How do you prevent 'night terrors'?

[Belgiangirl]

I looked up lots and lots regarding this issue on the internet, years go.
I know the most close thing I could find being reported, was that people declared they had it usually after eating carbohydrate full meals.
Often too much of this. So I would counter the above suggestion about the sugar drop thing, though I found it a very interesting idea!!


I also used to wake up often with the feeling to sufficate and being hungry for oxygen like mad... if you're breathing trough your nose often the opening might be too narrow. An operation might help.

I also have the problem that I sometimes breathe "in pieces" like in the first attempt the air doesnt really get deep into my lungs and isn't satisfying at all, then I have to stretch and lay in weird positions and yawn with my mouth very wide open (its more like reflexive to do then), while i cant be sufficating at all because there's no real blockage (at least i hope!).

 

[Belgiangirl]

Had trouble getting to sleep lastnight. Up too late talking online and then I lay there a few hours worrying about my heart and scared to sleep in case i had the night terror again. At one point i got up for the toilet and on the way down the hallway i had to stop and lean on a wall as i got dizzy and my heart was racing...

So i dont know whats happening with my heart or what to do next. I already feel as though doctors have been little help.

Eventually i fell asleep after trying to relax and get rid of 'anxious' feeling in chest. I keep thinking i need to go to the hospital for help but i ready tried that couple months ago and they sent me home.

The first 'night terror' i had was in december.. i woke up to what actually felt like my heart 'jumpstarting' itself... felt a bit like electric shock to the heart.. was dizzy.. had to wait til things calmed down then went back to sleep.

Im being treated for bacterial infections at the moment finally but i cant help but think something else is going on.

oh reading this, it its different from what I experience in a lot of ways.

First thing to do: get an appointment with a cardiologist. This seems like an arythmia, some of them occur when laying flat.
It may probably be benigne and not problematic, or otherwise you can get pills (betablockers) or get an ablation.

Though I also sometimes have the jumpstarting things, usually extrasystoles or other strange arythmia's, but not really tachycardia except from the racing thing, but since i cant move then and already asleep its different

 

[PatJ]

The strange thing is I want to move badly (especially since I'm very hot and scared!!), it feels like lead and impossible - much like the astenia which I might have by day when awake - so in my head I feel like i'm moving. So my brain actually makes me think I'm moving ... but I am not .... and i actually feel like i'm making myself ready for whatever and starting my morning ritual, then realising something is not right...
this episodes ends with the idea that i can move a finger very very slowly which asks extremely much energy. All the sudden I can really move it and I freak out of bed .... pulling my duvet up in one movement and breathing like an idiot, my heart still racing too fast but the extreme racing stops then.

I've had sleep paralysis at various times for much of my life. It's always when I'm more tired than usual. My 'way out' is usually to deliberately increase my rate of breathing (once I realize that I'm having sleep paralysis). This seems to help restore control over the rest of my body. The paralysis usually lasts for less than 30 seconds. It's hard not to feel a sense of panic when it happens.

I remember reading a post last year from another PR member who said she often endures two hours of sleep paralysis in the mornings.

 

[PatJ]

I also have the problem that I sometimes breathe "in pieces" like in the first attempt the air doesnt really get deep into my lungs and isn't satisfying at all, then I have to stretch and lay in weird positions and yawn with my mouth very wide open (its more like reflexive to do then), while i cant be sufficating at all because there's no real blockage (at least i hope!).

I've had that as well. In my case it turned out to be related to orthostatic intolerance. I think I have lack of blood in my lungs when I've been upright too long and this leads to air hunger/dyspnea. Since I have become partly bedbound each day and have learned to manage my OI better, I no longer get air hunger.

Here is a post on ProHealth that discusses possible reasons. Dyspnea is common with CFS/ME.

 

[Kenjie]

oh reading this, it its different from what I experience in a lot of ways.

First thing to do: get an appointment with a cardiologist. This seems like an arythmia, some of them occur when laying flat.
It may probably be benigne and not problematic, or otherwise you can get pills (betablockers) or get an ablation.

Though I also sometimes have the jumpstarting things, usually extrasystoles or other strange arythmia's, but not really tachycardia except from the racing thing, but since i cant move then and already asleep its different

Have taken to side sleeping only lately just in case. Hasnt happened in a week

 

[Kenjie]

Have taken to side sleeping only lately just in case. Hasnt happened in a week

But then it might be because I've taken a step back from doing all the things that increase anxiety such as measuring my pulse.. google researching everything under the sun and i've not come on Pheonix Rising as often.

I feel like doing these things peaked the anxiety which in turn heightens the fear and symptoms even more. So im doing my best to remain calm and not allow myself to get so anxious.

I still have the odd ball my eyes out moment but because I'm so tired all the time and tired of being sick.

So instead of running to doctors as i was 1-2 times a week which also does not help with anxiety i have stopped doing that.

I am still 'crook' but now just waiting to see specialists to get to the root cause. Something to do with frontal sinuses, my eyes and my thyroid.

