Insomnia

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Gummybears

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Hello everybody I'm new to this forum!! And have a couple questions!
Here it goes:
Last year around summer time I started waking up early and not going back to sleep yet was sleeping a good amount of hours and it wasn't a concern since it was not interfereing with daytime activities , it went on like that for months until November when it got worse.. I started having a really difficult time falling asleep or not sleeping at all..(I slept for 2 or 3 hours max that whole time) That lasted for about 1 month, and then when I could finally fall asleep still with difficulty, I started to wake up very frequently! And that's what brought me here! Now it is still a challenge to fall asleep but when I do I wake up every hour to two hours and fall back asleep to wake wake up again in one hour, a lot of the times I have noticed that I wake up from dreaming,not nightmares, but normal dreams. I don't wake up scared or disoriented, I just wake up normal. But I've been reading dr google a lot and have read that many people have nighttime seizures and never knew about them, could a seizure be a trigger to my many night time awakenings? I saw a neurologist who thinks this is anxiety but I've had anxiety issues before and they've never robbed of my sleep! I have an appt to see a sleep specialist in march, and that's why I'm posting here in the mean time to see if some one can relate to my issues or has words of wisdom!! Thank you very much..
 
Your name makes me want to go and buy some gummy bears...I know they are extremely bad for you and I don't usually eat that crap but every now and then I love to be extremely bad...although I don't know which ones are better...bears or worms :ponder:
 
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Hey Gummy.

The other night I was having trouble falling asleep, then I was having dreams that I was having trouble falling asleep.

I was having major sleep troubles not long ago. Simple partials in my sleep from what my doctor said. Yesterday he told me it was somewhere around 14 a night. Back then I had stopped dreaming. This was not normal for me. What was probably happening was I was forgetting the dreams because of the seizure activity.

Now I dream a lot, but I wake up often as well. If you remember the dreams you are having, then its a good guess that you are not having seizure activity in your sleep. This is not a sure-shot answer, but from my own experiences, I'd say you don't have anything to worry about. If things change, then you may want to worry.

I don't really worry about where I post. I figure it will get moved if it is in the wrong spot. ;)
 
BTW, you might want to jump over to The Foyer and introduce yourself.
 
N Sperlo said:
Hey Gummy.

The other night I was having trouble falling asleep, then I was having dreams that I was having trouble falling asleep.

I was having major sleep troubles not long ago. Simple partials in my sleep from what my doctor said. Yesterday he told me it was somewhere around 14 a night. Back then I had stopped dreaming. This was not normal for me. What was probably happening was I was forgetting the dreams because of the seizure activity.

Now I dream a lot, but I wake up often as well. If you remember the dreams you are having, then its a good guess that you are not having seizure activity in your sleep. This is not a sure-shot answer, but from my own experiences, I'd say you don't have anything to worry about. If things change, then you may want to worry.

I don't really worry about where I post. I figure it will get moved if it is in the wrong spot. ;)
Click to expand...
Thanks N Sperlo..
Can you please describe your sleep troubles, thanks
 
Gummybears said:
Did I post in the wrong place/forum?
Click to expand...

Nope you sure didn't my friend and please feel free to share with us any experiences you may be having...I for one understand what insomnia means...not to be mistaken with a manic episode or anxiety attack I too experience nasty things...I hope you can find a way to cope with whatever is bothering you...nightmares...seizures in your sleep...panic attacks...etc....it's all terrible but we have to make the most of each day no matter what...please inform your doctor or someone you feel comfortable with should you have any further concerns...I send you positives vibes and wishes...

Oh and sorry for the confusion :)
 
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Before I had the simple partials (or auras as the doctor called them) controlled, I was punching, kicking, and slapping my wife. I was doing situps and acting very strange in my sleep. Keep in mind I was not dreaming.

This was a pretty major problem, so it was off to the doctor. After a three day EEG, it was observed that my EEG showed normal and I probably had REM Behavior Disorder. When I brought it up, my doctor observed my movements as not being RBD, but being simple partials. I was prescribed Vimpat and the problem completely stopped and I began remembering my dreams.

I still wake up throughout the night, but it is not seizure related. It is just the way I am.

While I doubt it is seizure related, I'd suggest bringing it up to your doctor next visit.
 
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No worries MrE I just thought I posted in the wrong place because no one replied and your reply didn't bother I just thought it was weird! But yes I agree gummy bears are the best!!

N Sperlo, thanks for your answers, I have defenetly brought it upto my docs, that's why I'm seeing a sleep specialist in march and I'm hoping to get a sleep study and if I'm having seizures I pray they show up in that test, so I can be given the right meds and not just take ambien.
 
Like I said before, my EEG showed up "normal".

I had a sleep study done and as if one que, I had ABSOLUTELY no issues that night! I probably would have scared the crap out of the guy observing lol.

