Temporary paralysis?!?

[SG2]

So the weirdest, scariest thing yet has happened to me last night.  

Lying in bed on my back and I can't move.  Not only can I not move but I felt like I was levitating a few inches off the mattress.  I was trying so hard to speak, to get my husbands attention but nothing would come out.  I couldn't move any part of my body, couldn't turn my head, couldn't speak.  If I had to guess the length of time that it lasted, I'd say a minute maybe 2.  Along with the inability to move or speak I could feel every follicle on my body stand at attention.

WTF is going on with me?  

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum,

The member you have replied to may no longer be an active member,,,so try and send them a PM....(private message) this will generate an e-mail so they know someone is trying to make contact.

Have you had surgery for your Chiari?...have you been seen by a true Chiari specialist?

[krisjwer]

I just found this I've had something like this. It has happened to me several times. But only once waking up. I couldn't talk move till my sister sat me up. I was unable to move from the neck down for sevral hiurs. 2times I was wide awake my body just seem to slowly shut down.  I could feel just couldn't move. Thae last time was after an accident.  I was rear ended and it cane on quick. Every rime it lasted hours. The Dr's always said it wasn't the chiari.

[billyz123]

2 thumbs up for that post, thanks bookworm79 :)

[bookworm79]

I have sleep disorders.  In the top 3 of symptoms "sleep paralysis" is one of them and you can experience it awake.  You say you were not asleep but it can happen upon awakening or before falling asleep.  I think this section gives some good examples of clues you may have sleep paralysis and/or some type of sleep disorder whether it's caused by Chiari or not:  


* Onset immediately upon awakening or just prior to falling asleep.

* Inability to speak or utter a sound until your whole body “wakes up”.

* In spite of being conscious, you cannot move your arms or legs for a brief period upon awakening or just prior to falling asleep.

* Unexplained fear.

* Visual or auditory hallucinations that may be accompanied by unexplained smells.

* Sensing an unexplained “presence” in the room.

* More common during times of stress.

* A “floating” sensation.

* A pressure feeling on your chest (this should be reported to your personal physician).

"Sleep paralysis is caused by a timing delay between our brain and body. It leads to an awareness of being awake, yet is accompanied by a frightening inability to move our arms or legs, utter a single word or cry out for help. It may be accompanied by unexplained sights and sounds, or even a feeling that someone else is in the room. Needless to say, it is a frightening condition that gets one’s attention."

[billyz123]

  I'm the same way :)  On the side, naturally just kinda curled up in a ball... feels great to stretch my legs out every now and then though.
  Anyways, that's so weird. (Sorry if this was already posted)--- Are you on sleep medications? Did you go into any kind of sleep state at alll in those 5 minutes? I have weird things like that happen... like "uhhh, did the lights just go out for a second" ... no, they didn't haha. Or I'll be just relaxing and doze off in the weirdest way for like a minute and then I'm back. Gosh I'm so sorry you went through that, it sounds so scary the more I think about it yikes.

[SG2]

I was wide awake, in bed.  Had just lied down for bed and it happened within minutes of going to bed, maybe within five minutes or so of getting into bed.  My eyes were working. I could look all around the room.  My husband was facing opposite of me.  The door open, as usual and I could see glow from the night light in the bathroom.  The moon was bright outside the window.. I was trying so hard to say "Steve, help me."  Funny how I can remember it so clearly.

I sleep on my side, curled in a ball.  I wish I could sleep on my back, sometimes wonder if my sore lower back is from sleeping curled up.  

And no, I've only had one MRI so far.  :(

[selmaS]

  Some have experienced sleep  paralysis I am sure, but if u r wide awake and just sitting or lying down, it would not qualify for that.....

  I was not under the impression the person was waking up from sleep......

But if that is the case, u r right.

[billyz123]

  Sorry to chime in so late here, but isn't this referred to as "sleep paralysis" ??
I just finished watching some videos about brain stem pressure and I have some questions for you.
  I've looked at the MRI's you posted and I was wondering, did they do flexion and extension MRI's? Do you have any MRI's you can post in which your neck is in a different position? You said you were lying on your back so I'm assuming you sleep on your back normally... your pillow may be putting your neck at a bad angle... meaning that it's not right for your specific bone structure and it's pushing something in your head into something else in your head and causing bad things to happen.
  
Random, not-as-important after-thought :
    From what I've read , you should try and keep your neck in a neutral position as much as possible. I know from my own experience that the more I try to fix myself temporarily, like with neck braces, pillows, sitting in weird positions, etc. , the more I end up messing myself up.

[bledpub]

I understand about the bowel issue, too. I've lost control of mine several times in the past few weeks. The first time, my 5 year old went and got the paper towels. He wanted to help me clean it up. It made me cry. I feel like I can't go on like this, either.

[selmaS]

  I am on a very small dose...and it is bcuz I have issues with meds we had to  start small....we did try to increase it and I got sick...so I can't go higher and I know I can't do without it either....

I take 1/2 a 25mg dose b4 bed 1 time a day....so not a lot.....but we r all different.

