Night Terrors - Waking Terrors??
Posted , 6 users are following.
Last week I had what can only be described as my first Night Terror - it fit the bill from the research I've done online. Last night though, something happened which has really unnerved me - I'd been watching TV with my wife and kids and fell asleep on the sofa. I woke up, very sleepy, and went to the toilet. In the toilet I started coughing, I was struggling to breathe, and then I blanked out completely. When I became "aware" again, I was on my knees in the hallway, crying like a baby in my wife's arms. All I can remember is the coughing, a feeling of desperately NEEDING to escape, and that's it.
My wife tells me that they heard a massive noise from the bathrooom, rushed out to see what was happening, and I was literally smashing up the bathroom by flailing my arms, and then sunk to my knees and crawled out into the hallway.
Now, I was awake (although sleepy) when this started, so... and, I just don't know. Am I potentially a danger to my family? I have no control over this, how far can it go? How can this happen when I am awake?
Also, this morning when I woke up, it was almost on me again, from waking up, I shot out of bed, panicking, breathing ridiculously hard, right on the edge - luckily i was able to reign it in and stop it from developing.
Help please, I have no history of panicking, I am a man who really doesn't fear anything, and suddenly I am scared out of my wits about what is happening. The "after-feeling" from these "attacks" leave me shaking, terrified, checking the dark corners of the rooms, and this is really not me. Help.
0 likes, 128 replies
lorraine52317 richard29068
Posted
lovely to get your update. was hoping to respond earlier today but was nursing a awful headache.
I agree with lily, it sounds like progress and hopefully you won't have to wait months for the sleep clinic. ecig all the way if you can! I smoked for over 40 years and found the e- cig wonderful! Now over a year without lighting up! It's about finding the right one! I do hope your nights continental to improve ♥♥
lorraine52317
Posted
Lily and I have been thinking about you and we really hope things have improved for you.
When you get time please let us know how you are doing ♥♥♥♥
God bless x
richard29068 lorraine52317
Posted
You two are so cool!
I'm just getting increasingly frustrated, I'm due to go into the sleep clinic towards the end of April, so I got myself one of those Fitbit things that monitors sleeping patterns, and the results from it indicate that I don't have sleep apnea - it's saying I "wake up" only around 10-20 times a night, which is pretty normal for "normal" people. I don't know how accurate it is, but I suppose I wanted confirmation that I have sleep apnea so I could finally finger a main part of the issue/cause. I suppose I now have to wait until the end of April to get official feedback.
I'm just SO impatient and frustrated - give me 5 big angry guys with baseball bats and I know what I have to deal with, but this... aaarrrgh!!
But on the positive side, I'm dealing well with the episodes still - no major ones recently, and currently able to stop EVERY episode as I'm jumping (or falling) off the sofa. Mild(ish) panic, gather what's left of my senses, and knock it on the head before it develops. I guess I'm lucky.
I've got another trigger that I've identified. When I'm almost asleep, if I see a shadow underneath the door, then I know I'm going to have episodes - I am not the nervous type, I never see shadows etc, so I think it's a warning (advance notification) given by my subconscious that I'm for a restless night. Weird but true. Last night as I was going to sleep I saw the sitting room actually open as a shadow moved past, I jumped off the sofa, grabbed a pen (the only weapon to hand) ready to do battle with whoever was there, only to discover the door was still closed.
I want to curse about this stupid thing, but the last time I swore on here my post was deleted within minutes, so i shall be a good boy!
Anyway, I'm fine, just had enough, but I will continue to fight it, and I will cope until I win.
Hope you girls are coping with your own issues, and are finding some peace in amongst your own nighttime adventures...
Cheers xx
lily65668 richard29068
Posted
Glad to hear you're coping. Don't be too downhearted that your gizmo didn't show sleep apnoea. These DIY things are nowhere as good as the sleep lab and in any case, a more scientific test might turn up another cause.
I was interested to hear about your warning sign. I never get any warning of NTs but I often know when I'm going to get sleep paralysis because I get an itchy nose!
