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Avatar universal

shaking at night when I wake up in the middle of the night

I'm 23/m, in relatively good health, no allergies that I know of, not taking any prescribed medications, just the occassional Tylenol or OTC sinus pills (Nyquil, Sudafed) for sinus issues.

This problem has been going on for about 3 years off and on (read: not every night). Sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night, I'm shaking uncontrollably on the inside of my body. I'm not cold, but putting on a pair of sweatpants and a sweatshirt does help the problem sometimes. (I usually sleep in a t-shirt and shorts.)
What almost always works to stop the shaking is if I use the bathroom to defecate. If I'm shaking like that, I'll use the bathroom and the shaking episode is usually finished by the time I finish going to the bathroom. I don't know what it is, and I don't feel pain because of the episode, but it is scary when it happens at 2 a.m. I have a doctor's appointment next month, so I'm going to ask about it, but if someone has any idea at all about something like this, it would be highly appreciated.
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Avatar universal
Would you please post how you made out at the doctors..I too have the same symptoms
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Did you ever figure out what was causing it? I get something similar and it's a delayed allergic reaction for me. It starts about 6-8 hours after eating and lasts from 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the food. It's awful!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 18 y/o f. I woke up last night shaking uncontrollably. Head was heavy and  my back hurt a lot. I have Lyme Disease, which went undiagnosed for six years. Now I am on treatment, but this was very strange to happen to me. Maybe it was from the Lyme or a symptom of something else. In morning I woke up dizzy and light headed.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Sudafed was started.
Helpful - 0
1516364 tn?1291050924
Hey all, I just started having the same thing again.  I wake up in the middle of the night shaking and feeling faint in the morning.  I think it is due to low blood sugar caused by anxiety throughout the day.  Anxiety causes your body to use up a lot of sugar when adrenalin is pumped in your body.  The solution is to eat a small protein snack an hour before you go to bed and a hypoglycemic diet throughout the day until your anxiety levels go back down.  Get plenty of sun as the sun is a natural tranquilizer and some walking daily.  God bless you all, I pray that God will comfort us all as we go through these rough times.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
A related discussion, Shaking in the middle of the night was started.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had similar episodes where I woke up in the middle of the night shaking.  I went through a slew of tests, and eventually was diagnosed with hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.  When I got out of bed, the symptoms seemed to alleviate themselves for some reason.  A really easy test is to get some glucose tablets (sold at drugstores) and take one next time you have an episode.  If it is low blood sugar, you will feel better in minutes.  If not, go to the doctor ;)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i am a 20 year old male and i wake up i the middle of the night shaking for no reason. im all coverd up bit im still shaking.it lasted atleast and hour befor it went i think it might be something todo with my sugar levels?
does anyone know what it is
i dont smoke/drink and i am very fit
thanks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My problem is close to what you all describe but a tad different.
I am on meds for my chronic back issues,  I also have sleep apnea, and I eat a lot of sugar during the day. Also, I only sleep a few hours at a time due to the pain, I nap all day, then up all night, then stay awake to get back to a normal pattern, but never do. It really *****! But I have noticed in these little day naps I am having, I get the shakes more often lately, its like I am having a hypoglycemic reaction. I am not sure that is what it is though because my sugar is normal. The only thing that came back no good on the blood tests was low Vit. D.. So I  have been taking that but that is not helping that weird internal shake either. It really freaks me out. I think in my head it is that I am not getting 8 hours of sleep and I am off in some weird sleep depravation issues and my patterns are so far off. It is so hard to explain.
I first thought it was cause I was in need of my meds because if you miss a dose, you will get the flu like symptoms and sweats and creepy crawlies.  Anyway it is not that it is just internal weird shake inside..
I really hope someone can come up with the answers!
Thanks for listening to me
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi I'm 27/f I started having the exact same problems you are having around your age.  The only thing that helps me is completely covering my whole body with my blanket and I just shake for 15 to 20 mins none stop and I can't control it.  It's so bad I wake my husband  up when I start doing it, it completely freaks him out.  And now it has started during the say.  I have developed insomnia and I to get numbness in my ring and pinky fingers.  The numbness comes and goes in both hands.  I have twitches in my eyes through out the day as well. The only thing I have that differs from you is I have cronic backpain in my neck, between my shoulder blades and in my lower back.  I need help finding the problem as well...I'm making a doctors appointment on Monday and I'm praying they will see me same day...please everyone let me know if you get help so I can try the same thing
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i am 20/female. for as long as i can remember i have been waking up in the middle of the night shaking. for the longest time i thought it was a plane or something that made my bad shake or something weird like that. but last night i wasnt sleeping in my bed and i awoke to the same thing. it doesnt hurt. i am sleeping on my side and my body just shakes as if someone is shaking the bed. this doesnt happen every night but enough to the point i am writing this down. another thing i get is where i wake up paralyzed in the middle of the night spooked. and i have never had good sleeping patterns. anyone have any ideas or comments to what they think. i dont want to think i am having seizures. they dont run in my family. but i do get that metal taste in my mouth although i am a smoker. i also do get the numbing sensation in my legs. and i also get dazed a lot. someone will be trying to have a conversation with me and i wont be able to focus on them or what they are saying and its as if i am looking at them but at the same time not looking at them at all. and i try as hard as i can to pay attention but my mind wont snap out of it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been waking in the middle of the night, I can feel it coming on, I shake like I am freezing but am not, my blood pressure zooms up and that is what worries me, but yes, like you I have had episodes when going to the bathroom (having a bowel movement) helps. I take a Xanax and try to go back to sleep. When I tell the Dr. they just say it is an anxiety attack. can't take Zoloft or Lexipro. Don't know what to do anymore, sometimes I go on the computer and play a game to take my mind of it. Sure would like to know the cause.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i am 25 y.o male, and up untill recently considered myself very healthy.
I now sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and it feels as if the inner core of my body is buzzing and shaking uncontrollably. I am also very cold at this stage even though i am covered with thick blankets and sleep with sweat pants and a jumper. I find it hard to go back to sleep as the my whole face and neck are vibrating. i also expeirience twitches througout my body during the day. On most occasion i experience numbness in my pinky and ring fingers on both hands (alternates) whilst sleeping, Has anyone experiences this?

