I suffered a concussion on June 23rd (over two months ago), and I'm still having symptoms that REALLY bother me. I don't know how EXACTLY I got the concussion, because I went to bed one night, and my next memory is trying to walk up the stairs back to my bedroom and having difficulty walking and even standing up. By the time I got up to my room, I didn't know where I was, and I was really confused. That was around 5:45am. It was about 15 minutes later that I realized where I was and that I had hit the back of my head really badly, because there was a HUGE contusion and my hair was wet. Which I later why.. my roommate (a bartender) had gotten home around 3:30am and said I was sitting in the dark on the living room floor with ice on my head. She said she kept asking me how I hit it, and she said I just kept telling her I don't know. (I don't remember this conversation AT ALL). Anyway, so once I realized I had hit my head and that I was confused, I realized I probably had a concussion, but instead of doing anything about it, I fell asleep and didn't wake up until a little after 8am. With my head pounding, I somehow drove myself to urgent care, where they told me that I needed to go to the emergency department of the hospital. I called my roommate up and she picked me up and dropped me off there. I spent the rest of the day there getting a CAT scan, EEG or EKG (I can't remember which one), and an x-ray because I also had a big welt on my lower right back that hurt really bad. In addition, I had a scraped up knee and a few days later, I noticed really bad bruising on my shin. So, my best educated guess is I fell down the stairs, or I fell on the kitchen floor trying to climb over the baby gate we had up.
Anyway, the hospital concluded that I had a concussion, but was otherwise fine, and sent me on my merry way.
For the next couple weeks I was SOOOOOO SLEEPY I could barely stay awake and I was super sensitive to light, constantly confused and unfocused and my whole body ached. Going to work was so hard. So I went to the doctor, where they told me it could take up to 12 weeks to recover. So they sent me on my merry way.
Well, a couple weeks ago I was STILL having these symptoms, so I went back to the doctor. They checked my blood, and said I had a vitamin D deficiency, so gave me a prescription for a vitamin D pill to take once a week, and sent me on my merry way.
By the end of last week I was so fed up with my fatigue, inability to concentrate and focus for work, and light sensitivity, so I called up my doctor and said I'd like a referral to see a neurologist. Now I'm waiting to get an appointment confirmed with the neurologist.
It has started to affect my job, I am a home health speech therapist, where I drive to my patients' homes for therapy. My boss wants me seeing at least 5 patients a day, and some days I'm lucky if I can get in 3 patients, because I get dangerously tired, so tired that I start to feel myself falling asleep at the wheel. I've actually been pulled over twice for swerving went I wasn't even doing anything but driving, and I got a ticket one of the times. Getting through my day is so hard. All I think about is wanting to sleep. I leave for work by 9 or 10am and get home by 6pm and fall asleep by 7pm and sleep until 8am. I am getting over 12 hours of sleep some nights, and nights that I don't get at least 12 hours, I feel like I have narcolepsy the next day. It's incredibly frustrating because I can barely get through my work day, let alone get stuff done I need to around the house. And I can't remember the last time I had the energy/time to do something leisurely and enjoyable like read, do yoga, or take my dog for a walk. The fatigue seems to only be getting worse. Could it be because I never really rested in the first place after the concussion? I feel like my medical care hasn't been as good as it could be. I mean, after a concussion that severe (which I don't even know how severe it was, no one explained it to me), it seems like I should have eased back into working and doing stuff. Everything is such an effort now, and it's really got me down and out. I'm so discouraged. I WANT to do stuff, like ride my bike and do other hobbies, but I just don't have the energy to.Like I said, I barely have the energy to get through a work day, and my boss is starting to get on me about my lack of productivity. I CANNOT lose my job.
Anyway, I would like to know what others' opinions are about my situation and what I need to do at this point. What is the best way to recover from a concussion like this? I just want to feel normal again! Thank you for reading this LONG message and thank you in advance for those of you who share your thoughts!!

BlueLotus,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. You have found a good place for help and support.

In order to be able to read your post, I need to repost it with double line spacing every 5 lines or so. Many of us have visual difficulties that make it difficult to find the start of the next line when the paragraph is more than 5 or 6 lines long. So, your post will have < at the start of each quote and > and the end followed by my comment.

<I suffered a concussion on June 23rd (over two months ago), and I'm still having symptoms that REALLY bother me. I don't know how EXACTLY I got the concussion, because I went to bed one night, and my next memory is trying to walk up the stairs back to my bedroom and having difficulty walking and even standing up. >

Sounds like you may have fallen down the stairs. My first concussion was from falling down stairs.

<By the time I got up to my room, I didn't know where I was, and I was really confused. That was around 5:45am. It was about 15 minutes later that I realized where I was and that I had hit the back of my head really badly, because there was a HUGE contusion and my hair was wet. >

Ouch

<Which I later why.. my roommate (a bartender) had gotten home around 3:30am and said I was sitting in the dark on the living room floor with ice on my head. She said she kept asking me how I hit it, and she said I just kept telling her I don't know. (I don't remember this conversation AT ALL).>

You made a great decision to put the ice on your head. It can help reduce cellular damage.

