i returned to weightlifting a month ago with no ill effects at first... but tonight i benchpressed a little too much (probably while holding my breath) and still feel dizzy and withdrawn. is this just a PCS flareup that should go away in a few days like the last one? or should i be worried?

incircles,

From your description, it sounds like you brought on a decompensation. Most likely from when you held your breath. You PCS brain has much less tolerance for low oxygen levels. You may have also aggravated your brain by straining and raising you blood pressure. The strain can cause the blood to not drain from your brain properly, thus depleting oxygen and increasing Intra Cranial Pressure. Both are not good for a PCS brain.

I can not hang upside down or do a head stand. Even leaning over to reach into a chest freezer or engine compartment can mess me up. So, if it makes you feel bad, do not do it. It might take a long time (year or two) to heal enough to be able to put these stresses on your brain.

Find your limit and don't go over it!

Bending down and gardening etc - I have a limit - never push past it as I would have once.

Walking - my limit is abour 6 km - anything over that brings on a shocking migraine and continual vomitting - the pain etc can only be dealt with by jabs in the you know where.

The same goes for what I do at the gym.

I have tried many ways to get around this but nothing has worked. You need to get your old way of thinking out of your head, where you once pushed yourself to achieve is now not the smartest way of doing things. It is like forcing a change in habit and thinking.

Lynlee