[painbrain]

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?

[Mark in Idaho]

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.

[painbrain]

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!