Hello everyone,

I've just joined the group but I've been finding useful information here for the last few weeks -- thank goodness as I haven't found any real answers from my doctor or the neurologist that I saw!

So, my situation is the following: I had a minor head injury (CAT scan was clear) after fainting and falling backwards and hitting my head on a wall. Although I had a constant (mild) headache and general pressure in my head afterwards I continued with my life: working, a couple of weekends away, working out, and I was also drinking a fair bit as (unfortunately) I had a lot of parties and social events in the 2-3 weeks directly after my concussion. Because I had an MRI which came back fine and my Dr didn't tell me anything particular (he didn't even tell me to rest) so I ignored the few symptoms that I had and pushed on with my normal life...

However, about a month after the initial concussion, following a week of a lot of work and a weekend of late nights and partying I began to feel extremely tired, then came the nausea, bad headaches, sensitivity to light, dizziness, etc, etc. I went back to the doctor who signed me off work for 2 weeks. I spent 2 weeks resting and avoiding light as much as possible as well as taking a range of vitamins and supplements (including Omega-3). Now back at work I'm taking it easy but my symptoms are still very much there -- plus the insomnia and bad dreams during the little sleep I do get have got even worse to the point that even with strong sleeping pills I'm not getting much rest.

My Dr. cleared me to go back to work saying that I'm now okay, but I'm clearly not and even taking transport to the office (the noise, the light, the movement) makes me feel ill.

I'm scared that because I didn't rest and in fact did extra during the few weeks after my concussion, including drinking much more alcohol than I normally would, (I really wish I had got some good medical advice in the beginning because I would have followed it had I known what I was dealing with!) I may be stuck with these symptoms in the long term, especially the insomnia, and that I may have done some permanent damage. I'm now doing things "right" as much as I can but I fear that it might be too little too late.

Has anyone had a similar experience of delayed concussion symptoms like this and do you have any advice?

Thanks a lot!

Now that you have an understanding of your needs for recovery, you should try to be patient and let your brain and body heal. It takes time, especially after you stressed out your brain with intoxicants and activity. Some concussions have a delayed onset of symptoms of up to 6 weeks or so.

Get some quiet rest.

I suffered the same and went back to work... and that didn't work. You need to let your doctor know what is going on. Initially, I went back to work and then had to take 3 months off. I went back after 3 months because I didn't want to lose my job... and it was hard!!! My doctors had me on anti depressants when this first started because they said that my life would change and they were right.

You should not be drinking... that doesn't help, especially with the headaches.

I got the same problem with vivid bad dreams that wake me up I also I get reimbursed. I'm seeing a new neurologist about it hoping for a miracle

Mark,

Could your sleep and wake up problems be due to Obstructive Sleep Apnea ? With your weight, OSA would be a common problem.

mark it could absolutely be a problem. I have trouble keeping my cpap machine on the whole night and thqt could very well be the problem!!!

Thanks for your responses (I subscribed to the thread but didn't receive any emails so I just saw the replies now). Yes MarkinIdaho I think patience is the key here. I've been following a stricter regime (in terms of enforced rest and vitamins and supplements) for the past few weeks and although the symptoms aren't much better they have stopped getting worse at least. I don't feel that either my doctor or neurologist helped me in any way so at least I feel empowered now by knowing more about what I'm dealing with. And I've not even touched alcohol or coffee since my symptoms got worse and won't be doing for a long time!

For the insomnia, I found that strong sleeping pills made my symptoms worse (I don't know if it was just a coincidence, but they seemed to stress my brain out much more and although I eventually got some sleep with them I felt MUCH worse during the day, and the pressure in my head was worse) so although my sleep patterns are still horrible I've stopped the pills switched to melatonin and more natural remedies for relief as well as a low dose antidepressant (trazadone) taken at bedtime when needed.

The main thing that is setting me back is using screens (I work in an IT environment and have been cleared by my doctor to go back to work --he still doesn't think I need more time off-- so I can't take any more sick leave at the moment but I am really struggling with the dizziness and nausea that the screen use brings). I try to limit my use of screens outside working hours, and take very frequent breaks at work, including working half days when necessary. I have a filter on my screen and often wear sunglasses too but I'm concerned that having to use computers every day is going to impact on my long-term recovery...

Hi Mark,

The only real thing that I have found to deal with these vivid bad dreams is to have a notebook by my bed and write and rationalise some of the things that come up. My concussion seems to have brought up a lot of bad memories from the past as well as current fears which are all acted out in these bad dreams that I've been having. Although the dreams are still there, writing about some of the reoccurring ones as well as writing down actions for how I could feel better has helped with the dreams. I know it sounds a little odd but I'm not sure how to express it better.

I started doing this one night when bad dreams turned into a night of horrible anxiety attacks and it has made a real difference for me (along with the other measures that I'm taking)

I never thought that all I would want from slep is to not remember my dreams and wake up eight hours later uninterrupted and not shaking like I did before I got sick. I am on neurontin now and it seemed to help last night so you might try that if things don't improve. but give things time and you could see a big difference

Mark,

What dose of gabapentin did the doc prescribe ? How much do you weigh ?