I have mentioned on here before about my struggle with fatigue. My concern is that now at 5 1/2 months the fatigue is getting worse.

I worked 8 hours on Saturday and took a 2 hour break at 4 hours into it and felt so exhausted I was nauseous. It took me 2 days to recover.

I am truly afraid. I don't want to lose my job. How do those of you who were unable to return to your jobs survive? I don't have anyone but myself.

Thanks for your support. It means so much.

Check out the Family Medical Leave Act. It may protect your job. Also, can you ask to work reduced hours until you are doing better?

Sounds like you are pushing yourself too hard and need to take a step back.

What do you do? Is there a modified program with reduced hours?

Take care

yes, check out those options! You don't want to further set yourself back by pushing too hard. Keep us posted on what happens....

I am already on Fmla and the hours I have left under that are greatly reducing. That"s why I am afraid. I had hoped I would be much better by this point.

rochbo,
Fatigue is a big problem for many of us after tbi. It's hard to explain the fatigue to people sometimes. They say to just get more sleep...but it's much more than that...it's a cognitive and physical fatigue that is hard to get a grasp on.

In my case, I do not metabolize iron so I am now getting B-12 shots twice a month to help fight the fatigue. I am also gradually increasing my walks to try to get my body used to moving again..The cognitive fatigue is much harder to control for me...just have to keep taking breaks in between tasks and my attention span is nothing like it used to be.

Talk to your employer and explain what you aare feeling and how you don't want it to jeapordize your job, but maybe thaey will be a bit understanding considering what you have been through.

Best Wishes.

I was in a similar position to you. I was doing full-time highschool as well as 25 hours per week of work for about 6 weeks after my concussion. I figured it'd just go away like my first one had. Boy was I ever wrong. I ended up running so ragged I had to run to the bathroom I felt so nauseas at school and I had to go home one day because I was crying in class the pressure in my head was so bad. Things got worse because I kept trying to push through it. I spent the next 6 weeks with no work or school, no computer, reading, tv,etc. Not fun haha!

My point is that I occasionally have wondered if had I taken a few weeks off when I initially was concussed, could I have reduced my recovery time. Of course, one can not dwell on such questions, but I have no doubt in my mind I could have at least not lived in such increasing pain for 6 weeks!

I'm in Canada, so I filed for EI (Employment Insurance-Sickness one) and recieved a cheque. Of course it took a while, but I at least got something to compensate for the loss of wages off of work. (I was off 3rd week of dec until first week of may from work.) Is there anything where you live that you can apply for like this?

I wish you well on your journey to recovering.

What were the conditions of your PCS, how did it occur?

I am new here so it took me a few minutes to go back thru your posts. I would consider unemployment. Depressing I know but if you were not injured by someone else or on the job it really limits your options. Another hurdle will be your doctor. Getting documentation for your injury to qualify you for disability is another possibility.

I live in virginia and here there are basically two routes. Injury by someone not yourself or workers comp. Even after that if you can be employed by your employer for 4 hours a day you are considered to be able to be gainfully employed. So basically here it is all or nothing no in between.

If it were me I would try and find a different doctor.

Hi Kayley,

I'm from Ontario too and I'm on WSIB and soon to be dropped.

They aren't doctors and think I should just get over it


Take care,

Kelly