[inkedbette]

In March/April of 2010 I suffered roughly 15-20 blows to a very hard wall. There were at least 4 incidents w/repeated blows. This was a result of being in a suddenly abbusive relationship. I thought I was safe with the restraining order until the court system ordered that I supervise his visitations of our twin baby girls in my home a few times a week. As you can imagine this made matters worse. After trying to get the court system to take him out of my house failed, I had to have him sent to jail for violations to the order. My only out.

I didn't remember these blows, supressed them? I dunno. I remember after all the trauma in my life then, both emotionally and physically, (and raising twin babies alone with 1-2 hours of broken 15-25 min spans of rest, not sleep)that my nose bled for months. Not dripping mass amounts, like it was just always bloody inside. That wasn't normal for me. I never have nose bleeds. My gland on the left side of my neck under my jaw was noticably enlarged and very uneven looking. I was always bone chilling tired. Beyond even the earliest days of raising twin infants...This all went on until June/July. It wasn't until I had finally found work (was a house mom prior to all this) in september that I realized in therapy that I had hit my head so many times. Over a period of time all the peices came back to me and now I can tell a sort of timeline of events about it. I remember something every few days from that time. Odd.

So, I began working in social work to help people who are in abusive situations and to help them find work and get off welfare. I work full time 40hrs (which translates into 10 hour days from up to back home. Home is another kinda work all together as I am a full time ONLY parent to my 3 girls 18mos 18mos, 7, and my 11 year old son who adds to the fun on weekends).

I barely remember much about the aftermath from the concussions, just that I had THE WORST headache in all the world, like death, and a huge purple raised forehead. I'd carry twins three more times to the pain I was in. I slept and was dazed and sick feeling. BUT alas, I didn't get many chances to rest as I was still fighting the failed judicial system. So I have been going a million MPH cuz I have nobody, no one to help me and I don't want to end up homeless! I eventually ended up in the ER for my first medical care about my head about a month after I started my new job. My regular doc was useless in helping me but I guess that was cuz I didn't even remember hitting my head! I couldn't do it anymore. My Head hurt so bad and my neck and it NEVER stops. They did a CT and tried some drug that didn't work on the pain in an IV (just like everything, nothing works)
CT revealed "no bleeding or tumors" and they sent me on my miserable way wishing there was a way out of this pain to a neurologist. I started seeing him about a month later (first avail appt) and he said "you have PCS" take propranolol or whatever some blood pressure medication and Imitrex I think for 2x a mo pain for my headache. Tried the first for the last few months and nothing. Gave up. Tried the latter one time and I couldn't breathe or feel my fingers n toes. Super tight/anxious feeling. Tossed those out.
Now, my therapist is contacting my neurologist to team up cuz they both want me to have a full neuropsychological evaluation.
My friend who watches the girls while I work was in a rear end accident and is out all week to who knows when?! I am at risk of losing my job, feel like I can't handle life itself. Noises are horrible, twins drive me nuts (although I love them!) can't stand household noise or perform at my job very well. I work in a resource room where I help clients all day and I can't hear anything if there is noise like talking going on. Forget it. I feel stupid. I already have no faith in the medical system and think what is a usual feeling of overload and pain has reached a new point. I need to STOP and focus on getting better and maybe that is why? I would have done it sooner had I had the options and memory and help with kids and bills..ahhhhhhh!!!!
Thank you so much for listening to my story/rant. I am screaming for help and trying so hard to read everything here. I'm not me anymore and it's very scary. I never had headaches before. I'm trying to live up to the old me expectations and I think everyone else expects that too. IT's proving insanity and 5 month long migraine that only sleep relieves. But I must go on...that or what?

[Jomar]

Hi there,

If you could list your symptoms from the worst ones first we can give pointers for those or at least some ideas for help.

While you have your job - what about some short term disability, or FMLA options?

If you can find a dr that is knowledgeable on PCS, or doing the full neuropsychological evaluation might be a good thing.
finding out where your head is, so to speak, so the correct healing actions can be taken.
Having a safe & sane mom is # 1 for the kids.

just curious,
So you had an active restraining order - and some court ruled for him to visit in the home with you present???
Did the court know about the RO???
Was there a distance limitation on the RO?
Did this head injury happen after or before the visitation order?
If after, and the RO was active, you might talk to an atty about this situation.

[inkedbette]

Thx JO*mar...

