posted
I'm incredibly depressed and angry today. After struggling through 4 years of college horribly sick every day, I miraculously got into grad school. However my memory is in such bad shape that I failed one of my classes and have been struggling through the rest of them. Today, I was told that I had failed and could not continue in grad school. I'm devestated and feel like I can't beat this disease. I'm worried about taking care of myself in the future. I've had lymes for almost 15 years now and always find the strength to fight on, but this is so horrible that I just can't find the strength anymore. Has anyone out there had similar experiences in school. I'm willing to do anything to succeed but I'd like to know if it's even possible to do that in my condition.
-------------------- Laura French Posts: 39 | From Bloomington, IN | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Thanks for the support. I was in a doctorate level medical program. I was in a car wreck before that sent my Lymes out of control. Ever since then I can't think the same. I went from making A's my whole life to barely pulling C's in class. I know the problems are permenant but I guess I thought it could somehow get better. My medicine seems to keep things from getting worse but I need more. Has anyone noticed a true improvement in their memory on medication? I'm talking about memory retention, not just the general brain fog.
-------------------- Laura French Posts: 39 | From Bloomington, IN | Registered: Sep 2005
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HEATHERKISS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6789
posted
Flagyl helped me with my brain problems. I felt as if I grew my brain back.
This may be the time you need to take to get better. Go for it!
I'm sorry you are having a tough time.
-------------------- HEATHER
Posts: 1974 | From ABERDEEN, NJ 07747 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
Rifampin really woke up hubby's brain -- it also caused severe neuro problems to come back worse than they had been in about 3 years -- Parkinsonian tremors went from about 30% of the time to almost 24/7. Myoclonus and seizure-like episodes increased as well.
Hubby went from being quiet and withdrawn to talking a mile a minute. He ended up only taking a total of 20 Rifampin pills over about 20 days.
Used IV phosphatidylcholine (P.C.) and IV glutathione to calm things back down (the Kane protocol) -- about 65 vials P.C. over 45 days.
After that it was like he was a new person. He still has neuro symptoms, but his brain works the best it has in 5 years.
Hubby does take Gingko, vinpocetine and feverfew -- all improve bloodflow to the brain. Also takes heparin for hypercoagulation. I think these all help, but getting rid of any lingering brain infection and neurotoxins is the key to improved mental functioning in my opinion.
The 2 supplements that are absolutely the most important in my opinion are COQ10 (400mg minimum) and Resveratrol (Japanese Knotweed source seems to work best). The COQ10 will reduce lipid peroxides and the Resveratrol will reduce quinolinic acid (a potent neurotoxin created from serotonin by an alternative pathway when there is infection in the brain).
The other thing I would suggest is a neurotransmitter or amino acid test. Imbalances here can have significant impacts on memory and moods and sleep and many other functions.
So sorry to read about your problems with grad school. I think your best bet is to concentrate on your health at this time and reapply in a year or so.
Maybe you could have a neuropsych exam now and then repeat it when your health improves. This testing includes measures of neurocognitive functioning. If there is an improvement over time in test results this could be used as part of your reapplication to demonstrate your commitment to furthering your education.
Don't know exactly what type of medical training you were pusuing, but I think maybe a naturopathic school or somewhere like that would be a better bet than a traditional medical school when it came to considering applications that don't exactly fit the norm.
Good luck and stay in touch.
Bea Seibert
P.S. You didn't say if you suffered a concussion in the car accident or not. I posted something yesterday that is a pretty radical idea that is supposed to help with concussions among many other things. NCR -- Neurocranial Restructuring
Ann-OH
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2020
posted
Frenchie, You need an advocate to go with you to talk over the situation at the grad school. You should be able to get a year's grace period and get imcompletes on the work you have failed. They should not be able to tell you you cannot come back to class.
I agree with Ann-OH. You need an advocate. And there should be one available free of charge at your university.
My understanding is that your situation should be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act:
"To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship or association with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as a person who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment."
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