xvaikiryex
04-17-2003, 02:40 AM
I have been having periods on and off for the past year of extreme sleep difficulties. Right as I'm about to drift off, very tired, I gasp & become wide awake, my heart pounds, and I feel a surge of adrenaline. I try to calm down & as I begin to drift off again, the same thing happens, over and over and over. I also get this strange feeling as I'm drifting off (very heard to describe), in my chest & head almost like a wave pushes & pulls me, and I hear, or rather feel? a 'sound' (this is the only way I can describe this) almost like 'white noise' (that you would hear on the TV) as it occurs, lasts for a second only as I snap awake. I always feel as if I could go to sleep and do drift off, but then this occurs, and as the night progresses, my tiredness slips away because of all the adrenaline rushes. I know some of the things I've described sound bizarre & probably hard to picture, and unfortunately I can't accurately describe them exactly as they feel, because it happens so quickly.
When these problems had occured previously, my whole body would jerk hard, and I would awaken, but now that doesn't seem to occur because I don't even get to that point of drifting off (I would drift off a bit deeper when the jerk would occur).
I have never had such a bad episode as this, and I am afraid that it won't stop. I feel like this episode is much worse than the last time.
Does anyone have any comments or ideas or have similar problems? Please help me!
My family doctor prescribed me 10 ambien, he won't give any more than that, and even that hasn't helped me. I"ve tried trazadone (my mother's RX) they don't help, and over the counter such as Tylenol PM, or Benadryl don't help either. They make me extremely tired, and I feel ready to fall asleep, however as I drift off the above still occurs, even with all the meds.
Thanks for any input. my email address is
[removed].com
[[[[[Please read and follow the board posting guidelines
as you agreed to do when you registered for membership.
Do not post your email address on the message board.]]]]]
[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 04-17-2003).]
When these problems had occured previously, my whole body would jerk hard, and I would awaken, but now that doesn't seem to occur because I don't even get to that point of drifting off (I would drift off a bit deeper when the jerk would occur).
I have never had such a bad episode as this, and I am afraid that it won't stop. I feel like this episode is much worse than the last time.
Does anyone have any comments or ideas or have similar problems? Please help me!
My family doctor prescribed me 10 ambien, he won't give any more than that, and even that hasn't helped me. I"ve tried trazadone (my mother's RX) they don't help, and over the counter such as Tylenol PM, or Benadryl don't help either. They make me extremely tired, and I feel ready to fall asleep, however as I drift off the above still occurs, even with all the meds.
Thanks for any input. my email address is
[removed].com
[[[[[Please read and follow the board posting guidelines
as you agreed to do when you registered for membership.
Do not post your email address on the message board.]]]]]
[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 04-17-2003).]
Sponsor
villagegal68455
04-17-2003, 04:57 AM
the jerking happens to me too.....your not alone.....
ozark
04-17-2003, 07:20 PM
this happens to me too....not all the time but when it starts it stays for about a week....my head surges from the adrenaline....i have pacs and pvcs and i think when my heart slows down i get an irregular beat and then the adrenaline surge...it can drive you crazy and at times doesnt make you want to go to sleep....benadryl works for me when i cant fall asleep because of them....the other thing is to noteat about 4 hrs before bedtime and no caffeine.......good luck
SilverMollies
04-18-2003, 08:36 PM
um... I have a very hard time getting to sleep too, but I don't have those symptoms. It sounds serious so I think you should see a doctor about that.
balsaaaq
06-14-2003, 03:12 AM
There called sleep starts, there are three kinds yours is auditory and yes they are normal....
dinhtran
06-21-2003, 03:11 PM
I had this prob for 2 years in college and b/c of this I lost 15 lbs in one year from all the depression and sadness it caused me. My baby is crying right now but I am pretty sure you suffer from MVPS and since I cannot give you the website look on your search engine for Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome. There is a great support group on the web and it really helped diagnose what I was having.
