anyone had a concussion?

One of my characters, due to a heart problem, fainted in gym class. I wanted her to stay unconscious for about half an hour, so I decided to have it that she banged her head when she fell and got a minor concussion. However, although I've fainted before, I've never had a concussion, so I don't know what it feels like.

So, has anyone here had a concussion? What was it like?

It's possible to have a concussion and still be conscious. Furthermore, it is possible to have a concussion and not even know you have one, though people with concussions usually have headaches, nausea, difficulty thinking straight and like symptoms.

I hear (though it could simply be a myth) that if you have a concussion, it is dangerous to go to sleep for longer than a couple hours because there is the possibility you may die or go into a coma.

Actually, it isn't entirely true according to this newsletter, but the advice is the same.

edited 8th May '11 8:34:12 AM by annebeeche

My friends said I behaved as if I was under the effects of alcoholic intoxication (nauseas, difficulties for speaking, standing up, etc.). But I don't really remember anything. If it helps I fell headfirst against the floor after doing a swing on uneven bars and losing my grip.

edited 8th May '11 9:33:58 AM by Quoth

If she was unconscious for half-an hour, it's not going to be a minor concussion. Medical advice is to seek emergency care for any head injury that results in unconsciousness lasting more than one minute.

A very good, very complete, very readable webpage on concussion.

edited 8th May '11 9:38:44 AM by Madrugada

Wait a minute... Why is your character unconscious for half an hour — in gym class? Where is the teacher?

Also what's the heart problem?

My guess with the heart problem sounds like its a congenital defect like a faulty mitral valve.

Didn't fall unconscious, but:

When it happened to me, I went through the rest of the day sort of feeling like I was watching a not-engaging TV show. For example, I could understand that I had just fallen off a rope and landed on my head (PE activity gone awry), but had to be explicitly told to not go back on the rope again. When I was sitting and saw kids doing almost exactly what I had done to get the injury, I thought, "PE teacher should probably stop them," then continued sitting quietly.

Ettina: You could say that the person has low blood pressure, which can cause dizzy spells. (According to this site low blood pressure can be caused by a weakened heart muscle.)

I tend to have low blood pressure, and I've had dizzy spells because of it. It tends to happen when I get up too quickly, especially if I've been squatting or lying down.

I ended up getting a mild concussion that I think was due to having a dizzy spell, although I can't remember for sure. (The memory loss was what made me realize it was a concussion.)

It was in the middle of the night, and I'd gotten out of bed quickly. I woke up on the floor with a bruise on my head and no idea how much time had passed. I didn't remember the bruise or falling. It took me about a minute to get oriented since I was dizzy and it felt like the floor was moving.

I had a headache for the next few days - which was made worse when I was in bright light - and some mild nausea. I also felt drained, like I hadn't been getting enough sleep.

Once I was body checked into a brick wall and rapped the back of my head against it. I was out for maybe three seconds. Contrary to popular belief, if you get whacked on the head everything doesn't go black; it solarizes to white.

Losing your vision is most common when you whack the back of your head - your occipital lobe regulates sight.

I once fell off the playground. I remember feeling immediately numb at first, as I hurt myself on the forehead. Then the pain went away — I was dizzy afterwards; I lost my sense of balance and it seemed like I was seasick. When the pain did come back, it was a dull hum which gradually receded. A very enlightening experience.