Cutting down to half days at work
 

Hello all. Just thought I'd share what I heard from my Primary Care Physician today. I went to visit him since I relapsed for the 3rd time this past Wednesday. I wanted to get his recommendations until I see a concussion specialist on May 1st. I have been working full-time since my accident in January, and I'm obviously not getting any better. My doctor recommended that I go down to working half days at work for the next few weeks until I am able to see the specialist. So basically 4 hour days 5 days a week (20 hours/wk).

I have to admit that I am happy with this outcome. He thought it was a bad idea that I take off work completely because I will be at home alone with nothing to do during the day, and knowing me I will probably sit there and worry. He thought with the lightened load I will still have the overall feeling of contributing at work and having something to do without working long 8 hour days. I feel very comfortable with this and after talking with my work, it seems as though they are going to let me do that. They aren't taking the "all or nothing" approach which I am very thankful for.

On another note, I also got my MRI results which came back normal. Even though a normal MRI is sort of expected with a concussion, it still makes me feel better that there is nothing else going on.

So I made some major steps today and I feel like I have a game plan on my road to recovery. Before I felt sort of lost just wondering when I was going to get better. Now I feel I'm taking action and I feel I WILL get better with some patience.

Now time to relax and watch a movie! Good luck to all on the road to recovery!

keep resting too
 

Hi there

Rest your brain too when you are not working. I hope you can find a way to get rid of stress.

I found most of my (negative) stress comes FROM work.

My good or postive stress (like laughter, fun, ) is more home related.

It's alwasy finding the balance of what you can do and doing it to move forward with caution.

Here's wishing you some peace and rest

Poetrymom

Your right to take time off, but make sure most of that time off is down time ie:doing nothing. You will get better quicker if you don't overstimulate yourself with TV, radio etc, and if you feel tired lie down. Boring though it sounds it actually works! You will need plenty of rest and patience to get better, it is something you cannot rush.

Today was my first half day of work. A little stressful since I had to go through some paperwork with medical but all in all I am very happy with how my company and manager/supervisor have handled the situation. They were very comforting in re-enforcing that my health takes priority over work and I can work whatever hours I feel most comfortable. They took a lot of stress off of my shoulders.

I am very thankful to work at the company I work at and know that I will not have to worry about finances with my time off. I'll be sure to get lots of rest with my time off.

good to hear
 

Sounds like you are on a good plan now to really heal it all up.

Here's to resting!

Poetrymom

Tpont21,

It sounds like you and I were in an accident around the same time. I was in a taxi cab crash in New York City. The driver lost control of the car on a bridge and I don't remember a thing about what happened. Shortly after that there was a death in my family, so i had to kind of put the accident/recovery on the back burner to deal with everything else. I don't mean this to be a sob story :). I'm interested in comparing some of what I've been feeling, though, with someone who has been through something similar. I feel as though there are...holes in my brain, if that makes any sense. I think of a kind of lattice, as though there are things missing. I'm incredibly moody, spacey; I feel unreal a lot. I have constant headaches and concentrating for long periods of time (I'm an editor), is often a source of anguish. I forget things--but strange things. For example, I realized the other day that I had absolutely no idea how a book I read quite recently ended. I even debated whether I'd read the ending. This for me is strange, because I remember things like this. I'm also obsessed with the accident itself, like if I remember what happened, things will make sense. Anyway, that's me...Like I said, I'm just looking to compare experiences since it seems like no one who hasn't been through this really understands what I'm saying. And most of the time I just say "Oh, the car accident? That's old news. I'm totally fine." I feel like I'm whining anytime I complain or talk about it--even to my therapist. Anyways...

tegu65,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your accident.

Trying to compare injuries and symptoms is not very helpful to recovery. Every head injury is different. Everyone experiences symptoms and recovery specific to their own injury.

Please tell us more about your symptoms and struggles so we can offer support. We know how helpless the doctors are when they can not image and understand our symptoms.

Please help us by using double paragraph spaces every 5 lines. Many of us struggle to follow text visually.

If you use the Post Reply button at the bottom left, the previous post will not be quoted.

My best to you.

Tegu,

The symptoms you mentioned are very similar to mine. Trouble concentrating and feeling "spacey" is normal for a concussed individual. With time you will feel better but you must be patient.

I know my main problem in my recovery was that I was trying to be too physical too fast and not give my brain enough time to heal properly. I kept going back to lifting weights and running when my brain wasn't ready, and it let me know by continuously relapsing.

Now I have worked to reduce much stress in my life, cut down to half days at work, stopped all physical activity except walking, and focused some attention to providing my body with good nutrition and I am starting to feel better. Right now I am at the point where I wave back and forth from having almost no symptoms to feeling symptoms again.

For example, last evening I felt great. I pretty much felt like my old self again. Now today at work I don't feel as well. It just takes time.

Take care of yourself, and put everything else on the backburner until you are better. Your health and getting better should be a top priority right now over almost everything including your job. It is okay to lean on people for support. I know my mother has helped me so much since my injury. Sometimes it feels good just to talk to people.

I found this forum made me feel much better because it made me realize what I am feeling is normal and I am not alone. It has provided many tips that I found helpful including taking some extra vitamins and icing my neck.

Good luck in your recovery.