It's great that you've identified this sign. It's another small step to getting on top of the thing. Are you able to go a step further upstream? I mean, can you identify anything that happens consistently during the day or evening prior to seeing the shadow? Could be something you ate or drank, a certain type of social incident, a family or work atmosphere, an emotional feeling, even the weather. I never managed to identify triggers for my NT attacks (unlike the SP) but some people can.
I had quite a time with NTs last night. Don't know how many times I woke up, each time thinking I had to do something urgent. Can't remember what it was but I think it was some kind of life-or-death choice. I didn't get out of bed - haven't done that for several years as far as I know - but kept sitting bolt upright in the grip of the thing. I got up to go the loo around 4am, and it even followed me there. As I was getting back into bed I was still worrying about how I was going to do it - whatever it was - and had to remind myself it wasn't real. I found most of the bedclothes on the floor this morning so I'd obviously had quite an eventful night!
I think I know the cause of this. I currently have a difficult administrative situation hanging over me, but can't do anything about it till someone else makes a move. I'm not really the anxious type but I think this is mining me a bit, hence the increase in NTs. Only time will sort this one out...
Let us know how you get on at the sleep clinic, won't you? And post as often as you feel you want to in the meantime.
All the best,
Lily xx
richard29068 lily65668
Posted
That's the impression i get from lots of reading up on the subject, people relate bad nights to stress (just as you do), but it doesn't seem to be related in my case.To be honest, I am always under a lot of pressure, mainly work-related, and good/bad/mediocre work days don't appear to influence my NTs. I usually have a good idea by around 10.30pm whether I'll have an eventful night because i start to feel unsettled, and if that's followed by "the shadows), then yeah, it's gonna happen for almost sure.
Interesting that you said it followed you to the loo, when mine used to develop more, i used to walk around the house, kitchen to get a drink of water, loo, dining room etc, and it followed me everywhere - i would walk around until it diminished, then go back to bed. It had to diminish significantly before I went back to bed, otherwise the pure act of lying back down would cause me to start panicking again.
My coughing no longer appears to be a trigger, and the shadows aren't really a trigger because they're not real, so I suppose they really are just a warning. Which means I've currently got no identified triggers.. hmmm... I hadn't realised that.
I hope you get your administrative situation sorted quickly, get that other someone to get a move on!!
Cheers
Rich xx
lorraine52317 richard29068
Posted
lovely to hear from you ♥
Sorry to hear your still getting these horrible episodes. I found it interesting that you mentioned seeing a shadow underneath the door, and this being a precursor to a bad night. My precursor is a feeling of something crawling over my hair. That always means a bad night! Back to you, I think the way you are handling your episodes is fantastic, I love your positivity. I really hope April's clinic highlights something concrete for you.
Don't forget Lily and I are always here for you.
warmest wishes to you and your wife ♥♥♥♥
God bless xx
lily65668 richard29068
Posted
Thought about you when I woke up this morning. Last night I had my first NT for several years where I actually got out of bed. It wasn't very spectacular or dangerous - just rushing around the bathroom opening and shutting cupboard doors, looking for something. Can't remember what I was looking for, but I must have thought it was life and death, as I was shaking like a leaf with heart pounding when I came to my senses in the walk-in cupboard where the boiler lives. I'm convinced this was just an inevitable one-off so I don't think it will worry me enough to trigger another one tonight.
So, how are things with you? Have you finished all your investigations now? I hope you're finding a way to manage your attacks and are now back in the marital bed. Let us know, won't you - if you can find time in your busy life, of course.
All the best,
Lily
richard29068
Posted
Hi girls (Lorraine and Lily), and everyone else of course.
It's been a while since I checked in here, maybe more than 6 months, so I thought I'd run an update past you.
After numerous test, scans, etc etc etc for basically everything the NHS could think of, I got absolutely nowhere. They seemed to actually give up themselves, and eventually stopped calling me back for more tests, and after a couple of my calls that weren't returned I decided, rightly or wrongly, that I'll just deal with it myself. Probably wrongly, but I had to make a decision whether or not to continue going backwards and forwards with no results, or just deal with it. So I dealt.