Worst starting first

Constant headache (feels like my head is a balloon that will soon pop but never does) Hurts worse in front wear was hit and in back, but generally all over)
Overstimulated most of the time (noise, choices etc)
Neck going up back of head pain

Trust me, I want to be 100% for the kids. It's all I can do to just get thru the day tho. I want to enjoy them more again, this is so hard. Doctors cancelling appts to go golf while I'm trying to navigate all this. FMLA isn't an option as my position is contracted...ends in March. I don't think any help on disability income will work either. I guess I just don't know what to do. I wish a doctor could see me sooner. Tried to see different ones but I have crappy OHP. Basically docs make no $ off us so it's harder to obtain appts with a quickness...or good docs! Thanks for your help

Originally Posted by Jo*mar

Hi there,

If you could list your symptoms from the worst ones first we can give pointers for those or at least some ideas for help.

While you have your job - what about some short term disability, or FMLA options?

If you can find a dr that is knowledgeable on PCS, or doing the full neuropsychological evaluation might be a good thing.
finding out where your head is, so to speak, so the correct healing actions can be taken.
Having a safe & sane mom is # 1 for the kids.

[inkedbette]

My syptoms go on and on but are mostly cognitive, visual, auditory....time for rest. Be back tomorrow. Like I used to be the best speller ever, now I forget letters when I write on paper and can't spell as well. Blah. I walk around work with a little notebad on a lanyard!! They call it my brain on a stick... :-/

Originally Posted by Jo*mar

Hi there,

If you could list your symptoms from the worst ones first we can give pointers for those or at least some ideas for help.

While you have your job - what about some short term disability, or FMLA options?

If you can find a dr that is knowledgeable on PCS, or doing the full neuropsychological evaluation might be a good thing.
finding out where your head is, so to speak, so the correct healing actions can be taken.
Having a safe & sane mom is # 1 for the kids.

just curious,
So you had an active restraining order - and some court ruled for him to visit in the home with you present???
Did the court know about the RO???
Was there a distance limitation on the RO?
Did this head injury happen after or before the visitation order?
If after, and the RO was active, you might talk to an atty about this situation.

[Jomar]

I don't know how you feel about chiropractic care, but possibly an upper cervical adjustment might help (aka = atlas /axis ,c1 & c/2 ).

You might even find a good chiro that will take a smaller fee if cash payment.

I suggest this to anyone that has had any head/upper body hit, fall or injury that might have affected the c1/c2 alignments.


here's a good site and you can do more searches from that information
http://www.upcspine.com/

[POSTURE IS A WINDOW INTO A PERSON'S HEALTH
Upper Cervical misalignment = Poor Posture = Poor Health

The following Signs and Symptoms may indicate Upper Cervical (c0-c1-c2) Injury

C0 – skull or occiput; C1 – atlas; C2 - axis

These are the signs, which may indicate that you have an upper cervical spine injury, which may have gone undetected for some time. You don’t have to experience all of these symptoms, just some. However, the posture, head tilt sign, shoulder height sign and ear symptoms will, in my opinion, make it a strong possibility that you do have such an injury.]
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm

[Mark in Idaho]

inkedbette,

Sorry to hear of your struggles. It is likely that the concussions included amnesia of the event. Repeated head impact frequently cause amnesia of the event.

Your first thing to do is get some foam ear plugs. The yellow cylinder type work best. Sometimes you can find them in a flesh color. They will help with the background noise. Twist them tight and insert them deep with just enough to touch the end to pull them out.

You need sleep, sleep, sleep.

Although I use a NUCCA chiropractor's services, it is very difficult to get any Medicaid coverage for it. The copays are almost the whole fee.

Your headaches can be caused by the concussions but more likely they are caused by your sleep deprivation. Only when you are getting good rest will you be able to determine if they are from the impacts. So, rest is your first priority.

Does Oregon have any victims' assistance programs?

The notepad on a lanyard is a great idea. I keep my cell phone on a lanyard or I am constantly losing it.

In the future, it will help if you use lots of paragraph spaces in your posts. Most of us with PCS have a difficult time following from the end of one line to the beginning of the next. Five lines per paragraph is usually our max.

As you know, you need sleep. Without it, everything will collapse around you. And, you need good nutrition. You brain needs B vitamins, D3, Omega-3's, folic acid, and all of the normal supplements for Stress.

Do not be afraid to ask for help. Be a mama bear for your girls. Aggressive/violent men have no place around children, much less infants.

Good luck, stay strong,

My best to you.