Falling asleep might be seizures?
 

I read Trevis Gleason's MS blog (he's also on fb). He mentioned that he falls asleep easily and occasionally has jerking movements. He mentioned that it is a form of seizure that patients can suffer...
It made me a bit scared, because of the problems I've had falling asleep eating dinner, driving, etc. Also, I have recently been falling asleep sitting up and then my arm or leg jerks up violently.

Anyone ever have this?

I dont fall asleep easily, but I do jerk now and again. its really bizarre and there is no pattern to it. Just now and again, BLAMO! my arm pops or my leg jerks out.

I have never heard of this. you make me want to read more.

Usually I'll feel a tickle somewhere and then my leg will jerk, but a don't do it when I'm sleeping, so I won't worry about that one.

A sudden jerk when you're falling asleep can also be that your not breathing well enough so your body jerks to say, "Hel-lo-o, you need to breath". At least that's what I've been told. It happens to me all the time. :rolleyes:

Debbie,

How much medication are you on? MS doesn't make us sleepy- but tired- so tired that sometimes we just "want to get flat."

We also have myoclonal jerks- a very quick movement of anything- usually an arm or a leg. They can be slower if you are on meds (clonazepam, for instance).

ANN

I'm on the max of zanaflex. Doc told me to take it with food to avoid the possible fatigue, and I do. That is the only med that would make me fatigued. I have energy nowadays (when that spell of fatigue that lasts for days hits, it's another story:rolleyes:).

My DD took a pic of me sleeping during a dinner out one evening. I just plain bent over and fell asleep. She posted it on FB, the brat...another time DH said, "Get your hand out of your dinner." I'd fallen asleep and my hand fell into the pasta. That's how fast it occurs...

The jerking is new for me. It could be lack of oxygen, but it happens when I'm awake now, and I'm not gasping for air...

Just another fun thing to add to the list I guess...:rolleyes:

I would most definitely love to read more on this..

Ever since I was diagnosed I have a very hard time staying awake, almost like narcolepsy.. I fall asleep sitting straight up, I even fell asleep while painting the other day..

I had assumed its just the MS fatigue...

When I was first diagnosed I was shooting straight out of my sleep feeling like I was dying. Scares the crap out of my boyfriend. I still do it to this day.. Sometimes it happens more than once in a night, making going back to sleep very scary.

I also have had the hard jerk of my right leg and right arm while sleeping.

My doctor thought I had sleep apnea and thats why I was waking out of my sleep so abruptly, but I went for a sleep study and they determined its not sleep apnea, so when I asked what it was, there was no answer for me...
I hate doing it, it scares me, I feel like its taking years off of my life

If you have a link on where I could find more info on this I would GREATLY appreciate it :)

Trevis Gleason had an entry about it on his blog. Either google him or "everyday health/ms".
I still believe he's got something with this theory. It happens just as you described it for me also...it's scary.
I can't keep my eyelids open, even though I'm not tired...they just want to clamp shut. Then I'm gone until I suddenly awaken. Too weird...