Let me know,
Serena
Let me know,
Serena
BethyM
07-06-2003, 10:37 AM
I think some of you are having panic/anxiety attacks...talk to a doctor...This too, happens to me sometimes...when I am awake or trying to go to sleep...I think I am dying when it happens...you are not alone, but talk to a doc and maybe a therapist too, to give you something
BethyM
07-06-2003, 10:43 AM
also if you tried trazadone, I think that takes a couple of weeks to work, so taking it once won't do anything...and not to lecture, but don't take others prescriptions because those types of meds have a lot of contraindications, and can be VERY dangerous...it really sounds like you have a lot of anxiety, please talk to a doctor and therapist before you decide you have mitro-valve prolaplse syndrome..talking will make you feel better too...you are not crazy
xvaikiryex
07-06-2003, 02:04 PM
I have been seeing a psychiatrist and have been prescribed clonazepam 1 mg in am. & pm. It has helped tremendously, and I was also given ambien 10 mg PRN, but I haven't really needed to use it, maybe once in the last month? I had other symptoms of constant anxiety that surged up into my upper abdomen every few minutes, like a rolling wave, so this is one of the reasons I was prescribed the clonazepam in addition to the insomnia problems. It helps with this and as long as I don't drink any caffiene, I have very few incidents of this (knock on wood)
I still have difficulty getting to sleep early but I think that stems from all of the problems I had, I dread trying to do it early. Thanks for all the responses.
I still have difficulty getting to sleep early but I think that stems from all of the problems I had, I dread trying to do it early. Thanks for all the responses.
SusanMiles
07-10-2003, 12:59 PM
The reason your heart is pounding and you are gasping is probably from sleep apnea. When you stop obreathing it will send your heart in to over time. I get that too, I stop breathing as I am falling asleep I gasp for air and my heart pounds.
Since my brain is riddled with lesions I believe this is some form of central not obstructive apnea.
Talk to your doctor about it.
Since my brain is riddled with lesions I believe this is some form of central not obstructive apnea.
Talk to your doctor about it.
Gaillee
07-27-2003, 11:10 PM
Since i my early teens Just as i am about to fall asleep i sit up and gasp altho i dont feel like i am choking, i use to tell my mother "i forget to breath when i fall asleep" most nights that this happens i just wake up and do it but at time the thing that brings me around is a pain in my head, chest, or a huge wave of nausea any of these things go away the minute i gasp, I have worn a pulse ox machine and it came out fine, however i did not have an episode the night i wore it. it happens almost everynight although once in awhile will stop for a week or two. most night it is a couple of times but it has happened several times in one night when this happens i usually get out of bed for a while then when i go back i fall to sleep with no problem,sometimes it is mild other times it is really pretty violent! it is very scarey and before i found this site i thought i was the only one with it, every Dr looks at me like im nuts,it never happens in the middle of the night only at that first stage, when in your head you think you are still awake, very stange, i hate it.
[This message has been edited by Gaillee (edited 07-28-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Gaillee (edited 07-28-2003).]
xvaikiryex
07-29-2003, 09:31 PM
It stinks when you feel like the only one in the world with this problem, and doctors don't believe what you are telling them, or that its just anxiety, depression, etc. It always seemed to me that they didn't want to believe me and didn't want to do anything to help me get through it. It was like, "oh, its just anxiety, it will pass." I felt like saying, live a week in my sleepless shoes, and you will feel desperate for help too. I think I do need to get a test for sleep apnea though, because I still my symptoms but to a lesser degree because of the other medicine I take. I notice the symptoms more when I try to fall asleep on my back. I get the gasping thing and the rush of anxiety/adrenaline, and then I have to turn onto my stomach, with my head to the side and head tilted back, which stretches my throat out and I think this helps my airway.
Trishka
08-13-2003, 02:01 AM
b
[This message has been edited by Trishka (edited 08-24-2003).]
[This message has been edited by Trishka (edited 08-24-2003).]
cattys
09-13-2003, 10:11 PM
The first time when I woke up with a panic atack it scared the heck out of me. I also was drifting off to sleep and I would jerk awake with my heart pounding and my body on fire. It would happen every time I would start to fall asleep.Then I would be in a panic state for hours.
It took me a while to be able to go back to bed in my bed because I was so afraid of this happening again.
I had to go back on antidepressents and since then I have been fine.
It took me a while to be able to go back to bed in my bed because I was so afraid of this happening again.
