College and Chiari

Has anyone here actually done it? I've always done ok in school, I always had a B average because no matter how hard I drilled facts into my head they just didn't stick. My parents have high level degrees, my brother barely had to life a finger his entire life to get through school, it was always easy for him and my understanding is that it was the same way for my parents. I always picked on them saying they needed to just admit it already that I was adopted, because there's no way I came from these genes and have to constantly work my butt off to get average grades. I thought when I got into college, it would be different. Maybe suddenly the hard work would pay off and I'd have really good grades. Chiari strunk, my memory tanked, my energy tanked, and my grades went down the drain before I really knew what was happening. It all happened so fast, there was no time to react, and I had all these doctors telling me I was just lazy and depressed. I spent two years going to doctor's appointment after appointment, and eventually, gave up on ever having a normal life again. Now I've had decompression surgery and I feel a lot better, still up and down and I'm only about 10 weeks out, but I'm supposed to go back to school in January. My diagnosis and surgery and recovery have all been such a whirlwind that I think I'm just now catching my breath and realizing everything I've lost, everything I have to fight to get back, and I have to figure out how to balance a lifelong illness and moving forward with my life. Every plan and dream I had for my life has been obliterated, and I have to figure out what I want to do with my life if I can't have what I always thought I would have.

I have about a month to reregister and decide what I now want to do with my life, since it's impossible for that to be what I wanted to do previously. This turned out to be less of a question and more of me freaking out I guess, but has anyone gone through all of this, and actually finished college? I guess it's just hard for me to see a life past all of this still. I thought I would be sick forever, and I'm happy that I won't always be miserable but...now I don't really know what to do.

I am school right now, and was actually taking a class (summer class online) when I had surgery this summer. I am three months post op right now, and going to school full time. It has been a huge adjustment jumping back into the swing of things. Some days are really hard, and I struggle through classes...but some how I still continue to make it through. I am extremely stubborn though...I will graduate next May, so I am trying to not let chiari stand in my way. When I had surgery during the summer, I let my teacher know what was going on, and he worked with me on my assignments. Most of my teachers are aware of my condition this semester too. I would suggest that if you decide to go, I would try maybe one or two classes to see how it goes for you. If you do what I did and go back full time (this was a mistake for me, but I am already in it too much), to make sure your professors know that you have chiari. I think most teachers are pretty understanding and will work with you in the class. Good luck with whatever you decide!

I'm in school right now with one quarter until I graduate. I worked full time (for the most part), full time school, volunteered, and worked on my certifications and starting up my own business while having mild symptoms. I thought I had fibro at the time and just pushed through the pain and fatigue. Three months ago the symptoms became overwhelming and that's when I was diagnosed with Chiari. I'm not going to finish school this year because of the severity of symptoms, and orders from the doctor not to drive, work, or do anything really until this is resolved. It can be done, but we need a lot of support. Your school will have disability services to help you out.

Good luck!
Katrina W.

Thanks everyone. Do you know if disability services requires a note from a doctor? My NS has turned out not to be the greatest, she seemed to be the only one in my area considered anywhere near an "expert" but now that I've had my surgery she just thinks I should be fine and happy and shouldn't be bugging her and it's really starting to get old. It doesn't seem like there's anyone even remotely close that is an actual expert and can help me though. I guess my biggest concerns are that my brain will just decide not to work on a test day, or I'll have a bad day and not be able to even go to school. Unfortunately it's a big campus too, so I have to try to get all of my classes on the same side of campus, on ONE side of the huge hill haha. My other concern is that the classes I'm set to take when I go back are pretty hard, but I can't really avoid them.

I was thinking about getting a medical ID bracelet, I looked through the forums and only saw one thread about it. Think it's a good idea?