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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 15:39:13
Maybe somebody here can tell me what in the world happened to me about an hour ago.
I had my fasting blood glucose test today. Yeah, I pretty much wanted to throw up after the first round of drinks but tried to be a big girl and keep it down.
By the time I left, I had a really, really bad headache and felt sick to my stomach.
I came home, at a piece of toast, took .12 of Klonopin, and fell asleep on the couch.
I woke up but I could not move my body or speak. It was SOOOOOOO weird. Ever have a dream where you are trying to scream but you can't? Well, that happened to me only I was awake.
I could see my husband but I could not make a sound to get his attention. I could not move but I could feel my eyeballs whirling all around. I finally could just GRUNT loud and then within about 30 seconds, this stopped and I could move and speak.
I've never, ever, ever had anything like that happen and it completely freaked me out. It was as if my body could not take orders from my brain. I literally could not speak or make a sound no matter how much I tried. I could not even move my body.
Other than Klonopin, I take Restoril 30 mg's for sleep and I have the flu right now.
It was sooooooo weird and scarey. Any thoughts?
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 23, 2005, at 15:58:46
In reply to The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 15:39:13
> Maybe somebody here can tell me what in the world happened to me about an hour ago.
>
> I had my fasting blood glucose test today. Yeah, I pretty much wanted to throw up after the first round of drinks but tried to be a big girl and keep it down.
>
> By the time I left, I had a really, really bad headache and felt sick to my stomach.
>
> I came home, at a piece of toast, took .12 of Klonopin, and fell asleep on the couch.
>
> I woke up but I could not move my body or speak. It was SOOOOOOO weird. Ever have a dream where you are trying to scream but you can't? Well, that happened to me only I was awake.
>
> I could see my husband but I could not make a sound to get his attention. I could not move but I could feel my eyeballs whirling all around. I finally could just GRUNT loud and then within about 30 seconds, this stopped and I could move and speak.
>
> I've never, ever, ever had anything like that happen and it completely freaked me out. It was as if my body could not take orders from my brain. I literally could not speak or make a sound no matter how much I tried. I could not even move my body.
>
> Other than Klonopin, I take Restoril 30 mg's for sleep and I have the flu right now.
>
> It was sooooooo weird and scarey. Any thoughts?Sounds like sleep paralysis.
http://www.stanford.edu/~dement/paralysis.html
In effect, your body and mind woke from your nap in the wrong order. It's scary, but harmless.
Lar
Posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 16:21:36
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened » Spriggy, posted by Larry Hoover on March 23, 2005, at 15:58:46
Thanks Larry, that was a relief to read.
Being already paranoid, I thought my blood sugar spiked and I was going into a coma or having a seizure.
Yeah, I'm a dork.
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 23, 2005, at 17:19:53
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 16:21:36
> Thanks Larry, that was a relief to read.
You're very welcome. Aren't you glad I'm a geek?
> Being already paranoid, I thought my blood sugar spiked and I was going into a coma or having a seizure.
> Yeah, I'm a dork.You're not a dork. You just went through a very frightening experience, one that left you at least momentarily completely out of control of the situation. There happens to be a rational explanation, but how could you have known there was one?
If it happens again, mention it to your doctor, but I'd put it down to a strange event during a strange day.
Lar
Posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2005, at 18:59:43
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened » Spriggy, posted by Larry Hoover on March 23, 2005, at 17:19:53
Hi Spriggy, I hope you are feeling better. I'm glad that you had a nap, you needed one what with all the running around and being sick and all. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Buckeye Fan on March 23, 2005, at 22:26:49
In reply to The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 15:39:13
Hi Spriggy,
I agree with Larry.....remorary sleep paraylsis
I had it happen to me when I was on effexor a couple years ago..very frightening!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like you, I couldnt "wake up all the way"..although I was concious.
I think the research shows that Meds sometimes short circut the order in which we react.Your not alone~
BF
Posted by Buckeye Fan on March 23, 2005, at 22:27:43
In reply to The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 15:39:13
Hi Spriggy,
I agree with Larry.....Temorary sleep paraylsis
I had it happen to me when I was on effexor a couple years ago..very frightening!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like you, I couldnt "wake up all the way"..although I was concious.
I think the research shows that Meds sometimes short circut the order in which we react.Your not alone~
BF
Posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 23:25:44
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Buckeye Fan on March 23, 2005, at 22:27:43
Is there any way to assure it doesn't happen to again?
Posted by Buckeye Fan on March 24, 2005, at 6:43:37
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 23:25:44
> Is there any way to assure it doesn't happen to again?
Not really as long as the same Meds are being taken. But as they say knowledge is power...now that you KNOW what it is...it shouldnt be nearly as frightening IF it happens again.
And it may not...I have not had a repeat in almost a year.
But just remember that it is brief, normal, and
you can "self-talk" your way through it now that you know what is happening.Keep us posted
BF
Posted by Spriggy on March 24, 2005, at 10:39:58
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Buckeye Fan on March 24, 2005, at 6:43:37
I asked my husband this question last night, ( I was afraid to go back to sleep), I said,
"Do you think there is any way I can make sure it doesn't happen again?"
