Apparently I've Been Busy

So apparently being a doctoral program tends to run your life... I obviously knew that would happen but boy did 7 weeks fly by!

For an update, I have been feeling much better but I did have a set back about a month ago. I was cleared to start biking so I decided to go for a walk one day with my roommate. Little did I know a 45 minute stroll around our neighborhood would cause me to relapse. The next week I had headaches every day, started having to take naps again and struggled to concentrate.

When I returned to the doctor he instructed me to discontinue working out and I had to take the next 3 weeks off. Luckily my school work has not been affected but I have had some issues staying on task when I'm not in class. Overall I really can't complain. Plus a week and a half ago I was released to try to walk or bike once again.

Shortly after I relapsed, I developed shaking in my hands that at times would extend to my chest and my head/mouth. Others can only see my hands shake but I can feel it other places and my legs are a nightmare when I try to sleep. I've also had times where my vision is blurry and I've been having some headaches again, though I have not worked out at all (walking included).

Everyone I have talked to seems to think that my shaking is due to stress and believe me, I am not discounting that as a possibility and I would love if that turns out to be true. However, I am not ready to assume that this is the case. With numerous bouts of head trauma, I feel I can't afford to attribute what I am experiencing to stress or anxiety without seeing a neurologist. I have a referral in at OSU but I've heard it will be months before I can get in. Hopefully that is not the case but luckily I've developed lots of patients over the years :)

Outside of this update, it's becoming more apparent that I will never be able to leave the concussion piece of my life behind. Each time I get focused on something else, it gets brought back into my field of vision. The other day I was looking up information on contemplative therapy and head trauma and I stumbled upon a blog written by a girl names Lauren who is going through Post Concussion Syndrome and is right in the thick of her diagnosis.

As I was reading her blog, I felt like I was reading my own life in her words. She's 26, a former soccer player and has had numerous concussions that led to a career ending injury around the age of 21. She was an undergraduate psychology major and aspired to be a sports psychologist. Creeeeeeepy... We've been conversing and it's really nice to be in contact with someone who understands what I went through and some things I continue to deal with.

I hope to have found a new friend and someone who will help me spread the word. Thank you Lauren for your postings and for sharing your story. Until next time.