I have a question about if anyone suffers from constant "Mind Racing" when one mind never stops thinking and constant thought procecess? I still suffer from mind racing even after surgery.  I was wondering if its from Post Op from me having a near death experience or if it could be from the surgery where I just had my surgery on the 18th of Jan. It bothers my sleeping,I don't get a good nights sleep because of the "Mind Racing." I asked my Dr. about if there is anything I can do too get a good nights sleep.


Just wondering if anyone else suffers from this before surgery(Like I have)and after surgery(also like I'm going through now). I was wondering if this is normal for MM patients?

Thank you

Hi, I'm sorry for what you been through, and glad it had pass, it will make you stronger( that is what my friend keep telling me).  Any way, I don't have that mind racing, my mind seem like 'no body home' most of the time when I awake, but when I go to sleep I don't have a good night at all, I have so many stupid dreams, sometime it up to 20 of them in 1 hour, I'm so restless & tired.  My left side blood vessel is totally close so do part of my right side, my 1st surgery will be Mar 20.  I hope this crazy racing mind will go away soon for you, I know it will make you restless and tired too.  Take care & good luck. [smiley=hug.gif]
Kieu

Kieu,
thank you that helps knowing that i am not alone. And my mind is crazy. Its always thinking and i can never get a good nights sleep. I feel like I haven't slept at all

Hello Kieu and Laura,

I am not quite sure about your mind racing but think that meditation can help to calm down your minds and thus brings sound sleeps. I have practiced meditation for over ten years and it does help me a lot. My mind used to run crazily before. Deep breaths during meditation also help to bring more oxygen to brain.

You can try these two websites, one for Raja yoga and one for a buddish meditation: www.bkwsu.com and www.plumvillage.org. They have short meditation instructions and teachings.

Hope it can help.

Take care,

Ha

Hi

From diagnosis, I too had a very active mind - I sought help before I went insane !!

I have been learning self hypnosis and attending yoga nidra classes. In addition to the classes for both of these, I have purchased CD's so I can practice one or both every day.

This works 99% of the time !

I also cut out all alcohol & caffeine, and drink only chamomile tea.

Am now able to fall asleep more easily, and do not wake up as much !

Good luck

Helene

I just have to say THANK GOODNESS for this board.  All the things that I thought I was crazy for, I find comfort in knowing that it's not just me.  My mind races ALL THE TIME.  People, from family and friends to work folks, tell me that I am constantly thinking too much.  I don't know if it's moya moya related but it's good to know that it could be.  The light and noise sensitivity thing comforted me A LOT too (the thread that came up a few months ago).  Everyone at work calls me rabbit ears cuz I can hear things from miles away.  

Even yesterday, I was talking to my boss about something and I said, 'let me play devil's advocate for a second'...after finishing my sentence, I said 'let me play devil's advocate to my devil's advocate'.  He just stared at me and said 'is that possible?'.  HAHA - surprisingly I was not confused, although he was!  But he's used to it - it's just my mind racing again -  I can have five different thoughts in five seconds.  But go figure, I can't multi-task anymore!   [smiley=laugh.gif]

I like the meditation ideas...unfortunately, so far it hasn't worked for me.  :(  I'll keep working on it - if not for anything else but my boss' sanity!

Hugs,
Trina

try mediation.......... candles, incense.... all quite yummy

I have tried everything, from meditation too white noise,candles and hot showers too just going in my bedroom and just relaxing closing my eyes and concentrating on my breathing, trying too slow it down. But it didn't work. I still average about 3.5-4 hrs of sleep a night. And I feel that by not getting enough sleep that it effects my speech and occupational therapy,and most likely lack of sleep effects my moods as well.

I too have the same problem at night.  Once I'm tired and ready for bed, I lay there for hours with my mind just racing about stuff.  I've tried several different things as well but what has worked best for me is a script for "Ativan" (Lorazepan).  It's generally prescribed for anxiety (like it's great if you're clostorphobic and need to have a MRI done--works great!) but also to relieve insomnia, tension, nervousness.   [smiley=gocrazy.gif]  I know it affects the chemicals in your brain.  I can usually take one and it helps relieve my mind and fall asleep.   [smiley=snore.gif]   The good thing is, you don't wake up tired the next morning.  :) I'm to the point where I do not take it every night.  I just like to have it on hand for when I come across those particular nights.  Good Luck!!

