Hey guys, I'm just looking for your opinions on this reaction I'm having. Every so often, when I wake up in the morning, I'll awaken in the fight or flight response; feelings of doom and gloom, racing heart, and just raw panic. Sometimes it's so bad that my whole body is shaking and this can take quite a few hours to reduce in intensity.
Through observation, trial and error, I was able to determine that the reaction only happened if I had eaten foods high in sulfur the day before. After thorough research, the only possible explanation for this phenomenon is excess sulfur, whether it be due to CBS or SUOX (not sure if I have SUOX).
Does this make sense or I have gone off the tracks?
I'm not a doctor, so ignore all of us including me if you want true guidance.
However, as you asked our opinion as patients....
Bottom line: It's your body. If you think it's sulfar, test for it. If this will set your mind at rest:
If you're in Europe or can send a sample there from your location the cheapest place I know of to test
for this is
European Laboratory of Nutrients in Holland (ELN). Be mindful laboratories that are 'cheap' aren't certified - hence they're cheap. I'd test there first and if abnormal, use a higher quality lab and pay more $$$ only when needed.
Thinking outside your idea: randomly waking up freaking out could be anything from:
Psychological - Stress can affect out subconscious and commonly our dreams that effects CNS.
Low bood sugar - Many PWME report episodic random low blood sugar events, or 'like' events.
Partial seizure disorder - would abate on it's own. Subsets of ME sufferers have partial seizures or epilepsy.
Dysautonomia - Common in ME sufferers. Wouldn't last for hours unless you 'join' in via an anxiety response.
Pheochromocytoma (if high BP/Tachy/Chest pain is involved) - Very rare. Needs a 24hr urine test to rule out.
From what you describe i'd exclude
central sleep apnea as once you're conscious your oxygen/co2 would quickly return to normal even if you had any problems in your sleep breathing, it wouldn't last for hours afterwards or present as an adrenaline/sympathetic nervous system 'rush' type feeling for hours wide awake, in fact the only one's that could do that on my list above are:
Hormonal depletion/rare metabolic disorder where you are deficient in glucose, or producing exess hormones.
Psychological: explained above
Dysutonomia: if then triggering an anxiety response: unfortunate loop of abnormal CNS symptoms - stress response- amplifies CNS symptoms.
It is possible to have a partial seizure lasting a long time, but again in my experience this wouldn't usually be consistent events in terms of what you describe and would likely occur in other scenarios,not just in bed, and would have other symptoms suggestive of having had one, afterwards.
If you have funds and ability, try and get a sleep study if you have 'unexplained' bizarre symptoms that are waking you up that cannot be explained through simple conventional means.