I dont think I specifically have pots.. i think alot of it is centred around something physical happening around what i just mentioned. Because I can still function as normal as I can. Dizziness and imbalance feeling being worse if I stop using vit D .. although does not prevent gut nausea.

Have just been re-swabbed for bacterial infections which were contributing to the havoc on my body.

Point is.. its hard to know the difference between night time hypoxia and anxiety as they can be very similar. Over 10 yrs ago I remember waking up with the fright feeling but because I had a dream I was shot in the chest.

I do think if we try to minimise anxiety or doing things that heighten it we may feel at least a little bit better or more relaxed.

As frustrating as it is we cannot change the situation but we can do things to feel a little bit more at ease as best possible while we ride out the storm.

 

[Kenjie]

And I wish to add a dream I had lastnight... handgliding and doing tricks high in the air while another person guided me along. I was feeling super confident in my dream doing tricks of air rolly polies and hanging upside down.

Not sure if any meaning behind it or maybe that I just wish to be free from illness and free from this imperfect body and carry in to lead a normal life again. That be my guess.

 

[Kenjie]

And as nice as it is to talk to people who can relate I am going to log out seeing as account deletion is not possible. But only for the reason that I am trying to minimise anxiety..

This site is excellent for information when needed most.

 

[Belgiangirl]

paralysis for 2 hours, please dont let me even start to think sth like that could actually exists. I would die of stress 100% sure...
controlling my breathing then is very difficult since my nose is always blocked almost +75% and my mouth usually closed..... nothig you want to (over)think. Anyway when I'm too scared of getting this problems I take a sleeping pill. That always prevents it, and cooling of course. Now my room is ventilating for hours so I could sleep in a very low temperature.

I've had that as well. In my case it turned out to be related to orthostatic intolerance. I think I have lack of blood in my lungs when I've been upright too long and this leads to air hunger/dyspnea. Since I have become partly bedbound each day and have learned to manage my OI better, I no longer get air hunger.

Here is a post on ProHealth that discusses possible reasons. Dyspnea is common with CFS/ME.

Damn this forum seems to prove really useful. I shoud have strand here 5 years before!
Now you mention it, for me the problem is more profound when I'm more tired/stressed or after something changed (i remember having it very very extreme after starting antidepressants as a trial in the hope that it would "cure" my fatigue assumed that it might be just atypical depression symptom, which it unfortunately didn't do so I stopped them after several months). At that point it was very extreme, but also on other moments in my life that are more related to biological changes than anything else... I always assumed that it was a kind of hyperventilation, but I never have it when I'm enduring abnormal stress.

But only now, after living with it as long as i can remember and never having panicked that i wouldn't get my air (although it seems that way often when this first breath that seems to stop and cant get trough) i realise that it occurs after changing posture from horizontaly to vertically or the other way around... So you must be very right.

The natural thing I instinctevely always do is stretching & turning my body in all kinds of strange ways to "make the air go deep in my lungs" while theres obviously no block, and always happily than it works out (and may have a bit repeats and after that it is fine) so clearly probably you look for a posture instinctively redividing your blood.
More scary than I thought it was but it is the most reasonable explanation I ever heart.

 

[Belgiangirl]

And as nice as it is to talk to people who can relate I am going to log out seeing as account deletion is not possible. But only for the reason that I am trying to minimise anxiety..

This site is excellent for information when needed most.

I know the "run to doctors" and get frustrated everytime problem. It is something you have to consider: does it outweigh the benefits?They can only do so much, and after all lvery little about the body is know. Strange to hear but true.
You are ultimately your own best doctor and running to physicians and having all the stress (in my case i searched for a diagnoses and must admit i sometimes still am) is exhausting by itself. Not to say all the replacements you have to make. Better spent the few energy we have elsewhere and try to listen to our own specific body needs.
You're your own best doctor.
And you don't have at hand what they decide, measure, ... (if i read here I feel like i dont get good care because possibilities seem endless about testing and trying).
Trial & error is the best we can do I think.

Very simply said: don't panic. It won't help us, it won't help you, it will only make your situation worse and make you feel bad. Don't do that to yourself. You deserve better. Make the best of what you have. We don't know what may come tomorrow. A lot of people dont get what they deserve and are in a very bad condition, life is unfair and not about justice. Life is not a sweet sugar coated movie and in the end there are people in much worse situations than us and if we start complaining: everything may get worse, not comparable with what you felt the other day... and your reference may totally change about what is a bad situation and what is not... Please dont fool yourself into feeling sorry for yourself or others. This is what it is. Cope with it. If you can't do that on your own look for help on time. And dont compare yourself with what other healthy individuals do and realise everyone has his own problems he or she has to carry along.(*)

About anxiety, try to refocus your attention elsewhere, by watching some series of movies (non medical ones!!).

Another trick might help to lower your adrenalin in the body is this once told me by an older GP when I told him about my heart racing thing:
Start breath out as extremely slowly as possible, make it the longest outbreath you could ever do, it may take minutes (of course don't get dizzy or don't nearly try to kill yourself ).
Then breath in very quickly.
Then repeat: breath out extremely slowly ...

