[AnnieDayNow]

Hi.

I am recovering from my second concussion in 8 months. There is some debate as to whether or not there might have been another concussion before that -- I was knocked on the head pretty good about 3 years ago, but was never treated beyond the initial injury.

I had symptoms of PCS back in December that lasted for about 2 months. Dizzyness, headache, concentration and memory problems, etc. I never sought treatment then and just 'muddled through'.

This time I have all that plus a depression that comes and goes, irritability, and a weird brain fog that sometimes accompanies it all. The dizzyness and headache seem to have gone away. The concentraion and depression, however, are getting worse.

So, long story short, I made an appt with a doctor. My ins "covers" behavioral health, but no psychiatrist or counselor in town "takes" my insurance. The nearest dr on my plan is 200 miles away. I made an appt at the local health clinic to see a 'regular' dr, 3 weeks out. My friends suggested I contact workers comp, since the latest injury was at work. I didn't think they'd cover depression, but thought I had nothing to lose by calling.

They set an appt up for me at the urgent care/occupational health clinic that had treated me originally to determine if this was related to my injury, or just me being depressed. I was in one of my 'space out' periods when I went and the doctor panicked and sent me to the ER for an "emergency" CT scan. I put emergency in quotes because the ER doc berrated me for wasting the ER's time with something that was not only not an emergency, but totaly (in his opinion) unnecessary. That I had PCS, and should just get some rest and wait it out. He did refer me to the 3 psychiatrists in town who are taking new patients (but still aren't taking my insurance).

So now, the wc doc wants to refer me to a neurologist, even with an "unremarkable" CT scan. I haven't cancelled my appt with the clinic (1 week away, now). I'm debating what I should do. I am still trying to work, but really, I am not doing very well there. I was having trouble with my schedule before my last injury -- it's an 8 on/ 6 off fulltime graveyard shift. Now it's just torture to go to work. But it's a good job and I need the money.

Sorry for the long post, but I am really just out of my depth with this. I don't know if I should pursue this with wc, or just see the clinic, which is just family doctors, but claims to have a 'depression program'. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Annette