1. Don't go to just any neurologist. If you can't research it, ask someone who loves you to do it for you. Mine was okay, but told me several things that are not true, didn't get me to see a neuro-opthamologist, and just didn't seem to offer me very much guidance. I really had to fight for my treatments, and because my brain function was compromised, I struggled to do this for myself.

2. Ask for help. From everyone who loves you. Help with car rides, emotional support, making appointments, paying bills, child care, etc.

3. Try to get the people you love to understand what you are going through, but if they don't understand, limit your exposure to them or if you can't do that, then take them to therapy with you or to the doctor with you, so that maybe someone else will help them understand.

4. Bring someone with you to as many doctors' appointments as you can. I wish I had done this! You may not be able to advocate for yourself or remember the information you are told.

5. Keep seeking answers until you find them. I had headaches from three different sources – neck injury, head injury, and vision-related issues due to the concussion. It took different treatments to address these three different issues!

6. Denial can kill. Looking back, it doesn't seem possible to me that I didn't figure out what was going on for so long. After my second concussion, I just didn't want to have another medical issue. (I'd just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.) I didn't want to be a burden to my husband. I didn't drive for three weeks but then determined I was fine. Eight months later, my cognitive symptoms led me to crash my car, which served as a reality check but also worsened my symptoms.

7. Don't trust your doctors, not any of them, not fully. I had a few good doctors, but even the best of them made mistakes. My overworked PCP (whom I loved) sent me to the wrong doctor, so though I thought I'd been given the okay from a neuro-Opthamologist, I'd actually seen a retina specialist but it took me a few months to figure out. My neuro-optometrist actually triggered my biggest setback by putting me through some rigorous tests the day after my vision therapy. An emergency room doctor neglected to tell me about an anomaly in my upper vertabrae that, as it turns out, was causing my headaches. I only found this out by requesting my medical records several months later. By then, a new physical therapist had already figured out and fixed the problem! Doctors are fallible. They are people. It is important not to put blind trust in any of them.

8. Don't push yourself. Don't push past the pain, not even if it's a doctor or therapist that's pushing you. Learn from my mistakes. Take a stand, and don't let anyone talk you into doing something you are not comfortable doing. I've had three significant setbacks, and I've only recovered fully from one of those setbacks. I'm still struggling to get back to the more manageable level of eye pain, strain and photosensitivity I had in February. As of right now, I can't read, write, drive a car, or use a computer without feeling significant eye pain, and I can't go outside without sunglasses and a safari hat. I can't seem to lower my activity level enough to really heal. It's very frustrating!

9. Keep a journal to track your symptoms. It will help you figure out what helps and what hurts you, but most importantly, you'll be able to see yourself getting better over time. It has been very helpful for me!

10. Don't lose hope. I'm still trying to make myself follow this piece of advice, because I am scared that my vision will never get better, but I have to believe that I will be able to read a book and go outside without a hat on a year from now. That would be progress. Those are my goals, and anything beyond reaching those milestones would be a bonus.