[Jerky_Chris]

Hi everyone-

This is my first day on this site & I hope I can get some help, advice or just plain.."support"-!

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--! (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 dose off....I feel .,..at times.....a "snort"....in my mouth.....like me palate..uvula or tongue is vibrating!

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 anm antihistimine 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?
kindest regards--Chris

[Blessings2You]

Someone will be along soon who can address your specific concerns...I just wanted to welcome you to the community! Some days are slow here, and some are busy, but you will find much support and be so glad you joined!

[Jerky_Chris]

Thanks so much for your kind words & encouragment. They mean so much to me.

Right now, I'm frustrated, anxious & a bit afraid (I don't know why--I guess it's the fear of having something---the Drs...can not identify)-

But--I have faith in God....& nice, caring people like you, are like God's Angels- Thank you so very much. I know I will hear from others- Regards- Chris

[Kitty]

Hi Chris and welcome to NeuroTalk! You might want to also post in the General Health Conditions Forum http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum2.html. You might get more responses there.

It's scary when things happen and there's no explanation for it. Sometimes our own anxiety over the unknown will cause our symptoms to become exaggerated. I know if I'm anxious about something I get hyper-aware of every little symptom I have and that just seems to make it worse.

I'm sure others will come along and welcome you to the site and give their own advice. Sometimes Sunday can be a slow day here. Have a look around the forums and see if there are any posts that might be of some help to you. You're not alone. There's lots of very caring and supportive people here.

[Dmom3005]

Good luck with the EEG

Donna

[Jerky_Chris]

Hi Donna-

I know you meant well, with your possible..(or as you say 'likely')--that I have "partial complex seizures"-!

BUT--it is NOT -what I wanted to hear or...NEED to hear right now!

I've been told by both my regular neurologist AND the sleep neuro....(who prescribed the EEG)---That he just wants to "rule it out"....as he feels my EEG will come back..."normal"-!

I have quite a bit of confidence in my neurologist & she told me she felt..."Certain"...that i do NOT have any kind of seizures.....but....that my symptoms are purely the result of stress!

Don't forget....they ONLY occur...(when the DO occur)---right before going off...to sleep! NOTHING...happens during the day!

Again....I know your intentions were good---but----just let me wait till I get my EEG results...before you have me...diagnosed...with epileptic seizures!

I mean....IF you were gonna say something like..."Chris...don't worry...it may be nothing but anxiety!" Now....THAT would be OK---!

PLEASE---don't scare me more than I already am!--Thanks--kindest regards---Chris

[Hockey]

Hi Chris and welcome to NT!

I do a lot of jerking because I suffered nerve damage in an accident. Throughout the day I have twitches, spasms, tingles, etc.. According to my husband, I also do a big shudder as I fall asleep and will do it again several times through the night.

Is there any chance you've done something to damage or compress a nerve? A naughty nerve in your neck can make odd things happen all over your body.

I can appreciate how frustrating it is not to have a name for what is happening to you. I think the best thing to do is to continue and seek out good specialists and to try and not imagine the worst. I know that's often easier said than done.

Cheers

[Kitty]

It sounds like it definitely could be anxiety. I'm sure your doctors would know if it were something more. Like you said, your regular neuro and your sleep neuro both think your EEG will be normal and your symptoms are stress-enduced. If they thought it was anything that required immediate action I'm sure they would have either admitted you to a hospital for testing or put a rush on the tests they've already ordered.

[ewizabeth]

Welcome to NeuroTalk Chris!! I hope you'll figure out what the problem is and it will be something mild and easily fixed or treated. The good thing is, with modern medicine, lots of things are easier to deal with nowadays. Also, you have us here to cheer you up. Take care.

[pabb]

Originally Posted by Jerky_Chris

Hi everyone-


I'm a former HS History teacher....60 yrs old. My main problem...lately, have been these strange "Pre-sleep"......body movements-
--

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---


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--! (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 dose off....I feel .,..at times.....a "snort"....in my mouth.....like me palate..uvula or tongue is vibrating!

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 anm antihistimine 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?
kindest regards--Chris

the highlighted items would cause me to question celiac disease/gluten intolerance....the twitching/wired feeling also would cause me to question a low magnesium level. celiac testing will not tell you if you are gluten sensitive nonceliac. typical blood tests do not include a magnesium level. good luck.