since my head injury I'm terrified to fall asleep
 

I don't know if it's the depression on the head injury or both but I keep having terrifying dreams and wake up in so much pain with the back of my head shaking with chills and a burning. I feel like I'm going crazy.

Mark,

That is awful.

Is used to have nightmares that were bad enough that I did not want to go to sleep. I learned that I was probably experiencing a form of sleep paralysis:
It is weird:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

http://dreamstudies.org/2010/04/29/9...eep-paralysis/

Also the nightmares can be from PTSD.

M

Sending some good thoughts. I know how hard a head injury
can be.

But I don't exactly have any clues on how to help.

Donna

I hope you can find an answer, Mark.

From your other thread:
Feeling on fire... sounds like a pain syndrome. IT sounds awful.

Whatever it is seems to be related to what your brain does when you sleep. The stroke may have changed how your brain sleeps. Many meds "interfere with sleep architecture" ..... if a med could interfere in just the right way, perhaps it could help. Perhaps a diligent neuro can figure it out... let's hope.

Ever been to a sleep specialist? They are neuros that specialize in sleep disorders... the first thing they do is have you do a sleep study, while wired so they can study your brainwaves and other stuff.

What do you do to get by? Are you using pain meds for that? Do any work?

waves

thank you so much for your concern. I had given up on neuro but I think I will see another 1 this week. The pain isn't so bad once I wake up after a few minutes but I do have chronic irritation and burning in the back of the head and neck which is constant although not as bad. I take neuromtin for the pain but it doesn't seem to be doing much.

Yeah, this could be a toned-down version of what happens when you sleep. Or more like, when you sleep this thing escalates.

Are the nightmares separate or do they always coincide with the physical sensation?

I am familiar with Neurontin... I've taken it for other things. Actually I'm on it now also. How much are you on... is there room to try increasing that?

I wish you well with the new neuro. Definitely keep trying. You deserve to feel better!

waves

Mark When you are trying to sleep,and you feel the fear,try to take a deep breath of air. Then relax,and take another deep breath of air,and repeat it as much as you need.

I do this. Sometimes my throat gets dry,and I drink cold water near by. Then when you are almost ready to fall asleep,take a deep breath,and slowly breath it out,and in a minute take another deep breath of air. This also helps me to relax enough to swallow.

Try to find a peaceful place in your thoughts. You will get through the night. BF:):grouphug:

I am glad that you are going to see another neuro, a new set of ears.
bizi

I just thought of you today mark.
I was talking with a client of mine and she said that she takes ambien to sleep at night 5mg and she also takes klonipin .5mg. Her doctor said that the ambien by itself did not cover all of the receptor sites, 3 of them left open but that the klonipin covered those 3 left open.
I found this fascinating. I wonder if xanax would do the same for you, combining it with the ambien.
Let me know if this is what you are doing already. I wonder if you would have to switch from xanax to klonipin?
Did you see the new neuro?
bizi

Bizi

your concern touches me somuch. I am going for MRI of the head tomorrow and then see doctor again. I will definitely mention it to him if my sleep doesn't get better. I hope you have a great day.