Day 9 of head injuryness. It started off tediously and got boringer and boringer from there.

[PaulS83]

At least my grammar hasn't suffered though.

Still here. Feet up on the injury couch, a bag of peas parcel-taped to my head, begging sympathy from the world.

I know what you’re thinking. Always the good guys, right?

This is day 9 and I’m still knocking back paracetamol like they’re smarties. I’ve still got some suspended orb of pain that’s roaming around my front lobe like ball lightning, and I’ve still got that rash.

Although that may be unrelated.

I had my first day back at work yesterday. Actually, I worked from home the first couple of days but have a worryingly limited recollection of this. Apparently I was in meetings. Clever ones too, and I cannot for the life of me think what was said, or what I said. It’s like trying to remember your drunken shame after a raucous night out. Luckily I’m blithering at the best of times, otherwise it would’ve been noticeable. I may’ve flown under the radar.

I managed to both vomit and fall over in the office yesterday, so there’s something nice. There may be a cryptic clue buried deep in there that I’m still not right. Some clever-clogs has changed my computer settings to dark mode (you always know whose going to be IT savvy just by looking at them, but if in doubt, start with the guy with the ponytail), so everything has a black background, and that is making a huge difference, but in terms of running. Nil, nada, niente, nuffink.

I had a brisk 2 mile walk though this morning due to train strikes. I’m not OK to drive (I think I am, and that’s what airbags are for, but this is apparently an unpopular opinion) so I’m living la vida on public transport this week. I love the public. Especially the dribblers. There’s always something to watch.

On my way home last night, I was sat at a bus stop and surrounded by the shallow end of the gene pool, those societal dregs who’ve inexplicably made it to biological adulthood like an evolutionary paradox. Credit where credit’s due though, they’re off their heads on a Monday evening. You can’t look down on that, that’s the dream!

One came up next to me while I was looking at my phone, who was all too interested in my phone, but clearly lacking either the control or intelligence to side-eye his intent instead of lurching like a ship in a storm. The (highly probably) ruse was to overtly pretend to read the time-table (out loud) and to snatch my phone.

This plan would’ve been bulletproof, and I none-the-wiser, if not for two slight errors 1) he was clearly illiterate and 2) there was no time-table there, because I tried to look at it before I sat down.

I put my phone away, preparing for action (it would’ve been mildly intimidating if he didn’t look like he was one hard cough away from defecating on himself), but with the bait gone, he retreated to plan B which was to ask everyone for money. Inner city bus stops on Monday evenings aren’t going to be first stop in your hunt for affluence. This one certainly wasn’t. So off he stumbled across 4 lanes of main road.

It broke the wait up beautifully.

Anyway, train strikes this morning meant I had to get off on an earlier stop and walk it in, which I quite enjoyed, but it did demonstrate to me that that was probably the current ceiling of exertion. I wanted to go a day without painkillers but had to raid my desk drawer on arrival.

So week 2 of the training plan seems to be heading the same way as week 1. It’s like coastal erosion. Negative progress it feels like.

The previous medical advice was to consult my GP if symptoms persist beyond 2 weeks, I think I’m heading that way in all honesty. In fact I wouldn’t be bowled over with surprise if there’s some kind of fracture going on in there somewhere too, but that’s Dr Google again. Dr Real Life Person is continually inaccessible. I’m not even sure if he exists anymore; I suspect he’s like the Wizard of Oz, and is actually just the receptionist nipping behind a plush curtain.

So, there we have it. More non-running. Another meaningless, go nowhere, non-running post. Hopefully it made you smile though.

I hope you lot are out there, zipping around, causing mischief. Wreak some havoc for me, please!

[ktsok]

I didn’t smile, or if I did, it was lost amidst the grimaces. What an utterly horrible experience you are having. I’m no expert, I’m averse to seeking medical attention, and I’m aware of the ball ache of getting appointments currently, or even going to A&E (I’ll tell you the wasp story sometime), but ‘seek medical advice’ signs are going off over here. You have properly hurt your head, and it’s quite important.

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon in reply to ktsok]

I just clicked on the emoji button to pull up a heart-laden thank you and spotted these: 🤏🖕. They're getting bold!

Those, er, aren't aimed at you by the way.

Thank you for all your kindness.

[Teresa1632 Marathon]

Oh, eeek. If you are throwing up and have a head injury, you need to swing by A&E, or one of the walk in places to get checked out.Check which local A&E has the shortest wait time and get someone to drive you to it, or call a taxi.

Hope the sore head is cleared up soon, and week 3 has you running again.

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon in reply to Teresa1632]

Thanks Teresa.

[MissUnderstanding Half Marathon]

You need to go to A and E. It’s very important you get checked out. The NHS guidance on head injury and concussion is here:

nhs.uk/conditions/head-inju...

