Question: Hello,
I have history of head injuries since the year 2015. This past year in August, I was rear ended in a car accident. I was completely stopped due to wildlife crossing in front of me, and I got hit from behind on the side probably at most 40-55mph based on the speed limit of the road I was on. Car ended up being totaled. I don't recall actually hitting my head, but the back of my head was swollen and it hurt to shampoo my hair on that side for a while. Plus, there was a black mark with a very small bump on my forehead right above my nose. The bump wasn't noticeable to me, but someone who felt my forehead could feel it. Once this person pointed it out and told me, I went back into the car and realized I most likely hit my head off the sun visor that I had down in front of me. All I remember about the accident happening is the sound and vaguely seeing the animals run off scared in front of me in that split second. I figured out what just happened and soon saw the person who hit me drive off the road and get out of the way so i could pull over. Did i actually lose consciousness even for a split second, since I didn't remember hitting my head off the sun visor? I was able to talk after the accident and move around, but I was surprised to hear that I had a bump on my head because i didn't recall hitting my head and feeling it happen or any pain start. I was definitely running on adrenaline and feeling shaky, and I was able to cancel the next thing I had and tell what happened. I went to the ER and they did an xray on me, and they determined I had whiplash. They tested me for concussion also, but I didn't show signs of memory loss yet, since I knew what caused the accident and basic

(continuing from previous response since it got cut short). I knew basic"Who are you" questions. They also tested my vision and balance and didn't notice anything. This is only within about 5 hours post accident. The next day, I woke up very tired and confused what day of the week it was. I was put on muscle relaxers for a few days. I knew who I was, and I remembered what happened, but for the next week-ten days, I woke up each day and had to remind myself what day of the week it was. Three days after my incident, I went to an eye doctor who specializes in concussions for a regular year eye exam(since I had concussions before and problems with vision), and they didn't see any concussion symptoms with my vision, but they did adjust my prescription. I was very irritable the first few days. I had some trouble focusing, but I knew who everyone was talking to, and I knew what was on my schedule that day once I knew what day of the week it was. My mom and I went out and ordered lunch to bring home with us that day after the eye appt. 20 minutes after that, we were home and I ate my sandwich... or so I thought. I ate my mom's instead and didn't realize it until after she pointed it out. We do like similar sandwiches, but we did get different ones that day. I'm not someone that forgets what they ordered. I also had some neck stiffness and had trouble focusing on answering questions. Every six days for the next 3 1/2 weeks, my hearing would randomly get blocked out in my one ear randomly. I was sensitive to noise, which is what caused it. Is it possible I did have a TBI after all and didn't realize it? Or TBI with whiplash associated disorder? Did I actually lose consciousness if i didn't actually remember hitting my head off the sunvisor? With a previous car accident that made me sustain a second concussion back in 2018, I lost control of my car, but didn't actually remember hitting my head either, so maybe I lost consciousness for a brief second there too? I also found out a month before my most recent accident that I have a mild neurocognitive disorder, so any symptoms I had prior to that became more frequent than before. But i always knew who I was and where I was fortunately. Thanks in advance.