KittenPaws
03-04-2007, 05:40 PM
Anyone have an increased feeling or have had seizures after laying down flat on a bed? I dont know why but 70% of my seizures occure soon after i lay down or when im falling asleep/waking up throughout the night. Wonder if anyone else is like this?
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IMNRVUS
03-04-2007, 08:30 PM
Can't blame this on the full moon :dizzy: .
I have had a similar problem, but easily got over it. All 8 of my Gran Mal seizures probably have been triggered by a form of sleep apnea. I was asleep on my back for all of them. Mine is different than the regular kind. Laying down on my back closes off something in the rear of my sinuses... just above the roof of my mouth. It was confirmed by my Ear Nose and Throat doctor last week. All types of sleep apnea can be corrected with surgery called somnoplasty as far as I know.
However, I did have a small sinus polyp two months ago. I used nasonex for two months, twice a day. Nasonex is a sinus steroid that shrinks nasal tissue. I still use it once a day.
The polyp is now gone, and I breathe better on my back. Haven't tried sleeping that way yet. I got used to sleeping on my sides or stomach since 2005.
Have you had any sinus/allergy trouble when you have the seizures while sleeping on your back?
Can you lay down on your back (awake) and breathe OK?
If you find out it's something else, let us know. :eek:
I have had a similar problem, but easily got over it. All 8 of my Gran Mal seizures probably have been triggered by a form of sleep apnea. I was asleep on my back for all of them. Mine is different than the regular kind. Laying down on my back closes off something in the rear of my sinuses... just above the roof of my mouth. It was confirmed by my Ear Nose and Throat doctor last week. All types of sleep apnea can be corrected with surgery called somnoplasty as far as I know.
However, I did have a small sinus polyp two months ago. I used nasonex for two months, twice a day. Nasonex is a sinus steroid that shrinks nasal tissue. I still use it once a day.
The polyp is now gone, and I breathe better on my back. Haven't tried sleeping that way yet. I got used to sleeping on my sides or stomach since 2005.
Have you had any sinus/allergy trouble when you have the seizures while sleeping on your back?
Can you lay down on your back (awake) and breathe OK?
If you find out it's something else, let us know. :eek:
Travis from MN
03-04-2007, 09:23 PM
I can relay that a good friend of mine, his occur right when he is starting to nod off if in mid-day, when he is laying down when he is starting to enter the early stages of sleep, they hit until he is "past" some point (hard to explain). Again, they occur at the end of the sleep cycle before he fully wakes up.
So yes in some cases sleep can be tied to seizures. All I can say is I have seen it, I don't know the connection between the two. I don't think I have read documentation other than depravation of sleep to cause seizures in relating to sleep and seizures.
The prior post is hinting at the CPAP (think thats the correct term) mask. Basicly a posi-pressure mask to wear if there exists a breathing problem that may enduce seizures. Some do use that.
--Travis
So yes in some cases sleep can be tied to seizures. All I can say is I have seen it, I don't know the connection between the two. I don't think I have read documentation other than depravation of sleep to cause seizures in relating to sleep and seizures.
The prior post is hinting at the CPAP (think thats the correct term) mask. Basicly a posi-pressure mask to wear if there exists a breathing problem that may enduce seizures. Some do use that.
--Travis
KittenPaws
03-04-2007, 09:24 PM
Hrm, come to think of it i might have sleep apnea as well, got allergy problems too. My problem is i gotta arm wrestle everything out of my doctors to get anything done lol. Ive never been able to lay on my back and "breath" okay, and i feel off as well.
Though, it doesnt help me figure out what all my other seizures are about too...but at least part of them i understand now!
If i can get the sleep study done in the next month or 2, i might go for it (my fiance's had one as well so i know what they do), but since im pregnant, it cant be any later then that :( Till after delivery.
Though, it doesnt help me figure out what all my other seizures are about too...but at least part of them i understand now!
If i can get the sleep study done in the next month or 2, i might go for it (my fiance's had one as well so i know what they do), but since im pregnant, it cant be any later then that :( Till after delivery.
IMNRVUS
03-04-2007, 09:58 PM
Travis:
A CPAP was offered to me if I thought I could tollerate it.
Next option was surgery (somnoplasty).
If just nasonex works, I'll keep using it as long as the doctor allows. Only side effect I get is coughing occasionally.
If I have another seizure while sleeping on my back, doctor suggests surgery.
Both Neurologist and ENT doctors agree... so do I.
So, until then... it's wait and see.
Kitten Paws:
Keep a diary of what happens, when, and why.
Write questions for doctor, take them with you... ask all of them and write down answers in front of him.... that way he has to answer.
