Multiple concussions-Where to get help?
 

I have had at least 6 concussive incidents in my life. I have since gone on to earn a Master's Degree. However, now that I am out of school, I find it difficult to keep any job that requires attention to detail. I have difficulties completing simple cut and paste operations. My bosses say that anyone should be able to do these tasks. I cannot.

I also have trouble concentrating, especially on long, detailed projects. I can figure out how to do them the first time, but cannot recreate that process a second or third time. This is very difficult when my supervisor would like to tell me once, show me once, and then have it be my responsibility.

The lack of ability to do this is incredibly frustrating and I am prone to outbursts of anger during these times, even though I am normally incredibly patient. Because of my lack of short term memory, I find that this happens often at work and when I am home, I want to sleep. My sleep has become more interrupted as of late.

My question is-because my concussions were so long ago, more than 18 years, and I am now an adult without health insurance, where do I go for help? Are there doctors who specifically treat this?

Julie,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear you are struggling so.

By you time line, I assume you are in your late 30's to early 40's. You age alone can be causing your symptoms to get worse. My first recommendation to you is to get on a vitamin supplement regimen. Your brain needs far more specialized nutrition than simple good eating habits. The only disadvantage your lack of medical insurance is rather minor. Most doctors can not do anything to help you. Those that can, can only help you understand and manage your symptoms.

What have you tried so far?

Have you had your hormones tested? It can get expensive but for your age, can make a big difference. Here is a referral link to a local specialist. https://www.womensinternational.com/..._referral.html Bio-identical hormones are the only solution because they can be targeted more accurately. Your thyroid levels also need to be checked.

Tell us more about yourself, your living situation, and symptoms. Your location will also help us direct you to resources. There are many work-arounds for living with prolonged/lifelong concussion symptoms. I know your struggles since I have lived with PCS since the 1970's. If you don't want to discuss some issues publicly, you can email or PM me by left clicking on my screen name at the upper left.

Learning to moderate your work environment is a big help. Americans with Disabilities Act provides work place "reasonable accommodations" for people like us. What field of work do you do?

We are here for you so please feel welcome to say anything, even dump after a bad day. We have all been there.

My best to you.

Yes, I am 38, married and have 2 children. Because my injuries happened so long ago, info wasn't as readily available like it is now.
I have had a Vitamin panel run to show what I am lacking in my system and I had my thyroid checked. I have had to change my daily vitamin, but my thyroid is within normal limits. I have not had my hormones checked. I will look into this very soon.

My symptoms vary a little day by day and some days are definitely better than others. My vision blurs, I get both regular and vision migraines, my attention span wanes and simple tasks can be very frustrating. My photographic memory has improved but I have little glitches in my short term memory. Things just seem to evaporate from time to time.This is frustrating for both me and my employer. I also have trouble with simple data entry and writing numbers from a computer screen to paper or vice versa.

My Master's Degree is in College Administration and I earned this in 2008. But, the work is detailed and difficult for me to understand because I cannot remember. Actually, I can remember for a number of times and then I suddenly forget. Even though I am struggling, it looks like I am not trying or I am blowing off the job when I am stuck tryingto recreate steps from a memory that I no longer have.

Julie,

I bet if you could step back and observe your work environment, you will find that there are noises and visual stimuli that come and go and interfere with your ability to focus, remember, and stay on task.

The transferring numbers from screen to paper is a common struggle. Try to not depend on a photographic memory. Instead, try to combine memory functions. When you see the number, say it out loud. This adds it to the auditory memory. Your combined audio and visual memory will work much better that just visual alone.

When my memory fails, I just accept it and go on. Getting frustrated only makes it worse.

If you focus on learning work-arounds and using those work-arounds consistently, you will be able to function much more reliably. Accept your failures and move on without concern. It is a lot easier to just do it again that to try to correct the mistake.

Tell us about specific struggles and someone will have a work-around to use.

My best to you.

I work in a customer service field and need to do my work in between interruptions. I find this to be easy enough. I find difficulty when the phone rings and I am on the other line. Or when I am trying to take a message and the phone is ringing.

How do I get reasonable accommodations, like extra time or splitting data entry into two short days instead of one long day? I did ask for those, but was denied.

Thanks for your help and support,
Julie

Ask your HR department for these accommodations. Tell them this is an Americans with Disability Act request for reasonable accommodations. Use these terms specifically and in writing. Something like,

"I suffered a concussion on (state date) that has been medically documented. I am now suffering from Post Concussion Syndrome. This leaves me very susceptible to excessive audio and visual stimuli. I have severely reduced ability to multi-task. Any attempt to multi-task created an undo burden that can cause me to crash and lose focus. It also has reduced my ability to maintain pace and persistence to some of the tasks asked of me. As a result, I need the following reasonable accommodations according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. I need more frequent breaks from certain tasks (list these tasks). I also need a way to work without frequent interruptions that cause me to loose focus requiring me to find a way to regain focus. "

You know the specifics.

The phone ringing may be able to be moderated.

Spending a day doing data entry sounds extreme. You need to ask for this to be broken up into manageable portions.

You qualify for protection under the ADA because your PCS has caused a limit to qualifying major life functions.

Hopefully, your HR department can come to your aid. Your ADA condition protects your job from retribution from asking for reasonable accommodations.

Remember to make these requests in writing or email and print and keep copies of the back and forth. Do not respond verbally. Keep this issue in writing. You might even say that you have read that this issue should be resolved in writing.

My best to you.