Need help!!

[librachick29]

A few years ago I started having periods of feeling like I was awake and actually walking through my house at night, but then something would always happen to frighten me and I would realize I was still in bed but not able to open my eyes, yell out, or move. When I spoke to my doctor about this he said that it was Sleep Paralysis and that it was caused by anxiety and panic disorder. Recently, it has gotten worse....as soon as I lay down in the bed and close my eyes, I automatically go into this sleep paralysis. Last night, just as I closed my eyes, it was as if I was awake and could see my nightstand next to the bed but then suddenly, a shadow would block out the image of the nightstand and I would realize I was suffering from one of those episodes of sleep paralysis. I tried for 30 minutes to get to sleep as normal and could not. On the last attempt, I finally got out of bed, crying and very shook up. Can someone please tell me how to deal with this or what can be done....I am an insomniac and usually only get about 4 hours of sleep total at night....with the research I have done, it suggests possibly narcolepsy. PLEASE HELP!!!! It is very scary and my husband is starting to think I am crazy!!!

[Suri123]

Hi librachick29, how are you doing? Have you seen the sleep doctor for the sleep test? Thanks KatEyes for your suggestions and I agree with you going about the sleep study. Hope this bit of information about the sleep paralysis and treatment trend might be of some help to you, "This sleep disorder isn’t harmful. Medications such as Sodium oxybate (Xyrem) may be prescribed as a cure for sleep paralysis in severe cases, but the best treatment for sleep paralysis is to reduce stress and get the proper amount of sleep" - http://www.medopedia.com/sleep-disorders/sleep-paralysis-treatment.
So relax and try to chill out and go through the link for more tips. Take care and update on the progress.

[Suri123]

Hi librachick29, how are you? Relax! Sleep paralysis occurs when you may go to sleep or may tend to wake up from sleep. It is a temporary phenomenon where you are incapable of moving your body or even part of it physically but persistently trying to shout loudly or seek someone’s help. It may be lasting for a few seconds to minutes. It can repeat once again if you sleep and there is no physical injury to body, but you will be probably frightened with sweating and increased heart beat with shortness of breath. Night terrors can aggravate it further. You need to reassure yourself nothing has happened and nothing is going to happen. Try to change your sleeping position and avoid sleeping supine, and better to sleep little early. Avoid - alcohol at night with smoking, caffeine, too spicy bulky meal and going to bed late night. Most important thing is to get rid of stress. Exercise, yoga and meditation can be helpful. If still you face it then consult sleep specialist and get sleep study done. Take care and share your views.

[KatEyes]

Just one opinion, but anything short of either ordering a sleep study or referring to a sleep doctor would seem to be an unnecessary delay in getting you a diagnosis. You've tried the sleep meds - time to move to diagnostics since those meds are not fixing your problems, and may even be causing some. Don't mean to sound hardnosed, just want to encourage you to push for answers. You need and deserve to know if you have a treatable problem.

[librachick29]

Thank you for the suggestions.....my doctor has had me on Lunesta, Ambien, and Ambien CR. My orthopedic also had me take amitryptaline(?) - but I would feel groggy the next day. I have an appointment with my gp next week and I am going to mention the new and more disturbing episodes. I will let you know what he says.....Thanks again

[KatEyes]

Have you had a sleep study? Sometimes people with insomnia subconsciously avoid sleep because it is unpleasant in some way. You could have a sleep disorder causing your symptoms. If you do and/or you have had long periods of not enough or poor quality sleep, your brain can get somewhat "scattered" and exhibit symptoms that are not what your brain with normal sleep would present with.  I had many symptoms of narcolepsy, but most of them improved or went away after treating my sleep disorders and giving my brain the rest it desperately needed. If you get a sleep study, let us know how it turns out.