REM behavior disorder
 

Anyone know if this can be a symptom of PCS?

I ask because I just had a sleep study and I was told by the tech that I did not get into REM sleep or stay there for as long as they like to see... I was also running and punching in my sleep... I know since my accident I have been talking in my sleep, even to the point that I wake myself up... Just wondering if any veterans have had any experience with this...

Hi Sarah and welcome to NT.

Sleeping disorders are common with PCS. Was the sleep study done as part of an evaluation for PCS? The more you can share with us about your injury and recovery to date the better informed answers forum members can be in sharing similar experience.

Best to you.

MVA on 1-12.. was in the ER on the 1-13... was told to go back to work on the 15th... didn't... saw my GP.. he had me on brain rest for a few weeks... tried to go back to work 2 different times, ended up back at ground zero.. back at home per the GP... went to the neuro on 3-4, she ordered a sleep study and some balance therapy. Along with the MD's I have seen an DO and a chiro for my neck. Neck is on the mend.

Initial symptoms were headache, nausea, loss of time, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, and dizziness.

Until about a week ago I was still having noise and light sensitivity. That now comes and goes vs. being consistent. Nausea is gone, I now have ringing in my ears and am tired all the time and have a constant headache and am still dizzy.

I have been told that I still do not make much sense and leave gaping holes in what I am trying to convey... so please ask questions...

Thanks, it helps to know when the injury occurred and current symptoms.

Two months probably seems like an eternity but in the TBI/PCS recovery world your injury is relatively recent. What you describe, including the sleep disorder you originally mentioned, are classic PCS symptoms.

In regards to the cognitive symptoms you describe "I still do not make much sense and leave gaping holes in what I am trying to convey" you may want to request a referral to a clinical neuropsychologist for a neuropsychological assessment. This can be expensive but if you have health insurance it may be covered (mine was). The benefit to this is that the testing can help pinpoint specific deficit areas that may be helped by occupational or speech therapy.

Thank you Lightrail11
 

Yes, it does seem like eternity... I keep thinking that I am doing great... and then I will have a bad day... I know I am a long way off but I am so ready for this to be over!

This weekend I was, and even today am still convinced to an extent that I am ready to go back to work. Today I have had a bad headache and minor dizziness. My neuro did not want to reaches until April 7th... thoughts??? Do I stay home and keep trying to get back to "normal" or do I just go for it? My neuro did say that if i was still having issues with my "not making sense" that she would do a neuropsychological assessment after April 7th. I guess I should mention... I am an account manager for a large company... I have reps that I manage in 3 states in the midwest. I see about 500 emails a day and do a lot of logistical work. if that makes a difference...

I am on a lot of the vitamins recommended by Mark on the sticky thread above and have been since about 2 weeks after... my mother did a bunch of research and found a lot of these..

Sarah,

If you are going to go back to work, I suggest you start with a reduced day. Not a short day with a full day's decisions crammed into it. 500 emails will be enough to set you back days if not weeks. If you have occasional struggles with clear thinking, your job's work load will make it much worse.

What vitamins and supplements are you taking ?

A common problem people with PCS have is simple. They have a good day so they increase their activity level. Boom, they crash and have a bad day. Good days need to be respected as healing days, not activity days. Gentle stimulation on good days is OK, but pushing it is a risk. A week of good days means activity levels can be increased.

My best to you.

Wow, does this bring back memories. I was two months in from my TBI, and was about to be released from the hospital when I had my first NPA. I figured release form the hospital on Monday, back to work the following Monday right? I felt I was good and ready, ignoring the fact that I was still in a wheelchair and unable to drive.

My clinical neuropsychologist who conducted the NPA wrote in her report: "Patient shows significant difficulties with visuospatial learning and recall, as well as mental flexibility and multitasking. He displays weaknesses in aspects of executive system functioning (retrieval of learned information, mental flexibility, abstract reasoning, problem solving, and verbal fluency). Although highly motivated the patient is not ready to return to work at this time”.

What I'm trying to say is as patients/TBI survivors, we are not always in the best position to evaluate our own readiness to return to work or other activities. As Mark says we have good days and bad days. I stayed home, did the prescribed therapies, and finally returned to work three months later, and then I was indeed ready.

My suggestion to you is rest, get better, and let the NPA say what it's going to say on April 7 and take it from there. That's only three weeks away.

Mark

I am doing
a liquid Calcium with magnesium
a fish oil
a B
an E
and a multi
I also take Namenda XR and cataflam

So I need to wait until I have a full week of good before I increase.. not just 2 days... so today's... so so day does not count? Today was just a headache and some minor dizziness... and some forgetfulness..

I have been having very strange dreams, and have woken myself up talking in my sleep. I am not sure if it is the concussion or medicine. I tend to do that under stress in any case. On a stressed day at work. I would come home go to sleep and continue my work day...sucks lol.

Dreams etc
 

Hello,
Its been a year and a half for me, fell off bicycle backwards in China while working all alone after hitting an aluminum light post. Bang, whiplash and right onto the back of my head. Woke up in the street in a pool of blood with a bunch of Chinese people staring at me.

Normal symptoms, vomited like crazy first night, scared, panicking. Vision issues, headaches, crunching neck, bad mood, sleep problems. Went straight to the fish oil and lots of fresh deep ocean fish, broccoli, veggies etc.

Recently very vivid dreams, and disconnect while trying to go to sleep, some jerking in body and like a panic attack starting. Hate to go to sleep as I am all alone, no support. 60 yrs old.

Vision problems off and on, tinnitus, headaches, sex drive changes, crunching neck, and tunnel vision, like light scallops when I press my eyes.

I feel like "why did this happen to me?

memory is fine, and I am working ok.

Problems: Drink beer too much. Diet is very good and exercise regularly. Have tried some xanax, valium which is temp relief, etc but it takes right down into drug use and drink.

Thanks so much to Mark in Idaho...was trying to make a new post but could not figure out how.

Feel like I am in a battle between good and evil....