[aggieteacher04]

Hello all,
So I have posted a few times about my current situation, but I will give a brief overview. I am a teacher who was assaulted by a student in Texas and have now been diagnosed with PCS since 8/30/10. I oriinally worked for 3 weeks after the incident, with the last week being half days, but have since been out full time. I am now starting to get documentation from the workers comp insurance company denying my claim since they sent my medical records to an outside neurologist, who has never seen, met or talked to me, but has determined that I actually never even had a concussion and I should have been back to work in 2-3 days. This is apparently called a peer review and totally legal. My school district has now sent me a letter stating they have concerns aobut my appropriate use of assault leave, and I have to schedule a meeting with my Associate Superintendant about this.

I'm just wondering if there is anyone out there from Texas who has had to navigate the workers comp system or found a GOOD workers comp attorney. I have retained counsel, but it seems like every time I try and contact them it takes a week to get back to me and tell me that they don't know anything new. I feel like everyone is trying to make me feel like I'm crazy, but I know I'm not. I feel like I constantly need to justify how I feel to people since they can't "see" the injury, and I must be making it up. There is no way that you can possibly still have symptoms months after a concussion. Reading the other discussions here helps greatly, but I still feel like I'm being swallowed up by the system.

I've already had to get 2 different types of attorneys involved in this matter for the grievance and workers comp aspects of my injury, and I still don't feel like anyone is looking out to help me get better. All I really want is to try to get back to a normal routine...I feel like every time I have a few ok/good days I am completely drained and out for the count for a day or two. I know that I can't push myself, but I'm only 28 years old and I feel like I should be able to push through it.

I'm supposed to be going back to work on Monday, but there is a lot of anxiety and stress that goes along with this. How am I going to handle the noise in the classroom, cafeteria, and playground, how can I be expected to drive to and from work with the medications I'm taking causing drowsiness, will my coworkers be supportive, will anyone believe me? I know that holding on to the stress is only making things, especially my headaches and sleep problems, worse, but I don't know what else to do.

I do notice as time goes on that I am finding ways to cope-I'm not using the same vocabulary I once did because I can't find the words, but I don't get as upset about it, I go to quiet restaurants with my husband so I hopefully won't get a headache, I can't go to shows or watch tv with flashing/strobe lights or I will have searing pain shooting through my head, I try to take a deep breath when I get upset because I know my "fuse" is a lot shorter now, I have accepted that I'm emotional and I don't hold in the tears, I have learned that I need to talk to my husband and family about how I feel and they don't think I'm crazy or making it up, If I don't remember something I try not to let it drive me crazy-hopefully I will remember it later, and I also try not to put myself in situations where I will have to pay attention to multiple people or situations. Hopefully I will continue to find ways to get through this and I really hope that going back to work is not too much.

Anyway, if there is anyone who has gone through a similar situation I appreciate any help or advice that anyone has...and THANK YOU to everyone who has responded to past posts and helped me get through this and realize I'm not alone.