I know that school has already begun for you, but next semester is it possible to take online classes so you can stay in the comfort of your own home.

For school now, there is a member on here who goes to the disabilities part of the school and they provide a special chair for her at all her classes, it may be worth a shot maybe if you are more comfortable it will help you to be able to focus on the lectures of the class

sorry about the 44% i went to college and i know that pain or no pain, it is very depressing when you are trying your best to get a score like that

i am sure there will be plenty of 100% to wash it away.

I remember once, in college, my sister and I were taking a class together, all week I tutored her for the test. However, when it came test time, my mind went blank, totally. I could not answer the first question. It's called test anxiety, but I think it is a part of fibro fog. I took a class on test taking techiques, and a refresher on taking notes. It helped alot.

How many classes are you taking? Why do you go for so long during the day? My max was two classes, but then I worked full time and was a single parent, and, for a while had a parttime job.
My daughter is getting her Master's now. And she likes to take about 5 classes at a time. I think that is entirely too much stress for anyone. Or, at least for me.

I think the online classes is a great idea. Along with the disabilites office. Seek them out before you need them, if you wait to long, they may not be able to help you down the road. Personally, I needed the discipline of having to show up in a classroom, but my daughter loves them.

For this semester, try to take a deep breath and relax. Maybe your trying to much. Have you ever heard of studying so much it all sounds like garbage to you. Get a book at the library or at a book store on taking notes, perhaps you are trying to remember too much?

Good luck to you.

Watch the lyrica it has that side effect of confusion. You really ought to talk with your doctor about it. The Cymbalta does the same thing so you may not need both.

I take a class online so I can go at my own speed, plus we are doing some other types of classes too. When Pink was on lyrica it wasn't possible. Now she is better. It took awhile for her short term memory to return.

Do what you can, let your teachers know whats going on. Don't stress what you cannot help and things will come back to normal in time.

Make the call.

Hope it brings a smile to you, found this in my email, thought it was cute and fitting to the subject.


*How Can Any Student Pass?*

It's not the fault of the student if he fails, because the year ONLY has 365 days. Typical academic year for a student:

1. Sundays - 52, Sundays in a year, you know Sundays are for rest. Days left 313.

2. Summer holidays - 50 where weather is very hot and difficult to study. Days left 263.

3. 8 hours daily sleep - 130 days GONE. Days left 141.

4. 1 hour for daily playing - (good for health) means 15 days. Days left 126.

5. 2 hours daily for food & other delicacies (chewing properly & swallowing) means 30days. Days left 96.

6. 1 hour for talking (man is a social being) - means 15 days. Days left 81.

7. Exam days - per year at least 35 days. Days left 46.

8. Quarterly, Half yearly and festival (holidays) - 40 days. Balance 6 days.

9. For sickness- at least 3 days. Remaining days=3.

10. Movies and functions - at least 2 days. 1 day left.

11. That 1 day is your birthday. How can you study on that day??????!!!!!!!!!! Days left = 0

How can any student pass?

Your post brought back some really bad memories. I owned a Real Estate company for 19 years. I was always the Goody Two Shoes..the straight A student etc. so when it came to business I did quite well.

One of the things I liked most was analyzing situations and coming up with solutions.

After my botched surgery I was on oxycontin, percocet,cymbalta,wellutron,topomax, and ambien. I would get these horrible blanks as I was talking....I mean in the middle of a sentence I would lose the word I needed. I was crushed. It was obvious that something was wrong. (I think people thought I was high or drunk)I ended up having to close my business because I just couldn't think straight.

I finally found a Doctor that specializes in pain medicine management. She a pysh. with that specialty. She was able to take my meds and reduce some of them, change others. My pain level is still the same, but I am able to think much clearer and stay focused for a long time. One of the things she did was put me on Ritalin. It really helped.

I never had a Doc that comes close to this woman. She honestly saved me. Please look for one. Be careful though...the first one I saw was a jerk so you have to be willing to work at finding the right person, but it's so worth it.

My heart goes out to you. Don't be mad at yourself. You are not what is causing this...it's the meds. Make sure to always make that distinction!

