Sleep Paralysis with Blood Rush

[Damo222]

Hi all,

Every few months, I get a frightening eposide as a fall asleep, whereby I have a feeling of paralysis with a sense of blood rushing through the head and rapid heart beating. It might only last a few seconds but it is scaring the hell out of me. Mind you, I have had this for the past 15 years, and I can almost sense when I am due to get another episode. When it occurs, it feels like it might be a release of a buo\ild up of adrenaline. Has anyone had similar experiences, and can explain to me what it is?

Damo

[skylakos]

I know the feeling man, I'm 27 and have had bouts of sleep paralysis since the age of 13, when I lay down I feel it coming on by way of an electric like surge in my head, by that time I'm usually to week to move as it seems to drain all my energy, once I slip into paralysis I feel as though my whole body is being shocked, sometimes it hurts and then other times for whatever reason it feels really good, I also hear a wide range of noises ranging from loud ringing which is sometimes so loud it hurts, to voices which are very auditable, if I told you some of the **** that I've seen when I've opened my eyes you would never believe me, I only wish I could figure out a way to put an end to it given I can't help but feel it is the reason I've developed fibromyalgia 4 years ago, as fibro is also a sleep related disorder, I think it all has to do with a chemical imbalance in the brain, but hey that's just my take, I'm a 27 year old man who use to feel invinceble, fibro saw to it to put a stop on that.

[Curtis1960]

Hello, Damo.

Usually, sleep paralysis happens when you awake during REM sleep, after your body has released the hormones that keep your body paralyzed during dreams - so that you don't act them out.  If you are paralyzed as you fall asleep, this could be a sign of Narcolepsy.  Narcoleptics go into REM sleep very soon after falling alseep.  A sleep study can prove this.

As far as the blood rush - eveyone has slightly different manifestations of sleep paralysis.  If you experience fear during the event, your body is going to release adrenaline which raises the heart rate and gets the blood flowing through the body.  Hence, the rushing feeling in the brain.  Extreme fear can also produce the effect.

Again, only a sleep study can show what is going on.  Narcolepsy can also indicate sleep apnea and potentially cataplexy.  I waited 18 years before talking to a doctor about my paralysis and one month later, I learned I have sleep apnea.  Who know what 18 years of severe sleep apnea did to my heart, brain and organs. It would be worth your time to speak with an MD.  The longer that apnea goes untreated,  the more damage occurs to the body.

Best of luck!

Curt