Brain Stepping up to the Plate
 

I am almost 2 years into my PCS and starting to see some improvements - thank goodness.

One issue that I struggle with is the following. In the past if I were in a situation and the brain was overloading - I would find out pretty quickly - fog, headache, fatigue - nothing exceptional.

Now I find that my brain steps up to the plate with no symptoms - but it is the next day that I suffer. For example - I went out to a restaurant with my husband and another couple - enjoyed the evening - thought this was great - next day - could hardly get out of bed. Another - I read for 2 hours - slowly working my way up to that - no issues - next BAM - headache all day.

Has anyone else experienced this? If so how do I pace myself when doing the task has no symptoms until the next day?
Thanks.
G&B

This is a common problem. The day delay in symptoms effects many of us. To avoid this, we must learn to recognize the early, subtle symptoms. It may be a slight struggle to focus visually, or a struggle to understand what is being said. Any time we need to put extra effort into a 'normal' situation, it is a sigh our brain is being over taxed.

These early signs are individual to the person. You need to learn to be observant and recognize your own signs. Then, be ready to take a break or call and end to the evening. For some, we just need to set a time limits or effort limit based on past experience. If 2 hours was too much, limit your next outing to 1 hour of conversation.

Thanks for this post! I am almost at that level of recovery now - having days when I have had to do more than I thought I could do and the fatigue isn't smacking me down right away but it sure catches up with me later. Its heartening to know that there is some improvement but wasn't sure how to proceed in the future.

Thanks Mark - always the voice of reason:)
I just wish - as we all do - that recovery was not so slooooooooow.
Hope you are having a good day.

Glad I stumbled upon this, I was having a hard time explaining to people this side of it. While I am not as far into it as you are I am finding that my brain will "redline" for me to stay involved and keep me from coming overwhelmed and often I feel fine until the next day, where I experience almost like hangover feelings. I am finding as Mark said that there tends to be subtle signals of when I am doing this small memory blips or pressure that comes and goes. It is tricky because when I feel great I almost forget that I am injured, and that if I dont scale back I will be up against it the next day. Of all injuries I have ever had in my life this is By far the most confusing and frustrating of all, I would take broken arms again all day every day. Hope things start to string together for you

Glad to know that I am not the only one - and DITTO on this injury being frustrating and confusing - progress is not linear - never had an injury where you are fine one minute and can barely function the next.
Good luck to you with your recovery.