• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Archives
  • Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
The Brain Health Magazine
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Archives
  • Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The Brain Health Magazine
No Result
View All Result

Did You Just “DYS” Me?!

Dysautonomia After Brain Injury

in dysautonomia
January 28, 2020
0
Did You Just “DYS” Me?!

Kelly Harrigan

Do you want the bad news or the good news? 

Okay, here goes with the knockout punch: dysautonomia affects more than 70 million people worldwide and, at this time, there is no cure. The good news? Now that you know what you’re dealing with, you can educate yourself (and others) to manage this DYS-order.

I feel like I’ve been dissed…

Probably, but it wasn’t your fault. Let’s break the word down so we know what it means. Dys means bad or difficult. Autonomia refers to self-governing or self-regulating. “Houston, we have a problem,” regulating our body’s nervous system with functions we take for granted. Dysautonomia comes in two forms: 1) primary, which is inherited or genetic, and 2) secondary, which results from another condition or an injury.   

How do we solve a problem like dysautonomia?

Find a good functional neurologist or integrative medicine doctor. When trauma occurs in the brain, it disrupts many systems in the body. Unfortunately, most doctors are specialized, meaning they deal only in one area of practice, like the heart for instance. Dysautonomia needs a multi-disciplinary approach, and because its symptoms can be so generic (meaning they are symptomatic of other diseases or illnesses), it’s hard to pinpoint a diagnosis. It doesn’t help that our healthcare insurance has become a fast-food approach—in and out with the most profit—leaving us to see an organic and holistic approach visible only in the rearview mirror. 

Symptoms vary; they come and go, and are triggered by physical, emotional, and environmental stressors. A smattering of symptoms include:

  • Low blood pressure
  • Low energy–feeling like you can barely move
  • Heart palpitations
  • Feeling weak
  • Mood swings and irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Dizziness, fainting, or vertigo
  • Tremors
  • Low glucose levels
  • Migraines and headaches
  • Trouble regulating your body’s temperature
  • Loss of appetite
  • Visual disturbances
  • Aversion to light and sound—so not a fan of “shock and awe”
  • Problems with urination or constipation
  • Brain fog
  • Attention and focus issues

These symptoms can be attributed to the brain injury itself as post-concussive syndrome, and not be diagnosed as dysautonomia resulting from the brain injury. It can be frustrating for those who have dysautonomia, and their symptoms are seen by an endless round of specialists or are dismissed with statements like “it’s all in your head,” “you should workout more,” “you look great though,” “eat more and gain some weight” or “you’re probably just depressed…get out a little more.” If you had a dime for every time you heard that—you’d a member of the millionaire club.

Temperature regulation seems to contend to be a top symptom, feeling “hot, hot, hot,” or like “ice ice, baby.” Your body temperature might not be in the normal range and might run a few degrees on either side of normal. You may feel you need a fur coat when the temperature dips below 70, with every hair on your arms standing up, covered in goosebumps, longing for those summer nights. Yet, when summer arrives, along with the humidity, you might feel like you have to crawl to your bed and inject IV fluids to avoid brain fog, confusion, dehydration, and dizziness. 

Other top contenders are low blood pressure and fatigue. Changes in blood pressure may occur upon standing and with changes in your heart rate—a drop that’s too fast and too far can cause you to faint. No need to point out the obvious that you could hit your head. (I’m mentally face palming myself at the irony…) The fatigue is can be so intense —  bone-wearying, feels like death, and includes brain fog and muscle weakness. Would you rather run a marathon, do a school science project, and twelve loads of laundry in one day—or deal with a day of dysautonomia fatigue? That was a trick question…

Sounds like I need a little patience…

It’s a true statement that we need patience, along with doing some low-tech management:

  • Stand up slowly and elevate your upper body when sleeping to reduce that blood pressure drop when you rise, which decreases your chances of fainting.
  • Make like a camel. Hydrate and use electrolytes. We’re a naturally dehydrated population with our caffeine fixes, so drink lots of water. Keep it in your car, by your bed, and while binge watching movies. 
  • Consider adding Himalayan sea salt to your diet to help balance electrolytes, give your body an assist in retaining water, while giving your blood pressure a much-needed boost. You should definitely consult with your practitioner before taking this tip.
  • For fun in the sun—skip the sun and stay in the shade or inside with the air conditioning and the fan. Keep a small fan by your bed or chair for when your internal Mt. Vesuvius erupts.
  • Store an extra-cool fashion hoodie in the car for the advent of the Ice Age. Start a new fashion trend with all the scarves you’ll be wearing to keep warm.
  • Don’t try to climb Mt. Everest or participate in the Tour de France just yet. Instead, practice moderate exercise, like walking. 
  • Eat … while you’re not fattening up for the holidays like Santa Claus, you do need to maintain and get proper nutrition even if your appetite has disappeared. Keep some bars on hand like Crickstart or 88 Acres brands for gluten-free, non-GMO, protein-style snacks, or get snack bags of almonds. Or, consider adding some protein drinks, like Remedy Organics, to get your two-fer: hydration and protein.
  • Your future is so bright you gotta wear shades…wear them when you need to, indoors or outdoors. And add some inexpensive silicon earplugs to help with your noise aversion or go hardcore and treat yourself to some Beats.   
  • Be kind to yourself.

