Before I tell you about my concussion, I must first tell you: I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. This post is not a health care professional’s opinion. All opinions are my own.
I haven’t talked about it much here, but the past two weeks have been extremely difficult for me. If I sound like I’m rambling or use a word wrong, please forgive me.
Two weeks ago, While I was creating beverages for a cocktail contest, my kids were moving our little, light sofa with plastic legs all around our living room. It finally came to rest just under our bar where we have a natural stone counter top. I actually kind of liked the sofa there, so I left it.
We did our normal bedtime routine of up and down and screaming and back patting and crying (me) and when the babies were finally asleep, I tip toed down the stairs and did a cartwheel for joy when I reached the bottom. I then grabbed my computer and flopped down onto the sofa. So, imagine a walrus capable of walking on its back flippers. Now imagine that walrus just plopping down onto a sofa without the usage of arms or his front flippers. Don’t forget to imagine the natural stone counter top behind the sofa.
Yeah. That happened.
I was immediately pukey, the room was spinning all over the place, I could literally feel my brain – like a Jell-O brain mold – smack against the frontal lobe of my head and kind of jiggle around a little bit before recovering back to its normal home, then maybe swelling a little bit. My eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my head; my ears suddenly felt full of fluid and hot, very, very hot; I had a pulsing headache, it was difficult to keep my eyes open because the dim nighttime light was bothering them, and I couldn’t form a coherent sentence. I mean, I could think a coherent sentence, but what came out when I typed didn’t make any sense to the people I was typing it to. I was alone, the children were sleeping, and I didn’t know what to do. I finally gained the function in my legs, and took myself to bed, but landed face-down with my clothes on and passed out. When Kyle got home, he roused me. It’s very blurry but according to him, he asked me some questions and I didn’t make a whole lot of sense, but I knew the important things like where I was and my name so he just let me be.
I woke up the next morning feeling almost exactly the same as I had after I whacked my money maker. I felt slow, groggy, puffy, I had to work really hard to form a sentence when I spoke and I wasn’t seeing colors properly. I saw my healthcare provider that day and she gave me some ideas about how to help heal. One was to stay off of the computer, off of my phone, away from screens period, no reading, no physical activity other than just simple things around the house. I was basically on a mental bed rest. I SUCKED at it the first day, but I felt the effects of that the next day and I began to listen.
I craved sugar so hard. I ate all the yogurt in the house, all the fruit, I went to the store and bought ice cream, Chick Fil’A for milkshakes, and I made gluten-free pancakes just so I could mop some syrup up. This really disgusting thing happened.
I started feeling bloated and yeasty and just even more gross than I should have given the condition of my brain. I got on my phone (bad, Summer, BAD!) and did some research. Apparently it’s normal to crave sugar after a brain injury, but what your brain really needs is fat. And what your body really needs, is good flora, and I was in desperate need of some fat and flora.
I immediately went to the store like a snail in a mini van, and slithered through the aisles buying foods full of Omega-3 fatty acids, berries high in antioxidants, and nuts. I got plain yogurt high in probiotics to hold me over until I could get down to Costco and purchase that new membership I had been thinking about getting. I went home and dug in. I also rested that day and stayed off of screens. I slept a lot that night and woke up feeling significantly better, but still strange.
A couple days later, I got the guts to drive to Costco with the littlest ones. I had wanted to get a membership there for quite some time for several reasons. One of which is the fact that we are a family of 5 and we go through a ton of food. The other is because I’ve been a slacker about taking my supplements lately, and I knew from friends and family that Costco carried some great brands that I could save a ton of money on.
This trip was specifically for a probiotic supplement. The gut plays an enormous role in how well nutrients from food are absorbed into your body. If your gut is full of sludge, you’re not going to absorb the same amount of nutrients as you would if you had a clean gut. This affects your entire body, and guess what else? Your brain.
I used to take probiotic supplements religiously but somewhere along the way I got lazy again. I realized that with this brain injury, I needed maximum nutrients reaching my brain which means that I needed a clean gut.
I found Insync Probiotic right on an endcap at Costco once I got to go inside. I didn’t want to look any further so I grabbed a box, which has 90 caplets inside – a 12 week supply! There are six natural probiotics in Insync Probiotic including the doctor recommended B. infantis . Plus, this is gradual release, so I don’t have to take it a few times a day. The patented technology protects the probiotics until they are released into your system which keeps them alive so that they can do their thing when they are needed.
I didn’t even wait to get home to take some because I was afraid I’d forget. Seriously, this concussion has been no joke on my short term memory recall. I feel like the guy from Memento.
I like taking my probiotic supplements in the morning because it gets things moving so to speak. I kinda like having that happen at the same time every day so I don’t have to worry about trying to find a quiet restroom at the mall. Not that I’m doing much leaving of the house lately.
I’ve been taking the Insync Probiotic supplements for almost a week now, as well as eating healthier, fatty foods to fuel my brain’s healing. I’ve been trying to stay off of the computer as much as I can which isn’t easy when your job is done 100% on the computer. The probiotics and fatty foods seem to be helping my memory function return. I actually remembered that Madilyn had ballet today!
The correlation between a healthy gut and a healthy mind is so strong. Sure, the food that we eat plays a large role in that balance, but keeping your gut flora healthy is just as important as the food that you choose to eat. Keep that gut/brain balance healthy so that if you ever experience a brain injury, you’ve got a leg up on the cravings and healing.
Now in the mean time, please say a little prayer for my brain and me. Colors appear normal now as long as I don’t work too hard. My right eye still feels puffy and when I get tired or I overdo it, my ears feel clogged. My brain goes back and forth from my being aware that it’s there, to my wanting to pull it out of my skull because it hurts so badly.
Each day is a new day for better choices and good healing. Each day is different. There have been some good days and some bad days. I really do believe in the brain/body connection, though. Taking probiotic supplements is keeping my gut healthy, which should be helping my brain heal with increased nutrient absorption.
But seriously, don’t wait until you have a brain injury or something wrong with your stomach. Start taking a #NaturalProbiotic supplement NOW.
#CollectiveBias
Tim says
That’s some scary stuff, right there. Feel better soon!
Summer says
Thanks, Tim! I’m definitely doing my best to feel better. It’s not easy that’s for sure. Or maybe I’m super impatient? One or the other.
JanetGoingCrazy says
I just have one question – have you moved the couch back away from the counter yet?! This is so scary and I hope you feel better soon! #client
Summer says
Yes, the couch has been moved back to its rightful place, and the children are terrified to touch it. 🙂
Kristy says
That is AWFUL!!! You must of really hit that hard. I am hoping you are getting to feeling better!
Summer says
Thanks, Kristy! I’m working on it! It was a really good whack, right where my skull meets my spine. FUN.
Stephanie says
Feel better … It does take time. It’s good you’re taking care of yourself while you heal. I smacked my head after falling on ice a few months ago – took sooo long to feel back to normal.
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
That sounds so scary, so sorry that happened to you! I loved the story of the probiotics, dietary supplements are so important, and you really gave a great overview.
James says
That was a great story. It’s always imortant to keep your body and mind well balanced. If you do, everything else will eventually fall into place. Great article!