I'm going to give this a try, still not great at keeping on track with what I am saying.

I was in a car accident on July 29th where I hit my head on the windshield and on the steering wheel. I received 26 stitches over my left eye and a CT scan in the ER. They said the CT was normal and sent me home and told me to see my doc in 7 days to have the stitches removed.

I felt silly and loopy, very hard to describe, for about a week. Almost made it the 7 days without seeing my regular doc. Went a little early because I was having headaches, was dizzy, easily confused, had a hard time following conversations, nauseous. She said we should wait 3 months to see how I heal on my own. Since then I am in the doc office about 1 a week. The symptoms are not really better and i have a very hard time at work.

I am in sales and sit at a computer for 10 hours a day and take call after call. The job is very high stress. I was out for about a week and then went back part time for 3 weeks. I did pretty good for the 3 part time weeks but found that I had to sleep at least 2-3 hours after working.

I went back full time after my 3 weeks and have yet to work a full day. I just can't do the job. After about 2 hours I start to get really confused and can't remember the answers to the questions people are asking me. I am off work for now and going to try for short term disability.

I lost my train of thought so I'm not sure where I was going with this.

Anyway, it's nice to know I'm not alone or crazy. I see a neuro therapist next monday.

My main question is how am i going to pay my bills. My short term disability is only 60% of my income which wasn't enough to begin with and I am starting hair school.

I'll try to make more sense next post, but I'm sure most of you understand.

Andi

Andi,

Sorry to hear of your difficulties. You have come to the right place for help and understanding.

First, listen to you body. It is telling you it is mentally exhausted. It is not uncommon to have limits of just an hour or two of focused work. Doing telesales is far more intense than focused work. My wife has done some in call centers here in Idaho. It takes a very strong and healthy brain.

Tele-surveys are much easier to do. They are much less intense.

Your difficulty remaining on track of a thought is common. I finally found that I do best using the computer as my short term memory. I read what I have typed and can get back on track usually.

It sounds like you need to have a neuro-psych assessment. Especially before taking on a school schedule. You will likely have very poor retention until you recover more and learn some work-arounds and other accommodations.

I would be very careful about hair school. Your brain will likely be much more sensitive to chemicals, both inhaled and absorbed through the skin. The chatter of a salon may also prove to be exhausting auditorily. After some time of healing, you might try experiencing time with the chemicals of a salon.

I get my hair cut in a unisex salon. I need to be there during quiet times or ask the stylist to limit the chatter. Fortunately, it is only a two chair salon.

As you struggle with disability pay, check to see if it is taxable. It usually is not taxable so the take home is not 40% less, more like a 10 to 20% less. Check to see if your state has a Brain Injury Trust Fund that can help. Some states have vocational rehabilitation departments that can help with retraining.

Don't be afraid or too proud to ask for help. Help now can prevent much more serious problems later. Hope for the best but plan for the worst.

I am surprised that you did not get a follow up CT. Early CTs are not all they are sold to be. Most concussion damage does not show up on a CT until the third day. Fortunately, if you have made it this long, you don't likely have a need for a follow-up CT.

You greatest risk now is a Second Concussion. You need to avoid any risky activities and be sure to be seat belted in. My wife and I purposely found a car with side curtain airbags to protect my brain. Second Impact Syndrome can be deadly and Multiple Impact Syndrome can lead to a life of disability.

Let us know how we can help you.

My best to you.

Ahhhhh...this is my 3rd concussion but the 1st one I have had any problems with. I have decided to go to night school part time so the classes will be shorter and smaller and less chatter. When I am out of school I am going to work with my best friend who owns his own 2 chair salon. I really don't think I will be able to go back to work for a while. I'm excited about getting into some therapy, I can't help but think my doc waited too long to send me. Some days are good and I feel like I'm ok but most days are really hard. Oh and I forgot I'm a single mom. It just seems like I'm never going be normal again. It feels really good to know I'm not alone or whiny, cause that's how I feel most of the time when I'm not feeling like I'm just going to lose it completely. I'm going to keep reading here. Thanks for your support.

Andi