coping w/ alcohol
 

I went thru a period of time(weeks) where I drank to get drunk everyday. Before my concussion I probably averaged about 2-3 drinks in an entire year. Suddenly I find myself craving alcohol, although I stopped getting drunk everyday a couple weeks ago.

I know it is part a result of feeling sorry for myself and the headaches I get daily. Alcohol doesnt' help but I'm drunk with a headache instead of sober. Seems so strange to have these compulsions when I never had anything like it towards alcohol before.

Has anyone else had probs. like this w/ drinking?

(I am 15 months PCS and hope to be back to work soon)

PCS and obsessions
 

Copper,

Sorry to hear about your struggles.

Obsessions are common in PCS. Unfortunately, alcohol is definitely contra- indicated ( a No-No) with PCS. If will delay your recovery. I was taught to avoid alcohol after a concussion when I was 15. Doc said to stay away for life. I drank a single glass of beer when I was 21. Didn't get drunk but I had a horrible hangover the next day. Now I know that it was not a hangover, but instead it was a decompensation (relapse of PCS symptoms).

Do you take anything for the headaches? I have headaches daily and get good relief with acetaminophen (Tylenol) Others report good results with ibuprofen.

How are your sleep habits? They can help with the headaches. Are you getting any kind of treatment or therapy? Learning to reduce stress levels is good.

Do you have access to any job rehabilitation programs? Here in Idaho, the state runs a rehab program to get people back into the work force.

Stay sober and try getting obsessed with good nutrition. It is good for your brain.

I'm wondering if you might be suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Copper.

Obviously the event that led you here to this forum was traumatic, I know mine was. Emotional problems following any traumatic event can sometimes go on for a long time after the incident. I developed panic attacks, something I'd never had before in my life, so I too suffered from PTSD for some time. I was lucky in that I only suffered for about 6 months, others suffer for many years.

When reading about PTSD, I saw many articles that referred to increased drug and/or alcohol consumption following any traumatic event. I guess it could be a way of coping, or it could be a way of avoidance..... blocking out the issue, I don't know which.

PTSD sufferers may resort to alcohol or illicit drugs to block out unwanted memories & feelings. According to the Australian Centre for Post Traumatic Mental Health (1999), approximately 50% of men and 25% of women with chronic PTSD have drug and alcohol issues ... http://www.anxietyaustralia.com.au/a...raumatic.shtml

Have a look at PTSD, and if you think this might fit how you've been feeling, mention it to your GP. Maybe he/she will be able to help.

What Copper's talking about sounds nothing like PTSD to me (and as Mark will attest, I'm a strong believer in the relevance of psychological trauma to many PCS sufferers). People who resort to alcoholism as a result of PTSD do so because they're unable to escape a painful memory/state of mind and the alcohol helps numb their senses - like putting a pillow over the face of a screaming psyche. They don't resort to alcoholism simply because they wake up one morning and their body is physiologically fixated on alcohol consumption.

Back during the first year or so after I injured myself I used to drink fairly heavily at least once or twice a week. This was partially because I was in college at a party school and... well, it was sort of a habit at that point. But beyond that, the only time during those days that I wasn't intensely thinking about what was going on in my head was when I was drunk - the hangovers afterwards were nothing short of experiences on the periphery of dementia, but in many respects I had a clearer head while drunk than I did while sober during those days. I was free to think about things other than how screwed up my brain was, which in some ways was worth it at the time even though it would leave me teetering on the brink of consciousness for the next few days... I have a feeling this is part of the allure you're feeling to the bottle as well.

Trust me on this one: Listen to Mark. Don't drink. If time passes and your healing feels complete, feel free to try a little wine and see what happens, but don't drink when you know your brain isn't back to what feels like 100%. It only slows recovery.

Copper
 

HI, doesn't the alcohol make your head aches worse - I have found that I only need one glass of wine and have a far worse headache - especially red wine - it seems to over heat my brain.

Do you sleep ok at night? And do you have any meds for the headaches. I can be headache free if I sleep at night and rest before becoming tired.

