[Safina]

Hi everyone,

I had a bike accident in April 2012 when I fell and hit my jaw. I got PCS, with a sort of headache that feels like a buzzing, burning feeling in my right temple (which got better when I wore hats or scarves around my head, as the pressure did something to suppress it!), and the headache gets worse when I concentrate or get tired. The other big symptom has been fatigue and I've been on a nap schedule since June, taking a nap in the afternoon for one or two hours.

After the accident I kept thinking I would get better quickly, and stayed in school (grad school), but I couldn't take my final exams. Then I had a setback, which I think was related partly to just overextending myself and not getting enough sleep, and partly to having drank alcohol (I've vowed to not drinking any more this year, perhaps ever).

Now, a week ago I started feeling a lot better. I can stay up for longer, my naps are shorter, and I don't feel the headache most of the time. I can also write and read for pleasure. Now school wants an answer as to whether I am coming back for fall semester. I had thought of taking a break, but since i feel better, I am getting anxious to get back into it in three weeks, and am also thinking that as I get more energy, I need to do something and live a normal life. If I stay home for a semester, I am worried I will get understimulated and perhaps depressed.

The thing is, I am worried about setbacks and relapses. I don't know how my brain will respond to studying, and the added stress of just regular grad school life. I kept thinking - better safe than sorry - and that I should just rest and be well for next spring. But now I am doubting my decision a lot. I worry about understimulating my brain and perhaps not getting better because I am not using it. Does anyone know just how bad for the brain it could be to get back in the swing of studying, and/or has experience of having gotten better and then starting to study too early on? And is there any merit in taking a long break like I am thinking of doing, or could it even be detrimental to the healing process to be a bit undestimulated when you are starting to feel more capable of doing things again?

Thank you!

[Mark in Idaho]

Safina,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. You have asked a very common question. There are no standard answers. Every brain injury is different. I suggest you try some studying as if you are preparing for your last semester finals. Nothing extreme, late night etc. In fact, late night cramming for exams is proven to be a waste of time if not detrimental to exam performance for a healthy brain.

Keep in mind that over stimulating your brain may cause a delayed relapse.
Plus, feeling better for a week is not much of an indicator of recovery.

Can you return to a light schedule or is there a standard course load that is expected? Can you do any of your courses online?

Only you can tell if you are pushing too hard.

What kind of grad program are you working on?
Does it require lots of memorization of facts and formulas or such?

[windseeker242]

My advice: Take it easy - It seems that recovery time can vary greatly from person to person. I'm 6 months in and nowhere near functional yet. I plan that if/when I get better to take it easy for at least another 4 months to avoid a relapse. Then I would very slowly ease back into a full time schedule.

Grad school will always be there but you only get one brain.

that just my 5 cents. The decision of course lies with you

Best of Luck!
Happy to hear you "made it out of the woods"

[Safina]

Thank you for your advice! I have decided to take time off this semester. It is still a bit weird - especially since I am getting a lot better and keep thinking that it is unnecessary and that I should just go back to school now that I can. But the "you only get one brain, and grad school will always be there"-argument is very compelling and I would not want to have to blame myself if I went back to school and suddenly felt worse. Now, the biggest challenge is finding things to do, because I really don't think being understimulated is helpful!

Thanks again, and I wish everyone a speedy recovery!

[windseeker242]

I hope the best for you - A lot of listen to audio books to pass the time. If you can do light exercise without making things worse then go for it but avoid running. I've counted at least 5 people on the forum alone who have had relapses because of the jolting from running.

Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing!
It give everyone a drop of hope to hear someone else has had their "prison sentence" revoked so to speak