I had to go back on antidepressents and since then I have been fine.
MSH
09-26-2003, 08:44 PM
WOW! I just posted my experience on 9/26/03 and what you have sounds very similar to what I'm experiencing right now. The head rush, adrenaline, the wave pushing and pulling (almost like floating on water in a raft?), and only happens when about to fall asleep. The only thing I have in addition to that is trembling in the back of my head. Have you found out what this is yet or have you been able to take anything that helps? Mine has been happening for two weeks straight and it makes me not want to try and sleep it's so freaky. I would love to hear how you are coping, how long it lasted and what you have done to help your self. I understand what you are going through and for lack of better terms, IT SUCKS!!
Shahsha
09-27-2003, 09:05 AM
Indeed they could be panic attacks, but the white noise you describe sounds like the beginnings of what's traditionally known as "Sleep Paralysis, Astral Traveling or OBE's," (out of body exzperiences). Not to be feared but to be understood. Read as much as you can and come to your own conclusions. It was the only way I got any peace and lost the fear associated with the physical sensations and something I couldn't understand.
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Sleep+Paralysis&ei=UTF-8&fr=fp-top&n=20&fl=0&x=wrt
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=OBE%27s&ei=UTF-8&fr=fp-top&n=20&fl=0&x=wrt
You'll be okay..trust in that.
Shah
[This message has been edited by Shahsha (edited 09-27-2003).]
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=Sleep+Paralysis&ei=UTF-8&fr=fp-top&n=20&fl=0&x=wrt
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=OBE%27s&ei=UTF-8&fr=fp-top&n=20&fl=0&x=wrt
You'll be okay..trust in that.
Shah
[This message has been edited by Shahsha (edited 09-27-2003).]
xvaikiryex
09-27-2003, 05:25 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by MSH:
Have you found out what this is yet or have you been able to take anything that helps...I would love to hear how you are coping, how long it lasted and what you have done to help your self....".
MSH- When this started happening to me, it got worse and worse, and the insomnia was so bad, and then i was getting these rushes of anxiety in my upper abdomen, almost like a rolling feeling ALL DAY LONG. I went to my family doctor, and he just was brushing me off, like, oh just anxiety. And gave me 10 pills of ambien, but wouldn't give me anything to address the anxiety. I asked for some Xanex or something to help me, but he was very (and I will put this nicely) jerk-like about it and wouldn't give me anything. He gave me a referral to talk to a therapist (who, by the way, CANT prescribe meds, and therefore wouldn't have helped me during this crisis). I was desperate, and was probably on the verge of a real nervous breakdown because all the lack of sleep was causing me to have severe mental distress and just increased the anxiety. Thank god, a family friend got me into see a psychiatrist on an emergent basis (self pay though, thanks to my jerky family doc who was no help, and HMO's who make all these stupid rules in regard to mental healthcare), who wasn't afraid to listen to my problem and provide me with some adequate medication to help me relieve the symptoms. He first prescribed clonazepam (Klonopin) .5 mg morning & night, but it wasn't enough to take care of the anxiety, so we upped the dosage to 1mg mrng & night. I also take Ambien as needed. At first, I needed the Ambien every night but now I barely take it, and all I take is the clonazepam, which has stabalized me, and has relieved my symptoms almost totally. I still occassionally experience the things I described, but they are so "light" in comparison to before, that it doesn't upset me very often. I don't get those rolling waves of anxiety in my abdomen constantly, only a few times a day, more if I'm nervous or worried. The doc thinks one of the reasons it happened is because I have generalized anxiety disorder that was exaccerbated by a severe breakup of a long-term relationship and two deaths in the family that occured extremely close to one another. Luckily I found someone who could help me. However, I do find that if I sleep on my back, I get the gasping, so that may be sleep apnea, and so I sleep on my stomach, my head to the side and tilted up, which opens my airway, and I don't have the gasping. Unfortunately though, as a result of these problems, I still have this "aversion" or "fear" of trying to go to sleep early, I think because I had such a SEVERE HORRIFIC experience, so I don't feel like I get tired at 10pm anymore like I used to (I could go to sleep at 10 and zonk right out before all this mess). I still go to bed really late, 1130-12pm, and once in a while 1 or 2, but at least when I finally do tire down, I can go to sleep without that mess I first described. FIND A DOC WHO WILL LISTEN TO YOU AND BELIEVE YOU. That is what matters most. Alot of general practitioners don't want to treat things like this, and are afraid to prescribe medication to treat it, but a psychiatrist helped me. If you have a general practicioner, i.e. family doc, who isn't a pansy, and isn't afraid to prescribe or treat your symptoms, then lucky you. But if you don't and you feel that this is an emergency and needs immediate attention, don't be afraid to have to pay a couple hundred bucks to get into see someone immediately that can help you. That money was worth it for me. Sad part is, I HAVE coverage for mental health care, but my family doc was a jerk. I switched, thank god. Hope this helps.