PS: my mother is diagnosed with MS over 18 months ago.

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
for the last 3 month i have woke up shaking 2-3 times a night im not shore wat it is but it helps if i roll into a small ball with no blakets on me im realy starting to wory now and if anyone can help me i would be very happy as i have never had this sort of thing happen to me befor
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
First of all, they have just recently (FDA?) told people some of these over the counter med's can kill kids and are dangerous to take for a lot of people. I have a list of all they meds that are dangerous but  I don't know if I can post the entire list on this forum (if allowed) but I will if I can. Secondly, I wake up freezing sometimes too (literally shaking, ice cold, frozen).  I find this happens a lot when I'm exhausted (a deep-out cold sleep ) and usually I'm dressed in shorts/t-shirt not something warm. So I don't think you using the bathroom has anything to do with correcting or is related to your problem. What it might be is a circulation issue. Stop taking the OTC meds, go to sleep in at least your sweats and a shirt and see if that doesn't help. I'll email you that list of OTC meds that has Sudafed on it as one of the med's that is killing kids when they take it.**** You know what, I am going to try to post this list for the safety of other people. If I can't anyone who wants a copy can email me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
that happens to me to, but i have a personal and family history of epilepsy. i'm worried that it might be connected to that (for me). What helps me is to think of simple things (like what you did that day, in order... or even just repeating the alphabet and finding a word that starts with every letter) to get back to sleep or get over the episode. If you find out what it is, please post it! i'm curious myself.
Helpful - 0
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