Urgent question for Concussion veterans

[sugarplumkitty]

How did you know when you were recovered enough to go back to work? My doctors have not been helpful with this.

I've had brain damage yet they expect me know know when I'm better? My judgement has been off so long, I don't trust it anymore.

Comments

[amusingmuse]

whooof. I'm not sure. I've got instilled in me the poverty level terror that if I don't work, I'll lose my job, so I went back as soon as I could get someone to drive me too and from work. I wasn't up to snuff, but I did my best. I know I didn't drive my car back from work, 'cause yes, I went to work the day after the accident and fainted, for over a month.

Then, I also worked on a badly damaged knee, which now pops out on me. (that job DID threaten to fire me, despite damaging the knee on the job, if I didn't show up.) I worked with what turned out to be pneumonia and I felt like I was hacking up half a lung. I'm the worst person to ask.

[sugarplumkitty]

Ok. Thanks. Your example reinforces what my mom and I discussed. If I'm unsure if I'm ready, I'm probably not ready. Call is in to my doctor and HR at my job. I'm extending until July 10th. The appointment I made for a cognitive workup is July 7th.

[amusingmuse]

Try and do a problem solve at home, something akin to what you would do at work. You'll know then how you're doing. For me, it felt like ice cream headaches if I pushed my brain to think too hard. I couldn't multi-task at all, but thankfully no one complained at work that I was only doing one task at a time.

It took me a while and I mean months, to get back up to complete full cylinders. Of course 5 months later the dentist realized my front tooth had actually hit something and was damaged. After that the buzzing headache went away and I was able to focus on my work better.

But even now I've got two problems that never went away: a stutter and inability to access my full vocabulary as quickly.

[sugarplumkitty]

I can do some problem solving but you're right that it brings on a headache if I try to work very long at it. I sure hope my brain mends before I lose my job.

[melleecat]

I have never had the experience myself, but know someone who had to retire from their job due to a concussion. They tried to work for about a year after it happened, but they just weren't the same after that. He was a local talk show host here in Phoenix.
The concussion has totally disrupted his life. So, I hope it is better for you!!

[sugarplumkitty]

They say I will recover but it may take 6 months. I don't have six months!

[melleecat]

He worked part time for awhile. Maybe you can do that. My heart goes out to you as you heal!

[_the_other_side]

I understand your frustration. I know you feel like you don't have six months. But I am glad to hear that they are saying that you will recover.

My 0.02

[yeoww]

I've never gone through this, but in May 2009 I got a very bad flu, like nothing I've ever experienced. I was out for two weeks, came back to work and hung in there for a week. I could barely walk to the parking garage and was having trouble breathing, but yep, I was at work, Good Employee Me. We're undergoing layoffs too and I didn't want to be seen as expendable.

I developed a bad case of pneumonia - ambulance, hospital, yucky stuff. I was out for two more weeks. My lungs are now permanently scarred and will never be the same, I am told. If I'd not pushed it, the damage would not have been as severe. In the end, returning to work early caused me to miss lots more work than I would have if I'd simply stayed off that extra week and taken care of myself.

If you wreck your body by pushing yourself, you won't have a job anyway. Let your doctors and your body tell you when you're ready.

*hugs* Please take care of yourself.

Re: My 0.02

[sugarplumkitty]

*hugs back* Thank you my friend. I am taking care of myself. If I've learned anything from this experience, it's to take good care of myself because if I don't, I'm flat on my back for a day or more.