<Anyway, so once I realized I had hit my head and that I was confused, I realized I probably had a concussion, but instead of doing anything about it, I fell asleep and didn't wake up until a little after 8am. With my head pounding, I somehow drove myself to urgent care, where they told me that I needed to go to the emergency department of the hospital. >

<I called my roommate up and she picked me up and dropped me off there. I spent the rest of the day there getting a CAT scan, EEG or EKG (I can't remember which one), and an x-ray because I also had a big welt on my lower right back that hurt really bad. In addition, I had a scraped up knee and a few days later, I noticed really bad bruising on my shin. >

It may have been an EKG. They do those when there is no witness to someone falling and/or becoming unconscious. This is to rule out a heart problem causing the fall. I passed out walking across my bedroom a few months ago and had the EKG.

<So, my best educated guess is I fell down the stairs, or I fell on the kitchen floor trying to climb over the baby gate we had up.
Anyway, the hospital concluded that I had a concussion, but was otherwise fine, and sent me on my merry way.>

There was not much more they could do but tell you to get quiet rest and call 911 if you had any loss of motor function, slurring of speech, etc.

<For the next couple weeks I was SOOOOOO SLEEPY I could barely stay awake and I was super sensitive to light, constantly confused and unfocused and my whole body ached. Going to work was so hard. So I went to the doctor, where they told me it could take up to 12 weeks to recover. So they sent me on my merry way.>

Sleepiness is your brain telling you it needs rest. Common for a concussion.

<Well, a couple weeks ago I was STILL having these symptoms, so I went back to the doctor. They checked my blood, and said I had a vitamin D deficiency, so gave me a prescription for a vitamin D pill to take once a week, and sent me on my merry way.>

Vit D is needed for the brain to heal. You also need B-12, folic acid, Omega 3, 6, and 9 oil. Plus, you should be avoiding caffeine, alcohol, MSG, and artificial sweeteners (aspartame and sucralose or the worst)

<By the end of last week I was so fed up with my fatigue, inability to concentrate and focus for work, and light sensitivity, so I called up my doctor and said I'd like a referral to see a neurologist. Now I'm waiting to get an appointment confirmed with the neurologist.>

The neurologist will probably tell you to get more quiet rest. You should be resting and not working until most of your concentration and focus are back.

<It has started to affect my job, I am a home health speech therapist, where I drive to my patients' homes for therapy. My boss wants me seeing at least 5 patients a day, and some days I'm lucky if I can get in 3 patients, because I get dangerously tired, so tired that I start to feel myself falling asleep at the wheel. I've actually been pulled over twice for swerving went I wasn't even doing anything but driving, and I got a ticket one of the times.>

You should NOT BE DRIVING. If you see the neuro, tell him about your driving struggles. He should put you on quiet rest and have your license pulled until you recover. It may qualify you for disability pay if you have it. The last thing you need is to have an accident and cause someone else to have a head injury like yours if not worse.

<Getting through my day is so hard. All I think about is wanting to sleep. I leave for work by 9 or 10am and get home by 6pm and fall asleep by 7pm and sleep until 8am. I am getting over 12 hours of sleep some nights, and nights that I don't get at least 12 hours, I feel like I have narcolepsy the next day. >

You are likely not getting proper cycles of sleep. The brain only heals during REM sleep. Some of us struggle with sleep apnea from our injury. It makes sleep almost a wasted effort.

<It's incredibly frustrating because I can barely get through my work day, let alone get stuff done I need to around the house. And I can't remember the last time I had the energy/time to do something leisurely and enjoyable like read, do yoga, or take my dog for a walk. The fatigue seems to only be getting worse. >

It will not get better until you get the proper rest.

<Could it be because I never really rested in the first place after the concussion? >

You should have taken weeks off work. Your brain needs quiet rest where you have minimal visual and auditory stimulation. As a speech therapist, I am surprised you have not learned more about brain injuries. But, even doctors have not given you great information.

<I feel like my medical care hasn't been as good as it could be. I mean, after a concussion that severe (which I don't even know how severe it was, no one explained it to me), it seems like I should have eased back into working and doing stuff. Everything is such an effort now, and it's really got me down and out. I'm so discouraged. >

Your experience is no any different than the normal post concussion experience. Doctors look at you and don't see any obvious symptoms and release you to your own choices.

<I WANT to do stuff, like ride my bike and do other hobbies, but I just don't have the energy to.Like I said, I barely have the energy to get through a work day, and my boss is starting to get on me about my lack of productivity. I CANNOT lose my job.>

You don't say where you live. You should have access to Family and Medical Leave Act in the US. It protects your job while you recover. I wonder about the medical skills sets of your boss.

<Anyway, I would like to know what others' opinions are about my situation and what I need to do at this point. What is the best way to recover from a concussion like this? I just want to feel normal again! Thank you for reading this LONG message and thank you in advance for those of you who share your thoughts!! >

Others may comment with suggestions. I bet you are using caffeine to try to be alert at work. It has a serious negative impact. Been there. Done that. Doctor read me the riot act for the caffeine. Some response to my suggestions will give us a better understanding to help you. Please, put a double line space after 5 lines or so.

