Feeling weird upon waking up.
 

Normal?

When I wake up...almost every morning...a few different things can happen. I'll either wake up feeling like im in a dream, wake up kind of delirious and have strange thoughts or I will wake up sort of confused or just weird. Sometimes I won't remember what I did the day before.

It takes me about 5-10 min to get my bearings....but it takes longer (2-3 hours) before I can actually talk to someone. I'm sure the injured brain takes awhile to boot up in the morning...just wondering if anyone experiences something similar.

Thanks!

Nick,

You are making your anxiety worse by being too critical of every odd feeling. The comparing does not help you. Have you tried having a glass of juice or some chocolate milk to get some sugar into your system. Some people wake up with low blood sugar. This can cause some of these strange feelings.

I haven't tried the glass of juice or chocolate milk thing. I'll try that.

I'm just getting tired of this crap, Mark...I really am. I wake up every morning feeling like I'm not even myself. I'm starting to have more responsibilities now. My head isn't even on right to take them on.... I just bought a car last night that needs a couple repairs done too it. I've gotta get my mechanic down here this weekend to get this taken care of so I can register the car on Monday. I can barely function enough to get him down here and explain to him what's going on.

I'm gonna be having either joint or full custody of my little buddy here soon....waking up with my head not on right isn't good for when he is here...you know? I question my ability to take care of him which kills me. It's kinda hard to not have anxiety when you can barely function enough to take care of your kid.

I know I need a stronger medicine to control it...but that doesn't fix PCS. That doesn't fix not knowing what's going on upon waking up. It doesn't fix not being able to function in a conversation....it just helps you not worry about it.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who feels weird in the mornings! Oddly enough, I have the opposite sort of thing going on. The pattern I've noticed is that I wake up and feel almost normal for a little while, but I'd say within an hour or two I start to notice that I'm still dealing with issues (like getting disoriented/confused when trying to focus on something mundane like taking a shower) and then I only have maybe a few hours at most after that before I really start crashing and drag through the rest of the day. For example, if I wake up at 9ish and don't take my time with getting all ready for the day (like if I have a doctor's appointment to get to), I'll probably be wanting to go back to bed by about 12.

What's really weird for me about waking up feeling pretty much normal at first is that I get this feeling of panic like "I've been over-reacting this whole time, nothing's wrong with me, I've let my life go into all this mess and chaos over nothing!" I kinda breath a sigh of relief when I start noticing symptoms again and can know that I'm not crazy and it's not all in my head... :icon_eek: But then again, technically speaking...

Wow, finally someone I can relate to. Welcome to my world.

I have the same type of deal going on with me. My mornings are usually like this...I either wake up already disoriented and it takes a few hours to gain my composure....OR, I'll wake up feeling normal, have breakfast and start to get ready for the day and then slowly but surely my symptoms will start to become noticeable. I've been waking up a lot more refreshed lately...It started the morning after getting my NUCCA adjustment.

I've also had that feeling of panic in the morning like "Wow, it must be all in my head. Maybe I don't have any pr....oh never mind. I'm still broken."

Your morning routine sounds extremely similar to mine.

What kind of symptoms are you struggling with, if you don't mind me asking?

For me, it's been a whole bunch of different things. Various sorts of memory problems, issues with processing information and solving problems and concentrating, at times very challenged if not unable to put into words what's going on internally whether thought or emotion, fatigue (yet sometimes also problems with being able to fall asleep, despite being exhausted), quick temper at times, problems keeping emotions in check in general, personality changes, some crazy dreams, "dual" dizziness (sometimes I feel I'm dizzy, other times I feel the room is dizzy, sometimes both), a floating feeling like I'm not always fully in touch with reality, confusion, having to concentrate to put together sentences and keep a thought going when I talk, fighting at times to not slur my speech, sensitivity to light and certain noises (usually people noise like talking, etc), a slight claustrophobia/panicky feeling around lots of people as well as just with being indoors sometimes, switching back and forth between not caring about the cold much and my normal intolerance for cold (suspect I've also had a few hot flashes, crazy as it sounds), muscle tension (especially in my neck), pressure in my head, weird headaches (migraines?) that I seem to feel emotionally more than physically (usually I notice the "sense" of a headache for quite some time before I become aware I'm physically in pain), having "brain resets" where I forget what I'm doing and where I am for a split second (did this one time in the middle of trying to sign my name and had to really think for a moment to remember how the letters went), will sometimes try to do or say one thing but something else comes out, intolerance for stress (prolonged or overly intense stress makes me want to throw up), loss of appetite (don't always eat much even when I finally can force myself to), heightened sense of smell concerning certain things...