I never try meditation yet, but last week or 2 I suddenly have good nights sleep and I don't know why, ( sometime I think there was a devil in my brain who control me ;;D) but then I put myself a little and end up spend last 3 days in ER because my symtom got worst.  for now I don't trust my brain ::)

Hello All!,
So many of us with restless minds......I have a few things ideas:

First, I know that craniotomies cause insomnia and/or 'trouble sleeping through the night'.  I wish I could remember where I read that.  I will try to find it...it is somewhere on the web.  

Second, I am almost positive that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) greatly interferes with sleep, concentration (my guess this refers to clarity of thought and attention span), and anxiety.  I know that I would define my 3 terrifying years pre-surgery as traumatic (as well as the surgery itself).  Do not underestimate what you have been through.  The experiences we have may make us stronger, wiser, more empathetic, but they also have just as strong negative consequences. Sorry to be so sappy and trite, but a lot of messages on this website seem to deem this syndrome as purely a physical curse. I completely disagree:
I was told that I was going to die (as many others have been told) and I can never articulate the relief and joy I feel that I am sitting here with my husband and dog, that I will be able to have children and teach and garden and go on walks, and travel and simply LIVE!  But, I am not completely healed from this syndrome.  I am scarred from my experienc. I am not purely happy.  I cannot embrace life as I hoped I would if only I could survived.  My mind races as well and I am sorry for my ramblings.  I am saying all this to try to convey that maybe some of us have been emotionally scarred/traumatized by our experiences. Who knows?  Any thoughts?
Hugs, quiet minds, and sleep-filled nights all around,
Steph

Steph.

I hear you there. I was 8 yrs. old when all this started and I can PROMISE you it affected my thinking. I was 8 when a dr. told my mom I would be dead in 18 months if my parents didn't let them do chemo therapy (he was misdiagnosing me). I was so scared, I came home and made the whole next years worth of cards (ei. Christmas, Mothers Day, Easter, etc.) and hid them in a drawer. My mom found them one day and cried and cried because that was the first time she could tell I was scared, too. I was always so positive and wanted them to tell me everything, that I buried a lot of feelings.

In my teen years I think I went a bit "nuts" because I felt like I could die at any moment anyway, so what does it matter? I just lived life like I had to live it to the fullest because I really didn't know how long I'd be around...

Anyway, it has taken me 17 years to realize some of the ways this illness has affected me mentally and I am sure I am not finished.

We all try to be positive and hope for the future but it is hard when in the back of your mind you are scared of having a stroke..

I guess I just want all of you to hear this from someone has been going through this a long time so you would all know you are not alone. It is normal to be scared, even after surgery..

We are all so blessed to be here on this earth and that is what I try to focus on.

:) Keep your chins up, there is a lot to live for!

-Sara

shgr wrote on Mar 9^th, 2006 at 10:08pm:

But, I am not completely healed from this syndrome.  I am scarred from my experienc. I am not purely happy.  I cannot embrace life as I hoped I would if only I could survived.  My mind races as well and I am sorry for my ramblings.  I am saying all this to try to convey that maybe some of us have been emotionally scarred/traumatized by our experiences. Who knows?  Any thoughts?

I just wanted to piggyback on to what Stephanie and Sara said.  After going through Tara's experience from diagnosis, then surgeries, to present day, part of me wholeheartedly agrees.  I've told many parents of MM patients that I think life is never quite the same.  I know that I will NEVER take a single day for granted, as I sometimes did prior to Tara's diagnosis (I suppose that's a good thing).  The downside is that I think I'll never be able to totally relax, either.  Every little ache or pain she has makes my heart drop.  A TIA is enough to make my blood run cold.  Scarred?  Traumatized?  Unquestionably.  I know I am, and I'm not even the MM patient.  It's impossible for me to fully understand the perspective of someone who has been diagnosed with this disease.  I do, however, hold tight to the knowledge that research is being done to understand what causes it to develop.  When the day comes that they have the answers, it will certainly be a day to celebrate, won't it?  

For now, despite the fears, I enjoy the simple things with my precious daughter.  Hearing her laugh is enough to make my heart soar, and a hug from her brings an indescribable amount of joy.  Do I hate that this happened?  Yes - but through places like this website where there is support, understanding and friendship, life is better, and we'll all get through this . . . together.

Hugs to my MM family,
Jill