sleep paralysis - Sleep Disorders Message Board

tiredpoet · 01-10-2008, 01:20 PM

I have posted previously on my sleep issues and noted that I don't dream, except that I do have times when I am dreaming but I know that I'm dreaming, when I feel like I'm half awake but the dream is still going on. I think there is a name for this but I don't know what it is.

Anyway, another thing that happens to me at least every few weeks, usually when I am experiencing an increase in all my other symptoms (whether it's a "fibromyalgia flare" or a regeneration of Lyme bacteria or God knows what) is that I feel like I am awake, but I can't open my eyes or move my body at all for several minutes. I can't tell if it's one of those dreams that I'm aware I'm having or if I'm really awake, but I'm aware of the fact that I'm in bed, I can hear things and yet I can't move at all. Is this considered sleep paralysis, and is it associated with any other disorders?

mkgbrook · 01-10-2008, 07:06 PM

It sounds like sleep paralysis. Almost text book. I used to experience it alot before my sleep apnea was diagnosed. It was a side effect of the sleep deprivation my sleep apne had me living with. Once I was diagnosed and on my CPAP the sleep paralysis, sleep walking, and sleep talking stopped. GO figure.

MG

tiredpoet · 01-18-2008, 07:32 AM

Thanks for sharing mkgbrook. Last night was one of the worst ever. I know I was half dreaming because my eyes were open this time (first time that's happened). I could see everything in my room and hear the humidifier humming, etc, but I could not move anything. I couldn't even shut my eyes. Then I heard a voice say my name and something else (that was the dream part because I couldn't understand what the voice was saying) and I couldn't answer because even my throat was frozen. This went on for about two minutes, and then I fully woke up and could move and speak.

Weird thing is I had trouble sleeping last night, and I don't remember falling asleep before this happened. I remember trying to sleep, then that weird incident and then being wide awake again. I thought sleep paralysis happened when you were coming out of deep sleep, but who knows. The human brain is a complex thing for sure!

mkgbrook · 01-18-2008, 07:59 AM

Sleep paralysis happens when your mind wakes before the body is ready or willing. Deep sleep is not a necessary requirement. I never hit deep or REM before treating my sleep apnea, but I had clearly documented incidences of sleep paralysis in my sleep study.

What my sleep specialist thought was most unusual was that whenever my son woke up and called out in his sound proof room down the hall during his sleep study for sleep apnea. I would wake up. My mind turned on.. but body didn't move. I would remember these incidences as well. Talk about hypersensitive mommy sense. Now I know how my mom could catch my brother sneaking in and out.

You sleep with the TV on? Music? Have nocternal ramblers in your house? Certain things like this might be causing a similar effect. I can not remember.. have you had a sleep study done? Have you tried the natural relaxants and good sleep hygiene to improve your quality of sleep? I have experienced the exact thing you described. For me it happened when I was pregnant and would roll onto my back. Talk about the beached whale startling awake and being choked and unable to move. I think the worst was trying to reach out and call out for help and jut having to wait it out. If you haven't had a sleep study you should get one. It can be very revealing.

MG