Following 2 concussions sustained playing sport in a 20 min period I was very confused and unable to do much - a scan showed no fluids which was great news.
My challenge is 6 months later if I have a challenging week at work I end up sleeping for 14+ hours on the Saturday - I lose focus in the evening and become 'stupid' and am unable to retain short-term information.
Is this normal will my head start working again ever?
Is is bad to sleep so much?
Hi m'love and welcome. I'm guessing your work life is too demanding and that, by weekend, your brain is overwhelmed to the point of exhaustion. Concussion is often regarded as a minor brain injury but effects can be seriously incapacitating and long lasting.
Maybe get the facts of brain injury and coping strategies from Headway. You can phone the helpline on 0808 800 2244 for advice and printouts.
Take care, Cat x
Thank you cat3. I run Data & Analytics for a large firm so there is a lot of thinking involved. I just feel like I am not useful at the weekend and miss out on time with the kids and I don't want to be a burden. I only heard about headway last week. So investigating now
How old are you kids m'dear ? x
9 year old girl and a 14 year old child who is non-binary (born a girl).
It's a challenge I want to give them time at the weekend because I work so much (I'm the main earner)
Ok, thanks for that. You seriously do need to address the demands you're facing during the week.
When I was a child my mum worked herself so hard all week that she needed bedrest every weekend due to migraine attacks. I worried about her, even at school, but couldn't say so as I knew she had no choice.
She was a loving mum and, most of the time, happy and busy but, looking back, I wish we'd made do with less....
Could you arrange for reduced hours or further sick leave to allow yourself more recovery time ?
Please do contact the Headway helpline on Monday (office hours) for more advice & support going forward.
Keep in touch.. x
Hi Apocalypse, this seems t be why I'm on the site. I only seem t respond to people who have problems with sleep ;o)
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Many have had fantastic results & I know for me, like U I was sleeping a lot, had ' brain fog ' & really couldn't concentrate.
That was until someone recommended the 20 Minute nap which really is miraculous if done properly.
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Have a look at my posts & that explains all.
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Take care & look forward to some fantastic feedback ;o)
Stace
Thanks Stace I will have a look
Hi, as cat says, concussion is a brain injury. The idea of minor or major is a little subjective. An injury is to the degree one is effected. I'm sorry that you are experiencing this. Something that is common in this is learn to recognise the effects and managing them. You say about having a challenging week, that is the first step, the second is understanding what is challenging, and how to reduce or limit the challenge, and learning to pace yourself. It is impossible to ignore how important this is. You cannot battle fatigue, the more you try will only prolong it. Acknowledging and managing it will help you to recover, and hopefully it will improve with time. This is a marathon, not a quick fix. Welcome to the club no-one would choose to join. I wish you well. Keep in touch 🍀
Hi there, I honestly feel like I should be able to overcome it somehow if I just try hard enough. I also feel like it was just a couple of knocks to the head and that I should be over it by now.
We all felt that at one point, what ever our injury was. The brain is precision engineered, held in a ridged canister. Evolution has done a pretty good job, but the packers forgot the bubble wrap.
The more precise the equipment, the more vulnerable to damage it is. It might be that one knock is enough to put it out of sync.
I hope you can have a good recovery, but you can't just brush it off. You must listen to your body, for once the brain doesn't know best, the brain says crack on, the body say hang on.
Have a look on the Headway website, headway.gov.uk or ring their help line, cat gave the number above, and it is pinned to this page.
People say "just a concussion" , but forget that the brain effects the whole body, unlikely a broken bone, there isn't a set injury or healing time with the brain. It takes as long as it takes, there isn't any quick fix for fatigue, you have to work with it. Nemo and Lite have given some good points to think about. 🍀
Hi this sounds so familiar. My brain injury from a fall last summer resulted in 3 months off work from November with extensive sleep being one of symptoms. I could easily sleep 12 to 14 hours and still need an afternoon nap for 2/3 more. Have since been diagnosed with post concussion syndrome after a number of blood tests and scans.
My sleep pattern is improving some months later but would say get in touch with Headway and get yourself checked by a doctor. When you see them take a list including any other things that dont feel right. For me it was poor balance, headaches, memory and concentration issues too. Until a friend had ordered me to get checked out I hadn't linked everything together.
Have you got any support through work? Health care, employees assistance programmes or colleague you could talk to who would give you feedback on any changes they have seen in you. Good luck.
Hey Nemo
Thanks for the advice - so sorry to hear you are having challenges too.
I haven't had great support from the doctors they do mostly online consultations before they agree to see you and they just keep telling me to be patient. So far I have only seen the original doctor at A&E and had the initial scan - nothing since then.
I have contacted them several times with my symptoms but they just keep telling me it will fix itself over time 
I had a small fall last week and then ended up really tired and slept for 14 hours and was really tired over the weekend. I am really frustrated and sad about the whole thing.
Hi AcolypseM
I entirely agree with what cat3 said
I had a brain abscess some years ago and, after a challenging day at work, I had very similar problems. It wasn’t possible for me to take any rest at work.
I’ve had lots of input from Headway through their Magazines and learnt so much about needing to switch my brain off for a short period-maybe early evening could be an idea-as my therapist said it isn’t designed to be a long rest or I might fall asleep for the night. I use relaxation albums I’ve found on YouTube but even just finding a new quiet place and setting an alarm so you don’t fall asleep for hours. Everyone has their own needs and strategies but, for me, half-hour’s rest recharges my brain and the weekend isn’t wiped out.
I got overtired yesterday and my mind was all over the place but after a ‘mental rest’, I felt refreshed and able to enjoy seeing some friends coming round.
My son always says that he can always tell if I’m overtired-my speech was affected but rest is my key-as far as is possible in your situation.
I encourage you to do what Cat3 suggested and get hold of as much info as you need and hope it helps a great deal.
I find that joining Headway to gather help through their magazine, and also Bite-sized info through by email and info online has helped me understand how parts of the brain work have been invaluable.
Their Helpline is available to ring Mon-Fri 9-5pm and these headway online sites where people can meet others who have had all types of injury makes good sense too-I’m very glad you’ve already reached out through this.
One of the best pieces of info I had was/is to be kind to yourself and try not to feel stupid-I’m hard on myself and have had to learn this but it’s proved to help very much.
With best wishes from Lite75
Thanks a million Lite - I think my biggest challenge will be 'being kind' to myself.
I set myself high standards and I know that and I really don't like to be 'lazy' It's a challenge. 
Try to overcome the thought of you’re being lazy-my sister’s had a brain last year and asks whether I think she’s just being ‘lazy’ as we also set too high standards. Glad it helped ApocalypseM-you’re in no way being lazy. It is very important for your brain rest at a whatever time’s feasible to you-no set rules to make for you to pressure yourself. Just relaxation. Glad to help in any way-I’ve had 11 years to get used all this and still need to remind myself to ‘be kind and rest’😴💤
Hi Apocalypse,
On the contrary, it is not bad to sleep so much, it is good as sleep will help heal the brain. My daughter had a TBI and in the early days of recovery she slept constantly. The brain injury consultant confirmed that sleeping was a good aide to recovery. Good luck in your recovery 👍
Thanks TBIX
Is it me?
why are things so much worse when i go to bed?
I am so sorry :(
Thank you so much for boosting
