Hi everyone-
This is my first day on this site & I hope I can get some help, advice or just plain.."support"-! I've heard so many good things about this forum & the people! But...now...before Christmas....I'm a nervous wreck!
I'm a former HS History teacher....60 yrs old. My main problem...lately, have been these strange "Pre-sleep"......body movements-
--
First of all--I DO go to Drs...(Have a neurologist I see--) And....also, I'm bit of a hypochondriac !
My "issues".....have been.....at time.."pre sleep"...(as my neuro calls them)--"Hypnic jerks"----An...leg...finger.....shoulder....trunk...jaw snapping shut.! And...sometimes...feels like "brain zaps"---! Only neuro med I'm on is Valium....(like 7.5 mg...before bedtime)
I have had 2 brain MRIs.....within last 3 yrs...both "normal"not need one---
I have had 2 sleep studies done--both normal...(no apneas)---some PLM....(Periodic Limb Movement)
I "pestered" the sleep study Dr---for another sleep study--! He says..I do not need one---but....2 weeks ago--- I sent him an e-mail---!
He did call me.....& wants me to get an EEG.....from an Epilepsy specialist! (to "rule out"...."Partial complex seizure")
I have it for this Tues AM.,.....THEN....will see the specialist afterward!
My neuro( Who specializes in .."movement disorders")-----says...I do not have epilepsy or any neuro issue--(She has tested me extensively)--& feels it is all due to stress!
Anyway---last nite....I got up at 4 AM....to go to the bathroom.....& could not get back to sleep! Then...my left shoulder started to go into a.."myoclonic".....twitch! Jerking..up...& back-and I mean HARD!-! (I've had "twitchy muscles'....since high school) I should have taken a bit more Valium...as it DOES help!
This made me more nervous! It went away...after 3 or 4 minutes! But--I still felt some muscle twitching on my left rib cage...for another 10-12 mins!
this is...."DIFFERENT"....from the..."hypnic jerks"-! (and NO....it is NOT that .."falling feeling"-)
This stuff ONLY seems to happen...when I feel..."wired"...or hyper!
Also---I noticed...when I was about to doze off....I feel .,..at times.....a "snort"....in my mouth.....like me palate..uvula or tongue is vibrating! Also....feelings some times...like a "light electric shock" going thru my body! This does NOT happen ALL the time! BUT--I know....when it MAY happen....I always feel....."Jacked up"...."wired"-!
I told my Neuro Dr--I'm worried I have some..."strange.....undiagnosed...neuro-muscular disease"--! She ASSURED me...I do not ! (NO epilepsy...or ALS.....or Parkinsons)---I have even talked w a psychiatrist! He feels it is nothing serious! (I have chronic conditions....Mitral valve prolapse....SVT....irritable bowel syndomre...Esophageal spasm.....acute verigo......that's when i take the antihistimne...."Antivert"'...that really puts me to sleep!)
I ask you dear people on the site.....for some advice!
#1) WHERE...could I post this to get the best & most replies?
#2) Does this sound familiar to any of you out there? If so--please share...& help alleviate my fears!
Thank you all so very much! I'm so lucky to have found this site! I need...all the....'advice'...'counsel'.....& just plain reassurance only others who have HAD...similar symptoms have! Sometimes....I feel the Drs....think,.....I'm a bit....."nutty"...LOL (Well..I'm a writer...& we writers are supposed to be...'quirky')
Remember---I ..ONLY get these symptoms...when..I'm feeling .."wired"--!
A few times I had to take an antihistimine (Antivert....generic "meclizine") for my ear problem...& it makes me SO.....sleepy..I zonk out--& NEVER have this problem!
Again...hoping to hear- Seriously...you can be such a help to me--ALSO---will the "epilepsy specialist"...be able to see any epilepsy on my EEG...even if I'm not having any ..."myoclonic"...movements? What will the EEG be like? Please--I need some people who have experienced these strange.."PRE-SLEEP"....symptoms--to get back--I need your support...to know..I'm not...alone! Could it really be all "stress related"....as my Drs...say? (I AM under a lot of stress!)--------------
kindest regards--Chris