To work or not to work?
 

I've just found this site having gone it alone for the last 7 months!

It has been very s l o w, but I am improving.

My employer is not keen for me to be back at work until I am 100%

I know everyone is different but I would appreciate your views-Has anyone else gone back to work too early or 'to just give it a try'?

Glad you found the site....It has really helped me face/deal with my issues - though I didn't find it until this spring and my concussion was 2 1/2 almost three years ago.

If you are able NOT to go back to work i.e. financial etc. then I strongly suggest that you take your time. I went back to work after 1 month....obviously not enough time to heal but had to in order to pay my bills and keep a roof over my head and the fact that my neurologist did not mention it could be a possible problem (I have changed neurologist since then)....I've continued to have problems that doctors are classifying as being permanent - maybe just maybe if I had not gone back to work so soon would the issues have been temporary? I'll never know now. I have vestibular issues, loss of short term memory, balance, processing information. I just had my 2nd MRI and the damage to the back of my head in the grey matter has not healed, not gotten worse but not gotten better either. Still trying to work, though my work has become very frustrated with me and my lack of performance....

Talk it over with your doctors...and choose your path wisely.

Melek

I think many of us have dealt with this question. My experience was initially returning after 6 weeks. I burned out after about 2 months. Then I took a month off and have returned part-time 3-4 hrs/day. Even this much is hard some weeks. I am working with an agency (Canadian) that is now recommending 3 hrs, 3 days per week and then gradually building up.

I think it really depends on the person. I am better to do a little, but keep the routine of going to work and mixing with people. If I stay home too long, I get introverted and lose my confidence. It's a personal thing for sure.

Good luck

Well after I posted this my Doc said no to me going back anyway!

It is taking until now for me to realise I am not getting better over night there is not a magic pill! I have kept on thinking that I'll be right in a couple of weeks for ages now.

Thank you all again for the input!

:)

Well I am still not at work but I cannot help but feel that people just look at me as if I am being lazy.

I am lucky that I do not live alone since I have needed the help around the house but this means I do not qualify for any financial help. Although this accident has brought us closer together, I am used to being independent and relying on somebody else to support me is hard. It has been suggested that I fill envelopes from home to help out while I am off of work....does anybody know a real company in the UK that actually pays for this or are they all scams?

Thanks :)

Work with your HR folks if your work has that. That helped me. I would not rush back to work- I did and I think it delayed the healing and could have potentially cost my job too.

I was back at work the next day after my fall and carried on like that for a month- but I slept from the time I got home everynight and all weekend, couldn't get energy to cook or even go for groceries. After a month of that I took one week off- because the doctor told me just give it time and it will be fine-so I didn't know that brain injuries require a lot of sleep. After that I went back alternate days for another 6 weeks and that didn't help at all because I was not getting enough rest and trying to cram in a full week in 3 days. Then I took off 6 full weeks and that helped a lot- mostly I slept.

When I came back it was half days for about 6 weeks. I looked normal- brain injuries are not visible and so people thought I was ok. I still was trying to do full time job in half the hours ( my employer by the way never hired someone to do the other half of the job the whole 8 months of this). There were lots of things I could do but lots that took so much more effort because the brain was still healing. I didn't pace my energy levels and didn't factor in the overstimulation of being at work and how that would further drain me.

I had a wake up call in the middle of a meeting one day about a month after my return (still working half days) when I had a panic attack from all the voices and stimulation. They found in in pile of tears in the staff room. Then I wanted to quit because I didn't think I could do the job anymore. What I needed was some job coaching to ease me back in slowly. At that point my supervisor who didn't really understand the brain injury or the impact on me got human resources involved and then we mapped out a plan. I still worked way more than I needed to- bad habit of emailing at night from home to keep caught up- but we had plan and I was told to keep computer time to minimum at work, take hourly breaks, take walks at home- not give into reading or computer or music or tv or anything else cognitively draining during my half days at home. Most importantly not to sleep- because I was only ever sleeping at home and that did not help depression part of all of this- not 6 months later- in the beginning I needed to sleep more but now less.

We did that for 2 months then reevaluated and then into the third month I came back full time. I still have to monitor fatigue and overstimulation and those first few weeks back I came home and slept for a bit every afternoon after work. It creeps up on you. When I had to add commute on top of that- it was another factor. I just watch my crabbiness levels and each time I want to quit I know I have pushed myself too far.