Disclaimer: As always, please consult with a licensed medical practitioner for your medical needs.

Kelly is a single mum, veteran, TBI survivor with a girl child and a frenchie, oolong tea in hand and humor on hand, who lives in Annapolis, Maryland.   

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare Via EmailPinterest
Next Post
Managing Stress With Plants

Managing Stress With Plants

SIGN UP

BLOG

Yoga: Seated Cobra Pose

Yoga: Seated Cobra Pose

By Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief Yoga is a powerful tool for neuroplasticity. Contrary to some beliefs, everyone can do yoga — you don’t need to be super flexible, be able to balance, or even be able to stand up. The beauty of yoga is every pose can be modified to accommodate anyone. An important aspect of […]

Read more
Resilience After a Brain Injury

Resilience After a Brain Injury

By Dr. Shane Steadman, DC, DACNB, DCBCN, CNS Recovery after a brain injury can be a long journey. Working hard and hoping to get back to baseline often can be frustrating, and for some, unattainable. With the many doctor visits, exercises, rehab appointments, medications, and supplements, goals can become lost. However, amid recovering from a […]

Read more
The Resiliency of the Human Brain and Body

The Resiliency of the Human Brain and Body

By James A. Heuer, PA As a personal injury attorney for over 45 years, I have witnessed many of my clients successfully recover from a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Whether the TBI occurs from a car crash, a slip and fall, or blow to the head, the resiliency of the human body and brain is […]

Read more
Resiliency: Is It Just Personal or Part of Brain Chemistry?

Resiliency: Is It Just Personal or Part of Brain Chemistry?

By Deborah Zelinsky, O.D. The term resiliency encompasses “the range of personal protective factors, environmental supports, and resources, as well as self-regulatory processes, engaged in response to adversity,” according to investigators writing about recovery from traumatic brain injury (TBI) for the publication Disability and Rehabilitation. Indeed, author Mike Norton  said it best when he wrote, […]

Read more
Stress Away Essential Oil

Stress Away Essential Oil

By Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief A complementary tool that can help you achieve a healthy lifestyle, essential oils are easy to use and smell great, with a variety of uses. All oils are not created equal. I personally only trust the Young Living brand because I know they maintain complete control over their product from seed […]

Read more
Resiliency and the Courtroom

Resiliency and the Courtroom

By Jeff Heller Resiliency is one of the greatest attributes anyone can have. From an early age, parents teach their children, “if you get knocked down, you get back up.” Coaches teach their players, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” And one of the cornerstones of the underdog mentality is to “never […]

Read more
The Quality of Resilience

The Quality of Resilience

by Shauna Hahn Sometime in 2019, in the weekly “Healing and Recovery” therapy group I lead, we discussed the topic of the quality of “resilience.” When it came time for a patient to contribute, he said, “I don’t want to be resilient. I get tired of being resilient all the f**king time.” And I heard […]

Read more
Peanut Butter Protein Fluff

Peanut Butter Protein Fluff

By Amy Zellmer, Editor-in-chief What You Need: 1 cup (250g) full-fat Greek yogurt 2 tbsp. peanut butter or almond butter 2 tsp. stevia Favorite garnish (banana, granola, blueberries) Add the yogurt, nut butter and stevia into a small mixing bowl and whisk together using a hand mixer, until fluffy. Transfer the mix into a bowl […]

Read more
Arizona Man Overcomes Three Traumatic Brain Injuries and Gives Back By Building Adaptive Recreation & Socialization Program for Survivors

Arizona Man Overcomes Three Traumatic Brain Injuries and Gives Back By Building Adaptive Recreation & Socialization Program for Survivors

By Ed Roth Randy Elston is finally living his best life, which may be an odd thing to say about a Marine Corps veteran with three traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Recently named as the Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona’s new Adaptive Recreation & Activities Coordinator, Randy’s tours of duty in Iraq left him with a […]

Read more

INSTAGRAM

Follow Us!

