As usual I was in a hurry I was organizing the relocation of offices on site with mine being the first. The dealine for this was achievable, which was not a problem as pre TBI I thrived on deadlines and stress.

I was heading back to my office with a million and one things running through my mind and decided to take a shortcut having done this (a decision which changed my life) I came face to face eith a verandah railing after this I am not sure what happened all I remember is getting up from the ground and thinking I need to get help.

A colleague took me to my Dr who said I was fine take her home. I was far from fine and as I worked for a large healthcare facility I was kept in over night for observation. I had one week off work and the following 3 weeks gradually built up to full-time work. ( During this time I had a CT scan which showed negitive results.)

The next 3 months I was feeling out of sorts and could not explain what was wrong, headaches, fatigue,just not feeling like me as I was before the bang on the head.

I had been back to my Dr who stated "it is normal for you to feel like this give it another month". I had gotten worse friends had noticed that i was not the same and some said I should see a neurologist. Once again another visit to the Dr who thought I was a nut case ( and said so in not so many words in the referral letter to the neurologist)I demanded a neurologist appointment. He relented after saying there is nothing wrong with you. I was desperate althpugh I was seeing a neurologist in 3 months time I felt disheartened with my Dr as I disputed what he wrote in his letter of referral.

Before the visit to the neurologist, I had grown steadily worse concealing my problems from colleagues and employer. I had become frightened and confused it was like a huge weight on my shoulders that just would not budge. I saw another Dr frustrated with the last one and she felt that I was depressed and gave me a script for Prozac. Man if I was depressed when I walked into her office I was suicidal when I left I felt like a real loser! It was a lack of understanding and total ignorance on my part about depression that made me feel this way, so I had some reading to do about depression.

At about this time I had started to a psychologist as I was finding life in general difficult to manage and needed to sort my head out. I found this also hard to accept as I had always been so independent and like depression knew very little about why and what sort of people see 'shrinks' ( boy has TBI taught me some lessons).

Well at last my neurologist had seen me and diagonosed PCS and felt I would be recovered with no lasting side effects, however go back and see him if I had not improved. As a precaution he wanted me to have a MRI scan to rule out any organic brain disease and neuropsychological testing.

At this stage, I informed my work insurance that I was continuing to have problems related to my accident. This is when life became difficult and the fight started to gain recogntion of having TBI.

In October 2000 I had a MRI which showed no signs of brain injury surprise surprise but did indicate signs of demylination of the brain giving the indication of Multiple Sclerosis ( as if things were not bad enough). I was devastated and the Dr put me on a month's sick leave. I have not returned to work since and with the results of the neuropsych testing work is not an option at this stage.

I was very grateful to my employers who have been supportive (delivering me meals and homehelp). They were able to hold my position open for 8 months but as I was unable to give a date that I would be able to return to work I had to resign.

Work insurance has now accepted my claim but I am still awaiting rehab after 18 months since my accident. I have been fortunate to have the wonderful support of my local Brain Injury Association and the brilliant advocacy and friendshitp from the field officer.

It has made me aware that not many people including Dr's and allied health professionals know what the consequences of PCS are and how devastating it can be when it turns your life upside down. I came across this website quite by accident and have found it to be a life saver. I have made some wonderful friendships here.

Thankyou for the opportunity to post my story, the support and friendship this site has made possible.

Cheers

Email Marie-Ann