Muni - you have my support and hugs. Stick with it in-spite of you youthful boss. Keep going on show how though you are and that you will make it to your retirement date. You are one tough old bird to knock yourself out bleed all over the place and still make it into work the next days. You boss should be praising your dedication and resilience.

Muni - your tough!

Oh Muji!

i'm so sorry this happened to you.

You don't think you have a concussion do you?

i admire your strength.

i am so sorry that your boss does not seem to possess any empathy.

Holding on to hope for you & Much Support.

My advice would be to try to keep perspective. The medicine helps you sleep, right? Did a GREAT job (unfortunately at the wrong moment). Would the cane have helped you?? I would guess not.

Also, you walk a lot to maintain your weight loss. Have you noticed any change during those walks?

If someone at work approaches you, thank them for their concern. If they seem to push disability, let them know you are in a doctor's care and trust their judgment.

If you are unsure about going to Mexico over spring break, you can wait. There is no pressure. I can tell you, however, reading your posts while you were there last time, I could hear the joy in your voice. It truly was good for your spirit.

Listen to the doctor's input. If he thinks it's time for disability, see it as a good thing for you. If not, then leave on your terms when you see fit.

Midwest living isn't super expensive. You can see if that would fit the retirement budget. It may give you an option if you're unsure about leaving the States. Small retirement homes built together seem nice for camaraderie.

Again, you had such fun in Mexico. You could have that camaraderie built quickly there, too.

I am so sorry you had such a rough night. May it only get better for you! Praying for you.

So sorry this happened! You're a warrior, though - stopping bleeding and going in to work anyway. Make sure you stay hydrated and consume iron if you think you've lost enough blood to affect you. Be strong, and don't give in to your bosses machinations, but make sure you get what you need.

Hugs and prayers. And "hang in there"s.

P.s. do go to the doctor before Wednesday if you feel like you need to though.

Big hug for you Muji….. I would go right to emerg and be observed … Make sure that there's no other damage

x-ray's etc.... Head wounds are serious and if you were unconscious that's especially serious....

Let your silly boss wait until you know you're okay..... Another hug and a blessing....xo

As someone who works with sick older adults, sometimes we do wait too long to move forward. What that moving forward might be is different for us all. And as someone who also faces health challenges, I know how hard change can be. Are you able to do all your activities of daily living by yourself? Can you do all the tasks of your job, drive safely, go to the grocery store, that kind of thing. Is your production at work being compromised so you could be fired for non-performance of the job? What kind of health care would you qualify for in Mexico and how would you ensure your safety there? I am concerned that your cut took an hour to stop the bleeding, this sounds like maybe more serious than just a simple cut. Would a walker serve as more stability for you instead of a cane, or using a quad cane? Sometimes we cling to the old because this is all we know and this is our comfort zone. But what if changing your life would reduce your stress and enable a higher quality of life? What if not living alone would reduce. your stress and enable a higher quality of life? If you are in the USA, look into your local Area Agency on Aging or a Geriatric Care Manager who can assess your home and your health situation and make suggestions. Don't look at this as a loss, but as an opportunity to create the life that serves you and your mental health and physical health in a positive way. That is how I am choosing to look at my "disability." We had a dream to live far away from where we live now and then on one of our vacations there, we realized the health care system is not "Good Enough" for either of our health situations. So moving there would make our lives harder in the long run. This realization made me look into what is available where I do live and to think through what kind of help I will need. I think my being in the aging care industry and watching my in-laws struggle with their health and trying to live alone when they should not have been, has made me more proactive. But you know what, I feel better, I have less stress now that I am addressing my own personal needs. I hope you are able to find the solution that works best for you. PS: Also, if you are in the USA, considering consulting an attorney who helps people achieve SSDI (disability) or an attorney who works with ERISA law for your employer's short term/long term disability insurance. Have them educate you and give you advice. Just because your employer thinks you should go on disability doesn't mean you will qualify. The insurance companies who run these short term/long term policies will eventually force you to file for SSDI in the USA (they have this legal right). What will you do for health insurance while you wait to qualify for Medicare if you are in the USA and go on SSDI? Stuff like that is important to think about. And since you work for a state government, you may or may not be part of the social security system.

Maybe I am saying too much but I wanted to take a different point. Do you know why you fell? Did you faint or did you trip? Or did your legs or feet get weak and "give out." The most common place for people to sustain injuries or to fall is our bathrooms! There may be a simple fix to help you not have another fall. If you fainted, this is where your doctor can do a check up. Maybe medications are mixing in a bad way or maybe any additional drug or alcohol use works against us. If your legs are getting weaker or you can't feel your feet, would a mobility scooter be appropriate. If you slipped and then hit your head and blacked out, consider what you have on your floor. Remove any rugs. Wear gripping slippers even in the middle of the night toilet run. If you are a man, were you standing at the toilet and got dizzy? Sit down then. Would one of those things you put on top of the toilet that has a taller seat and arm rests give you more stability. What about grab bars, another example. If your feet or legs are weaker and giving out, could you make do in the night with a "portable" toilet chair near your bed. Or a man can use a urinal bottle thing. Do you need to turn the light on or have nightlights. Do you need to look at your feet as you walk to make sure they are moving. Sometimes these simple tweaks can help but sometimes not. I wish you well.

