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Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Concussion Syndrome For traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post concussion syndrome (PCS). |
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#1 | ||
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Junior Member
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Wondering if anyone else is having problems with vivid, unpleasant dreams. I wouldn't really call them nightmares, they are just not happy dreams. I usually have a few of these each night and I end up waking up during each one. Last night, I was running in one of the dreams and as I was waking up from it I could tell that I was breathing quickly as if I was running in real life. I wasn't gasping for breath, just breathing quickly. Sometimes I feel like my heartrate while I'm sleeping is faster that it is during the day and I wonder if it's due to these stressful dreams.
The nortriptyline that I started taking a month ago has helped relieve my dizziness and nausea, but sleep is one area that is not improving. I just dread going to bed because I know that I will be up multiple times throughout the night. Is this a pretty normal pcs symptom? Anyone have suggestions on how to sleep more peacefully? I should add that I was having this problem prior to starting on the medication. |
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#2 | ||
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Legendary
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Are you breathing properly during the dreams? Could you be waking up as your need to breath has kicked in and the rapid breathing is to catch up?
You don't necessarily need to gasp for breath to recover from an apnea event. I have what I call stressful dreams when I am not breathing correctly. They are full of conflict and anxiety. I believe mine are caused by poor neck position due to a neck injury I suffered with my head injury. Many medical supply/rental companies rent Pulse Ox alarm systems that can even record these events.
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Mark in Idaho "Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 |
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#3 | |||
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I've had some pretty unpleasant dreams since my injury as well. They also started before I was on any medication. I don't really have any advice for you...just thought I'd drop in and let you know your not alone on this.
Some of the dreams I have are very disturbing. A couple nights ago I had a dream I stabbed myself in the chest....I don't have thoughts of suicide, so I have no idea where that came from. They don't happen often enough for me to be bothered by them. I have more of a problem with waking up...as I've been waking up disoriented (unfamiliar with my surroundings, thinking it's December when it's really January, etc.).
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What happened: I was randomly assaulted from behind in June of 2011. I was knocked unconscious for an unknown amount of time (less than 30 minutes) and have no memory of the event. CT scan showed contusion and hematoma of the left frontal lobe. I spent 3 days in the hospital. Diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome in September 2011. Currently have Medicaid, Medicare and SSI. Current symptoms: Brain fog, mild memory issues, problems with spontaneity, occasional spacing out, word finding difficulties, tinnitus in right ear and some other things that I can't explain. Life after the brain injury: 4 years after the injury, I'm engaged to my beautiful girlfriend of 5 years, I'm the CEO of my own business, Notorious Labs, I've taught myself how to program complex games and apps which is a feat I never thought I'd accomplish and now live a semi-normal life with very mild PCS symptoms. Slowly but surely regaining my life back. |
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#4 | |||
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Member
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Yes, I have had crazy dreams ever since my injury. Very vivid and contorted (like one of those feature films where there is a totally unforeseen twist every 5 minutes).
Right after I started amitriptyline, I was sleeping more soundly and didn't have so many. But now that I've been on it a while, they are starting up again.
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mTBI and PCS after sledding accident 1-17-2011 Was experiencing: Persistent headaches, fatigue, slowed cognitive functions, depression Symptoms exacerbated by being in a crowd, watching TV, driving, other miscellaneous stress & sensory overload Sciatica/piriformis syndrome with numbness & loss of reflex Largely recovered after participating in Nedley Depression Recovery Program March 2012: . Eowyn Rides Again: My Journey Back from Concussion . |
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#5 | ||
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Junior Member
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"They are full of conflict and anxiety. "
"Very vivid and contorted (like one of those feature films where there is a totally unforeseen twist every 5 minutes)." Exactly. I know a lot of people here talk about fogginess but does any one else have a hard time being able to tell if they are awake or not or when these messed up dreams are real or not. Or feel like they can never really get to sleep but are never sure if they really are awake. |
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#6 | |||
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Member
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I had a period of unusually vivid dreams which I am certain were related to PCS.
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mTBI March 2011, spent around a year recovering. Since recovery I have achieved a Master's degree with distinction in Neurological Occupational Therapy |
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#7 | ||
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Member
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During the initial months of my PCS I experienced horrible nightmares. Most would include some type of injury to my head. I would wake up in pain..and and realized it was like my mind was trying to justify the pain. They were terrifying! I do agree 100% that they are related to pcs.
I still do have these occasionally.. but they got a lot better! |
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#8 | ||
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Junior Member
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Well, I guess I'm relieved I'm not the only person experiencing these, but sorry others are suffering too.
Mark - I'm not sure if I'm breathing properly during these. I think I am, but I'm half asleep during all of this. I was just reading the thread posted by chitowndizzy regarding upper cervical neck injuries and wonder if this could be a factor too. My neck was very sore for a few days after my injury occurred. To this day it still "clicks" or "pops" sometimes when I turn my head in either direction. It also makes a "crackling" sound when I look up and down. Maybe this is a contributing factor to poor sleep. I agree with the others about the "vivid and contorted" description. Sometimes my dreams will be alright, then something wacky happens out of the blue. Weird stuff. |
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#9 | ||
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Junior Member
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I too experience the dreams of conflict, uncertainty and anxiety. Not every night, but often. I shared this with my neuropsychologist and she related them to the issues that are not resolved in my life right now.
I think most of us that are dealing with PCS have some anxiety over the continuation of our symptoms, and the impacts of TBI on our careers, relationships, etc. We are all seeking answers that aren't readily available. I also think that we are in conflict with ourselves in feeling that our bodies (brains) have "let us down" by not recovering quickly enough. The neuropsych often talks about grieving and sense of loss for the person that I was prior to the concussion. Sounds morbid and negative, but being able to be realistic about not currently being the person I was may help in my emotional recovery to heal. Doesn't mean I'm resolved to or giving up on recovering my preconcussion self. |
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