Time will help u find u again : )

[SG2]

What is your dosage Selma?

I'm on 50mg 3x a day.  Wants me to go up to 4x a day now.  

And sorry for whining, god I just read my post back to myself.  Ugh, talk about sounding like a 2 yr old.  Just with really big words.

I don't want to do anything but sit in the recliner and close my eyes.  My 5 yr old son misses me, my friends me, my husband misses me... I miss me.  And I miss them.  :(

[selmaS]

  U know, I said the same thing about TOPAMAX, but, I ran out and let me tell u what, I got the worst HA I have had sine my surgery as a result...and since getting back on it, I get HA's that come and go but did not b4 the disruption....I really did not think it was helping me....now I know it is .

JMHO- that we may not realize just how it is helping until we stop taking it...and mayb u do need an increase....??

[SG2]

yes!!!!!!! to the intense headache.  OMG.  It's been relentless today, the first one that's brought me to tears. I avoid crying at all costs because it always makes me feel WORSE after I cry, but I can't seem to help it. It's so bad today.

My neurlogist took all day to call me back and seems puzzled as to why any of this is happening.  He prescribed prednisone, and vicodin and said increase topamax again.  And doing Lumbar Puncture Monday.

I can't do this.  I can't.  Im ready to jump off a damn bridge and be done with it.  I told him I lost control of my bowels twice this past week. he's like "I don't know why that would happen.  Well take these meds and I'll see you Monday."

WTF.  I'm allergic to percocet, which is in vicodin family, right?  Prednisone I was on in Februarly..megadoses for 2 weeks which did nothing but make me hate the world and feel like I was 9 month pregnant.  TOPAMAX?!?!?!  It's done NOTHING FOR ME.  Why increase it?!?  

I am so done.  I just can't take it.  I don't know what to do.  I hate this.  This is not ME.  I want ME back.  Happy, go lucky, funny, ENERGETIC...and feeling like a human full of life, not half dead wondering what will happen next.  

I can't........ I just can't.  

[bledpub]

This happens to me at least once a month. I thought I was inadvertently practicing astral projection! :-)

Seriously, it's very scary. Afterwards I always have an intense headache. No idea what's going on.

[selmaS]

  Yeah they were nudging me with their feet saying what r u doing down there, and I could hear the TV and thought I must have fallen asleep watching TV....and they said but ur eyes were open and I was not near the TV....

They saw me go down too...but I did not see a thing.....

[Rahe28]

I am ok for the most part. My head is hurting alot right now TOns of pressure. This has happened before but I was aware that I was falling I just couldnt stop it. THis time, I just hit the ground. My left leg is so numb that I just cant move it at all. I just called a friend of mine to pick up my kids later. Idoubt I should be driving right now. I am so glad that I have met with my NS and that things are progressing quickly, because I sure cant live like this. Selma, your eyes were open? Wow ! I dont know if mine were, as it is just me and Paris here right now.

[selmaS]

  R u ok?..goodness....I had one drop attack yrs ago where I was aware I hit the floor and things on the way down, but sis not see a thing, I was told later my eyes were open the whole time....I guess it all depends which nerves r being affected at the time....

AS I said u can get hurt, I needed 2 surgeries for my injuries so do be careful.

[Rahe28]

I was walking from my living room to kitchen a little while ago, and I apparently fell, though I know  I didnt trip and  lose my balance. Like Selma said I normally wake up mid fall, but not this time, I didnt wake until i felt myself hit the floor. Banged up my elbow and knee.  :(  I hope you are all feeling better !

[selmaS]

  I know the feeling as I had the drop attacks, one left me with injuries that required 2 surgeries b4 I got my chiari dx....so I know how u feel.

[SG2]

Yes, very nauseous and off kilter.

I'm waiting for NL to call me back now.  I can't take this much more.  Head is 10/10 pain... All these other problems.. I can't do it.

[selmaS]

  Hi...this sounds more like a drop attack, but since u were already down, u did not drop...the CSF gets obstructed for a few seconds and the flow  restored, but not completely and u r aware, but can not react....this is what happens with a drop attack when u r standing....u go out, and come to, with out realizing except u go from standing to mid fall and have no idea how u got there and can not react to stop the fall or say nething.

I had this happen one time while sitting...and it is weird as my mom was asking me a question, and try as I might I could not say a word.....


  Did u feel nauseated when u finally were able to move?

[Rahe28]

I agree, I even googled it and havent anything that matches this. I am sure Selma will pop - on and give some input. Hang in there :)

[Sexybare]

Im not sure what this is either but its happened to me pre op and post op. Its like we tellin our brains to do something but it doesnt respond. We need selmas input here!!!!

[Rahe28]

That has happened to me a few times. I have no idea what it could be!! All if can think of is that maybe the CsF flow was so blocked at a moment that it is osrt if like a vertigo, but lying down...does that make any sense. Mine lasted about the same time as well, and has happened a few times. Hope you feel better just wanted u to know you werent crazy and alone with this. It is VERY scary. Did you have trouble speaking and walking after you were able to move?