Feel like I’m dying when falling asleep

I always feel worse for a time when I lay down to sleep. Not sure exactly what you are experiencing but I often get body spasms that seem almost internal rather than external, increased hearth rate + irregular heart beat which in turn causes irregular breathing. Also other symptoms that I wouldn't even know where to begin to describe other than to say my body just seems to hate that period where I first lay down.

I listen to audiobooks during that time which helps take my mind off of it.

HI, Shabbychic,

I’m my opinion I think you’re experiencing a classic sign of overdoing it & pushing yourself way past your limits. It can feel worse when you lay down as that’s the time when you notice the feelings more but it is definately worse the more you push yourself. You are experienced what we call a “crash.” Trying to push through it will only make it worse I’m afraid. Have you been referred to a cfs/me clinic? They will teach you how to pace activities & finding your base line (limitations) it’s a bitter pill to swallow having to make changes but this isn’t an illness you can fight. You have to listen to your body & work with it. Try to include breaks/rest periods within the day if you can & rest willingly. Your body will thank you for it.

Pet

Dearie me that is a symptom that I can so relate to. It happens just as I relax and about to drop off to sleep....not every night but often enough. It is like a pulse or a shock all through me...scary enough to open your eyes almost in terror. I wonder what the cause is? I noticed another poster claims it could be a crash, but I am not sure. It can happen to me whether or not I have had a reasonably busy day or not...no pattern at all. I often used to get other similar odd scary neuro sensations during the day, sometimes still do...they are unsettling enough let alone when you are falling asleep. I have often thought about bringing it up with a doctor but then I think it is such an odd symtom/event would they have an answer. They have no answers to any of my neuro symptoms...other than they are not sinister...although they certainly feel like it.

Hi Shabbychic

I have been experiencing something similar to this, which has become more frequent lately. It's been 5 years for me now having Cfs . I get this strange almost electric shock in my head/ chest which is just as I am falling asleep or very soon after and once it happens I also tend to try to stay awake as it is a scary sensation. I have tried to explain it to gp but no one seems to have an answer. As Charlie19 said.... there is no pattern to it !

Hi shabbychic, could you describe how you feel as you try to fall asleep? physical symptoms or mental? i've had cfs for many years and i fall asleep all the time, usually if i sit down i'm gone. when it comes to sleeping at night i only get about 4 hrs and i never feel rested after sleep. it's a tough illness to deal with, and for me it just leaves me feeling drained and can cause anxiety and depression.

My advice would be to try and find a doctor who is more open to the idea that cfs is a real and debilitating illness and go from there. Don't hold back with letting them know how bad you feel and that you need help.

Hi

Yes I too get this feeling every time I lie down, feel like my inner being is trapped in my body and trying to escape. Feeling of dread comes over me, shuddery insides. Only sleep every other night

i feel the same way. i often try to stay up as long as i could because im scared to fall asleep. i get up several times during the night because of palpitations. my cycle is near too and i normally get horrible anxiety before it comes.

hello,

im struggling as i type this message, ive never had anything like this before, im quite scared to be honest, im so tired and so i try to fall asleep and as im on the edge of "being asleep" my body panics and wakes up, it feels horrible like im on the edge of dieing, i feel so mentally ill right now!

I have just come upon this while searching for why this is also happening to me. I'm getting it frequently and it's terrifying. It's very physical, with rapid and irregular heartbeat, a pounding head, hot flushes, shaking and, as you say, generally feeling like I'm dying. Also, on one occasion, I heard a tremendous bang, even getting up and looking out the window to see if something had happened outside. It wasn't, so obviously that was in my head too.

I do have a complicated medical history with autoimmune diseases and am currently reducing my dose of steroids but have never experienced anything like this before. I'm getting frightened to go to sleep now.