Lynlee

hi copper
 

hi copper reading back through your posts I see you were having issues with panic attacks anger ect all indicative of ptsd in your job you had to hold it together, but it was a car wreck that injured you (correct me if I am wrong ) it doses,t follow that you have to be in a war or be a victim of an assault,( do you feel the accident was an attempt on your life ? ) it can and could well have been, such a brush with death, can hard wire the fight or flight response into your psyche, hence the mood swing from fear to anger , if you were like me and felt I was 6ft 2 and bullet proof, and was capable of controlled aggression, its a strange place to be, I have huge issues with all aspects of how I got my injury from the people who attacked me to the cops treatment of the case and them moving me with head and neck injury's there failure to get a conviction ect ect ect these feelings are becoming deep seated in me, the longer this effects me and my family, I cant function at the level I once did it just is not there any more, I worked in a life safety , so if I mess up life's could be lost and emergency services effected, also security critical buildings in London, I know its hard to except but you must be fit for the job, the doctors will decide when and if that is

I don.t have the answers ,and work from self analysis but for sure drink an,t the answer your looking for

Thanks Everyone
 

Thank you to everyone for responding to my post.

I am on Gabapentin, Amyltriptiline, Celexa, Celebrex, and Maxalt when migraines occur.

Strangely enough, and prehaps worth mentioning in this thread, is the fact that i have also had problems with overeating to much since the accident. I should preface this by telling that prior to the accident I was in extraordinary shape physically. I ran marathons and competed at a high level in grappling and martial arts. I was very low bodyfat and maintained a very strict healthy diet easily and was very disciplined in that regard.

Now I seem to have lost my will power and have gained 40 lbs of fat. Any exertion causes my headaches to worsen so my physical activity has gone from 2-3 hrs a day to pretty much zero.

Just explaining this to perhaps shed further light on my drinking 'compulsion'.

i was neuropsych. tested (the full battery) in June which identified attention and memory deficits. I retested last week and am awaiting the results before the brain Injury docs plan my return to work plan.

Copper

hi
 

hi copper

the exertional head ache are real hard to get over I get them too, all I can do is a little at a time, then lay down for a bit, but not very healthy I must admit , I am having more tests for my CSF leak to see if the docs can find and fix, but can be real tricky to do, I am also having nuropsych assessment just started, I was upset at how bad I done being a quick thinker pre damage , sorry about the fat, the meds can have an effect on appetite I cant taste like I used to, so off food plus this dam salty sweet taste 27/7 one thing that I can say has help me is to relearn one of my old hobby's although I have had to modify my equipment to control my tremor, is my pounamu carving nephrite jade to most of you

stay positive man

Drug interactions
 

Wow, what a powerful mix of drugs to take.

< I am on Gabapentin, Amyltriptiline, Celexa, Celebrex, and Maxalt when migraines occur. >

There is a definite need to have a pharmacist review your drugs for interactions.

By a quick bit of research, many of your problems may be a result of drug interactions. The Amyltriptiline and Celexa are the worst. The gabapentin is probably the least problematic. Celexa is a SSRI. Amyltriptiline is a Tri-cyclic antidepressant. They both are used to treat depression. Amyltriptiline is more of a shotgun approach. Celexa is more of a targeted approach. Amyltriptiline is more common to cause weight gain. All three work on the serotonin mechanism.

Who prescribed these meds? I would bet it was not a psychiatrist. The Celexa and Amyltriptiline are both bad to mix with alcohol. These meds should be overseen by a good psychiatrist, not a neurologist or general practice doctor.

I would seriously suggest a good consult with a knowledgeable pharmacist. I would not be surprised if he advises you to stop the Amyltriptiline. Or at least calls your prescribing doctor and suggest a modification to your meds.

With this mix, it is easy to understand your continuing symptoms. Some of your symptoms are listed side effects of Celexa and Amyltriptiline, especially the headaches.

btw. I have gained about 25 pounds. Welcome to the club.

I wish you well and success with your neuropsych and pharmacist consult.