<p>Hi parents; thought I’d drop in and ask you for some of your wonderful advice. I’m a junior in college studying engineering, and have developed daily migraines the last calendar year. I was able to keep my grades up somehow last Spring (slightly easier classes I think and a bit of luck), but this semester I am dropping towards the 2.5/2.75 range or lower, and don’t have too much of a chance of pulling them up as finals aren’t worth much percentage-wise. I have a 3.4 overall right now after 4 semesters.</p>
<p>Problem is, I have a 1/3 tuition scholarship that requires a 2.75 each semester. I’m very scared of losing it, and also of having a bad GPA for my resume. My health, along with numerous doctor visits and medication side effects have decreased my concentration on school, and I’ve even become a little depressed because of the pain and missing out so much on life. I’m working with my doctors to find the best medications and lifestyle, but it’s been a struggle.</p>
<p>What do I do about school? I’m taking 15 credits, but it’s 7 classes because of labs. I have not told any of my professors because I’ve always been one to keep my problems to myself, and I haven’t missed any classes this semester–just attended many in a zombie state. My job is good about giving me a day off when I need it. I know it’s too late for this semester, but what do I do for next semester? And, what would they be able to do for me? It doesn’t seem like they could do anything because an extension of a due date on homework wouldn’t help, and I have a migraine hit too last-minute to delay a test. It’s more that I’ve taken tests while feeling very poorly and not done well, not had the time or concentration to study efficiently, and a medication I was on at the beginning of the semester actually decreased my brain capacity and memory for awhile. I guess I was naive to think I could handle everything on my own. My own parents don’t really talk to me (we’ve never been close) and I haven’t had much support from anyone but my boyfriend.</p>
<p>Any suggestions as to what to talk to Professors about next time around, and how I can do better while not feeling 100%? I already try and study when I am feeling well and be efficient with my school work. I haven’t had problems turning in things on time, but I just don’t do as well as I had been doing while putting in more work. I’ve needed over 8 hours a night of sleep to feel a little better, which also cuts into my day. I go to a very small school with not much of a “student services” type of department, or else I’d probably try there. If I needed a doctor note on file I’d have no problem getting it, but I just don’t want to be “that kid” who’s treated special–just want to get the grades I think I work for.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for any advice, sorry for the length, and I’m glad to clarify if needed.</p>
<p>Get the doctor’s note. Talk to somebody at school about the scholarship. You shouldn’t have to worry about the scholarship while you are sick.
Can you take a lighter load next semester until you are feeling better?
Can you talk to a therapist or a counselor at school? I’m sure it will work out, but it would be nice if you could talk to a professional.</p>
<p>As far as professors this term, I don’t know, but if you need help, do ask for it. The worst thing that can happen is somebody says no.</p>
<p>ohh i hear you. I have terrible migraines as well–when i was about 15 I started getting daily ones and I’ve been through all of the treatments i think. I’ve done propanalol, neurontin, botox, acupuncture, topamax…yuck. I was on topamax almost all of last year (I was a freshman last year) which totally destroys concentration and your ability to think, so believe me, I know how hard this is. Short of finding the right drugs (and I hope you can find one, but it can take awhile) there’s not a whole lot you can do. What I would recommend is to clear your winter break and test out a drug you think that could work and give your body some time to adjust. Other than that, you just really need not to procrastinate so you don’t get a migraine the day before you have a paper due and find out that oops, you had planned to write it that night. Other than that, I have found that profs really are understanding. Getting an extension because you are literally too ill to do your work is different than getting grades you don’t deserve. DO NOT feel guilty if you need an extension. most importantly, try to relax and not stress about this–almost impossible i realize, but stressing will only make it worse.</p>
<p>if you were wondering, the one drug i found that controls about 90% of my migraines is Effexor XR. Migraines and depression, as i’m sure you know, are linked and this turned out to be a good solution for me. i really hope you find something that works for you, though, because I know how hard this can be. i don’t know what to say about your scholarship other than don’t give up hope right now–it might very well get better.</p>
<p>Hi KWTortoise. I used to have pretty bad migraines, which started later in life for me. Not daily ones, though–that is really tough. I think you should tell all your professors privately so that they are aware of this. You should be able to delay taking a test if needed if you aren’t feeling well enough to concentrate properly or study the night before. Try going in to see your dean of students. He/she can send a note to all your professors to help explain your situation. </p>
<p>I had great luck with acupuncture for my headaches. Gradually they went away and I no longer have them. Good luck to you in your search for treatment.</p>
<p>Topamax was the bad one I was taking and just couldn’t think straight…</p>
<p>I am an anti-procrastinator, so don’t have problems getting things done. It’s more having trouble comprehending topics because I don’t feel well, or not being able to concentrate on a quiz/test because of pain.</p>
<p>Get yourself to your school’s office that helps students with learning disabilities. They are experienced with students’ special needs. If constant migraines aren’t a learning disability I don’t know what would be.</p>
