I need some input from folks here. At 6 1/2 months, I'm still not considerably better, with brain fog and fatigue, light sensitivity and dizziness that seems to remain static. Throughout this ordeal, I have worked full time, with some medical leave here and there so that I could have some time recovering, (working on a part-time basis for a month or so). However, I wonder now if it is work that is really getting in the way here of a full recovery for me. My job can be stressful. I have tried to moderate things at work and keep stress levels as low as I can, but that has been very difficult at times. Any suggestions would be much appreciated! What I have been doing is really trying to not let my symptoms make me so anxious, and this is helping, but at the same time I wonder if I have prolonged this ordeal. I am the main (really only) breadwinner in my family, with two wonderful daughters and a great and supportive wife.

I only took 4 days off work initially, mainly because I really didn't feel that badly at first, but I feel like this really was a mistake. I have heard that most people do make a full (or at least recover to 90% or so) recovery from this disorder, but I am feeling very discouraged right now.

Thanks for any input!

(And "static" in that there are many symptoms I do not have anymore from the acute phase, like nausea, vertigo, extreme light sensitivity, panic attacks, etc. So I HAVE gotten better in some respects)

I can't tell you what is best for your situation, but I can tell you that I had to stop working and focus on recovery. I was out of work for three months initially (three months of hell). I went back to work half-time after three months even though I still had intense symptoms. I did it mostly because I didn't know better and because I needed something to make me feel "normal" and not be in the dark room panicking all the time.

But after several months of working a demanding job even at half-time, I realized it was keeping me from making improvements. All of my energy and effort was going to those 4 hours per day I had to work, and then I had nothing left for the vestibular therapy and other things I was supposed to be doing to get better, not to mention quality time for the family. I actually was starting to get worse and not progress, so I knew I had to stop.

For me though, I was lucky because I had work. comp. payments that let me not work and still receive money. I am still not working 7 months later, but making vast improvements health-wise.

I guess we can only say to listen to your gut and your body. If you are having suspicions that work is getting in the way of recovery, it may just be true. I was very nervous about telling my partner that I felt I had to stop working. But after I did, my partner was very grateful because otherwise she would have never known what I needed. It is a serious decision for the whole family, but if you have people that can help you through financially and otherwise, it may be what you need to do.

Seth,

Learn your triggers...then learn what I have found to be the early signs of those triggers. I think our triggers start showing signs of onset before they become full blown.

For me, I start thinking anxious thoughts or struggling to think clearly. When I notice those things I can take a break or move to another project before it gets out of hand.

I am self employed so I have a little freedom to bounce around. I don't always shy away from something now that I have learned I can curb the longer lasting symptoms if I am paying attention to those quiet signals I am sending myself to take a break. Hard lesson to learn for someone who likes to push on and finish but currently not wise to do that..maybe never really was wise.

Hang in there, my worst was from 6-12 months. It has been a steady but very slow uphill since around 14 months. By no means easy at work but it has been doable.

Bud

Thanks Bud. So you think--keep working, but in moderation? I also really want to have energy for my children and wife, but usually don't after work these days. I realize that many of my symptoms are minor compared to a lot of folks (for instance, I have no headaches, never have, no nausea or actually any real cognitive problems--aside from being slower at most tasks--, but I think that pushing through them is really prolonging this). I just have this general feeling of unwellness about me a lot of the time, as well as odd balance issues. Sometimes, I wonder if it is something else entirely, and not PCS, but I've already kind of been down that road (EKG, going to get some blood tests). When I'm with my family and we are having fun and playing games, etc, generally I feel pretty good, esp. after a good night's sleep. We had a great day traveling yesterday, just the 4 of us, and we ate out, the girls played at the park. But add anything else to the equation and I'm hurting a lot of the time, especially when it comes to hanging out with extended family.

Does anyone know--but can spontaneous healing occur from this disorder? Does it happen to people? I pray every night about it.

Spontaneous healing happens best when you are not thinking about it. Your extended family can fatigue many people who do not have PCS so don't gauge your condition by that.

Keep in mind that you have reached that age where every brain starts to slow down. You have been made aware of it because of your PCS. If you did not have PCS, you would just blame work stress on any fatigue you have. Now, you just have a bit more fatigue added due to PCS.

Seth,

Not sure I can answer that for you...I chose to work through it because I had to be there, my presence simply was needed and I had to find ways to make it work.

The hard part was insomnia when you are working 12-15 hour days and I had a terrible time making decisions that were and have been routine with my job for years.

When I get home from work now I need to take a quiet time break. I spend a little time resting my head and mind...my wife knows, my grandkids know and when I am done I am ready to give them my attention.



The unplanned or unexpected currently can still rattle my cage a bit and requires some extra attentiveness. My range of comfort is narrower than the past, things must be planned for me to stay calm.

Bud

Seth,

I am at 18 month now andI worked all the time. The first three or four months where ok, but then I got another concussion in September last year and my symptoms got really bad. I stayed at home for two weeks. After that worked full time again. On some days I thought I would not make it through the day, but I found out, staying at home didn't make it better.

After work I had to rest, I had no more energy to play with my seven year old son. I even sometimes got mad at him because he didn't understand. Of course he is to young to understand.

Now it is getting better, I still have some bad days. Luckily I can do home office. I learned to do the more stressing part of my work in the morning, like visiting my customers and looking after the people that work for me. Then I can take a break before I do office work.

You need to reduce stress!