Yikes! time to start thinking about a “drinking helmet.”

Posted by Rich from Seattle on 01/23/08 at 03:19 PM ET

“If you ask me, it’s Roberto Luongo’s fault. If he were playing better—especially on offense—none of this would have happened.”
-- Alain Vigneault

Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery! And, on the plus side, at least you’re not out for the rest of the season like some of your concussed brethren in the NHL.

Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 01/23/08 at 03:51 PM ET

Wow, Alanah!  This is awful!  I hope you start feeling better soon.  Just rest and eat chicken soup, and take tylenol.  If you are posting, that is good news.  Hang in there!

Posted by w2j2 on 01/23/08 at 04:27 PM ET

Rich -- In my own defense, I was sober at the time the injury happened… it was my attempt to a acquire the beer that created the problem.

YzermanZetterberg -- Geez, your Vigneault quote just makes me want to cry.  But thanks for the best wishes, and I’m sure I’ll be fine.  (At least I will be as soon as I stop seeing the blinking lights and pretty colors every time I move my head...)

w2j2 -- Thanks. Chicken soup sounds like a plan.

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 01/23/08 at 04:54 PM ET

I have trouble explaining it, but, based on my experience, everything will probably feel “fuzzy” for the next few weeks.

Imagine watching a Blu-Ray DVD on an HD screen with pimped-out surround sound. Now, imagine you blink. When your eyes open, you’re now watching Betamax on an 80s Zenith with one mono speaker.

For me, that feeling that there’s something missing from the picture (not just with Television) persisted for about a month.

Posted by Steve from Pittsburgh on 01/23/08 at 04:55 PM ET

I think I’ve had about 9 concussion. Probably 5 bad ones. Hockey, Mountain Biking, dirt biking, and Skiing being the biggest culprits, but the worst came from a game a tag football that included beer and eventually full contact with no gear....

I can tell you it’s no laughing matter. The last one I had from hockey I felt the effects of for at least 2 months I would say. Dizzy, tired, just ‘not right’.

My buddies call me the helmet nazi as I am always harrasing them to take precautions.

Good luck with your melon alanahbanana

Posted by Ryan from BC on 01/23/08 at 05:25 PM ET

OW!

Completely concur with Steve, the world will be a fuzzy place for a couple of weeks.  Kinda like being on a hefty dose of Tylenol… just without the sleepiness.

Hang in there… and I’m sure the concrete will come off on the losing end next time. 

Posted by Keith from Burnaby on 01/23/08 at 06:25 PM ET

Steve -- I know what you mean. Even when I feel ‘clearer’ at times, I definitely feel like something is missing from the picture. I guess I can handle it for a few weeks, if all the other ‘fun stuff’ stops soon.

Ryan -- NINE?? Good God. I really have to quit complaining.  Once is enough!

Keith -- I’m ready to take a jackhammer to that concrete.  When I get my attitude back, it had better watch out…

Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 01/23/08 at 06:45 PM ET

Ouch!

Take care of yourself, girl.  And next time take some explosives to the concrete slab. 

Chicken soup is good - so are hot chocolate and hot vanilla (heat some milk until hot, stir in a spoonful of honey, a drop of vanilla, and sprinkle with cinnamon - good for the throat and the head).

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/23/08 at 08:49 PM ET

Baroque, Alanah wants to know if you should let the hot chocolate cool down before applying that mixture to the head?

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 01/23/08 at 09:12 PM ET

Chicken soup?

Pfft…

Hot oatmeal with brown sugar, ginger, and cinnamon is where it’s at.  Moderation is everything so don’t overdo it.

Take care of that head bump, Alanah.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 01/23/08 at 09:13 PM ET

OY!

Sunglasses.  First and foremost, sunglasses.  Light sensitivity can nail you hard.  Then Tyelnol/Asprin/painkiller of your choice, something to keep your electrolytes up (soup, Gatorade, orange juice), and a little patience...And maybe some post-it notes, should your short-term memory suffer.

It’s been two years since I had my “grade 2+” concussion, and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.  Take care of that head--you only get one.

Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 01/24/08 at 04:43 AM ET

Baroque, Alanah wants to know if you should let the hot chocolate cool down before applying that mixture to the head?

Just so it’s warm to the touch. 

(One of these days I will actually type everything I think instead of skipping comments because I type too fast.  It works fine with my family because we can complete each other’s sentences, but frequently confuses others.)

I always use chocolate for headaches - mine are usually lack-of-caffeine-induced - or at least aggravated, whatever the initial cause (even migraines).  For some reason any hot drink will ease my headaches somewhat which is odd because normally I hate drinking anything hot.  If I can absorb it through the skin too the buzz would hit that much faster...hmmm…

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 01/24/08 at 07:02 AM ET

Thanks everyone, for the advice and the best wishes.

And for the record, bathing in chocolate may turn out to be the highlight of my year… who knew there was such an upside to getting a concussion??!

(*that is what you were suggesting, right Baroque?)

Posted by alanah from british columbia on 01/25/08 at 03:15 PM ET

Hi. Good video!

Posted by alex from usa on 07/20/08 at 03:22 AM ET