Got to thinking...

[AndrewIrish]

Well, I put my thinking cap on today...

I was thinking, I've gone so long without a TC, and noticing more now that I keep jerking while 'talking' to people - I read that 'action myoclonus' which is what it is, can be triggered by a lack of oxygen to the brain? When I was younger, my mother told me I'd stop breathing while awake, daytime apnea or something she said... I often find myself not breathing, having to catch my breath... could I not actually have epilepsy? Could I simply be not breathing? The TC's I've had, could they have been caused by simply prlonged period of my body not breathing when I was 'too focused?' And those kind of ignited the myoclonic jerks (which precede all my TC's) and then unfurled into TC's? Could all this time, my not noticing it (my own not breathing) could that be the cause of the jerks? I've noticed when I get too focused, I actually stop breathing...

I guess I'm questioning... could a problem with 'not breathing while focused' kind of disguise itself as something like JME? And if so, what would you call a problem where your body doesn't breathe while you're 'focused?'

 

[MrE]

Well, I put my thinking cap on today...

I was thinking, I've gone so long without a TC, and noticing more now that I keep jerking while 'talking' to people - I read that 'action myoclonus' which is what it is, can be triggered by a lack of oxygen to the brain? When I was younger, my mother told me I'd stop breathing while awake, daytime apnea or something she said... I often find myself not breathing, having to catch my breath... could I not actually have epilepsy? Could I simply be not breathing? The TC's I've had, could they have been caused by simply prlonged period of my body not breathing when I was 'too focused?' And those kind of ignited the myoclonic jerks (which precede all my TC's) and then unfurled into TC's? Could all this time, my not noticing it (my own not breathing) could that be the cause of the jerks? I've noticed when I get too focused, I actually stop breathing...

I guess I'm questioning... could a problem with 'not breathing while focused' kind of disguise itself as something like JME? And if so, what would you call a problem where your body doesn't breathe while you're 'focused?'

This is VERY interesting...I wonder the same thing about myself...if I actually have JME...or something else??? I notice too I stop breathing or that I'm barely breathing at all...I suddenly feel like I'm being sucked into some deep hypnotic state of mental maelstrom or abysmal shock like I'm going to pass out I guess from lack of oxygen...I work out and notice I have a hard time catching my breath...either that or I'll get a headache really easy even when breathing normal...not sure what is going on but I also notice myself waking up feeling like I'm suffocating like I've had my face in the pillow or something...I wake up feeling sweaty and tingly...sometimes like I'm gonna puke or **** myself...whatever it is it's never good...but I could be doing something casual and be really into it...so focused and distracted that I don't realize I'm barely breathing until I feel hot and dizzy like I'm going to blackout...bottom line trying to breathe "normal" without breathing too much or too little seems to be a difficult task for our brains...and breathing exercises can only help so much...

BREEEATHE...

 

[N Sperlo]

Maybe during an EEG you could have the tech mark a spot where you hold your breath. Just like the have you hyperventilate. It may not be the same, but give you and them some insight.

Happy breathing.

 

[QueenieKP]

Really interesting, I work until about 9.30 pm in the evening, only 3 hour shifts but my colleagues can tell when I am over tired as they say my breathing changes and I gasp for air, my myclonic seizures also get worse when I am tired.

When I got my diagnosis of JME at 37 part of me was incredibly touched that I could still pass for a teen but I have never really had it explained how my diagnosis could change from TLE to JME in 20 years unless the first diagnosis was wrong but no one hs said that's the case.

 

[C0urt]

in my case it is not impossible, as a former swimmer, so long on focusing on not swimming and keeping going, who knows what my brain is thinking about when i jerk, I do tend to tick a lot when lying flat in bed, and talking.

 

[AndrewIrish]

Yea, it's a really interesting thought I had and only really had it because I don't seem to 'fit' any 'classical diagnosis', as best as I can research. The body is really strangely connected... I think an issue with not breathing properly, while in and of itself may be neurologically connected, is actually causing these fits... that or the JME causes them itself... a case of 'chicken or egg' really... pick a flavor...

I can't confirm this because it's hard to catch yourself not breathing... but maybe constant near-hypoxia can cause myoclonic jerks and/or seizures...

I dunno... I'm not even really 50% on this because I JERK all the time... and even when relaxed and comfortably breathing... just wondering if the issue breathing may have been a precursor to all of this and now aggravates even more... as if JME in itself is not a genetic predisposition but can be caused(mimiced?) by other afflictions...

 

[MrE]

Yea, it's a really interesting thought I had and only really had it because I don't seem to 'fit' any 'classical diagnosis', as best as I can research. The body is really strangely connected... I think an issue with not breathing properly, while in and of itself may be neurologically connected, is actually causing these fits... that or the JME causes them itself... a case of 'chicken or egg' really... pick a flavor...

I can't confirm this because it's hard to catch yourself not breathing... but maybe constant near-hypoxia can cause myoclonic jerks and/or seizures...

I dunno... I'm not even really 50% on this because I JERK all the time... and even when relaxed and comfortably breathing... just wondering if the issue breathing may have been a precursor to all of this and now aggravates even more... as if JME in itself is not a genetic predisposition but can be caused(mimiced?) by other afflictions...

Isn't it frustrating trying to understand something when you're blindfolded???

Guess were just gonna have to use the force... :sw: (trust your instincts)