You might like to call 111 for advice, but they’ll -almost certainly send you to A and E. Don’t play this down. Make the sensible choice and seek expert help.

[misswobble Marathon]

Oh dear Paul you’re not having it good matey 😬🙁

One thing though, that is a good sign, is that you strung that post together beautifully 😀

Don’t suffer in silence though, and if the pain persists you’ll have to see a doc.

Fingers crossed that you’ll soon see an improvement 🤞🙂

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon]

I’ll echo what the others have said Paul. You need to get some professional medical advice here. I hope your company sent you straight home after you vomited and fell over.

My husband had concussion years ago after a fall and he insisted on returning to work too soon. Within an hour he said he saw the room spinning and so the company sent him straight home in a taxi. But the symptoms lasted several days. Very nasty it was.

You can’t take any chances with your head. It’s the only one you’ve got!

Please give us an update when you feel like it and you've seen someone as we want to know that you're ok.

[Jell6]

Paul. Go back to the Dr. That's it, that's the message.

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon in reply to Jell6]

Yes ma'am. That's what I need in life, clear direction!

Thanks for all your kindness.

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon]

thanks for everyone’s concern. I’ve got another appoint at A&E and heading there now.

[Dexy5 10 Miles in reply to PaulS83]

That saves me giving you the same message. Hope all goes well.

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to PaulS83]

Definitely the right thing to do - we are all hoping you get the care you need and start to feel better soon.

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

Me too!! I had to take Mrs BC to A&E after she fell downstairs (top to bottom) just after Christmas. She hit her head hard. The junior doctor said that she thought that she was ok (I didn’t!) but she got a senior to check it out. Result..immediate CT scan for a possible skull fracture. It turned out ok, but had she been vomiting/ mentioning symptoms like yours, she would have been back to A&E toute suite!

I see that you have seen the light! Hope they sort you out pdq.

[Runnin-g Half Marathon]

Bad news 😟It doesn’t sound like you should be at work, a visit to the docs instead may be prudent. Wishing you a speedy recovery 🤞🏽

[Tasha99 Marathon]

It did make me smile - laugh in fact. Which I feel guilty about. Are you sure you should be at work? Seriously though, I think you need to go back to the doctor! Hoping you get well soon!

Edit - just saw you went to A and E. Hope they could help!

[PaulS83 Ultramarathon]

Thank you all so much for your kind words and advice, and for caring about a maddening, imbecilic stranger on the internet. Community is one of those words that has been excessively branded about in recent years, but it's truly apt here and I'm moved and grateful.

I was going to write a post, but it turned into a late one last night and I don't really have it in me.

I had a CT scan that confirmed no skull fracture or bleeding on the brain. Vomiting and wooziness (it's a word) caused by photosensitivity which is a symptom of the head trauma / concussion. Migraine tablets will help that, plus rest and patience to let it run its course.

Easy for them to say, they don't have to share a head with this noisy, twitchy, hyperactive lump of pink-grey mush.

These tablets work a treat though. Highly recommended. 5-stars on TripAdvisor.

Work told me they don't want hide nor hair of me until next week and that they've changed the locks. No training until I feel better.

So that's an open invite to get on it, right? No alcohol though. Bloody doctors.

[Irishprincess Administrator Half Marathon in reply to PaulS83]

Such a relief that you're ok. Take care and let Mother Nature and Father Time do what they do best 🙂

[Sandraj39 Half Marathon in reply to PaulS83]

Good - take all the advice you have been given! The more you rest the quicker you will heal, I reckon.🙂

[Beachcomber66 Administrator Half Marathon]

At least you know what you are dealing with now and the tablets will bring some relief. You are still on our watch list !👀

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Ugh. That sounds miserable. You're clearly not one to rest! My pilates teacher is having similar issues post-concussion (her hubby was cross she wouldn't dance on Christmas day so picked her up, threw her over his shoulde to dance .... but then slipped on one of the boy's toy cars, dropping her on her head in the process!). That was Christmas Day and she still isn't driving, one eye won't track properly and she has constant headaches too. Several scans on, there seems to be no damage to be seen. Various other theories about whiplash and damaged nerves/muscles etc. etc. Very glad to read you went back and got checked out properly and were given the all clear.

All's I'm saying is it may be a while if you're unlucky too, but I do hope you recover faster than she is doing.

When you move, will you be living/working on a safer public transport network by any chance? You can't be too careful - or too vigilant - out there!!!

[ktsok in reply to linda9389]

Christ. How’s their marriage?!

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon in reply to ktsok]

She's in credit for life I'd say!

[ktsok in reply to linda9389]

😅