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Sleep paralysis or seizures?

Hey everyone. I'm coming here to ask about something that's been happening to me every so often for the past year. I chose this random morning to post, because I've reached the point at which I can no longer go on without knowing how to solve my problem, or even knowing what it really is. I'm afraid to go to sleep, because that's when my "episodes" occur. Just this morning I woke up at 6:30 AM to have one of the worst ones yet, and now here I sit.. Typing. I would say that the best description I can give for these episodes is some cross between a seizure and and sleep paralysis. I'm always waking up or in the midst of falling asleep when lose awareness of most of my body, my lungs feel heavy, and I can't move. I'll hear a loud buzzing or humming in my ears, I can't make any noise, and there's often a strange rhythm to a lot of the bizarre noises I hear (or sometimes even the 'flashes' I see). During all of this, I'm aware of what's happening. I sometimes even think I can see, but my eyes are closed. It's almost as though I'm looking through my eyelids... They usually end when I find a finger that I can finally move, or I just.. "Break out" of it.. Sometimes I try to cry out for my parents when they happen and I can't. I sometimes think I hear a small squeal when I try. I should also clarify that these only occur twice a month or so. My parents always tell me I'm over thinking things, and that this is all a result of sleep deprivation (I tend to stay up late). I however can promise that I'm not over thinking things. This has happened enough that I can give a fair description, and to be honest it's pretty terrifying. I once heard about seizures that occur in the temporal lobe, and that they can be like/close to sleep paralysis. Could that be what I'm experiencing? I should also add that I'm not really on any medication other than the occasional Tylenol, and- depending on the season- maybe Allegra for my allergies. Finally, thanks in advance to anyone who answers this question. I really appreciate the help and I look forward to stopping this problem as soon as I can.
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Avatar universal
i have been experiencing this about every other week and it scares me so much that sometimes i'm afraid to try to sleep. i have no idea what it is but all of the descriptions under this question match almost exactly what i've been getting... i'll be trying to fall asleep and then all of the sudden i hear something frightening ..  sometimes it happens multiple times in a row before i can actually peacefully sleep. the first time this happened to me i heard what i thought was dogs barking at the bottom of my bed, and i immediately started to panic because i don't have dogs. it was very real and i felt like i was  hallucinating and i couldn't move to get away. last night i thought it was someone banging on my window and i started to try to scream "wake up! wake up!" but i couldn't move my eyes my mouth my body. and there are odd loud sound surrounding you but you can't see anything. it feels like minutes of pure terror before suddenly waking up and i feel completely exhausted as if postdictal to a sezure. if anyone has a possible medical solution to this or even a possible diagnosis i would love to hear it!! thank you!
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Avatar universal
Same thing happened to me from 15 on. What starts out as a low hum gets louder as it gets ' closer ' for lack of a better explanation. I'm paralyzed until I can break out but the breaking out process is slow and difficult. It's like you're fighting to regain control of your body . All my concentration goes to just opening my eyes and if I can open them I can break out but it's hard as hell . I too get that sensation that I'm seeing through my eyelids. What helped me for years was going to sleep with some kind of noise on . I knew I would get an ' episode ' the quieter it was and no episodes if I had something on in the back ground . When it was quiet it's like my brain tried it's hardest to FIND that low hum , oscillating hum , that starts low and far away to just everywhere and loud. Like if someone was lowering and raising the volume on a buzzing sound.
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Avatar universal
Hi Zanie, I am in search of the same problem. I have been experiencing a very loud and disturbing sound in my head a little before falling asleep. I feel a lot of preasure in my chest and I can't move or talk. I try very hard to move some par of my body to feel from to what ever is not letting me move. I can also hear the hum noise I make. my husband know of my problem and he moves me when that happens. but sometime he is asleep. and I want to cry and very afraid to go back to sleep. this has been happening to me since I was 16 years ol. I am 29 know and it doesn't happen every day but maybe 2 or 3 times a year.    
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351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi!
The symptoms of seizure like activity while sleeping or while going to sleep can be due to restless leg syndrome, sleep epilepsy, sleep apnea, low vitamin B12, low blood sugar, low blood pressure or due to arrhythmias.
Since it happens only once or twice a month, look back to check, if this could be due to low blood sugar (missing your dinner or other meals). You need a lot of investigations and a detailed examination by a sleep specialist. Please consult your PCP for primary examination followed by proper referral. Take care!

The medical advice given should not be considered a substitute for medical care provided by a doctor who can examine you. The advice may not be completely correct for you as the doctor cannot examine you and does not know your complete medical history. Hence this reply to your post should only be considered as a guiding line and you must consult your doctor at the earliest for your medical problem.
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