Dealing with PCS and college
 

I've been dealing with PCS for five months now. It forced me to take last semester off and I returned to school this semester feeling somewhat better. I expected my symptoms to return for a while, but we're at midterm now and I'm still dealing with migraines, sleep problems (too much/too little), and so many concentration difficulties. Things have been stressful lately because last week was a bit hellish. My symptoms peaked for a day or two and I'm having family problems...and this caused me to get behind on work. I feel so horrible right now because I've never done this poorly in school.

I've turned to a lady that has been helping me with school and she basically said she can't do much. She's always very busy and has no time to talk. I also turned to my neurologist, who gave me a new treatment plan but said the same thing: she can't do anything. My stress levels are so high right now and I realize that's like suicide for my PCS. I've been trying to take breaks with work and trying to get things done with these impossible migraines, but obviously to no avail. I'm just so angry and frustrated with myself and I don't know what to do.

My neuro said she can't do much for my concentration, esp. in regard to medicine. Is this true? What other tips could you guys offer that involve concentration? other than the obvious things like keeping up with health, studying in quiet places, taking breaks, etc. I feel like I've tried a lot of things.

Also, doing homework is nearly impossible because I get migraines every night. I feel fine during the day, which is when I have classes, so that's good...but it doesn't help much when I need to get work/papers/reading done at night. What do you suggest I do about that?

asd;fjsadlk;jkdlsnagowejoiad so stressed out right now :(

I can't imagine going to college and dealing with PCS. Sorry to hear of your struggles. I know I post similar advice a lot on here, but it's only because I wish someone had told me when I started posting that the 1st thing you need to do is get your vision checked by a neuro optometrist. Someone who can prescribe prism or tinted glasses. Going to regular neuro was a complete waste of time I found.

If it's a vision issue, it doesn't matter how much you rest or what supplements you take. You brain will constantly be overloaded and reading or being on the computer will make you feel symptomatic right away. Best of luck.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I had to take an entire year off from school. My concentration, for lack of better term, is kinda like the dog from the movie, "UP". My Neuropsychologist recommended that I be put on meds for the concentration, and it is now being maintained by my primary care physician. It helps some, but I am no where near what the previous me was. It is really hard. I find myself "daydreaming" a ton. I stare off into space, but all of the professionals tell me I should still see improvement, even though I am over my 1 year mark. I know that I push myself too much, do too much and don't take the brain breaks I need to recharge. It's too hard. I want to feel "normal", but who's to say what's normal right? I miss the old me so much sometimes. But I know the new me is the same but just have to do things differently.

In the same boat
 

Hey I understand how you feel. I am also in college, freshman, and have been dealing with PCS for over a year now since my last concussion. I understand how you feel with the loads of work associated with college, it slapped me in the face when I first started.

I have also had problems concentrating and my doctor started me on something similar to ritalin, it also helps keep me awake because I was falling asleep so much during classes. I could see some improvements in my concentration and study habits. Could be a possibilty or just something to maybe bring up at your next doctors visit? Does studying with a friend help?

Is there anything at your school that can help people with problems like this? My college has a program set up that arranges tutors or notetakers, they have also gotten it so that I can have extended time on tests and take it in a quieter environment. Something else to look into? I have a hard time reading for almost any amount of time, especially textbooks and have thought about asking if someone could read them to me instead.

For the migraines I would look into medications, I was on a combination of two drugs for a while, Amitryptline and one other I can't remember the name of, but those two together seemed to really help the migraines.

Try not to get stressed out, you may be at the point where this could be a chronic condition and while you are not used to doing as poorly in school it could just be the way it is now. I am not saying things can't get better it might just be a point where it is better to accept the lower grades and keep the stress down. Honestly I am at the point where I am happy just passing my classes, it was a hard adjustment but I realize my mental capacities are not what they used to be, and probably never will, so it is more healthy to just appreciate being at college than stressing out about what grades I could be getting.

I hope at least a little of this could be helpful, best of luck.

-soccer14

Thanks for your insight. I saw an eye doctor a month ago because I thought my vision had gone bad, but he said it had stayed exactly the same since a year before. I didn't tell him about the PCS though. I still feel that it's blurry even with glasses and contacts. Is this a bad sign?

I sometimes wonder if a year off would have been a better idea, but then again, I did feel almost better before school started. The comparison to Doug rings true for me too. :p My neuro sounded like she almost refused to give me meds for the concentration. Would a normal doc, maybe?

Dealing with a loss of or separate sense of self is pretty normal for PCS, I gather. I've also heard that time is the only healer quite a few times now, which makes dealing with things harder. The daydreaming and bad concentration seem to be signs that the brain is working too hard and is telling you to take it easy for a bit. I take breaks seriously, yet it is still something that only helps for a while before things get worse again.

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm also a first year and I go to a small and rigorous liberal arts college. Transitioning while going through this makes everything difficult as it is. Studying with friends hasn't helped me in the past, maybe because they don't know how to keep me on track and it's hard to see how easily they get things done.

My school has academic advising, which I kind of mentioned already. I'm treated as a student with a "temporary" disability, so I was offered the services you mentioned. I got this smart pen thing from the school that records the lecture as you take notes and it's super helpful for those days when I can't pay attention in class or have a migraine during it. I can also get more time on tests, something I haven't yet taken advantage of too much because I've only had one exam. I studied really hard for it and I've done the reading for the semester, but the prof seemed to think I hadn't and was very nit-picky about my essays and silly details, though I do admit I made a lot of dumb mistakes. Argh.

