Julie begged the doctors to figure out what was wrong. Nobody could help us, it seemed. Joe searched the Internet for leads, typing in symptoms and hoping for a diagnosis. At last, following a tip from a computer webpage, he went to see a brain injury specialist at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. The doctor told him his symptoms fit those of post-concussion syndrome.
Nobody wants to hear that they have a brain injury.
But at last Joe and Julie had a reasonable explanation for the past year's difficulties. Joe went to see a neuropsychologist for cognitive testing. Part of Joe's treatment plan included an occupational therapy assessment, which is how I met him. I loaned Joe a book, Coping with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. When Julie read it, she recognized her husband's symptoms on every page.