(eek, that list is longer than I realized)

Probably some more things in there, I don't ever seem to be able to remember it all in one sitting (did I mention memory issues?)

Wow, it sounds like we share a lot of the same struggles.

When it comes to PCS symptoms, you name it, I got it.

Well, except headaches and dizziness. I don't get that very often anymore.

I sent you a PM so we don't go off-topic on this thread, K? Hopefully it will let you respond. I think you have to have a certain amount of posts before you can use the PM feature. Oh well, see if it will let you respond...if not, just keep posting until you can.

NED- Neuroendrocrine Issues after TBI
 

Hi,

I'm new here. I read how some of your who have had TBI have been waking feeling weird etc for some time. I have a child who has been suffereing with a TBI for over 3 1/2 years. I have done a TON of research over the years on TBI and all of the symptoms/problems that my child has been dealing with as a result of her TBI.

The fact that she can't seem to make progress with the multitude of symptoms that she has had leads me to really take a real hard look at NED (Neuroendorcrine Dysfunction).


Sorry tried to post a link but it wouldn'y allow me. Look up Neuroendocrine Dysfunction. I recommend a link you will find from DCOE (Defence Center of Excellence)

Hope you all find this thought provoking and hopefully very useful.
I wish you all wellness.

Sincerely,
TBI Mom

TBI Mom,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear your daughter has been struggling so long. Please feel free to introduce yourself and tell us about your daughter's continuing struggles. What have you been doing to help her recover? What prognosis have doctors given you?

I'll start a new thread with the DCOE link.

My best to you.

I too have a very tough time in the mornings - in fact most symptoms you all have mentioned seem to hit me the worst between breakfast and lunch. Consequently, my anxiety shoots up and the vicious cycle begins. I also have 2 special needs children, which adds another layer to my challenging mornings.

What has helped me most is to just accept that this is how it is and that I need ALOT more time in the am to get my head on straight :)

You all aren't alone. I have been there, moved through it & now in the thick of it again. Sometimes all we can do is just breathe :)

hey bra,

yea i experiecne odd symptoms in the morning. I used to get the shakes. really bad ones in the morning, followed with terrible thoughts and then a headache. If i didnt get the shakes I would just get the feeling of 'something being not right'. I do not get the shakes anymore, i just feel a little spacd out and have bad thoughts. This may be because most often anxiety is worse in the morning. I am 5 months post injury and 4 months into symptoms.

How are you doing mate>?

ditto.... Sometimes when i wake up i feel like i got blackout drunk the night prior (without drinking), that confused surreal state of mind looking around like everything is new to my brain its strange. I definitely am not even remotely productive until after 2pm

That's how I feel most days. It usually becomes especially unbearable after lunch, but often eases up around 7 or 8 pm. Not tonight, though!

I'm feeling the same way about my responsibilities. I often feel bad for my son. When he was a baby (he is six now), before I started feeling terrible every day, I was such a good mother. Although I still make sure to play with him every night, my heart usually isn't in it anymore because I can't focus. Some days I have to just lay down when I get home because I just can't function anymore.

But, I always get through it! It's not always easy and not always fun, and I definitely feel guilty at times knowing that I am not the parent I used to be. On the other hand, I know that I love him to pieces, and he still has a great life. Even if it's difficult, I still spend time with him. It might just be some board games, puzzles, or something else where I can rest and interact simultaneously, but I do what I can.