Not knowing you, I may take a stab in the dark that a possible and very common problem might be sleep apnea.

No problem. I'm happy to share.
 
I don't snore, but I would take any diagnosis (real one) so that I can get treated with the right meds!
 
Hi Gummybears

Maybe your neuro already asked you this question, but was there any huge shift/change in your life that occurred around or slightly before you started having trouble sleeping? What are your days usually like? Are they stressful or low key?

My sleep problems are almost always stress related. I’ll wakeup in the middle of the night and can’t shut my brain off. For a while I didn’t know why it kept happing as I wasn’t laying there thinking of stressful things… I was just thinking too much. Overtime I was able to correlate it to stressful situations during my day.

I believe if you were having seizures at night, you would be less likely to wake up as they kick the crap out of your brain and it wants to sleep to heal itself. That said, I’m sure someone that has sleep seizures can provide a little more insight.
 
Yeah I had a sleep apnea test done once...came out negative...if anything I just move a lot in my sleep...punching and kicking like a ninja turtle! My wife thinks it's the nightmares but regardless of what it is I am just an active sleeper...and it depends on how much I exert myself in a given day...if I just lay around all day and do nothing then I have a harder time getting quality rest...but if I'm up cleaning and exercising then I have better luck...
 
My insomnia problems began 8 months after a very traumatic experience! But yeah 8 months after, even though in those 8 months i never stopped worrying about me! I still think that is a long time after! Rite!?
 
I've had sleeping problems for years. I finally had a study done 1 1/2 -2 years ago. It just showed that it takes a long time for me to fall asleep and that I have restless legs (which I already knew). I actully slept better that night than usual, no bathroom trips or leg cramps.

Since I had already tried several different sleep meds that either didn't work or made me homicidal/sucicidal the doctor put me on benzos which help a lot(not perfect but better than anything else I tried). My neuro put me on muscle relaxers at night also. I'm only taking 1/2 the dose she prescribed because I still wake up to use the bathroom but I fell because I was so drugged. At least I fell on my grandson's trampoline and bounced back up.

I have read that people with epilepsy have more problems sleeping than the average person but I had problems sleeping long before I got epilepsy.
 
Hi Gummy, and welcome!
I'm not quite clear -- you have insomnia, but do you also have known seizures, or are you just wondering if you might be having them because of your frequent wakenigs during the night.

It's true that insomnia/poor sleep can contribute to seizures. Our son (who's 10) had nocturnal seizures for years, and also severe insomnia (would constantly be sitting up in bed). He had a tonsils/adenoids out, which helped with breathing at night, but his seizures and frequent awakening continued. A sleep study later indicated he was waking several times an hour, but his oxygen levels were ok.

What DID help the insomnia and reduced the nighttime seizures was taking magnesium and calcium before bedtime. A little while later, he started taking Zonegran (a seizure med) at nighttime. These 3 together did the trick with knocking out nighttime seizures and insomnia -- he sleeps pretty good now, and doesn't do the sitting up thing all night.

Magnesium is also helpful for anxiety. Sweet dreams! :)
 
Welcome Gummy!
I never had trouble sleeping till 2006. Then all hell was breaking loose. Menopause, stress at work, going back to school, worrying about bipolar son, worrying about yet-to-be born grandchild. Needless to say, that's when I was diagnosed with epilepsy.
Sleep deprivation is a very serious issue for many, especially those of us with E. Stress is also a very serious concern for us. Combined they make for a firestorm in our brains!
I was taking Lorazepam 1mg. for 3 yrs. till last month when I ran out. Now I am trying to go without because I won't have insurance till Feb. 1st.
I've been doing good but have experienced vivid dreams and am also waking up every hour on the hour. But the funny thing is that I'm not tired. So I must be getting some rest. It just concerns me because I have also reduced my Keppra to 750 mgs. from 1000.
Just remember that you have to do what is best for YOU!
Good Luck.
M
 
KarenB said:
Hi Gummy, and welcome!
I'm not quite clear -- you have insomnia, but do you also have known seizures, or are you just wondering if you might be having them because of your frequent wakenigs during the night.
Click to expand...

I'm sorry I didn't clarify this! I don't have epilepsy or at least that I know of, yes I'm wondering if I might have them and hence the reason for my frequent wakenings and really hard time falling asleep!
Thank you!
 
Hi Gummybears --

I think the sleep study will be most helpful -- it will give a sense of the kind of sleep quality you are getting, whether there are issues like apnea, whether you are getting enough REM sleep, etc. I agree with KarenB's recommendation about the magnesium and calcium before bedtime -- it can help with sleep (and has helped me). If you do feel like trying it, I recommend magnesium taurate, since it's well-absorbed and is unlikely to cause the digestive issues associated with other forms of magnesium.
 
Gummybears do you like Jellybeans? I love them...but it's hard to decide my favorite flavor...I think it's either orange cream or lemon lime
 
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