carmell,

sometimes when I lay down to go to bed or randomly throughout the day I will be able to feel my heart beating...its not really racing just beating harder I suppose....I also have breathing issues where I feel short of breath at times

my doctor also tried to say I was experiencing anxiety and maybe had a disorder....I found that interesting seeing as ive never experienced these sensations in the past and been exposed to plenty of stress

did you experience the derealization thing on your path to recovery?

Anxiety disorders are common with PCS. Some are of an organic causation. Others are due to the stresses and sometimes PTSD of the injury/trauma.

It is not uncommon for GPs to prescribe anti-anxiety drugs during the anxiety phase of recovery. I think that sometimes, it helps the doctor more than the patient. The patient finally stops calling and complaining so much.

Be careful about a "try this and see if it helps" kind of prescription response.

I can't recall the sleeping pill I was taking. I can find out for you tomorrow. Mark seems to know quite a lot, and he just stated that it can actually slow the healing process. For me, I could not fall asleep, even when I lay silent for 48 hours straight. I physically never felt tired. I used the pills to physically knock me out. I was taking double the dosage my doctor told me to, as 1 simply did not put me out. Even at the double dose, I would only pass out for 3-4 hours. After that, same sleepless pattern.

Iggle24,

I did not experience derealization. I did experience the pounding of the heart. My pulse got up to a steady rate of 110 everyday. I had no way of stopping it or slowing it down. It was like my body was in a constant state of adrenaline. I was anxious about anything...it just HAPPENED. I can't explain it. It did eventually go away. I feel like my lifespan has been greatly reduced...my poor heart!

I went to my GP today and told him about the rough time I've been having and brought up post concussion syndrome. He ended up writing me a script for prozac. I have no intention of taking it as it is not even indicated for anxiety. He is convinced that I have an anxiety disorder and it seems that he will not explore other options. I atleast was able to get a CT scan done...if there is a contusion or anything major it will show up...though I would have been happier with an MRI.

Next step is to find a doc who will run a full hormone panel on me.

Carmen,

The odd part is that I actually have a very slow heart rate...it just beats harder. I've noticed as well that I sweat way less. It is my understanding that generally people suffering from anxiety attacks have racing hearts and break out in night sweats.

Iggle24,

I had no history of anxiety before my head injury. When my doctor brought up the idea that I have an "anxiety disorder" it was very insulting to me. I had never had the slightest anxiety about anything in my life and was always a layed-back kind of girl. She prescribed Ativan which I did not take. I decided I'd rather wait for it to pass (which it did). She was very stubborn and refused to admit that my symptoms were from a concussion because the only other case she had only suffered double vision. Now, some people DO benefit from things like anti-depressants during their bout with post-concussion syndrome and it IS helpful for them. It just was not for me. I was unwilling to face what others told me was a "withdrawal" when you come off it.

I think the heart beating harder is because you brain NEEDS more blood and so the heart works harder. Not sure on this, just a hypothesis. This will not be permanent but could persist for a while.

Carmell

Something similar happened to me when I told my doctor about my anxiety and depression. She asked me "what is causing your bad thoughts", right after explaining to her about my PCS. I guess they don't teach that in med school...

My anxiety persisted for quite some time, but relief did eventually come.

Hi
Yes, have also had the heart pounding thing (and am still getting it). About 2 days after I had my concussion I kept getting what felt like anxiety attacks out of the blue, they were like little storms and the heart pounding things started not long after. Eventually these attacks tapered off, and my feeling was that they were something organic coming from the injury. I am very resistant to the idea of an "anxiety disorder", can totally understand anyone feeling insulted about this.

are you guys able to sleep normally now (meaning as much as you want to)?

I've had problems getting to sleep for years anyway; the concussion didn't make any difference! I was really hoping that it would be the reverse for me and that I'd end up with no insomnia as I had it to begin with but no such luck! :)