Don't rush back but when you do go-pace yourself and expect delays and regressions- everytime you change routines your brain will regress in symptoms,but being back to work is good too to rebuild routine and rebuild social aspect. Just be gentle with yourself and expect one step forward and one backward from time to time.

Thank you neuro angle... and sorry for the delay in my reply.

....Well I have not gone back to work yet. To be honest I feel so depressed just now it's not even on my to do list yet. They have said I can go back on a phased return when I go back.


...I would willingly give these sweet words of advice to someone else in this situation but I am finding it hard to be so soft on myself when it's in relation to me! Thank you and please do not take that as me being ungrateful!

x

going back to work
 

hi I went back to work and my employer got rid of me so take care I am now on incapacity benefit and cant pay the bills
kind regards vini

I have found that it is very hard to manage on IB...it does not even half cover my bills, just adding to the stress of this whole situation :(

Your story is a tough one to read, I do hope that everything starts to progress for you soon.

All the best :)

headway good saurce of info & support in uk
 

hello mr bump

headway as you may know , is a charitable trust that works within the NHS in the UK, IB system dos ant seem to to help us or other people with medical conditions ,I wanted to pick up a prescription the other day and had to pay , I have a prescription for glasses to correct my double vision but cant afford to get them, on the work front I have had to turn jobs away because I would only be setting my self up to fail with my symptoms as they are My employer was paying me on full pay, so I felt obligated plus they kept phoning, but when they could see I was not up to it, they set me up for the sack, not hard when you have a TBI. The various benefit forms we have to fill out would make a person without a TBI get an head ache!! we are both in the UK so keep in touch mate anytime kind regards Vini

Thanks so much Vini...

There is lots to tell-I have been editing a reply for yonks, the whole concentration thing has got to me!-plus looking at this screen makes things worse as I've been headached off allot of days recently...do u ever get that from the screen, you sure look like you have been an active member of neuro talk?! but just wanna say THANK YOU and since Headway it's good news :)

Catch up soon.

head aches
 

hi mr bump welcome back my daily head ache starts about 1/2 hour after I get up, then get steadily worse unti,l I get migraine type flashing things in periphery vision and start to feel sick then I have to lay down for an hour then it eases and the whole thing starts over the tinnitus is bad in the mornings think I kind of block it out I was a very busy bloke these posts take me a long time but its good for me and if it helps others then its good all round

kind regards Vini

A bit of an update...
 

Well it has been a little while since I have found it in me to reply on here...anyone else find that it is just too much most days to keep it together long enough to read, reply and actually get as far as posting on here? Or is it all the moving smilies etc that just makes my eyes and head want to implode!?!

I have been on the PCS merry go round for over a year. I well and truly want to get off now. It was a hard anniversary to stomach :( I have been making improvements but I find that it is the depression on top that makes it hard even when I have made a step forward.... maybe it is knowing the reality has tended to mean the two steps back is just round the corner!!!! My doc has wondered if it is reactive depression or PTSD although I do not think I meet the DSM- IV criteria for the latter.

One thing to think of for everyone else out there is that they found that a bit of my inner ear broke off when I hit my head. Could this have happened to you too? (They find out just by listening to your symptoms initially before confirming with tests, which takes only a few minuets-shame it took so many months to find someone to listen in the first place!). This has explained the dizzy/light-headedness somewhat. Since my balance has been compromised by 33% my eyes have to do much more work hence increased headaches and fatigue.

Even though I am now getting Audiovestibular treatment I am concerned that the PCS symptoms will still be there when I’m done. Given that I have not spontaneously recovered on the one-year anniversary since the work accident, I continue to struggle on a daily basis. This was made so much better by the fact that my employer is now going through the motions for terminating my employment on grounds of capability. Not that they have let me go back yet to prove whether or not I am capable! WHOOPIE something else to worry about :(

Is there anyone out there with experience of Employment Law? It sure is hard to concentrate on getting letters written etc to sort things out when I'm feeling so yucky.

Well enough of my rant!

Thanks again to all of you that make this forum what it is, I get no end of support through reading posts from others who are experiencing the same symptoms as I am.

*Hugs and Hot chocolate*

Hi, neuro angel's reply was excellent. Tiredness is bad as every thing becomes worse. Mr Bump are you able to take anti depressants? Depression has similar symptons as PCS - so I have found out - the hard way. It is hard to supposedly relax and avoid stress when our finances are so limited.