<p>I know a little how you feel; I’m a freshman, and I’ve been having health problems from a couple weeks into term that the doctors haven’t been able to figure out. I haven’t told my professors because I don’t want to turn it into a big deal, especially since my problems are changing and developing all the time.</p>
<p>Do you have an academic advisor you can talk to? I think that in the beginning of term (during the shopping or add/drop period) you should talk to each of your professors privately about your migraines and the problems they cause. Professors have dealt with similar problems in the past and may have ideas on what to do. </p>
<p>I don’t think that going to your professors with a documented and serious medical condition that affects your work is being “that kid” at all. You are just trying to explore options that will allow you to continue with your classes.</p>
<p>Can you take a lighter course load and keep your scholarship? It may be useful to have fewer classes to worry about until you have a handle on your migraines and medication. Can you look for courses that have written or take home finals instead of in class tests? It seems like that could help you since you can complete it on your own time. </p>
<p>My advice is to talk to your professors and see what you can work out. Take fewer courses and go to office hours if you’re having trouble comprehending the topics, and take clear notes that you will be able to understand when you’re not feeling as well. Try to find courses with final papers or take home exams since they’ll allow you to complete them when you’re feeling better.</p>
<p>I can give medical advice- and since I am not a Dr I won’t charge you
I used to get migraines connected with my periods
however- I tried a couple things one was taking extra niacin, not the no flush kind- it improves vascular flow.( this was the only thing that got rid of them while they were happening)
I have also read that melatonin taken at night helps a great deal ( and it helps you sleep better as well- always a plus)
<a href=“http://www.webmd.com/content/article/94/102559.htm[/url]”>Migraine: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention;
<p>Okay, first wrt the school issues. I’d suggest talking to the Dean of Students re the scholarship. Outline just as you have here and I would hope you could get a bit of slack on maintaining the scholarship. If the Dean wants MD note or health records, obviously you can provide them. Also ask the Dean for advice on whether/how to discuss with profs. You may or may not need to approach profs if you can just get some relaxation of the scholarship GPA minimum. Don’t be reluctant to speak with the Dean of Students - this is what they are there for and most of them are real “people persons.”</p>
<p>Now for more free medical advice ;), worth every penny :). So sorry you are suffering with constant migraines and that the medications have complicated things. I am a former frequent migraine sufferer and very, very rarely have them now. I suggest you discuss the following with your doctor: there has been some research showing that serotonin “issues” (not being a doctor, I don’t know or recall the exact role it plays) relate to migraines. Very low doses of serotonin-reuptake-inhibitors (Paxil et al) can break a cycle and serve as a preventative. I’m not sure whether this only works for some people, but my MD prescribed them for me and I took them for some while. It did, in fact, break the cycle. After a period of time, he thought I could go off them without a return of the migraine cycle. I did and the cycle of constant migraines did not return. Side benefit is that these are, of course, the medications prescribed for depression, so if you try them, they may help with that as well. The dose I took was so low that I experienced no side effects (YMMV) and could stop them without a tapering off period (although as I recall I did the tapering off anyway).</p>
<p>Thanks everyone! I’ll be looking into who to contact about the scholarship. Next semester I’ll have to tell my advisor and/or professors to make sure I can succeed. I go to a new doctor this week, so hopefully he’ll have some ideas as well. I can’t take a lighter load and still graduate in 4 years–but, I have lower credits planned the next 3 semesters as classes get tougher, and I’m also taking 2 classes this summer to help out. I don’t know of any classes here that have take home finals–all my classes are planned out per my degree program too.</p>
<p>I’m taking the niacin btw, and melatonin wouldn’t be a good idea since my meds make me pretty exhausted at night.</p>
<p>My S has chronic health issues & a merit scholarship. He was advised by the U at the outset to work with the disabilities office (EVERY U has such an office if they receive ANY federal $$$). We sent the disabilities office a doctor’s letter about his med issues & they wrote a letter that he could share with each of his instructors every term indicating that he is registered with their office for his (unspecified) disaiblities & qualifies for the following accommodations…
We met with a disabilities counselor & the head of the disabilities office. Both were very nice & advised S to meet with each instructor at the beginning of the term & present the letter & tell him/her about S’s possible frequent & prolonged health-related absences and work things out. The disabilities office promised to intervene as needed but preferred the student & instructors to try to work things out first.
Tho it’s late in the term, I would still strongly advise you to immediately take steps to contact the disability office and instructors NOW. I would suspect since it’s a small school, some of the faculty that know you well may already suspect something is amiss but didn’t want to pry. It may be useful for you to consider requesting incompletes and seeing if you could somehow do make-up work to bring up your grades under the circumstances. If not, it might be useful to consider a medical leave of absence for a term to see if you can get the migraines under better control.<br>
You would also need to contact financial aid or other appropriate department about your scholarship. Many scholarships have a “grace period” where they will overlook a temporary dip in your grades, especially here where you have a valid medical reason.
