my head. Just make sure you have some doctor control every two or three years.
My friend slammed a minibike into the ground when he was fifteen and went around 'zoned' for several days, apparently in a light coma. On the third day, he suddenly sat up at the dinner table and said in surprise "I'm back!"
That's called a hillbilly bruise... it's like a coma except you get it from white trash activities
Hillbilly? White trash? Jeez, could you possibly be any more offensive then that, Ofreason?
I'm getting over a mild concussion myself. For the 1st week, I felt disoriented & nauseas constantly. I also felt about a hundred IQ points dimmer & noticed personality changes. It's very scary!
Sorry to hear. Hope you feel better!!
Elizabeth Landau, CNN
Oh for godsakes... stop being a drama queen and rub some dirt on it.
PLEASE get an MRI / MRA in about 2-6 weeks to check for a "Secondary Arachnoid Cyst" REGARDLESS of whether or not you feel you have any symptoms or not.
Per the website "BetterMedicine":
What are arachnoid cysts?
Arachnoid cysts are fluid-filled sacs that develop between the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the arachnoid membrane, one of three protective membranes that surround the central nervous system. Arachnoid cysts are filled with cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that protects and nourishes the brain and spinal cord.
Arachnoid cysts can be primary (present at birth) or secondary (arising due to disease or injury). Sometimes, cysts will develop without leading to symptoms. If the cyst is large, however, it may press on the central nervous system, which can cause headaches, lethargy, and neurological damage. In these cases, the cyst may require surgical draining.
Arachnoid cysts usually develop before the age of 20 and are present in men more often than in women. Left untreated, large arachnoid cysts may lead to complications, such as hydrocephalus (fluid buildup in the skull), early onset of puberty, and visual impairment.
Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms of pressure on the brain, including a sudden, severe, unexplained headache or a seizure.
Seek immediate medical care (call 911) for serious symptoms of pressure on the brain, including a sudden, severe, unexplained headache or a seizure.
Please tell me why she should get checked for a cyst after she got a concussion?
I am a physical therapist who works with patients who have had a stroke and/or brain injury, and concussions are definitely something to not take lightly. I myself have had 2 minor concussions snowboarding and while I have not noticed any unusual symptoms now (concussions were over a year ago), I do still have musculoskeletal issues from the impact such as muscle tightness and spasms. Bottom line, take it easy after any type of head injury and if you do notice any type of altered mental status get to the ER stat. Better to be safe!
Maybe we should all start wearing football helmets any time we leave the house.
I was hit in temple and got a concussion over a year ago and still have lasting daily headaches in my forehead. I have been to all sorts of doctors but no one knows how to solve this.
Has anyone experienced this??
try to find a Chiropractic Neurologist...they know how to diagnose and treat. Good luck!
My brain is my second-favorite organ !!!
Football has been the only time I've been a witness to concussions. My team mate would get them every month just about. I'm sure he's a very successful man today, no reason to think otherwise.
I had a concussion about at 16 yrs. of age. I ended up unconscious and in the hospital. This was in the mid 60's.
As soon as I returned to high school, I realized I couldn't do math problems, and was emotionally frustrated.
It was a long, strange path of impulsiveness, low self -esteem (thinking I was crazy), drinking-which made things worse, sense of time clearly out of whack, and a host of other problems (suicide included).
Ignorance of the situation (recovering takes years) was the most damaging. I thought maybe I better
toughen myself up and practice martial arts and boxing- obviously, I was uninformed. It's
okay, but avoid head blows.
Information about concussions came trickling in across the years. That's the good thing about wide spread
dispersion of news through the internet. That information chipped away at the feeling I was insane, creepy,
stupid, evil, unlikeable ... all those weird thoughts presently left far behind.
I hope others will be understanding as it could happen to anyone, and
especially with soldiers returning from war, we'll need to be aware
and compassionate.
My best advice- avoid alcohol and drugs. Never mind, others seem to handle it okay. Your brain may
be in a long term process of healing.
On the brighter side, I still was a functioning human being, and believe some other circuits were re-wired across
the decades. You'll see-life has more pleasant surprises than negative ones.
This was a wonderful personal accounting of the writer- I really enjoy it when authors/writers personalize articles.
It is very well done- And the picture is beautiful as well. Hope you have a speedy redcovery.
posted your injury on facebook huh? no comment
Consider yourself lucky kiddo. An unfortunate downside to a head injury, is that you can develop symptoms and cause damage that can last the rest of your life. I was in a car accident that completely wiped my memory of what happened that night. I now suffer from debilitating migraines and memory loss. I have to keep post its around the house and ask my husband when my children's birthdays are. This was 15 years ago. Head injuries are no joke. Take care of yourself and don't over do what you think are simple tasks.