Most people's heart rate goes up when breathing in (adrenalin also) and goes down when breathing out.

(*) please remind me of the above text some day, i got ill at 16, now 31.

 

[PatJ]

I was recently reading about Solé (concentrated salt water) and found this tip that might help:

The abundance of trace minerals in natural salt will have a calming effect on the entire nervous system. Salt is known to reduce stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline in the body, helping you settle in for a better night’s rest. Many folks wake up between the hours of 2 am and 4 am when adrenaline spikes in the body. Matt Stone recommends a sprinkle of salt and sugar to calm the nervous system. I have been doing this AND IT REALLY WORKS. ... In addition, the proper ratio of water and salt consumption can help to prevent the need to urinate during the night.

 

[Belgiangirl]

Seriously? Just normal sugar and salt?

Indeed I wake up between 2 and 4 am ... My night rest is "in pieces". Especially from sunday on monday (as many people experience) I only fell asleep after 8 am. :-/

I also need to urinate all night long, taking meds for it even to limit it to 4-5 times which I feel that compromise my health. When I don't take meds I urinate until 10 times a night ...

 

[PatJ]

I also need to urinate all night long, taking meds for it even to limit it to 4-5 times which I feel that compromise my health. When I don't take meds I urinate until 10 times a night ...

Three things help me to urinate less (although I still have the excessive CFS/ME related urination):
1) Methylfolate - at least 1600mcg/day
2) Electrolyte drink - instead of straight water. I use Ultima Replenisher powdered electrolyte mix (sugar free).
3) Inclined bed - raising the head of the bed by 6" changes the way fluids circulate in the body and lessens the amount of fluid that enters the bladder during the night. It can help to reduce OI symptoms as well by increasing blood volume.

 

[Dainty]

I learn so much about my sleep by sharing a bed with my partner.

For example, night before last night I woke up from a mild nightmare desperately gasping for air. I wasn't sure if it was sleep apnea (we suspect it, based on my boyfriend's observations and my experiences) or just a nightmare. So I asked him.

And he says "Oh, that wasn't apnea."

I'm like, "Yeah?"

He says, "I woke up because you were breathing heavily, so heavily it seemed you were hyperventilating. Then you started thrashing around in the bed. You were mumbling, too. While thrashing and mumbling, you faceplanted straight into the bed next to the pillow. That's when you woke up."

I was like...."oh."

 

[Little Bluestem]

In addition, the proper ratio of water and salt consumption can help to prevent the need to urinate during the night.

@PatJ (or anyone else), do you know what the proper ratio of water and salt is?

 

[PatJ]

@PatJ (or anyone else), do you know what the proper ratio of water and salt is?

I don't know what the 'proper ratio' is that the article refers to. Although maybe it's refering the ratio found in tears, blood, and some other body fluids. According to one site I checked it would be 1/2 tsp salt to one cup of water.

I think it must depend on each person, how their body responds, and would require some experimentation.

 

[rwac]

Anyone try waking up and having a midnight snack?
Many people used to sleep twice (!) a night before electricity.

 

[humanrising]

so, after i read your post i went to my books and found a really interesting section of Tuning the Brain" by Jay Goldstein. my idea of a demi god.
He talks about the biochemical reasons why people with neurosomatic patients have extremely vivid dreams. He does say that taking Clonodine will help it . I can't type for very long so can't re-write it for you but you might be able to find it online. It is very technical but also incredibly interesting. The page number is 413 and 414

my cousin is a nurse and she has racing heart problems on and off that sound like what you are describing. There is a medical term for it, she says that she tries to get her heart to convert back to its natural rhythm by bearing down. She has seen a doc for it..... just been too long for me to remember the details, but next time we talk i will ask her what she said she had and what they do for it, just remember she was willing to live with it then do what ever the treatment was. I will post when i find out.

 

[Kenjie]

Been a couple weeks now since I have had any of these scary night terror things. Although have felt a little anxious when waking but nothing compared to before. Although i better not speak too soon lol.

So i just logged back in to share. I also dont have pots or autonomic function as doctors and gps had thought. One gp also thought i had excess fluid on the brain also false.

Ya know what.. all it was were bacterial infections that went undetected or untested for so long.. including sinus infection which i feel is still there.

My heart rate isnt beating fast. Or slow like it was. My balance returned to normal a week ago and dizzy spells have been very few. It has been 6 months just to feel this much better. Although still getting a bit of tiredness/fatigue which i feel is to be expected.

It has been such a stressful time and with healthcare practitioners not taking me seriously who wouldnt get anxiety doing the 'doctor chase'.

Nobody bothered to check or look for infection. Go figure.

 

[Marky90]

Ive had maybe five of these.. What helped was having more than 1-2. The first times i was scared shitless, but then on the subsequent ones i managed to mentally withdraw from the terror. Havent had one in a while, no clue what the biological basis is.