My first concussion was 5 and a half months ago in April. Pretty nasty...nauseous, light/sound sensitive, tired, headaches...all the usual concussion symptoms. I bumped my head a few times during since then..about 8-10 total. None of the bumps were anywhere near the level of the first. Two weeks ago a friend stopped his car suddenly and now I feel like I regressed a lot.

I saw a trainer at my college and then my GP back when it first happened. Haven't seen much of them since then because I didn't get the vibe they deal with many concussions. Told me rest and that it will go away...that concussions are different for everyone..no telling when it will end They said post-concussion syndrome. They told me all very true things.

But here's the deal now..

During the summer post-concussion I worked at my regular job with not many issues. I could step aside if I needed to. College is back in session now and I'm taking a full course load and working. I didn't think it would be an issue but my symptoms are coming back/increasing strongly. The cognitive thinking of being back in class is taking a toll, but overall I'm not convinced the start of classes is to blame entirely. The top three issues I'm having are: light/sound sensitivity, difficulty focusing on cognitive tasks (I last about 3 minutes..then a 30 second break...another 3 minutes...then another break), and sleeping all the time. I would sleep 12-16 hours a day if I could! Not necessarily all at once, but cognitive tasks exhaust me.

I am an otherwise healthy ex-college athlete. I've come a long way! I couldn't braid my hair post-concussion for about a month. I couldn't figure out how. Maybe the jump back to work, and now back to work and school was too much.

I don't really want to ask for medical advice. Maybe I just need to vent. I just think if I went to the doctor I would be told to scale back and to avoid tasks that heighten my symptoms...which I'm currently and continuously doing. So basically I don't really know if going to the doctor is purposeful other than to establish a baseline.

Basically I imagine the conversation would go..
Doc: "Still got symptoms?"
Me: "Yupp"
Doc: "Ok, scale back."
Me: "Ok, here's some money for this appointment."

This is my first time posting. Do you see a doctor regularly? Do you find it helpful?

painbrain,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. You already have your answer. You are doing too much. The cognitive load is just too much. You need a lighter class schedule. Plus, any socializing is likely also stressing your brain.

No alcohol. No caffeine (maybe one coffee in the AM), no artificial sweeteners.

As you said, a visit to the doc will just cost you money.

Good brain nutrition will help you tolerate some of the stress. Read the vitamins sticky at the top.

Yupp, no coffee or alcohol for me since initial concussion. Though I did have a sip of wine for my 21st birthday!

As much as I want to deny the effects of the cognitive load, I don't think doing that will benefit me any.

Thanks!