A CPAP was offered to me if I thought I could tollerate it.
Next option was surgery (somnoplasty).
If just nasonex works, I'll keep using it as long as the doctor allows. Only side effect I get is coughing occasionally.
If I have another seizure while sleeping on my back, doctor suggests surgery.
Both Neurologist and ENT doctors agree... so do I.
So, until then... it's wait and see.
Kitten Paws:
Keep a diary of what happens, when, and why.
Write questions for doctor, take them with you... ask all of them and write down answers in front of him.... that way he has to answer.
Travis from MN
03-04-2007, 11:32 PM
Kitten, If you can get in sooner I'd encourage it. I'm thinking of the safety of the child. Not sure what they would/can do for testing due to your condition... They may want to delay any sleep or seizure related in hospital testing because of that.
Push your Dr for the comments. Sounds like the one I had at County. Either he didn't know (wouldn't suprise me), or couldn't tell me why (because he was unsure). I even had to challange him with textbook facts one time when he was making a bad choice!
The Doc I am in the process of loosing was one who was an open book and would tell you (just about anything) if asked. I hope my new Doc will be just as good.
--Travis
Push your Dr for the comments. Sounds like the one I had at County. Either he didn't know (wouldn't suprise me), or couldn't tell me why (because he was unsure). I even had to challange him with textbook facts one time when he was making a bad choice!
The Doc I am in the process of loosing was one who was an open book and would tell you (just about anything) if asked. I hope my new Doc will be just as good.
--Travis
dogmom
03-05-2007, 01:55 PM
Many people have seizures just as they're falling asleep or as they are waking up--believe it or not, those are the times when your brain is most active!
As for sleep apnea: My hubby did one of those sleep studies and was told his case was mild-moderate. He also gets polyps in his sinuses and has had them removed surgically twice since we've been married (14 yrs.) Additionally, he uses Flonase every nite before he goes to bed and will do so in the foreseeable future. He also had Septoplasty surgery.
Sleep deprivation is indeed a major trigger for seizures. As a matter of fact, it is my number ONE trigger. That's what "woke up" my Epilepsy--6 months of insomnia because my husband's apnea (and snoring) was keeping me awake nights. (He was overdue for the polyp removal surgery.)
So there are a number of things that could be causing your apnea or difficulty sleeping, therefore feeling like you're seizing. A good ENT doc is a good place to start.
Also, it's better if you sleep on your side, as opposed to your back. When you sleep on your back you put pressure on your palate, therefore constricting airflow. So if possible, sleep on your side.
As for sleep apnea: My hubby did one of those sleep studies and was told his case was mild-moderate. He also gets polyps in his sinuses and has had them removed surgically twice since we've been married (14 yrs.) Additionally, he uses Flonase every nite before he goes to bed and will do so in the foreseeable future. He also had Septoplasty surgery.
Sleep deprivation is indeed a major trigger for seizures. As a matter of fact, it is my number ONE trigger. That's what "woke up" my Epilepsy--6 months of insomnia because my husband's apnea (and snoring) was keeping me awake nights. (He was overdue for the polyp removal surgery.)
So there are a number of things that could be causing your apnea or difficulty sleeping, therefore feeling like you're seizing. A good ENT doc is a good place to start.
Also, it's better if you sleep on your side, as opposed to your back. When you sleep on your back you put pressure on your palate, therefore constricting airflow. So if possible, sleep on your side.
KittenPaws
03-06-2007, 11:19 AM
I'm glad to find out im not the only one. I been so afraid to talk about it to much of anyone as i feel like a liar most the time. course anyone whos been through as many doctors as i have in 3 years looking for answers for all my ailments and being shoved to the side will feel like that...
I'm gonna talk to my OB, i forgot to bring it up with him yesterday. My GP is new so i dont fully trust her quite as of yet. The specialist hunt begins... :dizzy: hehehe.
Thank you guys so much :)
I'm gonna talk to my OB, i forgot to bring it up with him yesterday. My GP is new so i dont fully trust her quite as of yet. The specialist hunt begins... :dizzy: hehehe.
Thank you guys so much :)
Trish17
03-11-2007, 11:24 PM
:) This message may be coming in a bit late, but I have had the same problem for a year. I stopped having petit mals about 5 years ago. But, in this past year I feel the "aura" as I'm laying down. I lay still until I feel clear again. this only happens as I lay down, and thankfully not every time. I have sinus problems, too. Is insomnia related to sleep apnea? I've been on restoril for 4 years for insomnia. My regular dr. recommends sleep apnea test. Why?:confused: If anyone reads this, can you please give me some comments?