That's EXACTLY what I'm trying to say. Your lived experiences of post concussion symptoms will not be accepted as 'truth' until a health professional is seen to back them up. Sad but true, especially given the lack of knowledge most health professionals seem to have about this condition.

Mine was done by an occupational health doctor, no good to you perhaps but anyone else reading this might want to give a referral to one of them a try, their reports for my employer were absolutely fantastic, they really listened to me, got to the heart of my situation and difficulties and made my employer understand them.

My neuropsychologist also made recommendations of this type, which could have been very useful to show my employer had I not had the occupational health report.

I am an occupational therapist myself. I didn't get to see one when I was unwell, I wish I had. OTs are concerned with participation in valued life roles and should jump at the chance to do a return to work plan. There is a slight danger that you might get one that is used to working with more severe brain injuries and only knows how to teach people how to wash themselves in the shower or boil an egg. Hopefully you will get a good one and if so they should be a great help with this.

Thank you again. I finally got my first piece of good news about an hour ago.

My primary care doctor's office called and she is going to call tomorrow and make my 1st rehab appt. Hopefully I get someone good. And hopefully there are no snags.

I will have to try and hold on at work and not put up with any abuse, but I know the next few weeks will be a struggle as my boss is out for 2 weeks and the woman who has just been put "in charge" who already dislikes me will be after me non-stop.

She goes on email "benders" putting instructions in multiple emails, then changing the instructions in future emails. So in the end I have about 15 emails, all with tasks, some conflicting and I think my head is going to explode.

Not to mention the constant - "why did that take you so long, I estimated it should have only taken you "x" amount of time".

I'm crossing my fingers I get another piece of good news and my attorney comes through with the letter tomorrow. I'm not good at fighting battles at work, especially when I'm not 100%.

BTW, the Brain Injury Institute in the state I live in has been very helpful, sending me lots of information on disability, support groups, etc.

Hi,

I lost my job because I didn't know what was wrong with me and my boss was extremely abusive. I ended up losing it at work and it didn't end well for me.

Do you have a person that can go with you to these appointments and advocate on your behalf? I wish my hubby had of come to some of mine and told the Dr's what was happening.

My new psychologist is being a great advocate for me at the moment in terms of compensation but the damage has been done. She told me to take my hubby to any future appointments. The only problem is IME's won't allow it.

Anyway I digress, I'm only telling my story - not to scare but to hopefully get a better outcome for you. If I had my time again, I wouldn't stress so much about work and just go at my own pace. When you get the emails, find a way to work out what she wants and toss the rest. Perhaps print them and write a list for you to follow.

When your boss is being a pain, go to the toilet for time out. Anything to get you in a better space. Stressing makes you worse.

This is getting too big so I will finish.

I am now afraid to have the attorney send the letter. It is not inflammatory at all - just lists the things my neuropsych said would be helpful at work in my recovery. He called them "considerations".

I think a note from him would be less apt to put them on edge.

It is a tough situation, as my boss has been fine, it's the woman I report to directly. However, she works about 100 hours a week, has been there 10 years, and is very close to the boss, so I can't go to him and complain about her. He said once before we "just need to all get along". I know if it came down to her or me, he would let me go. He just hates conflict, and she is more valuable to him. Plus she has his ear and will spin it in her favor.

I'm all for getting along, but when MY work is being monitored and snide remarks are made only to me by this woman, I think it borders on harrassment, but I feel trapped....

I'm afraid sending the letter will put more of a spotlight on me and then they may say I can't do my job, I take too long, etc., etc., whatever the woman wants to make up to get rid of me.

I was in the same position. Everyone else could get away with leaving early or taking longer lunches yet I was criticized for everything.

Apparently they were angry because I took time off.

I really feel for you. Its hard to know what to do. When I left I was told that I need to get along with people. Not sure how to when you are abused for taking time off after an injury... and all the rest I got.

Can you negotiate shorter days? Is there someone in your workplace that helps with injuries?

Honestly, just ignore her as much as possible. Do your work to the best of your ability and what happens will happen. I know its hard. but if you can keep doing your work she won't have much of a case. If she goes to the boss all you can do is show that you have been working.

No, there is no one I can go to. I work in a company with 5 people.

I have just started keeping a "log", documenting every minute of my day - including bathroom breaks - so that if I ever get called on the carpet for "taking too long" I can show where the time went.

It is hard, because my boss asks me to do something, and then she "directs" my work, sending me 20 emails a day, asking me to do all kinds of other things, so his stuff never gets touched. I realize now I have to document all of this - in email - so that I don't get blamed for being sidetracked.

I also am keeping notes of every little "dig" and nasty comment that is made, although to the best of my knowledge, bullying is not illegal. Shame.

"bullying" is harrassment.

If you have a dellphone, or recorder on the computer, with mic, turn it on anytime she is near - let it capture her 'conversations' with you, and 'snide' remarks.

Its fairly easy to learn to do, just read the 'help' tag on recording on the computer.

Then email them to yourself, and store them on your private email, for 'proof'.

Yeah, I thought of that, but isn't recording someone without their permission illegal?

Luckily, most of her "snide" remarks are documented right in her emails. She can't seem to help herself.

It helps that I have asked that any work instructions are in writing due to my concussion, and have asked - unless urgent - not to be continually interrupted during the day - so I can capture alot of what is going on.

Problem is, with a boss that defends her that I can't go to or he will say I can't get along and have to be let go, and no union, no HR dept., there is no one to "tell" what is going on - other than here - LOL! Helps my psyche but not the situation.

I'm not a lawyer, you could ask one about recording conversations; however courts have spoken to this :

Recording conversations

With linked explanation.

So, I read it as if covering yourself, you are not doing anything 'bad'..... just my opinion.

And if I had to do something, I would be recording the conversation if in your circumstance.......... but I'm the type of person that would tell her that, 'oh, please, wait a second while I turn on my recorder so I understand everything you are saying and have something to refer to while working.."

In the UK, this sort of harassment and discrimination is technically illegal, and people do get done for it, though I'm sure a lot get away with it too. I suspect the situation is the same in the US so I would urge you to keep gathering evidence and getting legal advice, if you want or really do need to stay in this job.

The more I hear about this though, the more I think you should question whether you do really need to stay there. It sounds like a totally toxic situation which will leave you far too stressed to get much healing done. Is it a case of really needing the money to live, or are there any other options like living off a partner for a while or moving in with a relative? Not ideal but better than what sounds like a bit of nightmare you're dealing with at the moment.

It's not right that you have to make that choice but your first priority needs to be getting yourself better. Don't feel that you have to stay there in order to 'beat' this foul woman - if she's working 100 hours a week and treating people in this way then she's obviously already so full of greed, anger and unfulfilled ambition that she's probably at least as unhappy as you are. It's important to spend as little time around such people as possible, in my experience.