Could this be a form of epilepsy?

[SenseiRebel]

I didn't think I had epilepsy because this only happens when I'm about to sleep, so I wanted some opinions. I get an extremely bothersome electric shock through my torso as I fall asleep. It feels like it's because my brain thinks I'm literally falling in space and gets startled. It happens only when I'm trying to relax and about to fall asleep, but it's very debilitating because I can't get any sleep. It's only really bothersome when it's in my torso, but occasionally I also have RLS symptoms of leg spasms with it. And during the day I know I'll have it at night if I have a feeling that my nerves are jumpy and feel like they're running around. Without meds, the shocks seem to never stop when they're at their worst and I only would sleep around an hour daily, if even. I'd been on Zoloft for six years and thought that it was the cause of the shocks when it first started. But it could be something I've gotten on my own and Zoloft just made it worse. There's no way to say. The rest is a long story, but I need to know if such electric shock sensations could be a form of epilepsy, even if it only occurs when I'm about to sleep. If so, is there any meds I can take that aren't benzos or antidepressants? My history with them is iffy. Thank you for listening.

[skillefer]

Hi Sensei! Welcome to CWE. Feel free to visit our library, it has some GREAT info. Also, ask questions, chime in , or just vent in the padded room (heaven knows we all need to vent sometime...). Now, to your question....

It's honestly hard to say...and since there's only a couple of us here that are MD's and none of us have actually seen you, we can't make a diagnosis. However, I can say that there are people who only have seizures at night...and some of them describe similar symptoms as what you have described. What I would suggest is that you go and visit a neurologist, and ask for a sleep study as well. People with epilepsy have a higher tendency to having sleep disorders. So get it all checked out.

[SenseiRebel]

Well I can't afford a sleep study right now I think, and besides I don't think I'd even sleep during it unless they gave me a med or something. Don't know if they do that.

[skillefer]

Okay...well, in that case, here's some lifestyle changes that you can make to try to make things a bit easier...but still, go see a doctor.

1. eat small healthy meals (by small, I mean 6 times a day and it should fit on a dessert plate. It needs to be healthy. So for every carb, a protein.)

2. Cut out ALL caffeine (mate, green tea, coffee, tea, sodas, energy drinks, ...and yes, even chocolate.)

3. If you smoke, quit. (It's a stimulant...the last thing a person with epilespy needs...)

4. make sure you drink 2-3 liters of water every day to flush chemicals out of your system.

5. Quit alcohol or recreational drug use.

6. Be sure to try to eat organic if you can...if you can't afford it, then try to do your grocery shopping around the egdes of the store...and stay away from the aisles...the food in the aisles are LOADED with additives, preservatives, salt, sugar, and MSG.

7. Get at least 30 min of exercise a day....if you aren't used to exercising, try going on a short 10 min walk and add five minutes every week.

8. Dont' do things like read or watch TV in bed. Your bedroom should be a place devoted to sleep. Also, lights from tv's or even alarm clocks can screw up your melatonin.

[Meetz1064]

you a great bunch of information there.

I WILL say this, though. I went through something sort of similar about five years ago or so. Turns out I have myoclonic epilepsy. In a purely nocturnal form. However, that is what I have. You might want to check myoclonic seizures out though, and see if the description is anywhere near what you are talking about....

[RobinN]

I get a jolt occasionally as I am falling asleep. I think this is normal to many.
Almost feels like you are falling, and you catch yourself.

[SenseiRebel]

I don't think it's normal when it can keep me up a long time unless I take a med. I'd sleep maybe an hour every 24 hours. But usually I can sleep enough without meds but this week has been bad.

But I've been on amitriptyline to control these in the past and it's supposed to make seizures worse, but it made my shocks go away. These shocks aren't even physical really. I mean I don't move any part of my body, I just get a shocking sensation in my stomach or chest. Occasionally there are leg spasms though but not much of that compared to this. So that's why I don't know if it's seizures at all.

Hey Meetz, thanks for telling me. Do you get any kind of treatment for nocturnal epilepsy? Does it help?