Right now I'm on an adjustable dose of Amitriptyline that increases each week until it helps the migraines. I was on a baby dose (10 mg) for a while and it did nothing. I'm also on Nabumetone twice a day.

Your advice is comforting. I'll really try to keep what you said in mind when I feel stressed again.

kimik and sarge,

There is no way to get around the need for continuous quiet rest for the brain to recover. Taking time to recharge does not make up for the stress that caused the need to recharge.

The brain needs long terms of stress free quiet rest. Resting on the weekends will not be much help. As others have commented, taking time off from school is a good idea.

Taking stimulants like Ritalin or Adderal may provide temporary cognitive functions but do not help with recovery. They may stop recovery or even be detrimental to the point of making your condition worse. Same goes for caffeine.

My vision was perfect too. That is not the issue. It is how your eye muscles move and team together. Blurry/double vision is a symptom of convergent insufficiency. I actually take it as a good sign, because of vision is the issue, there is treatment for it. Spend the $ to get a visual assessment from good neuro opthamologist and see what they say.

I was back at the doctor today and the combination of medication I was taking for my headaches was amitryptilyline and topomax, maybe it was the combination that worked the best. since you are already on the amitriptyline you could try just adding the topomax. Worth a shot at least

Sorry to hear about your professor/s. That is one of the hardest part about head injuries, trying to get people to understand. I have had some like that, they just don't understand what it is like to deal with the symptoms let alone attend college. Maybe try meeting with them one on one and saying I know I made some stupid mistakes but what can I do to correct the bigger mistakes. It shows that you care about the class and want to do the work well.

Once again best of luck. -soccer14

Just curious, where do you go to college?

I'm so sorry to hear about how difficult it has been for you upon your return to school. Please remember that 5 months is still early in the recovery process.

I am a college professor and have been dealing with PCS/etc. for 7 months now. I struggle with the same issues but have decided to take this entire year off in order to recover. (We don't just read lectures out loud, and the crowds are too much!).

At my university, there is an accessibility office for students with various learning issues as well as physical disabilities and psychological challenges. As the other poster said, if you go to this office with documentation, you can petition to have different types of tests (i.e. in quiet rooms vs. large lecture halls), more time to take tests as well as the note taking services, etc.

I have always tried to work with students, but I can imagine how hard it is when you encounter professors who won't be flexible. Perhaps you can work with your professors on having reduced work load, different schedule of assessments or other ways of assessment that are not too taxing as you recover.

I'm not sure what your financial aid situation is like, but perhaps you can also take a reduced course load/ number of classes.

Hang in there-I hope you find some accommodation that works, or if need be take more time off.

I got a concussion during the second semester of my freshman year and I am not necessarily promoting staying in school, but I did and I just graduated. My GPA dropped by .8 but it taught me a lot about the kindness of other people and asking for help without being helpless.
For me, especially at the beginning, I would ask different classmates to sum up what the chapter was about or one friend even read the homework out loud to me because the light sensitivity was so bad that I had to close my eyes. I have read of other people dictating their essays to friends who were really fast typists. During class make sure that you highlight and underline and take notes summarizing what is being said and the meaning of the text assigned. Also, weekends are for sleep and study not partying. You can pay your friends back for all they help by giving them your insight into what they have been helping you with. Also, for them they have to look over it twice, or at least more slowly so you are helping them to study too. Create study groups with several people all discussing the material and then you sit and listen and take notes. Don't be afraid to let people know what you are going through. People love to help other people who seem like they are trying. If you are going to go do something relaxing on the weekends, make sure that it is relaxing for your brain. I always liked watching movies or playing cards.
Tell your professors what is going on and also tell the dean of your college. They can then maybe give you longer times on exams. Also set up meetings with your professors to discuss the material in private. Let them know what you are going through and ask if there is a general outline that you can study to help you focus your efforts.
Most of all be honest. If you ask for help make sure that you show an honest effort and that they don't see you staggering out drunk from the latest frat party. And if they tell you not to share the info they give you, don't.

I suffered 2 concussions about 2 weeks apart during my second semester freshman year in college. I took between 18 and 23 credit hours per semester. I slept 7 hours a night and was known for being a little aloof or distant because I wouldn't go to the big parties. My closest friends changed the way that we had fun so that we could all do it together. It is 4 years later and I still am suffering from daily headaches. I have bumped my head many more times at least 12 times were serious bumps and at least 4 of those I think were concussions. I have been to see at least 10 different doctors who all say that they can't help me. The best medicine I can recommend is to find that one person who you can tell everything about how awful your day is going and then you can move on and do other fun things with that person. This contact person helps you to spill it all out and then go out to stare at the stars despite your pain and whatever else. For me this friend was a person who suffered from chronic migraines and had never had a concussion. But we had similar issues and had similar disabilities, meaning we could or couldn't do about the same level of activities. This is a friendship that I think will last until I die, and we bonded over pain. :D

Anyways, good luck! There is a light at the end of the tunnel and that light says that you have a college degree despite it all and you have friendships that helped to make that happen. You will come out a much more disciplined and stronger person, and many people will be impressed even if they do not know the reasons why. Also without that degree think about the kind of depressing jobs you can get, whereas with that degree you can do something so exciting that it will help to distract you from the injury.

I have gone on for too long.
Live Long and Prosper!
In Christ,
Margarite