Oh muji I’m so sorry to hear this. It’s one of the risks we take living alone and being independent. Do you think you should have been checked for concussion? One thing I do that might help you is to keep a camping toilet next to the bed to save walking around at night. Good for those cold nights too.
It’s funny how some people think disability pension is some sort of easy or soft option. I’m not sure about the states but in oz it means grinding poverty and a complete lack of social status, plus you can be suspected of faking just to qualify for this supposed ‘prize’. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
I wish people would see what strength you have in keeping going instead of focusing on negatives. Don’t worry, in Mexico you may be able to afford daily help. It’s one of the reasons I’m planning to go there too.

oh Muji, I too am so sorry to hear about your fall and I too would ask the same questions as urbangardner. The reason for your fall may not be the harbinger of
doom that you suspect. If you truly feel that you are best served by retiring early and thus having the freedom to remove yourself from such an awful work place, then it is absolutely worth considering.
You know that whatever you decide, in your own good time, will be supported here without hesitation.
There is an abiding sense of care and nurture from every post I have read on your posts.
I wish you fast healing and hope your GP is of good help,

Yeah, y'all, you're right--I needed to be checked for a concussion. I taught my first class this morning, but then got the secretary to hang a sign on my second classroom's door to dismiss class while I went to the outpatient urgent care. They refused to see me because they said what you said--I needed to be checked for a concussion.

So I drove myself to the ER at the local hospital, and they did a CT scan and x-rays over the morning. My heart rate was too low all day, though, so now at 4pm they admitted me to observe me overnight and to give me an MRI. Yeesh.

I called my best workplace friend at school and filled him in and called my next door neighbor and filled her in. My car's right here in the hospital parking lot, so when they release me, hopefully, tomorrow, I can drive myself home. Hope they find out why I fell in the first place.

In 12 days I fly to Mexico and, believe it or not, I now realize I'll be safer there than in my own US apartment alone. They've known me for years at my hotel there. The desk clerks are on the bottom floor next to my room at night, and by day the two housekeeping ladies fuss over me, so I won't be as alone as I'll be in my US apartment. To get there and back I can have airport personnel push me in a wheelchair to the flight gates, too, I've done that before.

So now I've just got to get out of the hospital tomorrow, then through the next 12 days, and on to Mexico's care to get on the mend. Then just 15 months until I retire to care there in Mexico for good!

Thanks for your support. I was really scared when I posted this thread this morning, but I'm feeling like this is manageable stress now.

Hi muji

That’s a lot to deal with. I am very sorry that you had to go through all of that and on your own. I hope you find out what caused your fault in the first place and get good news from the hospital now that you’re there.

If you retired early, and went on disability, would you still receive most of your pension? Also, getting disability takes time. I don’t know how it works if you continue to work or if you have to completely stop working. I’d say it’s worth looking into at this point. Once you’re feeling better of course. Good luck with everything and I hope you get good news and the all clear at the hospital.

Hey Muji….. How're you doing today?.....xo

Just got back to my hospital room from having an sonogram done of my heart, SC. It looks like I won't be released today as I expected to be since the focus has gone from my head to my heart. I hit my head when I passed out, but what caused me to faint may have been a slow heart rate. Mine's staying at 47 or so when it should be 60, so I may have some blockage.

We'll see when the doc gets a look at my sonogram. Then they'll release me with a monitor installed on my person that'll be there for 2 weeks recording my heart day and night. That means I'll wear it to Mexico and back for Spring Break, provided they let me go. Ought to record some interesting stuff from a trip like that.

After that, I expect there will be a verdict as to whether I need any heart procedure or not. If so, I'll be reaching out for support for that like I did when I had the weight loss stomach surgery in December of 2018. The support here from DS PTSD got me through that, so I'm sure it can get me through whatever this may be now, too.

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, I'm weirded out by this sudden turn of events, but thanks to everybody at DS PTSD daily strength's working for me one day at a time. Thank you for that, truly.

((((((Mujica)))))))
I’m so sorry all this is happening rite now. I will be thinking of you.
If you can let us know as things keep going & if you need to vent or some extra support.
Remember we are always rite in your back pocket rooting for you along
Sending support
& gentlest of hugs <3

Prayers Muji i have had concussions and i have heart issues only mine is too HIGH (now controlled with meds and now half the amount of meds i used to take due to getting anxiety controlled) My heart was damaged by the stress when my late husband had his car accident. Praying for you thru this! I am relieved my Fiance moved in with me with my health i worry living alone and so did my mom and dad for me! I dont normally believe in living together unmarried but my mom pushed me to do it and he sleeps in the living room until we are married and will do so until i am READY after to sleep with him!