I think the fact that you are so concerned says a lot. I have unfortunately known quite a few parents who wouldn't even care (and they have nothing wrong with them!) because it's all about them. You did not ask for this to happen to you. As long as you are well enough to keep your son safe, I think that he will be fine with what you are able to give him.

Kristara,

I think we could safely nickname you "Crash Test Dummy" lol. It sounds like you've been through a lot, just by reading your signature. Hope you don't take offense to it; I'm only pullin your leg.

You can call me a punching bag or something cuz I got my ### beat. Bwahaha.

How you been lately?

LOL nice... crash test dummy i shall be....
ive been overall ok ups n downs as usual, seeing a new doc on the 14th suppose to be a 'headache specialist' or something of the sort but we'll see i suppose... hopefully they're worth a damn but my expectations are pretty low for all doctors these days.

How have you been

Mornings are awful for me too. I dread them. Coffee helps, even though it is supposed to be bad for mtbi (is it?!). It feels like the longest hangover. And none of the fun of a good party the night before!

Does anyone get a little nauseous in the morning and a little dizzy? That's what I experience. Its awful. And the worst part my neck feels awful along with my head. Ugh...

Hey, I'm new here (I actually signed up specifically to replay to this thread) and I have been dealing with these same symptoms for a some now, waking up feeling delirious, out of my mind, or what have you. Now, I am only 17 and I don't quite know if I have TBI or PCS but, a while back I was jumped by several kids and a couple of them had bats, when it happened, I can only remember them coming up to me and starting to rough me up, the next thing I new I was walking down my street, gushing blood from my head. My step dad is an EMT so he stitched up my head and told me to take it easy. I have not been to the ER or had any kind of examination since long before that incident, even though I have fought with my parents to take me before they cant because we don't have the money and im not on medi-cal.

It seems like every day it gets worse, don't get me started on the "brain tingles". I used to be able to read very fluently, now I stutter through the simplest of sentences. I used to type 120 words a minute, now I struggle through it at 10-15 words a minute and im sure that if my Chrome didn't have spell check built in, this whole post would be a bunch of garbage. I used to love music and practiced my drumming daily, now I can't stand to listen to any thing even if its playing softly, even right now, the sound of my computer fan is making my head screech. I also find it VERY hard to find the correct words to place in my sentences I am saying, my friend remarks about it all the time. Im sure he knows there is something wrong with me, I never used to "uuhhhhhmmmm, uuhhhhhh, F#$@! ugh, what was I thinking about?! uhhhhh" before. (Just so you know, I am not a user of any type of mind altering substance, people have tried to tell me "Oh, its cus you smoke too much pot you stoner!" but I've only smoked it once in my life and I don't think thats enough to cause that much damage to the brain)

I want help but I know of no where else to turn, my parents absolutely REFUSE to accept the fact that I am not ok, I tell them everyday "you know, I don't feel like im right in the head" and they wont do anything about it. They just look at me like im crazy. I feel like they aren't listening to me, they just act like im guaranteed to be ok cus I was able to walk home after that incident, I dont even remember how long I was out, they could have beat on my unconscious body for an hour for all I know.

Well, anyways. I posted here cus I felt like everyone here would relate the most to my story and be able to steer me in the right direction for some help.
thank you,
Alex

Alex,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. It sure sounds like you symptoms are from a concussion. There is not a lot the doctors can do. You need to get quiet rest so your brain can have a break from the over-stimulation so it can heal.

Check out the Vitamins thread. It will help you get good nutrition to your brain.

What is you day like ? Are you in school ? Study stress can be a problem.

Did you report the assault ? California has a Victims fund that can help injured victims. Was this maybe a "Knock-out Game" assault ?

It might be worth starting your own thread. You will get lost posting to a thread that is from January. Just copy and paste your post to a new thread.

