A tourist staying in Edinburgh has struggled with brain fog and blurry vision after being thrown from a horse while visiting the Western Isles.
Chelsea Joy, originally from California, had travelled up to Skye and Lewis for a couple of weeks when she had a freak accident while horse riding that left her with vertigo and memory loss.
READ NEXT - Rod Stewart adds extra Edinburgh Castle date due to phenomenal ticket demand
The 33-year-old was out riding on Saturday, February 18 when she was thrown from the horse onto her wrist and hip. But hours later she discovered she had a concussion that is yet to clear.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, she said: "I was visiting friends in Edinburgh then drove to the Isle of Skye for two weeks, then drove to Ullapool and took the ferry from there to Lewis on February 15.
"While staying up north, I went to a horse riding farm and hadn't been riding for a while but I felt quite comfortable and they said it was a friendly horse so I had no concerns and we headed down to the beach.
"When we got to the sand, the horse fell to his knees and started rolling around like crazy on the ground. I was still on him and at this point and everyone was shouting, 'Get off! Get off!', I scurried off and he kept rolling like a dog in the sand."
Bravely Chelsea decided to get back on the horse after it had calmed down and the staff assured her it was okay.
She recalled: "He was just too hot the staff explained and that I could get back on if I wanted and nothing would happen again. They helped me back on and kept him in front of the other horses and riders as they were galloping but we weren't ready for that.
"The horse obviously saw what the others were doing and felt left out and minutes in he bolted and spun me off to the right and bolted off."
Chelsea added: "Onlookers were like what the hell happened? I landed on my hip and wrist and felt fine at the time but that changed later.
"I was fine for two hours and driving when suddenly I felt like my head was going to explode. I pulled over and felt super nauseous like I was going to throw up."
It wasn't until looking up her symptoms and talking to a friend that Chelsea realised she could have a concussion even though she had fallen onto her wrist and not directly hit her head.
She continued: "I didn't realise you could get a concussion without a direct blow to the head but any impact to your body can make your brain shoogle around in your skull.
"Now I’m experiencing some weird after effects like intermittent nausea and dizziness almost like seasickness, headaches, breaking out crying out of nowhere, but the thing I’m having the hardest time with is the brain fog. Sometimes I’ll just look off and my brain goes completely blank, and I can just stare at nothing for five minutes."
As a tourist travelling to places she has never been before alone, the experience was even more terrifying. But Chelsea praised the health care she experienced while in Scotland.
She explained: "The staff at the hospital in Lewis were absolutely phenomenal and caring, really empathetic. That was a big deal as I was so far from anywhere resembling home and they were very warm and empathetic to my situation, bringing me tea and things while I waited for the brain scan results to come through. It was really sweet."
Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox
All of Chelsea's brain scans came back clear and she is monitoring her symptoms over the coming weeks. If you have any concussion symptoms after a fall or blow to the head you should seek medical attention.
A concussion is a sudden but short-lived loss of mental function that occurs after a blow or other injury to the head. It is the most common but least serious type of brain injury.
You can find out more and seek advice on the NHS website here.
READ NEXT-
Tesco issues important Clubcard update that could change in-store shopping
Midlothian police respond to robbery at Spar store with investigation launched
Shoppers race to Boots for £10 anti-aging cream that 'takes years off' with one use
Edinburgh Hibs chairman Ron Gordon dies at 68 as tributes pour in
Easyjet 'sorry' as passengers told to wait at gate while cabin crew have 'discussion'
