Hello everyone,

I have been sporadically following these boards for the past year. Before I get into my reason for posting I would like to thank all of the contributors for sharing their experiences and offering their insight. This forum serves as a wealth of information to those in need, and it is made possible by the selfless actions of its contributors.

I suffered a series of head injuries in a small time frame about a year ago (water tubing and wrestling match). I have dealt with many of the classic symptoms associated with Post Concussion Syndrome during my recovery. While some of the symptoms have alleviated I am still hampered by vestibular issues that can be triggered by overstimulation.

I am planning on applying to medical school next spring, and I would be very interested in talking with anyone that has dealt with concussion-like symptoms in an academic environment. Also, if anyone with a different background cares to contact me that would also be welcomed.

I plan on gearing the majority of my conversations to private messages, however I believe my access is restricted until I hit a certain post count.

Lastly, I have served (and plan to continue in the near future) in a research role within a concussion clinic so if anyone would like to reach out to me directly with questions, please feel free.

Thank you all again for the work that you put into this forum.

[EsthersDoll]

I work at a University. I've been working full time at universities and colleges since I graduated from college myself about 11 years ago.

I was supposed to enter a graduate program before now. The head injury I'm recovering from has prohibited me from doing so. But I'm hopeful and confident that I will be able to attend someday.

I'm a technician for a Film & TV program at a public school. We have more than 700 undergraduate majors and 100 MFA students with a focus on production. (We also offer an MA degree that has many students currently enrolled in and have a couple hundred writers and actors in the MFA program as well - but I don't work with many of them on a regular basis as I do the former mentioned.)

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about working in an academic environment. The department I work for is different than med school, but still very demanding.

Originally Posted by EsthersDoll

I work at a University. I've been working full time at universities and colleges since I graduated from college myself about 11 years ago.

I was supposed to enter a graduate program before now. The head injury I'm recovering from has prohibited me from doing so. But I'm hopeful and confident that I will be able to attend someday.

I'm a technician for a Film & TV program at a public school. We have more than 700 undergraduate majors and 100 MFA students with a focus on production. (We also offer an MA degree that has many students currently enrolled in and have a couple hundred writers and actors in the MFA program as well - but I don't work with many of them on a regular basis as I do the former mentioned.)

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about working in an academic environment. The department I work for is different than med school, but still very demanding.

Thanks for your response. It's good to hear stories of those successfully contributing in a demanding environment. I hope that your recovery progresses so that you can fulfill your goal of attending the master's program ... I'm sure it will. I'll come up with a few questions in the future.

[camyam73]

I'm applying to do my MAsters startign in September. I am hopeful that by then I will have the mental capacity to keep up. My program is a bit different, with classes only one day a week, doing one course at a time. So I don't have to know several subject matters, nor spend all week in classes... Four hours once a week, for three years... Hoping I can handle it!

[EsthersDoll]

Originally Posted by Bardown25

Thanks for your response. It's good to hear stories of those successfully contributing in a demanding environment. I hope that your recovery progresses so that you can fulfill your goal of attending the master's program ... I'm sure it will. I'll come up with a few questions in the future.

I think you might like a book called "Over My Head". It was written by a Dr. who sustained an mTBI and was eventually diagnosed with PCS after being hit by a car while she was riding her bicycle. It took her a few years for her to recover, but she was able to return to practicing medicine.

Originally Posted by camyam73

I'm applying to do my MAsters startign in September. I am hopeful that by then I will have the mental capacity to keep up. My program is a bit different, with classes only one day a week, doing one course at a time. So I don't have to know several subject matters, nor spend all week in classes... Four hours once a week, for three years... Hoping I can handle it!

camyam,

Thanks for the info. Sounds like the program has a good setup given the circumstances. I wish you the best of luck in your academic endeavors.

In your footnote, you mention feeling overwhelmed in social situations. I seem to have a similar symptom in which I get dizzy/lightheaded/foggy when I am engaged in conversation (only activity that seems to provoke this symptom).

Is your symptom anything like this? Do you know why it happens or know of anything that helps? Thank you.

Originally Posted by EsthersDoll

I think you might like a book called "Over My Head". It was written by a Dr. who sustained an mTBI and was eventually diagnosed with PCS after being hit by a car while she was riding her bicycle. It took her a few years for her to recover, but she was able to return to practicing medicine.

Thanks EstherDoll, I actually just read this book a few weeks back. It was a pretty amazing story.

[emme727]

I have not yet returned to work following the accident. However, I worked in a medical school (as a medical illustrator/graphic and web designer) before I went to graduate school and subsequently became a professor. I may be able to answer some of your med school questions (and I later married to a med student/resident/ER doc [now ex]).

I am currently working on a doctorate in another field, however, I have yet been able to complete one page of reading, as it is too much information for me to process. I am taking a break for the time being.

[camyam73]

Bardown,

Yes, that is pretty much it exactly. I believe it has something to do with stimulation of a particular part of the brain involved with social interpretation. (Just a total utterly random guess). It could also be the combination of noise, visual, as well as verbal stimulation all mixed into one.

Unfortunately for me, the only thing that has successfully treated my headaches so far was progesterone taken as part of my fertility treatments. Unfortunately I am now on a two week break and they've come back with a complete vengence.

Originally Posted by camyam73

Bardown,

Yes, that is pretty much it exactly. I believe it has something to do with stimulation of a particular part of the brain involved with social interpretation. (Just a total utterly random guess). It could also be the combination of noise, visual, as well as verbal stimulation all mixed into one.

Unfortunately for me, the only thing that has successfully treated my headaches so far was progesterone taken as part of my fertility treatments. Unfortunately I am now on a two week break and they've come back with a complete vengence.

Sorry to hear about the reoccurrence. Hopefully the knowledge that your headaches were relieved by progesterone could be useful in developing a future course of treatment.

Good luck with the overstimulation symptoms (along with the others) ... I know it can be quite an interesting feeling.