  • It was such a pleasure to keynote at the @biaofms NeuroTrauma Symposium last Friday. What an amazing group of professionals and survivors. I found some new resources I didn’t even know existed out there!! 

#bia #braininjury #concussion #tbi #pcs #keynote #brainhealth #neuroplasticity
  • Neuro fatigue is beyond tired, it’s when you’re brain says “I’ve had enough” and shuts down everything. It often a sneaks up on you when you least expect it, making it hard to manage. 

If you’ve never experienced it, it’s truly hard to understand. But please believe us when we tell you we’re done and need to rest. And that rest may look different for everyone. Some may need a nap. Some may just need a quiet space. There’s no right or wrong way to rest. 

#braininjury #tbi #pcs #concussion #braininjuryawareness #braininjuryawarenessmonth #TBIsurvivor
  • A traumatic brain injury is the ultimate “invisible injury” as no one can see what’s happening inside your brain. Even imaging doesn’t show a TBI (unless you have bleeding or severe trauma). It’s impossible to explain to others, and even doctors don’t take us seriously or know how to help us. 

It is incredibly frustrating to go through life being told “there’s nothing we can do. You’ll just have to give it more time and see what happens” and even more frustrating when you find out that there are doctors out there who truly DO know how to help us!  Like @integratedbraincenters 

#braininjury #tbi #pcs #concussion #functionalneurology #braininjuryawareness
  • I remember how I would literally need to lay down after taking a shower because it was so exhausting. And something like going to the grocery store and bringing them in and putting them away would require me to do nothing else for the rest of the day. It was a one-chore kind of activity. 

These are normal, every day things we take for granted before brain injury, and afterwards they require soooo much energy and effort. It’s truly hard for someone who hasn’t experienced a brain injury to understand. 💚

#braininjury #tbi #concussion #pcs #braininjuryawareness #TBIsurvivor
  • You totally got this!! 
Is it gonna be easy? Nope. 
Is it gonna be worth it? Absolutely! 

#tbi #braininjury #concussion #pcs #TBIrecovery #TBIsurvivor
  • The Chair Yoga Pocket Guide is trending on Kickstarter! We’re over half-way to our goal! Can you help us get there by pre-ordering an autographed copy of the book?? 

LINK IN BIO 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/brainhealthmag/the-chair-yoga-pocket-guide

#chairyoga #accessibleyoga #chairyogateacher #chairyogabook #chairyogaworkshop #accessibilityinyoga #kickstarter @kickstarter #chairyogaauthor #author #mnyoga
  • I remember folks would talk to me and my brain would take forever to process what they were saying. They would be into the next subject and I’d still be trying to decipher their first sentence. It was frustrating and exhausting. 

Friends would tell me to “try harder” and concentrate. But that’s not how it works with brain injury. 

It’s like if you drop your laptop and scramble it’s processor. 

#braininjury #concussion #tbi #pcs #braininjuryawareness #braininjuryawarenessmonth #TBIsurvivor
  • #Repost @integratedbraincenters
Recovery as defined in the dictionary is a return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength. 

Missing from this definition is that recovery is a continuum. We often hear in recovery post surgery that a patient is a percent recovered (Sue is 80% recovered post hip replacement) demonstrating that recovery is not an all or nothing situation but is rather a spectrum. 

Not everyone will make a 100% recovery but most people can move forward in their recovery in some way, even if it is only 10% or 70%. 

To say that recovery is not possible in any capacity is probably untrue. The more severe the injury the more likely you will never be the same person you were prior, but that does not mean that you can’t get back to doing the things you love and contribute to your family and community.

#beaininjury #concussion #tbi #pcs #neuroplasticity #resilience #resiliency #TBIsurvivor
  • No two brain injuries are the same, therefore, no two recoveries are the same. Don’t compare yours against someone else’s, as you never know what they’ve already gone through. 

Focus on YOU and your recovery. What could you try differently? What should you maybe give up? I personally gave up alcohol and gluten and that was huge for me and my inflammation. 

#braininjury #concussion #tbi #pcs #neuroplasticity #functionalneurology #funcneuro #neuronerd

© Copyright 2019 | The Brain Health Magazine

  • Advertise With Us
  • Submission Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Contact Us

DISCLAIMER: THIS MAGAZINE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE - View PDF

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Archives
  • Directory
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used.