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Old 12-22-2015, 01:42 PM
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,418
15 yr Member
Mark in Idaho Mark in Idaho is offline
Legendary
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere near here
Posts: 11,418
15 yr Member
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Doozer,

The UK is not at a disadvantage for people with concussions. There is not anything the doctors can do for you. Waiting to see a neurologist is just better than worthless unless you need a neuro to refer you to specialists.

The specialists you can seek are"
Vision specialist, This can be a behavioral optometrist or neuro-ophthalmologist. The BO is likely better than the NO for most people with PCS. Plus, It is easier to get an appointment with the BO than the NO. Tinted lenses, prisms, vision therapy, etc. can help.

Vestibular therapists if you have any dizziness. It didn't sound like you do.

Behavioral therapist, psychologist, etc. to help you accept your current condition and lower the stress in your life.

The most important specialist to engage is YOU. You have the most insights into what is happening. Accepting that these bad days are the new you is the first step. Any improvements or good days are celebrated but not taken for granted. Just as we have triggers that lead to bad days, we have triggers that lead to good day. Good sleep, low stress activities, low emotional stress days, low stress productivity, etc.

It can be amazing how a day of being productive without anxiety or other stress can set us up for a good day. I think this comes from learning how to pace our productivity and moderate our environment. You had a good night sleep. Your boss is leaving you alone to just get your work done. Your co-workers are being productive with their own tasks. Any problems are resolved without stress. The result can be finishing the day feeling great.

If we look back, we can see how the activities and environment of the day contributed to a good day. Then we decide to try to replicate that day with our personal attitude to keep stress low.

I learned decades ago that being in a hurry rarely gets more work done. The mistakes and screw ups can easily eat up any savings in time. With PCS, those stress induced screw ups are a given. Being in a hurry is the worst stressor for PCS.

I hope you can learn to recognize the positive and negative triggers in your life.

Do you ever spend one on one time with your children ? You might find that to be a good trigger. It can be an opportunity for them to see a part of their father that they do not usually see. It may improve how they see you and help you when you are having a bad day. It would be important for that time to be in a quiet place without interruptions or any hurriedness.

You commented about the future. "My main worry is being stuck like this, fairly common I'd imagine." Your injury is for a lifetime. Your symptoms are not necessarily for a lifetime. Most will resolve with adequate low stress time and maybe some help by a specialist. Some will become manageable because you have learned work-arounds. Either way, you can still live a full life. It just may be different that what you originally expected.
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Mark in Idaho

"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
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