[This message has been edited by xvaikiryex (edited 09-27-2003).]
Have you found out what this is yet or have you been able to take anything that helps...I would love to hear how you are coping, how long it lasted and what you have done to help your self....".
MSH- When this started happening to me, it got worse and worse, and the insomnia was so bad, and then i was getting these rushes of anxiety in my upper abdomen, almost like a rolling feeling ALL DAY LONG. I went to my family doctor, and he just was brushing me off, like, oh just anxiety. And gave me 10 pills of ambien, but wouldn't give me anything to address the anxiety. I asked for some Xanex or something to help me, but he was very (and I will put this nicely) jerk-like about it and wouldn't give me anything. He gave me a referral to talk to a therapist (who, by the way, CANT prescribe meds, and therefore wouldn't have helped me during this crisis). I was desperate, and was probably on the verge of a real nervous breakdown because all the lack of sleep was causing me to have severe mental distress and just increased the anxiety. Thank god, a family friend got me into see a psychiatrist on an emergent basis (self pay though, thanks to my jerky family doc who was no help, and HMO's who make all these stupid rules in regard to mental healthcare), who wasn't afraid to listen to my problem and provide me with some adequate medication to help me relieve the symptoms. He first prescribed clonazepam (Klonopin) .5 mg morning & night, but it wasn't enough to take care of the anxiety, so we upped the dosage to 1mg mrng & night. I also take Ambien as needed. At first, I needed the Ambien every night but now I barely take it, and all I take is the clonazepam, which has stabalized me, and has relieved my symptoms almost totally. I still occassionally experience the things I described, but they are so "light" in comparison to before, that it doesn't upset me very often. I don't get those rolling waves of anxiety in my abdomen constantly, only a few times a day, more if I'm nervous or worried. The doc thinks one of the reasons it happened is because I have generalized anxiety disorder that was exaccerbated by a severe breakup of a long-term relationship and two deaths in the family that occured extremely close to one another. Luckily I found someone who could help me. However, I do find that if I sleep on my back, I get the gasping, so that may be sleep apnea, and so I sleep on my stomach, my head to the side and tilted up, which opens my airway, and I don't have the gasping. Unfortunately though, as a result of these problems, I still have this "aversion" or "fear" of trying to go to sleep early, I think because I had such a SEVERE HORRIFIC experience, so I don't feel like I get tired at 10pm anymore like I used to (I could go to sleep at 10 and zonk right out before all this mess). I still go to bed really late, 1130-12pm, and once in a while 1 or 2, but at least when I finally do tire down, I can go to sleep without that mess I first described. FIND A DOC WHO WILL LISTEN TO YOU AND BELIEVE YOU. That is what matters most. Alot of general practitioners don't want to treat things like this, and are afraid to prescribe medication to treat it, but a psychiatrist helped me. If you have a general practicioner, i.e. family doc, who isn't a pansy, and isn't afraid to prescribe or treat your symptoms, then lucky you. But if you don't and you feel that this is an emergency and needs immediate attention, don't be afraid to have to pay a couple hundred bucks to get into see someone immediately that can help you. That money was worth it for me. Sad part is, I HAVE coverage for mental health care, but my family doc was a jerk. I switched, thank god. Hope this helps.
[This message has been edited by xvaikiryex (edited 09-27-2003).]
