Sleep paralysis after rta

[Tejay35]

I had an rta 16 years ago, my head went through the sunroof and was dragged along the carriageway. I am 35 now and remember about 5% of my life. I suffer from sleep paralysis and night sweats which have been getting worse over the last 5 years. My doctor (after trying hypno) prescribed amitriptilyne (10mg a day).

This worked for the first two months but is now wearing off. I took two a few nights ago and had a seizure (I was diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy when I was 13 - but by 19 I hadn't had any for a year).

I don't want to increase the dosage as I think I will be on these the rest of my life, plus the more I take the harder it is to get up in the morning.

I am concerned, I can't sleep as the paralysis is terrifying as are the nightmares so I need the meds. But if I take more I risk more seizures and losing my licence.

My boyfriend is struggling to deal with my tiredness and emotions as it gets worse - is there any other type of treatment or medication you would recommend?

Thank you

[Tejay35]

Hi, I go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning except sat and Sunday. I don't drink and I only have a tea about half eight before going to bed at half ten. Ok thanks anyway.

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Looks like your nightmares are more disturbing, it could be due to a sleep disorder called “Nightmare disorder”. Here the person experiences symptoms of bad, frightening dreams which interfere with his sleep schedules. This is usually assessed by a set of questionnaires and the therapy is based on the severity of the disorder. Also, recurrence of seizures depends on the cause. However, following good sleep hygiene measures will reduce the severity of occurrence of sleep disorders. Follow good sleep hygiene measures like going to bed at the same time, waking up at the same time, avoidance of alcohol, smoking and caffeinated beverages. Maintain warm, comfortable bedroom environment and engage in relaxing activities like a warm bath before bed time.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Tejay35]

Hi,
 
Thank you for your reply. I did attend Papworth Sleep Clinic after the accident where they diagnosed sleep paralysis and the fact that I stay in REM sleep most of the night.
 
They put me on Seroxat (around 2001) and whilst this worked, I was increasingly concerned about the side effects and the press surrounding it. He changed me across to Effexor around a year later, but this removed my appetite completely - I would go two days without eating. I was told there was no alternative and after six months I took myself off of those as well and found alternative sleeping aids.
 
It was getting worse and worse to the point last year when not only was I having up to 3 attacks a night, but I also had a fall (didn't bang my head, I think it was more the drop in blood pressure) and passed out, I spent 7 or so seconds letting out blood curdling screams (to my boyfriends horror!) as when I was unconscious I was hallucinating around 40 people, all with knives, in the same room as me. When I was finally able to move (after about 10 seconds - I could hear my boyfriend calling my name for the last 3 or 4 seconds, but was unable to move) I was panicking so much about passing out again that I nearly hyperventilated and nearly passed out again!
 
This caused me to go to my GP and he then prescribed (after two visits) Amitriptalyne. I've been on this now for about 4 months, and all was progressing well until around 4 weeks ago,
 
I still get a nightmare free sleep for a couple of hours a night, but the attacks are now starting to come back again - for now, only in the morning at weekends when I've woken up and gone back to sleep again (around half seven).
 
I don't want to increase my dosage as I'm concerned this will bring back the Epilepsy (despite only having one fit on these, but I haven't had a fit for about ten years) - am I worrying unnecessarily?
 
Its hard for my boyfriend as my eyes ache constantly from dreaming when I'm not on the meds and I am so very tired it gets hard for me to perform my job - and this worries me. Not including emotions and waking him up ten times a night - good job he's a diamond!
 
But on the meds, I worry about the epilepsy and the fact I will need to be on these for years and years - is this damaging?
 
Also should I enter sleep paralysis when unconscious?

Sorry to drone on - I know I am very lucky to be here! Thanks again

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Understand your anxiety. As I understand you experience episodes of sleep paralysis. When this happens in sleep the person has difficulty moving his hands or feet. This is the symptom of a sleep disorder called Narcolepsy. This sleep disorder is characterized by excessive day time sleepiness, sleep paralysis, cataplexy where the person has episodes of loss of muscle function while awake, hypnogogic hallucinations and automatic behavior. You will need to consult your primary care physician, who may schedule you for a polysomnogram (sleep test) to rule out sleep disorders and initiate appropriate therapy.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.