The results:
Right, they say a picture is more than a thousand words, and although I believe you might have guessed by now what happened, you may need a bit more information.
One week and a half ago, on Thursday morning, I bumped my head, or more precisely my chin, on my bedside table. I was reaching for something and in my still sleepy, drowsy state, I banged my chin really hard. It hurt so much, but I was still so tired (or confused by the shock?) that I fell asleep (or passed out?) again immediately afterwards.
Clearly, I missed some vital information on learning, as one day later, on Friday morning,
I succeeded in repeating the exact same doing, perhaps maybe even more dangerous this time. I hit the pointy corner of my bedside table with my cheek, and not just anyplace of my cheek, no the part of my cheek just one 1'' below my left eye! This time, it hurt even more. I was so mad at myself for stumping my head for the second time in such a short time span, but that feeling did not linger long as also this time, I dozed out again. When my alarm clock rang, I had this memory at the back of my head that I'd hit my head again, but by breakfast time, it had faded away until I totally forgot about it. (You'd wonder how this is even possible?)
The whole day at uni, I felt okay, maybe a bit drowsy in the afternoon, but I guessed that just had to do with it was the Friday afternoon at the end of a busy week, so I paid no further notice.
That Friday evening though, when I came home from uni, I had the worst headache I've ever had in my life! It was so bad that it felt like the pain and I had submerged.
On Saturday morning, I felt better, but still there was a tiny trace of a headache left. For most people Saturday morning means the weekend with no obligations, but for me it means I have to get up early to go to my Spanish class. It may look like a chore, but it's lovely, I promise! This time something felt odd though. I just had this hunch that I had to stay home. I did not know why and could not rationalize it, but the feeling stayed with me and I sat up in bed thinking what to do. Usually, when I got a hunch and I go with it, it has been proven to be correct thus at the last minute, I decided not to go to my Spanish class. I felt really bad though, as there was no way in which I would be able to reach my teacher before class started to let him know of my absence that day, but I just knew I had to stay home.I sent him an email though!
In short, I felt like walking around like a zombie the whole day.
It was only on Tuesday in the late afternoon that it finally dawned on me: might me feeling so off have anything to do with, wait, the fact that I hit my head hard twice (oh my gosh, I did what?! :O). Immediately upon realizing this, the thought struck me that I might have a concussion. I was so clumsy and felt so heavy and cloudy that this just had to be about more than being just tired.
(Incredible how clueless I was, isn't it? That's very unlike me. Me reaching this conclusion is especially remarkably late if you know that barely a few years ago, I also had a concussion. You should guess I knew the signs, huh :p? We'll leave it to the blows on my head then :p)
When that same Tuesday evening, I told my Danish teacher I might act weird because I thought I had a concussion, the first question she asked me was if I had gone and saw a doctor. Well, I had to admit that I hadn't as I had only just become aware of it, but I said I might go.
I have to say that, at that point, I was not yet sure if I were to be giving the doctor's a visit. I know it sounds terribly stupid a thing to do, but I just do not like going to the doctor's and I'm also never quite sure if what I have is severe enough, thus, usually, I try to avoid it at all cost. This time, however, appreciating the possibility and seriousness of the matter, I seriously considered going nevertheless. Visiting the doctor's even seemed to be everyone I told's suggestion and my mum (of all people!, she does not like going to the doctor's either unless she really has to) nearly freaked out when I told her what happened and I thought I had a concussion. She made me promise I made an appointment at the doctor's immediately and let her know the minute I had done so.
I thus called the doctor's on Wednesday (by the time I came home on Tuesday it was very late already, as my class only ends at 10 to 10 pm.) and the only free spot they had open was on Thursday afternoon. Thursday afternoon it would thus be. Sadly, Thursday noon meant I had to miss a class at uni (yay!, but not really, I LOVE to go to uni), but I soothed myself with the knowledge that it was for the greater good as my health might be at stake.
Thursday at the doctor's, when I told my doctor I thought I might have a concussion, he first looked at me like I was out of my head, which at that moment, technically, I was a bit :p, and I had to describe why I thought I had a concussion. After that, he went on to examine me. He pushed various places on my head, he knocked on it, shone in my eyes with a light and made me follow it, tested my reflexes, took my blood pressure and my blood oxygenation level and came to conclude that I indeed have a concussion. He prescribed me some salve and massaging, as well as some food supplement tablets (I was so afraid he prescribed me some medicine) to stimulate the blood flow to my brain and to enhance my concentration and memory.
For once in my life, I have to say I am really glad I went and see the doctor. If something were to happen, he is aware of what happened and he will know what to do plus, I can rest assured that he has examined me and all my reflexes are fine. Since I am a psychology student I follow a course on brain neuroscience, so I well know what can go wrong and that really is scary if you think about it too much!
Possibly useful information:
Most General symptoms of a concussion:
Physical
- headache
- dizziness
- vomiting
- lack of motor coordination
- difficulty balancing
- light sensitivity
- blurred and/or double vision
- ringing in the ears
Cognitive and emotional
- disorientation
- difficulty focusing attention
- post-traumatic amnesia (the events following the injury cannot be recalled)
- you may loose consciousness
- you keep repeating the same questions
- you are slow to respond to questions
- you are slow to respond to directions
- you have a vacant stare
- you have slurred speech
- you have incoherent speech
- you notice a change in your sleeping pattern
- you have difficulty with reasoning
- you have difficulty concentrating
- you have difficulty performing everyday activities
- you may be cranky
- you may be tearful
- you may temporarily loose an interest in favourite activities or items
- your display of emotion may be inappropriate to the situation