Being the genius man that he is, he says,
"sure there is. Never sleep again."
There is just nothing like the compassion of a spouse. LOL
Posted by missamor on March 24, 2005, at 12:43:52
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 24, 2005, at 10:39:58
night terrors? that is something i have read about. this had happened to me a co times and not only when taking med, but before. that is what i think the dr and my mom said it was. i believe that is what it was called, but it was exactly like you said and i was very afraid to sleep after the first one too, but thankfully doesnt happen very much and hasnt in long time. i hope for you too.
Posted by Buckeye Fan on March 24, 2005, at 14:06:39
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 24, 2005, at 10:39:58
> I asked my husband this question last night, ( I was afraid to go back to sleep), I said,
>
> "Do you think there is any way I can make sure it doesn't happen again?"
>
> Being the genius man that he is, he says,
>
> "sure there is. Never sleep again."
>
> There is just nothing like the compassion of a spouse. LOLLOL! That is a good one~
I'll have to tell that one to my wife.....BF
Posted by Phillipa on March 24, 2005, at 15:07:19
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Buckeye Fan on March 24, 2005, at 14:06:39
Spriggy, Did you sleep? Did it happen again? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by JayDee on March 24, 2005, at 21:12:46
In reply to The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 23, 2005, at 15:39:13
SP is kinda cool. The first time I tried Ambien, I was laying there with my eyes half open, all the sudden, I started a full blown DREAM. But i was still awake. I was actually conciously observing my own dream, even though I was participating in the dream in first person at the same time. It was like my brain split in two. during this time, I couldnt move my body either. I also hallucinated several times falling to sleep that night. hmm... makes me want to get more of tha stuff.. ;)
I think SP mabye a step toward lucid dreaming?
Posted by zeugma on March 24, 2005, at 22:18:38
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by JayDee on March 24, 2005, at 21:12:46
I think SP mabye a step toward lucid dreaming? >>
I think so too. Stephen LaBerge, a sleep researcher, has used galantamine (an anti-Alzheimer's med that boosts acetylcholine levels) to induce rapid dream onset/intensify dreaming, which is the opposite of what most AD's do, and to train subjects to lucidly dream. I use AD's to SUPPRESS dreaming, and to eliminate SP (sleep paralysis). If I'm on too low a dose of AD, I experience sleep paralysis nearly every night, and even though I know I'm 'only' dreaming, it manifests itself not merely as hallucinations (which I can deal with by closing my eyes; no, my eyes don't physically close, because they're already closed; I close them in the dream!) but as painful bodily sensations, similar to the electrical shocks that people get withdrawing from paxil and Effexor.
By the way, I have experienced these when I've fallen asleep right after taking clonazepam, too. The good news is that I developed tolerance to this particular side effect.
-z
Posted by Phillipa on March 24, 2005, at 22:34:03
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by JayDee on March 24, 2005, at 21:12:46
You know, that reminds me of a couple of times I was reading in bed. It was as if I had fallen asleep but was still reading. Really wierd. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Spriggy on March 25, 2005, at 12:04:17
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened » JayDee, posted by Phillipa on March 24, 2005, at 22:34:03
The thing is, I really wasn't asleep anymore. I had woken up, I was wide awake but I couldn't move or speak. I wasn't dreaming.. I could see everything around me and hear it (my eyes were open) but I couldn't respond.
It was very scarey. I kind of wondered if the Klonopin had anything to do with it, or the horrible headache. I talked to a nurse at my church and she said she did it twice in her life and both times it was during a horrible headache.
So that was interesting.
On another note, I was thinking how awful it would be if that is how Terri Shaivo feels right now- totally alert in her mind, but unable to speak or move.
Just awful.
Posted by TamaraJ on March 25, 2005, at 12:19:31
In reply to Re: The weirdest/freakiest thing happened, posted by Spriggy on March 25, 2005, at 12:04:17
Spriggy,
I can't say for sure, but I will just put this out there for you to raise with you doctor. It may have had something to do with the instability of your blood sugar. You had done your fasting test, during which you had to drink a sugary drink (carbohyrate), you came home and had a piece of toast (more carbs), then you went to sleep (during which time, I would imagine that your blood sugar dropped even more). The drink and the toast would like have had your blood sugar peaking rapidly then dropping (since carbs are metabolized very quickly AFAIK). In retrospect, you probably would have been better off having a protein snack, or even a protein/carb (toast with peanut butter) snack, before going for your nap. I would suggest that you raise what happened with your doctor either before or when you get the results of the GTT. Therefore, it may not have had anything to do with the Klonopin at all.
Take care of yourself Spriggy.
Tamara
> The thing is, I really wasn't asleep anymore. I had woken up, I was wide awake but I couldn't move or speak. I wasn't dreaming.. I could see everything around me and hear it (my eyes were open) but I couldn't respond.
>
> It was very scarey. I kind of wondered if the Klonopin had anything to do with it, or the horrible headache. I talked to a nurse at my church and she said she did it twice in her life and both times it was during a horrible headache.
>
> So that was interesting.
>
> On another note, I was thinking how awful it would be if that is how Terri Shaivo feels right now- totally alert in her mind, but unable to speak or move.
>
> Just awful.
This is the end of the thread.
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