[bmwbzz]

I know no one can really predict how long recover will be, but I guess I'm wondering about backslides and whether people had sudden recovery or things went slowly (working 2 hours then 4 then 8).

I hit my head on a pipe about 2 months ago. I continued to sort of work - they were really good about things and let me come and go as needed. I am a programmer and working at the computer for an hour or two at a time would make me nauseaous. I also have trouble focusing, extreme fatigue, etc. Sometimes I'd over do it and be out a whole day. After about a month, work seemed a bit ... less sympathetic so I asked to just do an official half time. After about 2 weeks of that, I got "talked to" about my "work ethic" and not getting enough work done. At this point I knew there was no way I could do more than I was doing, so I asked to go on medical leave.

I have been on medical - with NO pay at all - for 2 weeks now. The first week I slept a lot, but felt fairly functional. This week I've felt terrible - I've been sleeping about 14 hours then having to nap, I have headaches, nausea etc. Also, right before I went on medical leave I developed tingling/numbness in my right arm and pins and needles down my back, which often make falling asleep difficult and I've been tossing and turning more.

Anyway, the point is that I originally thought I'd be on leave for 2-3 weeks, but now I can't even imagine working 8 hours + lunch + commuting anytime soon. Is it possible I'll be fully function after a week? Or should I hunker down for a couple more months?

I finally am seeing TBI specialists. I have an EKG and neuro psych eval next week and we have increased my anti-depressants and I have Xanax for when my anxiety gets extreme. I am feeling hopeful that at least I am in the right hands.

My husband is currently not working - he is a student. Even if he got a full-time job, I don't think it would cover our rent and my medical bills - we have an extremely high deductible, live in NYC, unemployment is very high here, and the holidays are a hard time to get hired for non-seasonal things. Our savings are low due to my husband quiting work for school this year, paying for school, a dog with Cancer, and another dog needing surgery.

How have people approached family/friends regarding money?
Has anyone done anything like **? (On the one hand, I'd want to help a friend in need; on the other ... well, I don't have cancer and we're not starving etc)
I am mostly worried about the things we need cash/checks for - certain doctors and rent. We don't have pre-existing credit card debt so we will do that as needed.

[sospan]

Bmwbzz,

I know how you feel, I worked in IT for nearly 30 years until jan 2012 when I acquired a concussion. Much like yourself I tried to continue as normal for a while but it became to much for me and had to stop working.

Being a self confessed workaholic (IT 4 days a week and construction for 3) it took me almost a year to understand what rest was. Also being analytical I struggled to understand how to fix myself - after all you break a bone, you wear a cast, wait for it to be healed, have some physio and you are virtually back to normal. Unfortunately, the brain doesn't work that way and that it is only clean living (no alcohol, no caffeine, sugar etc.) and rest that helps.

My wife and I also struggled with the financial side - going from being a relatively high earner to having to claim benefits in the UK was a huge shock - I used to spend more on a restaurant meal than the UK government gives you to live on for a week. Hopefully, your friends and family will help you out in your time of need.

[poetrymom]

I had my accident last Feb. I had a week off for brain rest, got better, went easing back to work, and well, it just all unraveled.

Sadly, no one can tell you for sure how long it takes to rest and heal the brain. No 2 injuries are alike. There is no way to hurry along brain recovery either. I know it's stressful trying to figure out work and finances, but the biggest gift you can give yourself is to just reduce stress in your life in every way you can in order to heal.

It was not easy for me to let go and give up the rest of the school year for teaching, but I had to. I am on the lucky end of this as I have recovered quite a lot, but I do have set backs. I have to be careful.

Your full time job may just be learning how to recover. I know it's scary, but you only have one brain and it needs quite and rest. There is no pushing through symptoms -- like no pain no gain. That just won't work with brain recovery.

Keep telling us your symptoms etc and we will try to help.

Take care.

pm

[bmwbzz]

Thanks sospan + pm!

Yes, I am starting to come to terms with a slow recovery. In some ways, rest is what I've been wanting for a long time. We'll figure it out and family has already offered a bit.

sospan - it is very hard to get used to the loss in income - even going to the grocery store is hard.

but as pm said, I only have one brain!