Hi

I've been lurking here for a couple of weeks, and have found this board so encouraging, I thought I would be polite and introduce myself rather than hide.

I slipped on ice and landed on the back of my head 6 weeks ago on Friday the 13th. Nothing dramatic, just clumsiness and winter combined. Within minutes the front of my head was throbbing, and my neck was sore. I didn't black out, no nausea, si I assumed I was fine. I hosted dinner for my hubby's birthday that evening and had several drinks, and went skiing the next day. Thankfully I didn't fall.

Fast forward to Monday and I had trouble at work - concentration, headache, unable to carry on a conversation coherently., slurring words. I assumed I was over tired and tried to push through. Long story short, my colleagues thought I was off, I saw a doctor and was diagnosed with a mild concussion and whiplash and told I could continue to work.

I saw my own doctor 2 days later when symptoms increased and have been off work since.

I had an MRI yesterday, because I had a bad fall in January, that I now think may have been a concussion as well. I ski with a helmet, so I thought I was safe.

After 5 weeks of brain rest, I'm returning to work Monday on a reduced schedule - 4 hrs from home for 2 days. I spend my day looking a computers, so I'm hesitant. My doctor thinks that some normal life will help me feel less frustrated. I'm willing to try and hoping it goes well. I'm still waiting for the neuro to see me.

I'm so grateful to see that I'm normal - at least for someone who has had a concussion!

Aelfaba,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear about your fall. How can we help ?

Welcome, Aelfaba!

How are you feeling now? Do you still have symptoms?

You sound nervous about returning to work. I don't blame you - 4 hours a day is a lot to jump into. However, it can be helpful to get a little bit of stimulation. You should probably be mindful and self-monitor (without being anxious), paying attention to any symptoms. If they return, take a break until they subside. If they keep returning, you probably need to stop. I think that's how you'll find out how you do with the screen time. Try not to worry in advance, but it's good that you are aware of how concussion recovery can be a non-linear progression.

Don't be hard on yourself. Keep us posted!

Julie

Thanks for the welcome! Just reading everyone's stories is very reassuring. I know I'm early to the process at 6 weeks, but I always assumed a concussion was a couple of screen free weeks, and then all was fine. I was surprised to be down so long. With 2 young kids and a busy career, this has thrown me for a loop.

I still have symptoms - headaches, ears ringing, dizzy spells, tired and hard to focus on more than 1 thing at a time.

Work is my biggest concern at the moment. I discussed with my GP and this is a trial - we will reevaluate after a couple of weeks. She wants me to see a neurologist before going full time. On a good note, I will work from home and can do several short stints in the day.

How do other people manage work?

I should add that I struggle with busy times - church on Sunday is overwhelming and exhausting. getting my kids dressed and off to school & daycare is very hard as well. My daughters school play was really overwhelming. This is particularly hard since I am a naturally social person.

A couple of important points for you to consider.

First, multi-tasking is not going to be helpful to recovery nor very successful. So, try to stop trying to focus on more than one thing at a time.

For many of us, a church environment, especially with the loud music and lots of voices, is just not possible yet. Anything that causes fatigue is slowing your recovery.

It is very likely that your slow recovery is due to trying to keep up with your family and outside activities. You need to be very selective about your activities. Just those activities needed to keep the family going, nothing more.

More later. My computer keyboard keeps freezing. Maybe it has PCS.

It's surprising the number of people who drink after a concussion, I know I was guilty of doing it and wonder if my symptoms would have been less severe if I hadn't - all hindsight now.

I think you are wise to ease yourself back into work, I'm sure you will have to pace yourself initially as the brain takes a lot more time to repair than a muscle or even a broken bone because it is so dense. It's easy to think we are better then over do things and realise, usually with disappointment, that we are not quite there...yet.

Thanks Mark, I hope your keyboard recovers quickly!

I try not to multi task - but with a 7 and 3 year old, there are often multiple demands that I can't keep up with. I thought church was all in my head - although I guess that is the problem. I will avoid it and hope that a couple of hours of quiet give me some energy to be Mom in the afternoon.

Super electric, I don't drink often, but it was his 40th, and I didnt realize. As you said, in hindsight! I have avoided alcohol since then, but also wonder if it made things worse.

I'm trying to balance quiet time with not becoming socially isolated.

Aelfaba,

I hear you with the kids. I have a 4 yo and an almost 13 yo (different but I promise you, equally demanding). Do you have a partner? Do you have any family in the vicinity? You need to impress upon them the situation and elicit a lot of help with daily tasks. You are going to have to relinquish a lot of control to them so that you can rest. That is the ONLY way to not multi-task. Their commitment to providing all that extra help to you will enable you to recover much, much faster.

If you are raising 2 small kids with a high powered job, you are probably a real go getter, so this may be really tough for you, but I think it's the only way. There is no 'mind over matter' when it comes to brain healing.

As far as handling work, I am coming off being a stay at home mom with my youngest when this happened, so we were/still are reliant on one income. We ended up having to put her in full time pre-K because I couldn't take care of her. I was supposed to be preparing to return to work, which I am not going to be able to do in any way I'd imagined, and I am trying to figure out what kind of job will work for me. I feel grateful that I do have my husband's income and also that we live a pretty frugal life so that we have not been reliant on two incomes.

I don't go to church anymore. For me it's not the music noise but the crowds, chaos, people trying to talk to me all at once. You know, just a nightmare to think about it. I might as well go hang out in Grand Central Station. So, my husband goes and takes the kids. He is very supportive, but it's frustrating for him. Socially, I try to make sure I spend time one on one with friends I enjoy, who understand I may get tired quickly. I almost never gather with more than that except at the dinner table. When I do attend shows at school, I hang around the back and try not to interact socially so that I can save my energy for enjoying my child.

Mark in Idaho said, "be very selective about your activities." This was said to me, but I went backward so many times before I realized how seriously I had to take it. We really have to let things go to get better.

Be well,
Julie

Hi Julie

Control - it is hard for me, but sometimes I actually don't care about things the way I should. I'm letting go of what doesn't matter. As for kids, they are in school or daycare all day, so that helps a lot!

My husband is super supportive. He had a neurological issue a few years ago, where he lost use of an arm suddenly (Parson Turner Syndrome). It was awful, but something positive, we have first hand experience of what it is like to be the patient or caregiver. That is helping!

My mom stayed with us for the first couple of weeks, but we are on our own now.

I feel like you do about church - or any gathering over 3 people. I'm sure it will improve!