I'm a senior chemistry major at Arizona State and by far the biggest impact ATN has had on me has been in my school work. Stress makes my ATN worse which makes the already stressful exams excruciating. My ATN made me go from an A student to suddenly borderline failing because of my embarrassingly low test scores. Thankfully, my professors have been understanding and have witnessed my mental decline as my ATN continues to get worse and more distracting, but I can't keep expecting my professors leniency forever. I can't take carbamazapine or gabapentin during the exams because they completely obliterate my ability to focus but if I don't take them, my face begins attacking me with a knife. When I tried taking my prescriptions during the exam, the cognitive effects made me struggle anyway. It's like a lose lose situation.
Does anyone have any tips they used during exams or other stressful events with their TN is the worst? Please share.
Thank you Kimberly, I actually am currently on ADHD medication which does help. It's good to know I'm not the only one. I think it helps with the inflammation as well because ADHD medications tend to be vascoconstrictors, resulting in less pressure on the trigeriminal nerve.
Kc Dancer Kc said:
This is what I did -- I had to research -
Researched MVD surgery. I did not have an IQ on meds.
So I asked my neurologist for Ritalin prn - as needed
for the days I really needed to be focusing and retaining.
Often those who have seizures, are on these meds, and are given ADHD meds to get them thru tough spots.
Also, ask your regular doctor - to just call in for you --- no appt. ---- Lidocaine face Patches or cream!
That's how I survived passing the test to get an MVD surgery - 2 years later - no meds - no patches - no pain.
ALSO - put in search box here --- school or student
Fellow student checking in! I'm going into my 2nd full semester of nursing school this month and currently finishing up a winter class. You gotta love accelerated programs! I was just diagnosed and started on gabepentin in November so it hasn't been that long. Other than making me EXTREMELY tired the first week or so, the only other side effect I have noticed is trouble finding words, which made writing papers difficult. I think that side effect is starting to subside some now.
I'm not sure if stress makes the TN worse for me or not. I used lidocaine solution during tests if the pain got to be too bad and that seemed to help. I continued taking the gabapentin throughout finals, no way I could have even gotten out of bed without it.
I'm going to have to try lidocaine.. I'm a full time student myself (chemistry major, senior). Gabapentin made it difficult for me to recall equations or think critically, like I was a little drunk. Thankfully the most difficult course that I have to take is pretty much over so it might not be as bad this semester as it was last semester. I will need to speak with my neuro about lidocaine!
I just started my second semester of graduate school at California State University Fresno, so I know what you are going through. I was diagnosed six years ago when I was 18, so as the semesters went along the medications continued to increase. I always had near a 4.0, but as I had to increase the dosages the sedation and mental dullness affected my grades and ability to study. I would study for hours and hours and fail the tests because I couldn’t remember the information and was so tired when I took the tests. I finally stopped taking the medication when I was going to take tests, but then I would be in pain. I started using services for students with disabilities and it is a life saver. I get extended time on tests, my own quite room to take tests in, and other services that help me succeed. Also, I did like you and talked to all of my professors and between those two was able to too graduate almost every class with an A or B. They have disability services at every university and it is worth looking into as I really think it could help as it made a huge difference for me. They will want a letter from your doctor stating you have TN and how it affects you.
If you don't mind, can you talk about what other services are offered? I thought about talking to the disability services when I was diagnosed but never did. I'd be interested to know how disability services can help.
Through disability I qualify for multiple services and this semester using the services that give me extended time on tests, private room to take my tests and finals in, a note taker for all my classes and able to tape record my classes, priority registration, plus other services as I am visually impaired. They offer an assistive computer lab which you can take quizzes, use for homework, or anything other school related which is nice as it is in a quite environment where there are not many people. They provide on-campus transportation services which will pick you up right near the parking lots on campus and take you to class which is nice as the medications make me really tired and parking is far from classes. I am not sure if you have this problem at all, but spelling has become a really had, so they provide spelling aids for tests which is nice. I noticed that Arizona State disability provides more services that where I am at, so I would consider using their services.
It’s so comforting to know I’m not the only student who feels like TN is making my schoolwork suffer! I’m trying to get through a diploma via online studies and that’s hard enough- I couldn’t imagine dealing with going to class and TN. Currently in my last semester and hopefully will be done in April if I can power through it! I also find that the meds do nothing for my memory. Thank goodness for understanding profs!
School is extermly tough when tn is added to the mix. I would suggest for anyone in school to find out what it takes to qualify for being a disabled student. It might not be that bad for you now but you never really know when your tn might become worse. You will qualify for deferent services and may also have protection for when you become ill and need tests rescheduled or extensions on assignments.
Also speak with your providers of student loans. If you have had to drop school due to health reasons you can try to get forgivenace on the loans, either the payments become smaller or no repayments at all.
I wish all whom are in school the best and am cheering you all to keep going.
I waited until I received my first test score back and if I didn’t do good, then I would go and talk with them during their office hours. I brought my notes, flashcards, and anything else that I had used to study on the test to show them that my test score didn’t reflect lack on studying or effect, but the medications for TN were hampering my affects to succeed. Every professor I went and talked with always tried to do something to help me succeed. I choose to wait until the first grade came out because there was some classes that I did good it, so instead of go and explain I wanted to make sure that it would be a class I needed help in.
studentNpain said:
For those who have talked to your professors, did you email them or meet with them in person? I don't know how to bring the topic up.