Hi Guys,
You are not alone. I also have these same issues going on. My doctor told me this weird feeling is called disassociation. I hate it. It is the worst feeling ever. There is no way that I could take care of a kid. I am so grateful my daughter is 21 now. I feel for you all that are struggling to take care of your children with this condition.
I feel as if I kind of am a child myself again. I am not able to be independent in some areas. I mean if my mom was not helping me and I was not back living at my parents, I would have to live in one of those assisted living places. Not the nursing home type but the type that gives you your medication, cooks meals for you, provides transportation and checks on you throughout the day.
Space cadet, I know exactly what you mean when you say- you just bought a new car that needs repairs and are struggling with even calling him and explaining what needs to be done and getting him over to take care of it. What I have discovered is that I have like a 2-3 hour window of time during the day that I can actually get things done, handle business, phone calls, people etc. after that I am done. Need to sleep to reset my brain.
I am so tired and fed up with this brain damage.
Brain

Sorry. You lost me on this thread. I just noticed I was responding to old comments. I just read the post that the new person wrote.
I feel bad for you. My family and everyone thought I was on drugs too at first. I know how frustrating that is. I am sorry you went through such a beating. What a trauma. You need to go to the hospital or doctor. If you are 18 or over your parents can't be held responsible for the bill. Don't worry about the bill. Just go to the E.R. You need a report of what has happened to you just in case you need to get on disability or other programs in the future.
Brain

Alex get yourself to the school nurse ASAP!! I do understand the money issue but you need PROFESSIONAL medical treatment!!!! Its not about not trusting your parents or doubt, but this is not a injury to deal with, without a doctor. Because you are a minor many paths open to a legal adult require your parents approval. However if you talk to the school nurse calmly and seriously then he/she should help. If not.

Then take yourself to the hospital and insist on seeing a doctor or your regular doctor tell them you can not get your parents to help you get medical care. You are close to a legal adult age and this is a very adult decision. Your parents fear of making a financial blunder is clouding their perspective. In this situation you will have to push the issue to get care.

Weird, disjointed thoughts post concussion
 

I just found this forum and am hoping someone has experienced what I am (and know that I'm not going crazy).

In November, 2013, while walking outside a hospital, I felt dizzy and as I was reaching for the shelter surrounding a bench, I passed out and hit the sidewalk with the back of my head. Not sure how long I was out, but awoke laying on the sidewalk with people surrounding me. I was admitted to the hospital and it was determined I had a 6 cm gash on the back of my head and had a concussion. I was later told by a witness that I hit the sidewalk so hard she cringed. I spent seven days in the hospital.

Immediately following my hospital stay, I experienced dizziness for about three months. Two months later, I had a mild stroke (TIA) and was again hospitalized for a week. It seems the two events were related. I was put on several medications, metropolol and lisinipril. After about a month, the metropolol dosage was increased. Just about coinciding with the increase, I began to have strange, disjointed, disconcerting thoughts AS I was falling asleep. It's hard to describe, but I will try. In the period of drifting off to sleep, my mind would have a thought, say, I need to go to the grocery store tomorrow. The thought would not complete and would morph into something totally unrelated, say something like the man across the street bought a new car. Then that thought would not complete and morph into another totally unrelated thought, e.g., I need to refill my Starbucks card. This was terrifying. It got so I was afraid to go to sleep and was literally sobbing when I felt sleep coming on. I read up on the side effects of the medications I was on and found rare side effects for both that "could" fit what I was experiencing. My gp told me to go back to the lower dose of metropolol. That didn't help and the cardiologist told me to stop it completely. I read that it took about 3 days for the metropolol to leave my body. It's now been more than three weeks and while it's not as bad, it still occurs.

I was so scared, I began to wonder if this was the early signs of dementia or Altsheimer's. I read up on that and that fear seems unfounded. I also regularly have headaches and occasional dizziness. In November, it will be a year since I fell and hit my head.