Good luck–the sooner you work with the various folks at your school & share what’s going on, the better & more options you will have.</p>
<p>I called the financial aid department: good news is that if I only get bad grades one semester it’s fine!</p>
<p>I think I really do want to complete this semester–I am not in danger of failing or really even getting a D this semster, I just don’t have any As like I usually do. Taking an incomplete seems silly when I’ve completed all my work. I also don’t think my professors suspect anything because 5/6 of them didn’t know me until this semester, and the 6th one is in a class I am doing fairly well in–only got a bad grade on one test out of 3. Seems like I should just learn from this semester and move on if it won’t affect me much–figured out that my overall GPA can’t drop more than a couple decimal points even if I end up getting a couple Cs and the rest Bs.</p>
<p>I’m very relieved about the scholarship and am more on-track with what to do next semester. Thanks again!</p>
<p>I did not read through all of the responses. I just wanted you to know that my son has a friend who was just diagnosed with migraines too. She lost over a week of school while tests were being done. She moved out of her dorm and lived with her parents during that period of time. She contacted all of her professors by email (I don’t know if she also contacted the office of disabilities, or other parties). Anyway, every single professor worked with her, and helped her to catch up. She apparently received a lot of support from all of her instructors. I hope this helps.</p>
<p>First of all you have many good suggestions here. I would get the medical on record in case you need it next semester. Do try to take a lighter load next semester in case you are still dealing with medication adjustments. Since you are in a smaller school, it will probably be easier to get profs to work with you as needed.</p>
<p>I have a history of migraines, started when I was about 20. I have run the gamut of medications and you are so right–many cause side effects that make even daily living difficult. And what works for one person can be a nightmare for another. For me the SRI meds were terrible, but very low dose topamax has worked. But it took about a year to work out the right meds and the right dose. One friend of mine uses oxygen to break his migraines–nothing else works–so he travels with his little tank.</p>
<p>My son has had medical problems this semester and even met with dean yesterday to talk about a medical withdrawal–he is not doing it though. He feels the same way–his grades this semester do not reflect his true ability and it is so frustrating when one has tried so hard. The Dean told him that if this one semester is a “blip” on his academic record they will be glad to write a letter when he is applying for grad school or employment, explaining the circumstances of the semester–another good reason to have this documented on your school records.</p>
<p>Hang in there, eventually you will get these headaches licked and maybe figure out certain “triggers” too. I hope your Christmas is nonstressful and gives you time to recuperate.</p>
<p>Just an update: I ended up doing not as bad as my worst-case-scenario. I got 6 Bs and 1 C…so a 2.8. No scholarship problems, and not that much effect on my overall GPA. I was pretty happy just to be done with the semester and move on. My new doctor seems to be more proactive in treatment and has a few tricks up his sleeve for getting my brain in school shape! I have one less class this semester, as I needed two labs last semester to keep up. Yippee.</p>
<p>I’ve been having a wonderful break so far with sleeping in a lot and not doing much. The pain has been bad still, but I can live with it because of the support I have of everyone around–lots of distractions. Best wishes to everyone for a safe and Happy Holidays.</p>
<p>Niacin and migraines: helps some people, makes others worse. Me, it made my migraines (thankfully infrequent) worse and also gave me nightmares.</p>
<p>You mentioned labs. I’m wondering if something in your labs–fumes from flux? solvents used for something else?–has been triggering your migraines. Keep a migraine journal for a while: it needs to include what you eat (yes, everything), what you do (labs, exercise, etc.), and how much you sleep–and when your migraines arrive and how much they hurt, aura or not, that kind of thing. You may be able to identify your migraine triggers that way, and then work to avoid the triggers.</p>
<p>Do you still have the daily migraines now that you’re home for break? You mention that you feel better with 8 hours of sleep; what happens if you add a small afternoon nap/relaxation session? (Have you tried relaxation training? I find it doesn’t make my migraines go away, but it does make me feel less incompetent when I have them.)</p>
<p>I read a great book called “Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain” (Paperback)
by David Buchholz, and it has really helped my migraines. Although he is very rah-rah about his appoach (a big turnoff to me), when I tried it, I was surprised to find that it worked and my headache severity and frequency went way, way down. The hard part is sticking with his regime. Basically he subscribes to the “threshhold” theory… you know, if your headache triggers go above a certain threshhold you have symptoms, so you have to try to reduce the level of your triggers below this threshhold. One of his areas of reduction is diet - you cut out all aged or cultured cheeses, chocolates, caffeines, fresh yeasts, citrus, bananas, processed meats, etc - basically you eat meats, eggs, rice, and other good-for-you things. He also addresses which migraine meds don’t trigger rebound effects etc. He runs a headache pain clinic at John Hopkins school of medicine, where he is a professor - so he’s a legit guy, and if you search for his book online you’ll see that it is endorsed by other big-wigs in the migraine and headache area. I encourage you to read it and try it as a supplement to your use of medication. (He doesn’t disapprove of using medication - but suggests using it in combination with other strategies.) I was not a believer until I actually followed his diet and techniques. Unfortunately, the flesh is weak, so I have strayed from the path somewhat - but since my migraines are hormone linked, I just follow his diet if I hit a rough patch of frequent headaches. Book is available used on Amazon for about 4$. Definitely worth the investment. HTH’s :)</p>
