I too was/am a professional. I was lucky in my situation...I think.

I returned to work as tolerated about a month and half after my return home. I work for a hospital and they knew I had a new disability, they chose to allow me to return so they also made allowances for my needs. I've thought since...I returned too soon. I didn't give my brain enough time to recoupe. I've faced more battles than I should have at first. Most with my boss who thought my return should be in full...and allowances not made.

I've often wondered if I would be as far as I am today had I taken more time to rest my brain...I will never know.

I am not the exact same nor do I think without the TBI that I would be. Trauma...is trauma and I went through it all. Everything that happens in ones life helps shape the person they are. I don't like that I don't function the same or that I run out of steam faster than I get it built up, but I can and always will choose to look at what I can do to be productive while I work on the parts that still malfunction.

I've heard of disability through social security benefits being paid...will your doctor hook you up there? All of that paperwork was filled out before my release from the hospital...I didnt' know about it until later.

I've also heard of partial disability. Meaning...I could work some...and get some social security. At one point I thought about this, but I couldn't convince myself I needed to stay at home more.

I was able to change my hours that fit my new sleep cycle. (doesn't matter when I go to bed I wake at 2 am every morning) My work day starts earlier...4:30am and ends earlier, so I can go home and rest if I need it.

Thanks for your reply Sporty.

I have felt that maybe in some ways it was good that I coincidentally wasn't working at the time of the accident. Because if I had been working I would have rushed back, out of my usual guilt.

I don't know if my Docs will do paperwork for SS Disability. They have been very supportive throughout my recovery. I think they mostly want to see where I am at the 1 year mark.

I really want to get well & get back to work. The biggest barrier I am currently facing is the ear pain from noise. here is no way I could work anyway right now with this problem. I can barely do things in public because of it. However, I have a new specialist that I am seeing next week about this so I hope to get some help for that.

You have the will...you'll find the way! I wouldn't advise going back before the doctors want you to.

From my own experience...I needed more time, but refused to back down. I know that's why the doctor wrote it out...not that I could work X amount of hours, but tha some days and certain things would appear he could not predict...nor could I.

I was in full blown denial when I came home from the hospital...I see that now, but would have fought to the death back then.

I've always looked at my TBI as a challange..some days multiple challanges. My goals although not written anywhere are to do as much as I can to prove to whomever is watching...I can do it! To be as much like I was as I possibly can. Last but not least...this TBI does not control me I will beat it.

Each of my goals are about my health...my very well being. It's not about the money its about being me and having control over myself.

You'll get there!! I will help any way I can!

Thank you Sporty! I appreciate your support! Sounds like you are very similar to me - high energy professional with the "need" to work (I don't just mean financially - I mean that drive that some of us have.)

Both my Doctors and my husband have told me to NOT worry about working right now. Some days I don't think about it at all because I'm just trying to get through the day (pain, therapies, etc). Other days when I have more time on my hands I think about it and get depressed and worried that I'll never work again. A big part of it is my self-esteem being tied up in my work - so I need to work on that a bit internally.

Thank you again for your support!

I work now, because I had to (partly drive and partly the living situation I found myself in).

If you feel that drive so much perhaps...you should try.

What did you do before? Is it possible to volunteer for a few hours a week to test the waters? Volunteering should allow you to leave if you can't take it...why I suggested it.

Have you tried earplugs to dull the ear pain? I have that...too much noise gives me sharp intense pain...I run for silence! I've used them and it seems to help.

Good luck!!

I would love to volunteer, but right now I'm pretty sure it wouldn't work. The ear pain is so bad due to noise that I'm often on the floor of Doctors offices.

And, yeah, I carry ear plugs w/my everywhere, but I find even with the ear plugs in, it seems it's the vibration of sound that gets to me.

I'm hoping this Specialist that I see Tuesday will be able to help me w/my ears. I feel that's the biggest barrier for me at the moment.

Meanwhile, my Docs & other have suggested I take up a nice quiet hobby at home. I did a little craft work this summer, and plan to do the same when this class I take ends. (School has been a disaster for me this term because of noise issues.)

I sort of hate my comments because it sounds like I'm being negative. "I can't, I can't...." It's so unlike me - but I never before had something so dang excruciating.

You're going to get there...patience. Give yourself some time...it'll come.

We all go through...I can't. I still do, had one of those days...yesterday! Chin up...mine too!!

You will get there. And here is my 2 cents. I am 13 months post brain scramble.

I recieved my injury October "09. by Feb '10 I was back at work. By July I lost my job. Had to go back to hospital due to some other problems. My body was beat up I guess.

So moral of teh story, don't force it. Yeah, I hate being unemployed again. I LOVE My job. Needed my job, needed to keep busy not dwell on the new me. But, I believe I may have over done it.
Don't end up in my position. Do what works for you and your doctors.

Much luck to ya!!!
Kara

Thanks girls. I ended up having a hellish almost 24 hours of excruciating head pain. Was definitely a wake up call that my obsession with work is really silly. I'm still in the midst of major recovery.

So, I think I have -for the moment- put this issue to bed.

Thanks for the support and encouragement. It definitely helps to hear from those who have gone before me that I should be patient and not rush it. The Doctors and my husband say it all the time, but hearing it from you all, who have walked the path, is what I needed.

I lost my job in 2008, and when I got my injury in 2009 I was still looking for work. Of course, I stopped looking for a job for a week or two to give myself time to heal (at that point, I just thought I had taken a bad fall that gave me a big lump on my forehead and 2 black eyes. As time went on, I realized I had a lot of problems-cognative, dizziness and balance problems, lack of concentration, headaches, etc. My neurologist advised me-especially because of the dizziness which is caused by a problem with the connection between my eyes and brain, rather than the ears, which is more common- to apply for SSD. But I still wanted to work-I live alone-my kids are grown and all over the world, my husband left me in 1990, so I am responsible for myself and my living expenses.

But finally this summer my dizziness has gotten worse-when I see anything moving-like leaves on a tree, traffic, a train, etc., I just get so dizzy and have to close my eyes. The same thing happens when I look at anything that has a pattern, like stripes.

Anyway, I applied for disability and of course got turned down. Besides having my doctor's info (I also have lupus, DDD, fibro, and lymphedema from breast cancer surgery), they have the info from their doctor who I had to see. When they gave me a copy of the report, they said that I stated that I had all the above conditions along with the mTBI. But their doctor said I only had high blood pressure and a "mental problem".

I am appealing it, but how to I get them to realize that I am having so many problems from the brain injury. Although they have all my neurologist's files and all, I think they think that if you fall and hit your head, it really can't have any consequences-that you have to be in a car accident or something more serious than just falling. The neurologist is the one who feels it is dangerous for me to be out driving around (I can drive around my neighborhood ok) or doing other activities that could make me dizzy. I have no short term memory-it just doesn't work. I used to be a great typist, but now it can take me a couple hours to type a 300 word paragraph-my brain and my fingers just don't communicate right. I would be fired from a job 5 minutes after I was hired. SS say they see no reason why I can't get a job.

What can I do or say, or what can my doctors say, to convince SSD that I really do have a problem? Has anyone had to prove that your injury, even though tests and scans say everything is fine, really is a serious problem?

Thanks for your help. God Bless. Kathy

Hi Kathy,

So sorry for all that you've been through. I haven't been through the SSD process myself, but I have heard that everyone gets denied the first time, and that you have to appeal it.

I don't think it's anything that you submitted was wrong - I think they just deny everyone off the bat. That's what I've heard anyway.

I hope that you are able to get SSD so that you are able to rest & take care of yourself.