Insomnia

[Hetty56]

My sons TBI was 18 months ago and he’s doing really well. He suffers a lot with insomnia though - he gets tired, lies down and he says his brain starts working overtime, thoughts keep rushing through his head and he can’t get to sleep. Apart from odd nights when he gets about 6 hours sleep he’s averaging 3-4 hours a night and sometimes less. Any advice folks please?

[Danger19]

Hello my lovely,

My accident that caused my brain injuries happend on the 14th of January and since then I'm lucky if I ever sleep. I spent 10 days in a coma but from almost the day that I regained consciousness I just don't sleep or even feel tired. At the moment I am on my 92nd day without so much as 10 minutes sleep. I swear to you this is not an exaggeration. My GP has prescribed every sleeping tablet available but nothing has had any effect on me. I have tried sleep apps, meditation sites, relaxation sites, giving up caffeine, you name it I have tried it! So now I just record hundreds of programmes to watch through the night, read, plan activities for my children, clean, you name it, if it doesn't create noise I do it! I know that anybody reading this that is struggling with fatigue probably hates me right now but I would give anything to just feel tired. I dread the night coming because once I put my children to bed it's that awful thought of "and so what do I do now?"

I had no physical or cognative problems following my accident, the only lasting issue I experience is the insomnia. So be safe to know that your son is not alone and that somebody out there who has experienced a similar injury is experiencing the same problem. If i do find anything that positively helps I will be sure to let you know.

I wish you peace, happiness, good health and a whole lot of luck,

Vikki

[Hetty56 in reply to Danger19]

Oh Vikki I do feel for you. Has your GP not considered referring you - surely there must be a physical reason why this is happening? Or maybe to see a Psychologist?

Sams situation is not as dire as yours. His problem is feeling fatigue but not being able to sleep for long and it’s a very recent development. His GP is not keen on giving him sleeping tablets and I’m not sure he’d want to take them anyway. Like you he’s tried natural remedies, meditation and he works out with weights each night. The latest things he’s tried are reading before he goes to bed - I find it helps me sleep when I read before bed. He finds that helps occasionally. I’ve also persuaded him to start running - it releases all the good hormones, raises the heart rate and hopefully makes him relax enough to sleep. Do you, or are you able to, exercise?

Like you, I’ll share any positive experiences Sam has and I wish you all the very best of luck - I really hope you are able to find a resolution. Please let us all know

Heather xx

[Amber-11 in reply to Hetty56]

I have found that I cannot sleep well since a tbi , and that swimming for half an hour several times a week helps the most, then I sleep for 8 hours, otherwise between 1 and 4 hours and then it takes me a long time 3 hours, to go back to sleep. I find cbd from Holland and barret helps me go back to sleep. I also take magnesium fevere few, q10 and b2 at night for migraines, and the magnesium helps me sleep I think.

[Hetty56 in reply to Amber-11]

Thank you Amber. Its interesting to read what you say about swimming. Sam went for a run last night and intends trying to go regularly again (he used to keep very fit 3-4 years ago) so it’ll be interesting to see if that makes a difference to him. I’ll suggest CBD to him as well

[Danger19 in reply to Hetty56]

Hi Heather,

Thanks for your response. I'm glad to read that your lovely son doesn't experience my kind of sleep problems. The truth is I have never been a great sleeper and I do tend to do things at the speed of light but I have never had the type of insomnia that I struggle with now since my accident. I was diagnosed years ago with Bipolar Affective disorder but again, I have never experienced insomnia like this until I had my accident. I run everyday, luckily I have no negative effects from my Tbi except insomnia. Mind you, if that's the worse I have to live with then I shouldn't really complain. My GP has done everything she can think of to try and help me and I have an amazing Psychiatrist who is as confused as I am as to why this is happening to me. I've decided to just learn to live with it, I have two beautiful children and as long as I can keep up with them then I'm a happy girl.

I sincerely wish the best for your son and his future,

Vikki

[rockyandfrank]

Hello

I usually get 3 - 4 hours sleep and then wake with my brain so busy it is impossible to get back to sleep - so perhaps it is one of the healing phases. Hopefully it will pass in time.

[Hetty56 in reply to rockyandfrank]

I do hope so - it’s so debilitating especially when you have to go to work

[neilhapgood]

Hi Hetty,

I eventually pinned my insomnia down to being due to trauma, after a TBI the brain often activates its threat system and makes you hyper vigilant. This is why is just won't shut down and you can't sleep!

I wrote a little bit about trauma and TBI on a website which may be of use to you, having spent a fortune on black out blinds, eye masks, ear plugs and herbal sleep remedies I finally starting learning about PTSD and how to calm your threat system down again. After that the sleep started to improve immensely!

The website is braininjuryftp.com if you are interested.

[Hetty56 in reply to neilhapgood]

Thank you Neil. I am definitely interested and will read your website.

[Music789]

Hi Hetty

I was very lucky after by tbi as my gp was on a placement from a head injury trauma unit in Germany. He prescribed me amitriptyline and citrazine, they are both antidepressants but taken together they can in some people slow the activity of the brain. 7 years on I am on a maintenance dose but I know and so does my family if I forget to take them. I take them 15 to 30 minutes before going to sleep. In this time I read, no phone or tv. I now get about 6 hours most nights without feeling like a zombie the next day. Hope your son finds a combination that works for him. x

[Hetty56 in reply to Music789]

Thank you so much. I know that Sam has tried citrazine but not amitriptyline - I’ll pass this on to him to discuss with his GP. I’m so pleased that you’ve found something that works for you - long may that continue. I wish you lots of love and best wishes for the future x