Evelyn Shook
09-27-2003, 10:05 PM
I used to be afraid to go to sleep. I would gasp and I thought I would die if I went to sleep so I would try to stay awake. This lasted for a couple of years and then went away. Why, I don't know. It sucks when the Doctors don't believe you and they look at you like you are crazy
DoW
10-06-2003, 01:33 PM
This is proberbly unrelated but just as i am about to fall to sleep i have a semi dream that i fall over and i wake up with a sudden jolt of energy. It feels funny but yours sounds way worse.
NicoleD
11-05-2005, 04:04 PM
Thank GOD someone else is having the same episodes i'm having at this very moment.
I've been a nervous wreck for 3 days because of it... which i think is my main problem.
Anyway, I'm tired...VERY tired...and as i'm about to drift to sleep, SNAP! I jolt out of sleep. The thing that's killing me is that i'm having serious heart palpatations...ALL DAY LONG because i'm thinking about sleeping at night. I keep thinking, what if I don't sleep tonight either?!!? What if i'm awake for 48 hrs straight?!!?!
I need help...i've tried the over the counter stuff but nothing seems to work. I've got major anxiety and i'm just a nervous wreck all over and I don't know how to calm myself. Any help would be great. THANK YOU!
I've been a nervous wreck for 3 days because of it... which i think is my main problem.
Anyway, I'm tired...VERY tired...and as i'm about to drift to sleep, SNAP! I jolt out of sleep. The thing that's killing me is that i'm having serious heart palpatations...ALL DAY LONG because i'm thinking about sleeping at night. I keep thinking, what if I don't sleep tonight either?!!? What if i'm awake for 48 hrs straight?!!?!
I need help...i've tried the over the counter stuff but nothing seems to work. I've got major anxiety and i'm just a nervous wreck all over and I don't know how to calm myself. Any help would be great. THANK YOU!
anna317
11-07-2005, 03:07 PM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by MSH:
Have you found out what this is yet or have you been able to take anything that helps...I would love to hear how you are coping, how long it lasted and what you have done to help your self....".
MSH- When this started happening to me, it got worse and worse, and the insomnia was so bad, and then i was getting these rushes of anxiety in my upper abdomen, almost like a rolling feeling ALL DAY LONG. I went to my family doctor, and he just was brushing me off, like, oh just anxiety. And gave me 10 pills of ambien, but wouldn't give me anything to address the anxiety. I asked for some Xanex or something to help me, but he was very (and I will put this nicely) jerk-like about it and wouldn't give me anything. He gave me a referral to talk to a therapist (who, by the way, CANT prescribe meds, and therefore wouldn't have helped me during this crisis). I was desperate, and was probably on the verge of a real nervous breakdown because all the lack of sleep was causing me to have severe mental distress and just increased the anxiety. Thank god, a family friend got me into see a psychiatrist on an emergent basis (self pay though, thanks to my jerky family doc who was no help, and HMO's who make all these stupid rules in regard to mental healthcare), who wasn't afraid to listen to my problem and provide me with some adequate medication to help me relieve the symptoms. He first prescribed clonazepam (Klonopin) .5 mg morning & night, but it wasn't enough to take care of the anxiety, so we upped the dosage to 1mg mrng & night. I also take Ambien as needed. At first, I needed the Ambien every night but now I barely take it, and all I take is the clonazepam, which has stabalized me, and has relieved my symptoms almost totally. I still occassionally experience the things I described, but they are so "light" in comparison to before, that it doesn't upset me very often. I don't get those rolling waves of anxiety in my abdomen constantly, only a few times a day, more if I'm nervous or worried. The doc thinks one of the reasons it happened is because I have generalized anxiety disorder that was exaccerbated by a severe breakup of a long-term relationship and two deaths in the family that occured extremely close to one another. Luckily I found someone who could help me. However, I do find that if I sleep on my back, I get the gasping, so that may be sleep apnea, and so I sleep on my stomach, my head to the side and tilted up, which opens my airway, and I don't have the gasping. Unfortunately though, as a result of these problems, I still have this "aversion" or "fear" of trying to go to sleep early, I think because I had such a SEVERE HORRIFIC experience, so I don't feel like I get tired at 10pm anymore like I used to (I could go to sleep at 10 and zonk right out before all this mess). I still go to bed really late, 1130-12pm, and once in a while 1 or 2, but at least when I finally do tire down, I can go to sleep without that mess I first described. FIND A DOC WHO WILL LISTEN TO YOU AND BELIEVE YOU. That is what matters most. Alot of general practitioners don't want to treat things like this, and are afraid to prescribe medication to treat it, but a psychiatrist helped me. If you have a general practicioner, i.e. family doc, who isn't a pansy, and isn't afraid to prescribe or treat your symptoms, then lucky you. But if you don't and you feel that this is an emergency and needs immediate attention, don't be afraid to have to pay a couple hundred bucks to get into see someone immediately that can help you. That money was worth it for me. Sad part is, I HAVE coverage for mental health care, but my family doc was a jerk. I switched, thank god. Hope this helps.