I lost 3 years of my life to a concussion. Had to learn to read again etc. The doctors said I'd never get totally well and I wouldn't be able to learn new things. I did recover completely but I fear another head injury would be the end and I also have an increased prospect of alzheimers. Head injuries still aren't completely understood.
Good article, Liz, and well-written on an important subject.
One negative – as a journalist, you should know that the phrase is "make do," not "make due."
Well, I do have a concussion, so...
But you are right, and I will change it. Thank you for reading!
Elizabeth Landau,
CNN
Hypochondriac. Do you suddenly come down with every illness you write about? How can you read this and take yourself seriously?
After hitting the side of my head during a bike accident (with a helmet on), I was out of work for two weeks. I couldn't focus and was sleepy all the time. I thought this was unusual, but reading your article shows that I am not alone. thanks for the informative words.
I recently had a concussion and I spent 2 months in the bed, my eyes played tricks on me and sights and sounds were amplified and I was cranky. I couldn't get enough sleep. I had an MRI done 5 weeks later and it came out good, so no permanant damage, but concussions are no joke!
Someone needs to spend less time watching Grey's Anatomy and other such shows. I'd hate to see how much you overreact to a sprained ankle, or a bruised thigh. I'd bet we'd have to amputate that "som b**ch". It's amazing that you manage to have a boyfriend (assuming he doesn't live in his parents basement) that can put up with your melodramatic tendencies. I think the only safe bet is to leave movement to those of use capable of playing connect 4 without complaining of carpal tunnel.
your bashing her for her story that could help save someone eles. there are three levels(types) of concussions. all three are dangerous.
You keep worrying about making it worse because you keep hitting your head (the cab)...maybe its a you problem. You seem very clumsy, probably should cut out anything athletic, or walking, or leaving your apartment.
Kickball is awesome. We could use more girls on our team like you!
There's one point in your article that I can't wrap my head around (ugh- sorry!):
There are refs in kickball?!?
Nevertheless, I'm glad you're doing better
I've been struggling with my own recovery from a head injury sustained in a car accident a few months ago. I don't think most people realize how much a blow to the head can disrupt your life for weeks or months. It's can be frustrating to not be able to do things that used to be easy as well as scary to not know if you'll ever be "right" again. Hang in there! You'll improve little by little!
You might want to take a look at this website
http://www.tbilaw.com
Good luck to you...
Concussions were created by the CIA to hold down the black man.
That's what you get for playing Kickball.
Even as a kid I hated that game. Yeah, it's great if you're up kicking the ball and running around like an idiot, but if you're in the field it takes forever to get three outs. Boring game. That's why the only people who play it are kids stuck with a bored gym teacher.
The Jew and the CIA conspire to cause concussions amoung people of color in a genocidal war.
In 2003 I was in a MVA and my husband was thrown into me causing a mild TBI. I have no recollection of the accident and was in the ER and then admitted for about a day before I remember anything (all the while speaking nonsense but awake). I am a female executive and found the ensuing exhaustion, light sensitivity, word finding, slurring, noise sensitivity extremely frightening. My docs kept saying I was fine and that the symptoms would resolve. I even self referred to a neurologist who just said my tests were normal. I remember saying, "i don't feel normal". I finally found a neuropsychologist that I worked with. I ended up doing craniosacral therapy and that helped a lot. Accupuncture helped relax me. I also went to speech and neuro therapy (all self referred because my docs had no offererings fo me so I had to try to learn about what was going on with me while I was impaired). It took me 2 years to recover. The good news is that I am fine now and only notice issues when it is foggy outside, for some reason I don't understand.
Best of luck to you...be patient and breath deeply as often as possible.
Last year I got a concussion while on a cruise to the Bahamas. I ended up hitting my head on one of those bunk beds that drop down out of the ceiling. I momentarily lost consciousness but shook it off. My boyfriend saw it but even he didn't think too much about it... I think he rubbed my head and said "Careful...Baby"... Over the next few days I felt "odd" but didn't tell any of the other family members I had been traveling with about it. I felt like a klutz and it didn't seem "newsworthy" to tell anyone else. Two days later back at home after the cruise I was driving North to Seattle to a clients home (I go there every 2 weeks like clockwork) my nightmare began. I ended up driving north on I-5 about 10 -15 miles past the exit I should have taken. I was driving and it didn't even dawn on me that I had missed her exit. It was like I was driving happily with no destination in mind. When I did realize I was miles past my destination I was paniced... something felt "wrong". When I got to my clients house she asked me if I was okay. She said my eyes didn't look right. Even then I still didn't put 2 and 2 together until she asked me point blank (BTW... she is a nurse) "Did you hit your head recently?" I ended up having a few brain scans and I indeed had a bad concussion. Although my symptoms are better than they were, there are days when I try to say something and my words don't come out. I have memory lapses and other problems like doing simple math. It's like the split nanosecond between thinking a thought and saying it gets rerouted in the brain the longest route possible! Then, 7 months later I was in a car accident and was hit pretty hard from the rear and my symptoms were extremely exacerbated. But as I sit here and think about this whole mess, I feel like this concussion experience is a blessing... because in the past... when I heard people on t.v. and such with brain injuries say "I had to learn how to walk or eat again" I didn't understand how you could "forget". I could not understand that phenomenon. I now realize through this experience that although we "remember" in our brains how to eat or speak or walk... sometimes our bodies don't respond like we expect. It's like when you lay on your arm the wrong way for a long time and it goes numb and it feels like "someone else's" arm... and when you try to move it or wiggle your fingers... you can't. The mental struggle during concussion recovery can cause severe depression and anger towards one's self. Until you have experienced a concussion and the months and years that follow... you will probably never fully understand the devistation it can cause. Not only to the person with the injury but also to the friends and family who are often times frustrated because it's hard to understand and know how to support the person affected. For me... there was nothing anyone could do for me. Except be extremely patient and loving! Just know Elizabeth... it will probably get worse as the months pass before it gets better. You may not even be experiencing the worst symptoms from you concussion yet. I hope your swift medical attention lessens the effects of your injury. I wish the best for you!
