Waking up tips?
 

Hello all, just started browsing the forums here, and it's nice to find people that understand what I'm going through!

I was in a car accident in February, and diagnosed with a concussion a few days later. Someone ran a red light and hit me in the drivers side door. I thought I was lucky, that I walked away from it with no major injuries. (Or so I thought!) It's now been 4 months, and most days are good, but there are plenty that feel like I'm walking around in a fog, or that the ground I'm standing on is tilted one way or another.

The biggest thing I'm looking for is tips on getting up and going in the morning. Even after 9 or 10 hours of sleep, I feel like I haven't slept at all. I'm sleeping through my alarm on a regular basis, and when I do wake up, I can barely drag myself out of bed.

I'm fine once I get going, but then between 1 and 2, I seem to hit a wall. All of the energy I had just seems to dissipate. Luckily, I set my own schedule at work, and the accident happened on the job, so while it has affected work, they've been very willing to work with me.

Wow, this has turned into a longer post than I thought it would!

Deags,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

The fatigue you are experiencing is common. You are likely pushing too hard at work. A short mid-day nap may help if you can do it. You also may not be sleeping deeply enough to get restorative REM sleep.

If anybody can observe you sleeping, have them watch your breathing. PCS can cause sleep apnea due to upper neck inflammation. This can make PCS symptoms much worse.

Do not use caffeine to wake up. Maybe a shower with water, maybe even cool water over your head and face will help. There is a need to get good blood flow going in your head.

Be sure to stay hydrated. Dehydration can cause the blood to thicken reducing capillary blood flow.

It is difficult to recover while trying to maintain a full work schedule. WC doctors are also of little help in recommending rest.

Hope you can find a way to get the rest you need.

My best to you.

Yeah, it didn't take me long to realize that coffee, had me reeling within a couple of hours of drinking it. That's been rough, I was drinking 2 24 oz cups a day at a minimum. Never much of a soda drinker though, so that's not too bad.

I may have to try taking a short nap around lunch time. I hadn't thought to try that. Luckily, I have the flexibility to do that.

I do push myself too hard at work, it's hard to force myself to slack off. Especially when I don't realize right away that something I've done is too much. I've always been kind of bullheaded that way though. I am learning, that this is kind of like one of those Chinese finger puzzles though, the more you try and pull your way through it, the worse the symptoms become.

Yes, those Chinese Finger puzzles fit PCS well.

You only get loose when you relax. With PCS, you only heal when you don't push to limits or even close. Keep in mind that you may experience a delay in the onset of symptoms from pushing too hard.

I remember my neurologist advising me to start pushing myself as hard as possible at one point, about 2 months in; he said the only limiting factor should be extreme headaches, other wise I should work out and push myself to get "better". Of course, that was before I hired an attorney.

When I told my neurologist that I rode a motorcycle he told me to get back to it. I thought is he crazy?? Confusion, dizziness, lack of focus.....sounds like good advice.....NOT! Well, at least I was smart enough not to take his advice :)

I went to my nuerologist twice, and wasn't impressed by any of the visits. First one he did some reflex tests, and had me describe my symptoms. When I was done, he said, "yep you've got a typical concussion. Get rest."

Went back two weeks later to see about going back to work, and wasn't even checked before he told me that it shouldn't be a problem.

I've found more info on the internet than I got from him.

I agree Deags. I have found more information on the internet and in these magnificent posts than from either my doctor or my neurologist! You guys are a god send! It's amazing how the doctors say you should be good to go back to your regular activities and seem to dismiss the symptoms you are still having.