We are here for you.

My best to you.

Hi Mark,

THANK YOU so very much for your response!! You are the first person to really address my concerns, and you don't even know me. That means a lot to me. I'm a 28 year old female and I live alone, and although I have family and friends that care about me, they are hours away, so this has been an especially difficult time.

I do have a boyfriend, but he is currently deployed in Iraq and only comes home twice a year for a month at a time. So it gets lonely around here. We Skype often, and he has felt very bad that he hasn't been able to be for me during this time. He comes back in a week though, so I'm incredibly grateful for that.

I currently live in New Bern, North Carolina. I recently relocated here for my job. Before my house was ready for me to rent here in New Bern, I was living with a friend in Jacksonville (about an hour south of here). And that is where the concussion occurred.

You have given me so much valuable information. Yes, for a speech therapist, you would think I would have more knowledge of TBI. I have only been practicing speech therapy for about 2 years and don't have much clinical experience with TBI, mostly with stroke patients.

I guess in a way I haven't been much of an advocate for myself.. I should have been more attentive to my needs, but since I am a new employee where I work, I didn't want to risk losing my job and forced myself to try and keep up. I've been keeping the office staff and my boss informed of my symptoms and doctor appointments.

As you mentioned, I also wonder about the medical skills sets of my boss. I would imagine she would at the very least be understanding to my inability to meet productivity standards. But then again, being a new employee, she may not have an adequate assessment of my typical work habits to compare with. But I still feel like she diminishes the severity of my condition.

In addition to taking the vitamin D, I take a multivitamin. I will get additional folic acid tablets and omegas. You are absolutely correct, I have been compensating for my fatigue by drinking lots of coffee. And when I crash from the caffeine, I crash HARD. I will stop drinking that. I don't typically use any artificial sweeteners and my body generally doesn't tolerate MSG anyway.

And I haven't had an alcoholic beverage since May, I'm not a big drinker at all. Good info, thank you!

I know that the company I work for offers disability pay, but I don't know if I have to have been working for them for a certain length of time before qualifying for it. I will look into that. My fatigue is the biggest reason I don't finish seeing enough patients in a day. I don't want to be on the road when I'm too sleepy. And I don't want to keep drinking coffee all day long to get through my day.

I am also going to look into the Family and Medical Leave Act. Does it vary state by state?

Do you think I have done permanent damage to my brain by drinking coffee? I have been drinking two cups in the morning and a cup or two in the afternoon to stay alert for work. But before my concussion I just drank one cup of coffee in the morning.

I forgot to mention that even after more than two months, the area where I hit my head still has a bump and is still tender. And I have a bald spot about the size of a quarter on part of the bump. Also, my balance is terrible. I have always been a bit naturally clumsy, but it's definitely magnified since my concussion.

Sometimes I get really off balance and lose a step, and if I'm in a patient's house or in public, sometimes people notice, and it's very embarrassing.
And I have noticed that my pupils are sometimes different sizes. This is not always the case though.

Last night I drove in the dark for the first time in a long time, and it was scary. I don't know if it is simply because I haven't driven in the dark lately, or because of a vision issue. But my visual judgement seemed way off.

My biggest complaint has to be my fatigue, inability to focus, and my forgetfulness. It has been a big blow to my self esteem. I don't feel as productive as I once was. I feel ineffective at work, and when I get home, I look around at all that needs to be done, but I just want to sleep, so I do, then I wake up feeling guilty that I got nothing done around the house.

And I miss doing things I used to enjoy, like yoga, playing the guitar, running, crafts, etc. I don't even watch TV anymore. My day is: wake up, work, come home, sleep, repeat. I'm lucky if I can stay awake long enough after work to eat dinner or Skype with my boyfriend.

There are so many things I've let get behind because I don't have energy for them. Just for example, my car is in desperate need of a good cleaning. When I think of everything I need to do but haven't done, I feel SO OVERWHELMED.

Once again, thank you so very much for listening and taking the time and effort to respond. I am incredibly grateful for your support!!

I suffer from extreme sleepiness too. My whole day revolves around napping. Our brains clearly needs rest and quiet.

I really hope you are able to sort something with your job so you can take some time off, stress free. As mark said...please do NOT drive under ANY circumstance. Somebody's poor judgement/lack of attention/sleepiness meant I got into a horrible accident and now I'm like this. Even if it means upsetting your boss, your life and others' lives are worth more than that. Promise??

Hi andromeda,

Thanks for replying! I am going to see what I can do about sorting something out with my job so I can finally get the rest I need. I guess it would require a doctor's order for quiet rest. I really regret not taking time off in the first place to let my brain heal sooner and quicker. I feel like maybe now I have delayed the process of healing and maybe even hindered it.

You are absolutely right, nothing is worth getting into a car accident and injuring someone else and/or myself.

I'm so sorry to hear that you are suffering as well from a concussion. When did yours happen? In addition to rest and quiet, what else are you doing to help your brain heal?