General "who Are You"??? Said My Husband.

[Sunshine71]

Has anyone had anything like this before?

We have been togther for 21 years and we are just 40.

I know he had a sort of flashback but I am not sure if he was still asleep? He does sleepwalk but usually has his eyes closed.

He had that black when his face changes and I know that PTSD symptoms are in full swing.

He said is a few times "Who are you?" and I said nothing and then spoke quietly - I asked him what my name was and he said "I know your name" but he didnt say it.

Finally he said my name and said I am going to bed.

I went upstairs 1 minute after him and he was just out of it in a deep sleep.

Is this to to with PTSD?

Has anyone else had their close partner not know who they are?

I am concerned about the bl@@dy medication but what choice do we have :O(

I would love to know if you have an comments.

Many thanks

Sunshine

 

[Aine]

Sunshine,

Short-term memory loss is to be expected with PTSD as over time, the hippocampus (the part that produces your short-term memories) is damaged and shrinks. However, long-term memory is never usually effected so that's cause for concern, I think.

The only other alternative I can think of is: Periodically, I have "episodes" of what I can only really describe as psychosis. I become very fearful and lose the power to speak or rationalise. During these episodes, I struggle to remember where I am, the date or even my own name. Was he particularly distressed before he asked "who are you?"

I'd strongly suggest going to see your doctor about it and maybe start keeping a diary if this happens again so that you have a record of it.

 

[Kintsugi]

Sometimes if I am dissociating or flashing back, I suddenly have no connection to anything around me. Flashing back usually means a total black-out for me: feeling exactly like a child, not even noticing my real body, not being able to see what is around me but instead locked in re-living a past experience, often writhing on the floor without noticing until I come out of it. When I dissociate or feel like I am slipping into a flashback, I need to know everything. I need to know what color the walls are. I need to know who and where I am. I need to know the names of everyone around me. I need to know where my body is, what I am feeling. Or I will just float away. It's like something is on the tip of my tongue sometimes when I try to do this grounding alone, without someone holding my hand and telling me all of this information. I can recall the memory but it is just at my fingertips' reach; unable to grasp it but knowing it's there, somewhere, I know this one, I'm sure, but what the hell is it again?

It's possible if you noticed something really out of the ordinary in his behavior before this statement that he was having a similar experience of total disconnection? Also, I sleepwalk with my eyes open. Apparently I talked a lot to my dog when I was younger, but when I was told of my words and actions, I was able to realize that what I was saying to my dog was what I was saying to a person appearing in my dream. When I was sleepwalking the only thing that would stop me was to be told to go to bed. Apparently I'd just turn around and get into bed and go back to sleep. Odd.

 

[Sunshine71]

Thanks Miss AntiSunshine and Aine

I wanted to re visit this posting as my husband told me that he forgot who our son was again today.

This has happened a few times and I am scared.

Does anyone else suffer with this as part of PTSD and if you are a career how do you cope and deal with this?

Any help would be so welcome.

With thanks

sunshine

 

[Sunshine71]

Dear all

Just to let you know that this has happened several times now.

Last week he went to bed confused and even woke up and didnt know who we were.

It took a few hours and the doctor said to go and have a brain scan.

We were both so exhausted and it just would have been too stressful so we havent been yet. The doctor said that he has never heard of anyone not knowing who their wife and son was. I think its all part of the PTSD.

 

[wife of]

Yes I'm a carer and this has happened to my husband.

Over the last year he has had numerous severe flashbacks and for some time he suffered upto 2 hours of confusion upon emergence from them.

Fortunatly he always knew who I was as I haven't changed too much in 20 yrs but I would get comments like wtf have you done to your hair and it was as if his mind was "stuck" in 1994.

Next time this happens I would ask him what year it is,therein might lie a few answers for you.

He would not recognise our home or children,expecting them to be babies instead of 17 and 20 and would ask if his dad was coming to see us.

It broke my heart to have to repeatedly tell him that his father died ten years ago.

Then we discovered via some routine blood tests that he had various endocrine/hormone issues going on.

These seem to have greatly been aggrivating his ptsd as since starting hormonal replacement therapy the flashbacks have now subsided to a much lower level of frequency and the confusion has for now completely disappeared.

Might be worth having your doctor check out all of his hormone levels.

 

[Sunshine71]

Thanks again Wife of - how terrible to go through this telling your husband about his father and not knowing the kids.

I will ask the doctor to check out his endocrine/hormone levels although I know he had a blood test recently and it all came back as normal.

My hubby has had this a few times although not for a feww weeks I think now. Perhaps I should make a diary of what happens although I am scared too - it makes it all more real.

I am pleased to have connected with you Wife of although of cousre very sad to here of more poeple dealing with PTSD.

With love Sunshine

 

[Sunshine71]

I just saw my post and saw that it from from 8 months ago :O(

Hubby didnt not know me again on New Years Eve - He is taking anti depressants and on New Year Eve had several large alcholic drinks..... He knows he shouldnt but that didnt stop him.

He is on a downer again - and had 2 bottles of beer last night..... Do you think there is a connection or coincidence???

Thanks guys

Sunshine xx

 

[Eleanor]

Hi Sunshine, I don't have any answers... sounds like a suspicion that should be followed up on tho. I'm sorry he is having such a hard time. And I'm doubly sorry that you are carrying the weight of it.

(((((Sunshine)))) scary stuff.

 

[ISupportHer]

Yes there can be a relationship between the meds and alcohol. You can do an in depth search for each to see if it is an issue for his.

And, of course, it could be that he is self medicating and it's just the alcohol that is the issue. Perhaps he is drinking much more than he wants you to know.

ISH

 

[Sunshine71]

Thank you to you both Eleanor and I supporther - both taken on board and appreciatedxxx