[This message has been edited by xvaikiryex (edited 09-27-2003).]
Have you found out what this is yet or have you been able to take anything that helps...I would love to hear how you are coping, how long it lasted and what you have done to help your self....".
MSH- When this started happening to me, it got worse and worse, and the insomnia was so bad, and then i was getting these rushes of anxiety in my upper abdomen, almost like a rolling feeling ALL DAY LONG. I went to my family doctor, and he just was brushing me off, like, oh just anxiety. And gave me 10 pills of ambien, but wouldn't give me anything to address the anxiety. I asked for some Xanex or something to help me, but he was very (and I will put this nicely) jerk-like about it and wouldn't give me anything. He gave me a referral to talk to a therapist (who, by the way, CANT prescribe meds, and therefore wouldn't have helped me during this crisis). I was desperate, and was probably on the verge of a real nervous breakdown because all the lack of sleep was causing me to have severe mental distress and just increased the anxiety. Thank god, a family friend got me into see a psychiatrist on an emergent basis (self pay though, thanks to my jerky family doc who was no help, and HMO's who make all these stupid rules in regard to mental healthcare), who wasn't afraid to listen to my problem and provide me with some adequate medication to help me relieve the symptoms. He first prescribed clonazepam (Klonopin) .5 mg morning & night, but it wasn't enough to take care of the anxiety, so we upped the dosage to 1mg mrng & night. I also take Ambien as needed. At first, I needed the Ambien every night but now I barely take it, and all I take is the clonazepam, which has stabalized me, and has relieved my symptoms almost totally. I still occassionally experience the things I described, but they are so "light" in comparison to before, that it doesn't upset me very often. I don't get those rolling waves of anxiety in my abdomen constantly, only a few times a day, more if I'm nervous or worried. The doc thinks one of the reasons it happened is because I have generalized anxiety disorder that was exaccerbated by a severe breakup of a long-term relationship and two deaths in the family that occured extremely close to one another. Luckily I found someone who could help me. However, I do find that if I sleep on my back, I get the gasping, so that may be sleep apnea, and so I sleep on my stomach, my head to the side and tilted up, which opens my airway, and I don't have the gasping. Unfortunately though, as a result of these problems, I still have this "aversion" or "fear" of trying to go to sleep early, I think because I had such a SEVERE HORRIFIC experience, so I don't feel like I get tired at 10pm anymore like I used to (I could go to sleep at 10 and zonk right out before all this mess). I still go to bed really late, 1130-12pm, and once in a while 1 or 2, but at least when I finally do tire down, I can go to sleep without that mess I first described. FIND A DOC WHO WILL LISTEN TO YOU AND BELIEVE YOU. That is what matters most. Alot of general practitioners don't want to treat things like this, and are afraid to prescribe medication to treat it, but a psychiatrist helped me. If you have a general practicioner, i.e. family doc, who isn't a pansy, and isn't afraid to prescribe or treat your symptoms, then lucky you. But if you don't and you feel that this is an emergency and needs immediate attention, don't be afraid to have to pay a couple hundred bucks to get into see someone immediately that can help you. That money was worth it for me. Sad part is, I HAVE coverage for mental health care, but my family doc was a jerk. I switched, thank god. Hope this helps.
[This message has been edited by xvaikiryex (edited 09-27-2003).]