Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: fmj1179 on 11/02/2006 05:05:26
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I have an afflication that I think are what are called night terrors. I have extreme nightmares and hallucinations nightly and have ever since I was a little girl. I wake my husband up at least
3-4 times a night. Does anyone have any suggestions?
Did I just say that out loud?
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Excuse me...I made an error. I meant to say I wake my husband up 3-4 times weekly.
Did I just say that out loud?
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Try eating some cheese a couple of hours before you go to sleep and see if it affects the nature of your dreams. I used to have nightmare's and then i started to eating lumps cheese as part of a night time snack (Naughty me).
A side effect of eating cheese is it causes you to dream more, which could be dodgy in your case ( don't take a knife to bed with you just in case) However since i've been having my late night cheesy snacks and apart from me having more dreams the nature of my dreams have become more pleasant and even on occasions controllerable. It may not work for you or during first night or week.But try it, if it dont work it dont work.
No harm done
Michael
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Then what should I do about the cronic constipation? haha...Thanks for the reply.
Did I just say that out loud?
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No all you need to worry about is the indegestion caused by late night eating
Michael
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It's pretty bad when I get up more in the night then my kids do.
Faith
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I've been doing a little more research on sleeping disorders and I think that my problem might resemble a couple of different things. First, night terrors may not be what I have. Hypnagogic Hallucinations sounds a lot like the experiences I have except that I don't usually feel the sleep paralysis that goes with it, and I usually am fully asleep and the hallucinations/nightmares happen about an hour to an hour and a half after I go to bed. But I think that it is some kind of parasomnia. Does any of these things sound familiar?
Faith
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Hi Faith !!
Wish I could advise you but I can't...well not from a personal success point of view anyway. I've had insomnia since I was 6....which is why I'm writing this at 4:40am....
Are you stressed ?..what's on your mind ?
When you say you wake up your husband 3-4 times weekly does that mean that you also have 3-4 good nights ?
Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!
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I do have some good nights....I think the "nightmares" happen at random times. No specific times or triggers. I'm sure that some nights I just don't know if I had one or not. Most of the times I completely remember the entire episode and ask my husband "Did I wake up last night?". Some days I just wake up and I don't feel very rested at all. I dream of people being in my house, snakes in my room/bed, mice in my room/bed, birds landing on the ceiling fan, boogers stuck to the wall, etc. You name it. A lot of times I flip the light on (talk about angering the spouse) or rip the covers off the bed (no matter if someone else is in there or not). Most of the time, these things are harmless, but then sometimes I wake up crying (with actual tears), screaming, hitting, and my heart is thumping so hard in my chest that I feel like I'm having a heart attack or something. A lot of people on the net, i've noticed, talk about taking anti-depressants for this. I don't want to take any medication unless I absolutely have to. I have pretty serious side effects from a lot of different medicines. Wellbutrin throws me into complete seizures. I just am at a loss. It's probably something I will have to live with the rest of my life. My 8 year old son has recently been seeing a pediatric neurologist. He had a seizure back in October and I wonder if I should mention this sleep disorder (?) that I have to his doctor to see if it is related. My son has not had a seizure since then but he has had 2 EEG's and both have abnormal brain sparking during sleep. Is this just a coincidence?
Faith
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I think it's a good idea to mention this sleep disorder to your sons doctor....I'm very sorry to hear of your sons seizure..I do hope he is getting good care and I wish him better.
..but have you yourself pushed your own doctor about your condition ?...Insomnia just isn't taken seriously..it never has been but I would urge you to suggest (to your own doctor) a sleep study but initially some sort of counselling ie: Psycotherapy or a cognitive beahviour therapist...or some sort of therapist who specializes in sleep disorders. Do not let your regular doctor off the hook with this...if he/she won't refer you then ask to see someone else in the clinic for a second opinion. Anti depressants seem to be the answer for a whole host of problems and I believe doctors are all too quick to prescribe them....but it seems in your case (and mine for that matter) that they do not work.
Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!