You might want to take a look at this website for more information about head injuries.
http://subtlebraininjury.com/
You may also find this website interesting:
TBI Voices is at http://tbivoices.com Our project to record the TBI Voice now includes 13 full stories, more than 150 parts and 300 videos. The current story is of DJ.
DJ Part Four – DJ Before His Severe Brain Injury – A vet, a waiter, an athlete, all things that required high capacity. http://tbivoices.com/blog/?p=896
Please check out this website dedicated to second impact awareness, http://www.thesecondimpact.com/About.html
Thanks for sharing the story of your concussion. Please take a look at this website for more head injury information
http://subtlebraininjury.com/
Hi Elizabeth,
I read with interest about the part where you are now experiencing "little symptoms" that you no longer had before. Just a heads-up that if those things do continue for a prolonged period of time (the nausea, motion, action movies, lights, noise stuff you mentioned) it may be worthwhile to see an (EXPERT) otolaryngologist to rule out something called a Perilymph Fistula (barotrauma) or Superior Canal Dehiscence. Mine started with too much jarring motion of a boot-camp type exercise class, so I'm positive a head injury could trigger it, too. SCDS is a very quirky, rare condition that is hard to diagnose for lack of knowledge, but just wanted to pass that info on if it helps in the long run. Best of luck!
I've had 3 concussions, 2 from soccer and 1 from slipping on a wet log and hitting my head on the trail when I was in 6th grade. Let me tell you they are not fun, you try to be careful but just like the author it happens when you least expect it.
after suffering a head injury and coma at 16 many years ago, i still suffer the effects, and everything is so sensative,
it changed my life, but for the better.. i wouldnt have been who i am, my brain is still sensative and i wear a bump cap i guess its helped a bit, they are just like any cap but reenforced for minor bumps. makes a HUGE difference if you are prone to bumping like me.. but the whole car accident thing even 25 years later still have consequences that cannot be explained
i live for the good days
thank you
:Elizabeth for a well crafted (who cares about typos i do it all the time but im quacky)
article
your experience reminded me again im not alone
Thanks for writing! I think Rep. Giffords' shooting has raised awareness of TBI, but not enough. It is still a "silent epidemic." I was driving home from my dentist checkup in the city to my small town, fell asleep for a moment, and rolled my truck 6 times @ 70 mph (I wasn't speeding; that is the speed limit on that highway); my seat belt saved my life, but I broke many bones and had a severe TBI. I was transported by helicopter to the hospital; was unconscious for 11 days, and in the hospital for a year. Until my accident, I was a college prof; since, I am very lucky just to walk and to eat (I couldn't swallow for months). Concussion is a TBI, too, with lasting effects; prevention is important, especially for young people playing sports!
Thanks so much for writing this article. I am impressed that you read and follow up on the comments. You must have to just blow off the ridiculous ones. And kudos to you for, graciously and with such good humor, handling the reader who somewhat condescendingly pointed out a minor typo. Anyway – I suffered from symptoms for many years before learning that my light and sound sensitivity, in particular, were from concussions – one sports related and a couple of others. Big crowds and places like the mall, costco, or any big dept. or grocery store are torture even if there are no other customers – I get disoriented and panicky. For years I felt embarrassed – now with more and more information coming out about this, esp all the stories on football players who have had concussions – I have a better understanding of TBI and can share that info with others instead of suffering in silence. Good-luck & a speedy, full, recovery. I look forward to reading future stories by you.
God bless those who are going through this, and shame on those who belittle this condition as nothing or those going through this as hypochondriacs or crybabies. I'd like to see how these smart alecks would deal with this!