Vini, when you see jobs around that you know you could easily do pre accident it drives you crazy, I keep looking at jobs thinking what I could get and then reality bites and I remind myself who would to employ me who has to rest 11.30-12.00 and then 2.30-3.30 - absolutely nobody! My old employer has kept my office empty for me - it is now 9 months since my melt down - I can't cope with conveyancing any more plus there is no work over here at the moment = the propery market is at a stand still.

Lynlee

I went back too early
 

I had a concussion but I didn't believe it was as bad as it was. I write reports at work, and when I read stuff a couple of months after the accident I couldn't believe the mixed up words. This may be a totally different problem than yours, but for what it's worth, that was my experience.

hello
 

hello mr bump

well, as you know my employer handed me the gentlemen,s pistol and constructed my resignation I had the union in unusual for a manager to be in a union and they shot the HR guy meteorically speaking , the fact I have losted my executive function I did not have the will or cognitive power to fight it, and get my job back or held open in the hope I could one day return LOL YOU say work accident hhmmmm no win no fee lawyer, springs to mined I may still sue my employer as I know I was taken advantage of

good luck

How did I get here?
 

:( I just found this site, too. Don't ask me how - I can't remember.

I'm a nurse in surgery, and am wondering if I'm going to be able to go back to work next Monday? I REALLY want to, but I do not want to jeopardize a patient or colleague
.
I was just injured on Sunday, possibly while riding my horse. Exactly how or what happened no one is sure about because it was unwitnessed and I have no memory of any part of the day on Sunday. I can only remember coming home from work Friday, and I only have small pieces from Saturday. Those pieces are like from a 1000 piece puzzle - and right now nothing seems to fit together or make sense.

I have had a CT scan (normal) and an EEG (no results yet). I am extremely tired, my head throbs and feels like my brain doesn't fit in my skull. I have to carefully form my words, because it seems hard to concentrate and find the correct word to say. I went to my son's school concert last night, it seemed to make head hurt more. All the people and activity and noise put me into overdrive. I'm a bit uncoordinated and dizzy, especially when I close my eyes - kind of like when you had too much to drink and you have to keep one foot on the floor because the bed is spinning.

I feel like I'm going nuts, or maybe just blowing this all out of proportion and I should just try harder. Maybe nothing is physically wrong with me?

I'm looking for answers because this scares me. I want to go back to work and not be so dependent on others for the simplest things.

HELP! I want to be normal again.

I agree about the screen. Certainly does hurt, especially with those moving faces. Ick!

The screen and moving faces are a bit much - and make my head hurt more and make me dizzy. Ick!!

Just an update....work want a meeting with me to try and sort something out-although they have offered to terminate my contract :(

Not sure 100% if they are just going through the required steps...they have obviously seen a solicitor.

At least things are improving since seeing the audiovestibular team. THANKFULLY.

BUT a return to work does seem somewhat scary still. Who knows whats in store for me?

:)

hi mate
 

hi mr bump

if you are in a union get in touch with them or the CAB take someone with you to the meeting, try a no win no fee lawyer may give you free advice on legality

good luck

Mr Bump
 

Please make sure that you take a "suitably qualified person" with you to the meeting.

Did they advise you to bring somebody with you as procedurally they are obliged to.

My step daugher was summoned to a meeting as she had been on and off work with illness and was booted. She wouldn't listen to us and take anybody to the meeting as she was too trusting. Now she faces an expensive fight if she wants to be reinstated.

Please take an advisor as also with your brain at the moment you maynot be able to make the best decisions for your self.

Good luck!
Lynlee

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I have not been back at work for a year yet, but I am still being reviewed and as yet a disicion as to if my job is mine yet will not be made for at least 5more months. It is so stressful not knowing, my life is still on hold over this but I have made some improvements healthwise though thankfully.

There have been temp. adjustments made but I am basically doing a scaled back version of my job at present.

Has anyone else out there (in the UK), had caperbility procedures with work?

are you working
 

hi Mr bump

are you working again or what ? been re reading your posts, is headway still in the picture ? work accident ? is your employer paying your wage , be careful excepting lower payed / or eraser work or demotion as this will be your lot,
I worked in a life safety industry and cannot return in this damaged state, and find it hard to just plain function now days

think you need a lawyer mate?? :confused: headway has a list of approved firms