Desperate for help. Chronic insomnia following a concussion. PLEASE HELP.
 

Hello,
I'm here because the love of my life has become just absolutely miserable within the last year and a half. It's only getting worse and I'm afraid it's going to just ruin his life.

About 2 years ago, he suffered from a concussion after being hit to the concrete by a complete stranger. Doctors just told him he had a concussion & sent him home with instructions to take Tylenol.

My boyfriend, a very fun, energetic, smart ( he's an engineer) person has become a prisoner to insomnia since this happened.

He is always tired but can't seem to fall asleep. If he does, he usually wakes up & on a good night averages a little more than 2-3 hours of sleep.

He has gone to doctors who gave him lunesta & melatonin among other sleep meds. Currently he is on 10mg tomezapan & it only worked sometimes. He has been in a sleep study but wasn't able to sleep, so no information was attained.

Today, he has gone 6 FULL nights, without any sleep. He is a mess & he is terrified that this won't ever get better :(

I know about PCS & PTSD but I don't know how to help him & he is just getting worse.

Please, can anyone help??:confused:
Does anyone have experience with this? Or know of the best meds?

Hello & Welcome!!
 

Hello and welcome, happy to see you have come to be with us, it a great place to be. As you can see we have a great number and caring fellow members here, welcome to a supportive and relaxing place. Have fun looking into the different forums. Our shoulders are here for support in many ways.

Check into the following forum, there are some that can help you out:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum92.html

Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you. :smileypray:

Darlene :hug:

Hello Chill1988
 

Welcome to NT!

I am SO very sorry your boyfriend is suffering like this :(
I've suffered insomnia to a degree, but not near what he is!

I'm not sure what treatments are available for chronic insomnia, but hopefully he can fall in the hands of a doctor who will see how serious this really is. So far, it appears nobody has latched on to this. He deserves good quality care, someone who will aggressively treat him.

Darlene has given you a good link to start with....
Here's a link that may benefit you in all of this, it's the Caregiver's Support forum
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/fo...aysprune=&f=56

There might be some good info there for you to help keep you strong in all of this. You serve a very important role in helping him, and it's wonderful that you are actively seeking support on his behalf.

I hope you can begin to get some answers soon!

[Edit] to add:
Hey! I just realized there is a special forum here specific to sleep disorders - learn somethin new every day! :rolleyes:
Try checking it out, maybe there is something there that can help....
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/fo...sprune=-1&f=45

Caring,
Rae
:grouphug:

Hi,

You're a good friend to him, and right now, that's the best thing he could have. Give him lots of "healing hugs" ! ! ! :winky:

Brain injury/concussion don't have no set textbook pattern outcome.

No rules here... so often, a land of confusion for the patient and loved ones to endure, and healthcare professionals, and even insurance companies have trouble with the aftermath of brain injury victims.

He is in a dangerous situation. Sleep deprivation can cause health issues.

In the right setting, by a good docgtor, they can induce sleep. It can be obtained. So, I would discuss those options with his doctor.

At one time in my land of confusion, looking for answers, I was told I had to break the pain cycle. At that time, that seemed so impossible. I worked at it, and finally did "break the pain cycle" that my body, mind and spirit had become so familiar to. "Bad normal" cycle.

I'd suggest change of environment, maybe he go stay at a motel, by himself if he's able, a few days and nights, to see if no distraction and total relaxation, a different bed might do the trick.

This is probably over the layperson's ability to fix. Truly needs strong intervention.

He also could be in a "panic" mode, from the fear of being assulted, that has never been diagnosed/addressed.

"Panic" can cause lots of abnormal and unwanted reactions until treated properly.

Him being a man, I'm sure he has some emotional negative rebound from being assulted/blindsided and traumatically injured.

I hope he finds peace...

We're here for you both... :grouphug:

Thank you
 

Thank you so much for your quick responses & support. It really means so much.

Hello Chill and welcome
 

Welcome to Neuro Talk. You have a good place to start, with finding this site. There will be people to talk to. I am sorry you and your BF are having trouble regarding sleep. It sounds to me like he has not had the best in evaluations that he should. Someone needs to pay attention to what is happening to him. Sleep depravation is horrible, and can cause other issues. I would suggest you contact your primary care doctor, and ask for the help. Your local hospital may have a community help line, or an advocate service, that may be able to direct you to the right kind of help. I hope many people offer you some additional information right here. I am not sure what kind of speciality in medicine is needed. I hope one of our members will know better, the information you need. You need the right kind of physician to do this evaluation and to pay attention to you. I am so sorry that this has been such a hard experience. I really hope you find the help, so that your lives can return to normal. I do wish you all the best while you search for an answer. ginnie

Insomnia after Concussion
 

Xanax works for me or the generic brand by Greenstone. Other Generics seem weird. I have the same problem from a Motorcycle accident 6 years ago. Baby Benedryl and Melatonin also help for a short time. Xanax is a benzodiazepine drug and there is now talk of it increasing chances of Alzheimer’s in the long term. I am 70 and still working as an engineer but will never have the concentration powers I had before the accident.

This is now a common problem with Football players and we are seeing more research into the problem of Post Concussion Syndrome.

If anyone has a better solution than Benzoids, I would sure like to know.

There are books on Coping with Post Concussion Syndrome at **

What part of your brain was injured? Which lobe and any other brief detail re: the specific damage as reported by physician.

Hello beealive01,

Welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups. :)

beealive01 and tampasailor, the original poster Chill1988 only made 2 posts and that was a long time ago. Thought I should let you know that just in case they never respond to your questions.

Welcome back tampasailor.

beealive01, if you need help finding your way around the forums please just post again and we'll help.

take care.

Welcome beealive01. :Wave-Hello: