Sleeping in general

[bekel]

I've been tracking my sleep. I have a brain injury so therefore my sleep is nonexistent if I dont take sleep aids and have sleep hygene. If I take a sleeping pill, it's not a 'restful' sleep. If I take Magnesium Citrate powder (something I found during my own bout of self-experimentation) I usually have a restful sleep. This is actually overall a bit better than the magnesium citrate.

Night one: slept 7 pm - 7 am. Could NOT stay awake. Woke up feeling like I could fight tigers. Have not felt this way since 2003 when I had the accident.
Night two: slept 9 pm-5 pm. Woke up like night 1
Night three: Did better on hygene--slept from 10pm - 5:30am. Got very tired @8 am (which was happening before SLD), napped during day
Night four: Could't sleep--got 4 hours (Learned my son will be deployed in February to Iraq)
Night five: Took magnesium, bed by 10, sleep by 11pm-6:30am. Not overly well rested but OK. Slept from 5pm-7pm (I could NOT stay awake)
Night six: Bed by 10, sleep by 11-5 am. Fighting tigers again. Napped again from 5pm-8pm.
Night seven: Bed by 10:30, sleep by 10:45-4am. Fighting tigers. Was sleepy at 5, but could stay awake.
Night eight: Bed by 10, sleep by 10:30-6:30am. Fighting tigers

I like waking up and fighting tigers.  I would stay on this method just for the sleep benefits, because this is better than the magnesium (which was the best I had discovered--sleep disruptions are a common problem with TBI) My sleep hygene is supposed to be to sleep from 10:30pm to 6:30am.

My early wake ups were happening even before SLD. I would submit that perhaps the restful part is what the real side effect might be. You 'normal' people who say they're waking up early--that might be because the sleep is more efficient. That might be why you folks and I feel energized after the sleep.

[Seena]

I'm intrigued with the effect that the SLD is having on my sleep as well. Since starting about 2 weeks ago, I've slept extraordinarily well. Better than I have in a long time. I'm waking up and feeling wonderful -- not something I "normally" do, but wish I could.

I don't have a brain injury, but I have a bed partner with a sleep disorder (long story, I'll spare you the gory details  ) and he is doing SLD too. He, also, seems to be feeling particularly well in the morning. I've been doing some interesting reading about the effect of sleep deprivation on appetite-regulating hormones (leptin and ghrelin) and, apparently, lack of sleep or lack of quality sleep is being suspected of playing a role in obesity. Now _there's_ an interesting idea. I will cross-post to questions for Seth.

[bekel]

Now that's interesting. I was holding at 155-160, and then after the accident I packed on 50+ pounds. Some was inactivity, but I couldn't move because I was so tired/no stamina all of the time. There were a lot of variables for me--this is one more.

[tarheelatheart]

I just registered to post on this thread. I have had a brain injury but mine is a result of two craniotomies (brain surgeries) to the remove a brain tumor. Those were followed by a cranial reconstruction. I, too, have not slept in 5 years since my surgeries until SLD. Or, I've slept haphazardly and not restfully.

I take melatonin since I don't think my brain manufactures much of it any more. But I can't believe how energetic I am. I mean I am SLEEPING hard. I often dream of going to the bathroom over and over and when I finally awaken enough to haul myself out of bed, I'm groggy and go right back to sleep. This is unheard of. Whodathought oil would do the job?

bekel- What part of your brain was injured if you don't mind my asking?

[tenista]

I'm interested in the sleep aspect of SLD because for the past 5 days or so I have not been sleeping well--the opposite of everybody on this post.  I have been extremely upset (angry/hurt, etc.) over some news I got last Friday which I thought was the reason I was not sleeping (I'm sure it is the primary reason.)

But I keep thinking the oil is also stimulating my brain in some way.  I also had atypical reactions to Prozac when I took it--initially it gave me insomnia.  I'm wondering if it has to do with the amount of Omega-3s in this much Canola oil.  A lot of people on these boards have been posting what I think (after researching it on line) is erroneous info about Canola--saying that it has high levels of Omega-6 acids.  Actually, from what I can find when I googled it and read a lot of stuff, there appears to be a 2:1 ratio of Omega 3 to Omega 6 in Canola, which is actually close to ideal.  Actually, there's so much mixed up info out there, it's hard to know what is correct.  But it does seem that Canola actually does have beneficial amounts of Omega-3.

Omega 3 (at least in fish oils) in large doses has been shown to help with depression--so perhaps  the Omega-3 is affecting sleep in the way antidepressants do--and a lot of people do sleep better on antidepressants.  Whereas, I (at least with Prozac) initially get insomnia.  I think I'm going to skip my oil dose today and see if I sleep better tonight.   That would be totally strange but this whole SLD thing is a strange experience. 

Bekel--I like your phrase:  "fighting tigers."  That's a great image.  Is this an expression you made up??  Anyway, it's cute.

Tenista (tennis player in Spanish, Pat in English) 

[tarheelatheart]

After skipping today, you might want to change to ELOO and change the time. For instance, take one dose in mid morning. 

[tenista]

Thanks for the tip Tarheel.   Incidentally, I just made my reservation for my first ever trip to North Carolina at end of October (Asheville--to see if I want to retire there and leave.  I'm itching to get out of L.A.).   I'm really looking forward to it!   From your name I take it you've moved away...?

[tarheelatheart]

Yes, I live in Virginia now but my parents still live in NC. I went to UNC in Chapel Hill. I've lived in Raleigh/Cary, Chapel Hill and Fayetteville. NC has everything from mountains to beachers. My brother lives in asheville and loves it. It's an interesting place--from the bohemian-liberal types to the died-in-the-wool religious conservatives. The mix always blows my mind and keeps the place interesting. There are some nice estates and events year round there as well. See Biltmore House while you're there. October is a great time to see Asheville.

By the way, I just woke from a nap. I have been very tired the last 2 afternoons. I'm wondering if there is something going on regarding a change in my setpoint when that happens. I guess we'll see. I've only done this for 3 weeks. I only have 6 pounds to lose so it goes rather slowly when there is less to lose. Three down, three to go.

I went overboard with "trying different things" and used too much of this Japanese sesame oil in salad dressing and it did not jive with the apple cider vinegar. My extra credit ambition turned into an evening of nausea and upset stomach. I've been very zombie-like today.

If you are having trouble sleeping, you could try melatonin, two of them about an hour before bed. It's just a supplement from the drugstore. 

A lot of people are either very sleepy or the other half which are very awake.

[bekel]

I just registered to post on this thread. I have had a brain injury but mine is a result of two craniotomies (brain surgeries) to the remove a brain tumor. Those were followed by a cranial reconstruction. I, too, have not slept in 5 years since my surgeries until SLD. Or, I've slept haphazardly and not restfully.

I take melatonin since I don't think my brain manufactures much of it any more. But I can't believe how energetic I am. I mean I am SLEEPING hard. I often dream of going to the bathroom over and over and when I finally awaken enough to haul myself out of bed, I'm groggy and go right back to sleep. This is unheard of. Whodathought oil would do the job?

bekel- What part of your brain was injured if you don't mind my asking?

I wasn't ignoring you--I had forgotten about this thread. This is the important stuff that affects the brain. I had it all in my LJ because people ask...

Fractures (all skull):

right petrous temporal bone

left orbit floor

left maxillary

floor of the anterior fossa

nondisplaced zygomatic complex (this is what they wanted to do surgery on)

ethmoid, sphenoid and maxillary sinuses

extensive skull base fracture


Brain, arteries & ears (axonal injuries & swelling):

Left frontoparietal lobe

left splenium

left internal auditory canal pneumocephalus

intracranial air

abnormal left internal carotid artery

diffuse fluid in right mastoids and middle ear cavities

edema

pneumocephalus


Nerve damage

right cranial nerve six

left cranial nerve five

left seventh




Hemorrhages (inside skull)

pneumocephalus

subarachnoid

suspected intraparenchymal midbrain

thin subdural hematomas


The first person who pities me will be flogged. This is all the grace of God and I'm doing much better than this would indicate--I completed my first full year back in the classroom since the accident. (It was Aug 2003). I look at SLD as another tool in my tool box to live a good life.

[bekel]

By the way, I just woke from a nap. I have been very tired the last 2 afternoons. I'm wondering if there is something going on regarding a change in my setpoint when that happens. I guess we'll see. I've only done this for 3 weeks. I only have 6 pounds to lose so it goes rather slowly when there is less to lose. Three down, three to go.

Yeah, I have these blips too. For me it seems to be related to mental stress, but I haven't tracked it.

My family has noticed that I have more stamina than before and that I can tolerate disruptions in my sleep hygene pattern better than before. (Translation: I don't go all postal like a three-year-old who is late for her nap...)

Tenista: 'Fighting Tigers' is something that my grandma would say if you had a lot of energy. She loved to paint word pictures.

[tarheelatheart]

Holy cow, your injury happened in a somewhat similar area to my tumor.  I had a skull based tumor That involved having to invade the left temporal lobe (some parietal lobe).  The Hemorrhages are tough to handle, particularly in the subarachnoid. At least that's what I hear from other patients.

Okay, do you have double vision from the abducens nerve damage?  What about chewing food from trigeminal? You weren't left with TN (trigeminal neuraligia) were you?  Oh, and facial. How bad? Do you have to have it taped shut or basically what is the extent?  Do you have partial use? Or did they splice hypoglossal and facial to give you some use? I hope I'm not being indelicate. It's simply that this was a subject for over 3 years.

The second time around I had  a cranio facial craniotomy since part of this tumor was in the sinus cavity. It was in cavernous sinus, petrous apex, jugular foramen, and wrapped around the carotid artery. I discovered it as the result of a crooked tongue, which was hypoglossal nerve damage.

My second surgery was a middle fossa, infratemporal, subtemporal zygomatic osteotomy with an additional incision in the neck for exposure and an incision in the leg to borrow a vein to repair the carotid. Tests revealed I could not live without left internal carotid but some can apparently. I could not live and be smart, anyway. They did go through the zygoma. The only other choice was transphenoidal, which is basically above your tooth plate and below your nose. I'll take zygoma any day over that one. Reparing the zygoma really doesn't leave a scar either.

Damaged were
Hypoglossal #12 (half paralyzed toungue)-you may laugh because I do. It is the weirdest deficit. No chewing gum for me.
Abducens #6 but very, very minor, no double vision
Vagus #10 and #9 Glossopharyngeal (swallow paralyzed on left) and chewing difficult due also to titanium plates and lug nuts holding my jaw together
Vestibulocochlear # 8 but I maintain partial hearing, balance is okay but I have twisted my ankle a few times and tend to break a lot of plates so now we use plastic ones. The tumor smashed my eustachian tube. That was so unkind of it.
Facial #7 (left) went out completely after both surgeries but recovered mostly, except for loss of crying tears (greater superficial petrosal nerve was severed by brain swelling)
I, too, have an abnormal internal right carotid that is now "spliced" but still crooked and displaced.
Trigeminal nerve # 5 use is partial but not too bad
I have fluid and swelling in the mastoid still and it was hard to get used to. I still don't like that heavy, dense feeling. Tinnitus is loud but the least of my worries.

All of mine is on the left side. I will say that this sleeping is a Godsend. And I'd rather have 3 more pounds to lose than be at 126 pounds which is way to low for a person 5'10.5". I looked like a skeleton with skin and did not start to put on any weight until a year after surgery #2 and when I stopped steroids which, oddly enough, caused me to drop weight.

SORRY YOU GUYS, we brain damanged individuals tend to digress and talk shop.

We now get back to the regular scheduled thread on "sleeping or not sleeping" already in progress.

[bekel]

wow.

So you can't cry either?! I thought I was the only freak...

I need to digest this--we do share a lot of the same stuff.

Basically all they did once I stabilized was to stick me in ICU for a week and on the floor for a week, give me extra oxygen and watch me. I have shocked doctors who read my file and then I walked in for the first time. I had one guy speechless.  I should look really messed up.

The only visible leftovers are a rippling in my left temple, a crooked smile and leakage on R side of mouth, (not bad--I'm the only one that notices), my wandering L eye (optic nerve was severed-the eye protrudes a bit beause of the crushed bones around it) and a hat size that is @1/2" larger. I do have nerve damage on the left side of my face, reduced saliva (I use Biotene toothpaste/mouthwash--my gums were really having problems because of the dry mouth before I discovered that ). I have imbalance--I'm not dizzy often but I have a lot of times where I feel like I'm sideways to the world. No tinnitus and no double vision. Some times my jaw wants to lock when I open, but the guy who made the call to not do surgery was very pleased at the range of motion. No plates either. I have a hard head.

Basically I look normal. Got everybody fooled!

One big problem for me is word finding and sequencing in spoken conversation. Writing is a strength for me (because there usually isn't the immediate pressure of responding to a thought and the person looking at you going "Talk to me...") And of course the usuals--anger management, sensory overload, yadda yadda yadda.

I need to look up some of what you had (and what I had because I CAN'T FREAKING REMEMBER what they refer to in normal people words). I'll PM you tomorrow w/my contact information. I have to scoot upstairs to a birthday party.

[tarheelatheart]

reduced saliva (I use Biotene toothpaste/mouthwash--my gums were really having problems because of the dry mouth before I discovered that ).

Thanks for that tip as I have no saliva on the left side. I have serious periodontal disease due to the two brain surgeries and because of having broken my neck in a diving accident when I was 15. Apparently, head trauma accelerates the disease. Broca's area can be haulting as is yours but I manage due to a love of talking. At night and in stressful situations it gets odd. But the synapses are flying at autobahn speeds in Wernicke's Area thank goodness. That's a good thing since I'm a writer by profession. I will say that no one would know if they did not know me.

[bekel]

Get rid of the normal toothpaste and brush. I went with a Crest spinbrush and the Biotene. They make a mouthwash too. I noticed an improvement in the gum pain and swelling in a few days. If I use a normal toothpaste the gums hurt within a day. For me, the Biotene and regular brush didn't help nearly as well as the spinbrush/Biotene combo did.

website: www.laclede.com

I make sure I brush my gums too--they hurt if I don't. Go figure.

Have you noticed if you don't have tartar buildup any more? I don't have any--it seems really strange.

[tarheelatheart]

Thank you. I'll give it a try. I do still have tartar build up. I actually have to go to dentist/periodontist every 3 months.