I am 37 year old woman, and six weeks ago, I was racing to get inside my house (I had to pee!), and I smashed myself in the forehead with my aluminum screen door (I am a total klutz). I didn't pass out, felt dazed, and there was an immediate HUGE goose egg-like bump on my forehead. I put ice on it that night, but otherwise felt OK. The next morning I felt really tired, but I'm High School teacher, so that's par for the course. However, while driving to work, I got off on the wrong exit. I was confused and flusterd, but just chalked it up to being tired. The next day I was at the grocery store, and I started to feel like I was going to throw up, then faint--the world started shrinking down, and I felt like I was going to disappear or die. I was taken to the hospital where I was diagnosed with a concussion. Cat scan was negative.

I tried to go back to work a few days later, but symptoms intensified to where I would have that horrible fainting feeling all day long. I found myself bursting into tears fro no reason, and just basically unable to function. I took two weeks off of work, then had to go back because they were going to stop paying me. I've only been at this job for 9 months, and haven't worked long enough to qualify for disability. The nausea has mostly resolved, but I've been having horrible headaches that last for weeks at a time, resolve for a day or two, then come right back. My sleep is very disturbed and I never feel like I'm really resting at night--I always wake up exhausted. I was diagnosed with PCS a few weeks ago, but my neurologist didn't put me on any meds until yesterday when he prescribed Amiltryptelline (SP?) Its an antidepressant that's supposed to help w/sleeping and headaches. I haven't taken it yet, but was nervous about the side effects, which can be nausea, vomiting and headache! Umm . . . aren't those what I'm trying to get RID of?

I had anxiety disorder before my accident, but now it's out of control. I've had 3 cat scans and an MRI--all negative--and am still convinced that I'm going to drop dead at any time. I had two weeks off for spring break, and am not feeling much better. I just don't know how I'm going to get through the last few months of school, and I'm so totally sick of this. I want my life back! I'm starting to not even remember what it feels like to feel "normal" and that really frightens me. No one understands what I'm going through--the most common comment I get is "It was a screen DOOR! How could you POSSIBLY be this ill?" I don't know what to tell anyone anymore. Even my boyfriend doesn't really understand, though he tries to be patient.