Hang in there.....don't give up before the miracle!!
Albe

(((Hugs))) guys thank you so much for the advice. I think im going to talk to one of my teachers into letting me into their online class or im going to have to drop one. Im taking 5 classes two of them are only 2 credits. zazasgranny i loved the email was great. You guys want to know something funny. First day of school my teacher told me that we were going to a pretend party and we had to bring an item. I didnt get it the first few times, the food item had to start with the first letter of our name. So in the middle of class all the sudden i say for some god awful reason my name is meagan and im bringing mashed potatoes!! oh my at least the people in my class are kind of understanding. lol

Hey, I'm 21, working and a full-time student. Going to school is very hard and then having to concentrate is even worse! I have problems listening when my pain gets too high, which usually happens after my walk to the classroom... Haha, I completely understand your frustration. I bring a pillow too, the class and some of my teachers think I'm loony but I really don't care at this point. I'd love to talk more, it's good to know I'm not alone...
-Lisa

Hey, I forgot to mention something called an accommodation letter. You'd get it from the disabilities office. I have one that says I can miss four or more classes, leave on as many short breaks as I want and make up 3 tests if I miss them. I know you can add more things as long as you relate it to your conditon such as extra time for homework. I had to have a letter from my doc and he had to fill out a sheet the school gave me. He wrote things like the meds might make me sleepy or unable to concentrate and the pain makes it impossible to sit. Then he had to relate all this to the accommodations I wanted made in class. I know for sure that it is the law that you can have a different chair if you need it. It's also the law that they have to do what you and your doc ask. I hope this helps a bit...
-Lisa

that is ridiculous that they don't know what to do...there is a dept. in the college that can assist you if you go talk to them. It's for people who have physical challenges, disabilities, etc...you can get your needs met and get the support you need, whatever it takes they are supposed to help you...no discrimination! They can get you a special chair to sit in that would be more comfortable...there ARE options, don't give up...ask more questions about this kind of support at your school and let us know what you find out ok? I went through this myself but had to quit because I can't walk well and now have to use a power wheelchair...I am afraid to take more pain meds than I do, because of the side affects, so I'm on disability and cannot work anymore...I sure hope this doesn't happen to you and that you can somehow get through school...I don't like that your counselors weren't supportive of your needs...they should know better...ask someone else...go to the nurse and tell them what is going on and see if they can help you get plugged in...all the best to you!

when I started working on my Masters, I remember a guy that did go through the disabilities office, they had another student sitting with him and taking his notes due to confusion. I guess she tutored him too. But, they will make accommodations. It is the law.

I'm not a Dr., but I thought just like Ouch said Cymbalta and Lyrica are in the same class of meds. If so, you're getting hit with a double whammy of fogginess. I personally don't get it with the Cymbalta, well that's a lie. I call it short term memory problems. But not like the Lyrica where I was just plain "dumb" and couldn't get it. I couldn't even read a two page story from Reader's Digest on Lyrica. This is from someone who has/had a library in my old house. If I could afford another medicine I would look into Ritalin. Someone several weeks ago mentioned that they took a beach recliner to school with pillows, so that when their pain started increasing, they reclined for a while. You could get one of those suitcase dollies or cooler dollies for your books and chair. It may sound stupid, but the idea is for you to be comfortable. You can't think when you're in pain. Just look at it as your own lazy boy. I used to lay on the floor with a blanket and pillow and didn't care what anyone thought. I taped all the lectures on a very small recorder and then velcroed it to my steering wheel. Everywhere I went, I listened and relistened to the lectures. Just a few suggestions. HOpe you get some help from all of us and the special services dept. - they're not doing their job. Light a fire under their butt!
dee
dee

Hi, I am a sophomore nursing student with chronic pain. I have found a few things that help manage school while dealing with medical problems/pain.
-Living alone helps alot. Being around other teens that can be inconsiderate/not understanding is very frustrating. Not many people realize what constant pain involves. Having my own place to study and unwind has been helping a lot.
-Try as much as possible to communicate with professors, once they realize you are trying it is likely they will be on your side and try to help as much as possible.
-The disability services are VERY important. I get double time on tests because pain is distracting and I can stretch so I don't get a headache. I also take tests alone which helps sometimes. You just need a doctor to confirm the accomadations you need and the school should help you with everything.
-Making sure you have the right combination of medicine is a big deal while in college/anytime. I have learned that I need to make sacrifices (more pain for clarity). But I try to always remember my health is first, then school. You have your body forver, a lot longer than a college course.
-I have learned to say no to going out when I need rest. It is also important to try and not care what others think. Many students point out how long I have to study for something that comes easy to them, but I remind myself that they don't get what I am going through and I have to do whatever it takes to do my best.
-Its hard, but try not to get discouraged. Remember you are smart and the medicines/pain can interfere. Don't beat yourself up about the bad grades because you need your body to be on your side, so don't be too hard on it. I hoped some of these tips will help. Good Luck!!!

I am so sorry you are experiencing this but what courage to cxontinue to be in school. second everything Amber said. I have trigeminal neuralgia whihc, for me includes severe eye usage pain. I was able to also take a major test when I thought I could go back to school alone and with as much time as i needed. It was a tremendous help. The other thing is you may have to allow yourself the permission to g more slow. If possible you might want to consider cutting back on the number of classes you are currently taking. 7- 9 is hard enough for someone not in pain.
Much luck.
leej