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I've never talked to my doctor about it because I have just always been this way. I just recently started studying about it on the net and am surprised to hear that it is rather rare. I wouldn't call what I have insomnia, I never have a hard time getting to sleep. I don't feel that I have any mental health issues. I had a good childhood, nothing traumatic. My mother says that I have had these "nightmares" always. Next time I see the Doc, I'll talk to him about it and I will mention it to my Son's neurologist in April when we see him again.
Faith
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Hi Faith,
good for you....I do hope you start the ball rolling to get some help. I think if anything you have causes you stress to the extent that you describe then a talk with your doctor is long overdue....Please keep us updated will ya ?..I'm very interetsted in how things progress for you.
Best Wishes
Neil
Men are the same as women.... just inside out !!
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i am surprised your husband hasnt helped you,i would have put your lights out months ago waking me up in the night, he is obviously a saint [B)][}:)][;)]
RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
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My idea of a night terror is being woke up with my wife's knee firmly logged in my groin.
Michael
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lol...Well, you know, I had to come up with something to get him back for the trouble he causes me during the day. Actually, I'm pretty sure he just sleeps through the most of it, unless I turn the lights on...[B)]
Faith
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My wife often shouts and cries out in her sleep, but this is probably a symptom,of the realisation,of what is laying next to her. [:D] [:D] [:D]
you and your husband obviously get on great faith,not married long or not met your mum [:0] [:0] [:0] DOH!
RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
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Hi,
I was interested in Faith's account of her night terrors as I seem to have incredibly similar problems. I always get what can be described as hallucinations about an hour into sleep. I'm also informed by my partner that I've had full conversations with him, shouted and cried and all manner of other odd things.
I have been to the doctors about it and she told me I was probabaly depressed and told me to take sleeping tablets which I'm very reluctant to do. And if it was through depression, why have I been having them since the age of 7? How many depressed 7 year olds do you know?
I find it very hard to function properly at work as I'm tired most of the time and it was good to find another person with the same problems!!
I often find that a good period of relaxation before bed is the best way to cope. Don't watch TV. Eating before bed (for me anyway) makes it worse, but a hot milky drink can be good. Getting into a routine and sticking to it can help and also making sure that you don't sleep in a cluttered room. Any change in sleeping arrangements can affect me (I really scared my boyfriends parents by screaming one time when we visisted them), so a good routine really helps.
I hope this helps you but I suppose different people have their own way of coping and you may already have some stuff that helps. I'd welcome any ideas that you have though !!
Taker care, Cathy
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Cathy
stick on yer glad rags,slap on some lippy,go to your nearest night club,pick up a stud,sling a couple of tequilas down yer neck take him home,give him the old yee-haaa,bet you sleep like a baby x [:0]
RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
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Cathy,
I totally agree with you on uncluttering the bedroom. Not only would it be easier to hurt yourself (luckily I haven't yet) but when I look at pictures on the wall and other things in the room, in my mind they turn into other scary things. Sounds totally ridiculous, I know. I am 26 years old and completely reasonable but in the middle of the night I turn into a big baby. :) If I am already tired in the day now, I'd hate to see how sleepy I would be on sleeping pills.
Ray,
My husband and I have been married going on 9 years next month. He's used to me by now but I'm sure he wouldn't take it for granted if I were cured.
Thanks for the replies!
Faith
I live in my own little world, but that's ok....they know me here!
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Faith
your hubby >SAINT< . i would have to wrap you in cling film and put you in the wardrobe, sorry x
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RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
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Night terrors are more common and more recognised than you might think, and can be treated. They can also be caused by many things, not neccessarily psycological. Sleep Apnea for example can be associated with nightmares involving a shortness of breath, artists who suffered from this complaint in the 17th century drew their nightmares of demons sitting on their chest- not that I want to give your subconcious ideas. In this case Sleep Apnea is caused by a partial collapse of your airway and can clearly be quite serious, particularly as people get older. It can be treated by wearing a mask at night that slightly increases the pressure of the air you breathe, holding open your airway. It's time to see a specialist doctor, in the meantime maybe check www.nightterrors.org
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for once im serious,my elder brother has just had an operation on the back of his throat,they did addenoids,tonsils and the flap of skin at the rear of his throat,is this to do with this subject,his wife often had to whack him on the back in the night cos he choked,he was also afraid to go to sleep.