Introduction and important Question
 

Hi All,

I stumbled upon this forum while trying to research the long-term effects of multiple concussions. I have suffered 3 concussions. The first when I was 16 after falling off a horse. I did not lose consciousness but the ten minutes following the incident are permanently erased from my memory. I was suddenly in a different arena on my horse jumping with my trainer but had absolutely no recollection of what had happened between falling off and that point. Concussion #2 happened after crashing on a horse again at 17 and I suffered the same symptoms. Number 3 occurred a few months after #2--this time the horse fell with me on her after she crashed through a jump. #3 led to a few minutes of unconsciousness, a trip to the ER, and the development of post-traumatic seizures four months later.

Though I am seizure free after 2 years on anti-seizure meds I cannot help but wonder if the symptoms I have now at 23 years old are related to all of my head injuries. Following my 3rd concussion I could never get enough sleep. For years I survived on 4-5 hours of sleep due to an inability to fall asleep. Now, I fall asleep but no matter how many hours I sleep I am always tired and want more sleep.

I am not anemic and my thyroid is in check. I am on Zoloft now for mild depression and anxiety that developed over the last few years. I feel like I am somewhat in a fog and don't feel like I can focus as much as I used to.

Has anyone else had any similar experiences and is it possible for me to be suffering the cumulative effects of 3 concussions 5 years later? If this is in fact the case, is there any way to be sure?

Thanks! And best of luck to all of you who are dealing with this issues.

nsm05,

Welcome to NeuroTalk. Sorry to hear of your struggles. Hopefully we can help you.

Your sleep struggles are common. My first concern is whether you are getting any restorative sleep. That means sleep with REM phases.

Do you have anybody who can watch you sleep? It would be a good start if someone could watch you sleep for a few hours. My concern is whether you are breathing properly.

Your horse-fall concussions likely have left your upper neck messed up. This can lead to autonomic nervous system malfunctions. The result can be Central Sleep Apnea. You body may not be pulling breaths properly during the night. If this is the case, you will wake up feeling exhausted.

Do you dream? What kind of dreams? Pleasant or stressful?

Tell us more about your symptoms/struggles. There is lots of experience on NT.

Mt best to you.

Thank you for your prompt response. I have wondered for a long time if I am getting restorative sleep. I feel like I dream throughout most of the night and there tends to be more stressful dreams than pleasant dreams. I will have to look into the sleep apnea.

nikki

The stressful dreams are likely when you are oxygen deprived. I also tend to have seizure like activity when I do not breath properly. My wife will notice me twitching and jerking, etc. She is supposed to wake me and tell me to go sleep in my recliner chair. I tend to breath better when sleeping in my recliner.