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Sleep problems

I was just diagnosis with sleep apena.  I stopped breathing eight times.  I have to go back a second time  to wear a machine.  In 1991 I was diagnosis with a different sleep problem.  I didn't go into REM sleep.  I traveled allot on short plane flights from Michigan to Connecticut.  I would see objects sitting on tables and the dash board of my car.  I would try a touch them but I knew that they were not there.  The Doctor told me I was seeing my dreams.  That I wasn't going into REM sleep at night so I was going into it while I was awake.  He first put me on Prozac for one month then changed it to Vivactil.  When I stopped travelling once a week on those short flights it stopped.  I only travel now once a year from New Mexico to Michigan.  I do have a seizure disorder .  Complex partial seizures of the temporal lope.  Could this be seizures instead of a sleep disorder.
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Avatar universal
I don't what to tell my primary doctor about odd symptoms anymore.  Presciption medication never gave me odd symptoms but they do now.  Levothyroxin (T4) thyroid gave me symptoms of being pregnant.  It went away when he switch me to Armour Thryroid (T3).  I also lost 60 pounds.  I lose 5 pound on the first thyroid drug.   I always weighed 100 lbs and am 5'-0" tall and am 52 years old.  I gained 86 lbs in 2 1/2 years.  I went back to the sleep disorder clinic and they told me I partially stop breathing 32 times an hour in deep sleep with I think is REM sleep.  I was having nightmares during my first sleep test.  My primary doctor then put me on Fluticasone Propionate Nasal Spray for constant ear aches.  I now have dreams of having sex with my first boyfriend in college at age 19.  These vivid dreams will happen at night and while I am awake suddenly in the shower.   I was diagnosis with a seizure disorder in 1981 by a neurologist at the Univerisy of Michigan neurology clinic.  It has to do with light.  If the focal point of your seizures are to near your glands can they do funny things to you.
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,

When you say that you see the images when you are falling asleep does this mean that you are already asleep or about to fall asleep?

Hallucinations that may occur prior to sleep may be caused by both sleep disorders or complex partial seizures usually of the temporal lobe due to the formed images. The most common of these visual hallucinations are those of people walking around the room .Narcolepsy may also cause this, however this doesnt seem to be your case.

REM related sleep disorders may cause vivid dreams that makes one act out on them in the state of sleep. However, this is usually not associated by muscle spasms or automated movements usually seen in a seizure.

In your case there seems to be a fine line between a complex partial seizure and a sleep disorder.Although it is highly probable that both may exist. I suggest you discuss your concerns with your physician to aid him in managing your condition better.Results of your EEG and sleep studies may be correlated to give you a picture of the more likely cause of your symptoms.
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Avatar universal
My right hand started shaking in April now it just wants to move back and forth all the times when I am sittting.  My epilepsy has to do with a light sensitivity especially at night.  I will close my eyes and see lights.  Red is there allot.  I see lights mostly at night.  The hallucinations are in the daytime for about 15 seconds.  A cat sitting, a person laying in my bed and a person walking outside the bathroom window.  They will  happen sometimes when I am falling asleep.  I will sleep from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. every night and get up.  If I go to bed at 10:00 p.m. I will wake up at 1:00 a.m.  Sometime I can't get back to sleep until 4:30 a.m.
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Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,

Visual hallucinations may occur in persons with sleep disorders like narcolepsy, in persons with substance abuse disorders and even in those with parkinson's disease.

Complex partial seizures are associated with visual auras which may present similarly as hallucinations. Usually  visual symptoms occur in those with complex partial seizures involving the  occipital lobe and may be associated with spasms or tics ( involuntary repetitive movements) of a body part. A moment of  of sleepiness may follow the attack.

I have a few questions:

When do your hallucinations occur? Before sleep or just during awakening?

How long does this last?

Keep us posted and I do hope this helps.
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