COPD still unconfirmed. My condition still undiagnosed, and I'm having no treatment for anything anymore. Sleep apnoea - confirmed, but not a terrible case of it - no longer being treated for it. Cough syncope - confirmed by myself.
The "night terrors" - under control, still have some "shakes" and minor dips into the twilight zone, but I have beaten it because I can control them and snap out of it before they get too bad.
Although I have no name for it, I have identified the problem. Everything, including the night terrors and the cough syncope, is a direct result of oxygen deprivation, which appears to cause an immediate chemical imbalance in my brain. The latest example of this was this morning. I have a bad cough again, kept me up all night last night. This morning at work, in front of my staff, I had a really bad coughing episode, very violent. I felt "things changing" in my head, so dropped to my knees, fully expecting a "simple" cough syncope with the result of me passing out cold. Unfortunately it didn't bring on a cough syncope, it brought on a "night terror" for the very first time when being fully awake. it only lasted about 3 or 4 seconds before I controlled it, but it left me lying on the floor shaking like a leaf. It was the start of a very violent night terror, thank god I can control them.
So my night terrors are not night terrors, they are chemical imbalance reactions directly caused by oxygen deprivation, therefore brought on by violent coughing.
What will do about it? Nothing, apart from go to the doctors to get the cough treated.
That's it, my life has changed irrevocably I think, I no longer sleep in the marital bed because I simply can't trust myself, in case I have an "NT" that I can't control. constantly worried about coughing, driving, etc etc, and now have the embarrassment of an "episode" in front of my staff. Lovely. But I'm feeling a little sorry for myself after this morning, and am usually very "water off a ducks back" in regards to everything, and don't let it affect me too much!
Hope you all are doing well and seeing improvements...
Cheers
Rich xx
lorraine52317 richard29068
Posted
Hi Rich
how lovely to hear from you?
I am saddenend that you are still suffering to the extent of having to move to a separate bed from your wife. This condition is having a direct impact on all aspects of your life, pity the medical profession appears to be overlooking this. Try not to let the incident at work get you down, you have an underlying health condition which I think needs more investigation. The cough sounds distressing and must make you feel very low at times. I think the link with oxygen is worth pursuing rich, it's important you find some relief from these symptoms. I had three night terrors in one night a few days back, my granddaughter was staying with me and managed to wake me quite swiftly on each bout! Poor thing had school the next day!
My depression has gone, but I still feel lost, if that makes sense? NT come and go and like you, I am managing them.
I really hope things get better for you Rich, quality of life is so very important. It's not right that this is impacting on your personal relationship and your work environment.
Don't give up with the docs, keep insisting for further tests eg referral to another specialist/consultant. Please keep us posted, so nice to hear from youxxx
richard29068 lorraine52317
Posted
hey Lorraine!
I'm really sorry that you're still having problems, I guess it's something that most of us will carry around for much of our lives. Your poor grand-daughter, I know how frightening it is for "third parties" to see happen (my own family), but it sounds like she did really well.
Feeling lost - oh yes, perfect sense to me, even after what was a relatively minor event this morning my head is still not straight and I'm in a little bubble of my own, not fitting in anywhere, out of place and lost.
I am DONE with all the tests Lorraine, from now on i'll do it my way, through bullish attitude and refusal to lose.
However, I have recently moved house and surgery, so tomorrow, when I book an apt to see the doc re something to stop my cough, I will briefly discuss it with him. If, and i repeat IF, he sounds like he's interested and knowledgeable, I may open up the tin of worms again, even if only to get my COPD confirmed/denied.
Is there such a thing as a miniature oxygen inhaler I can carry with me everywhere? Now THAT would be useful!!
You know, although I may disappear for months at a time, I have the feeling that PATIENT will be a part of the rest of my life!
Cheers xxx
lorraine52317 richard29068
Posted
Hi Rich
when you get time I look forward to hearing how you get on with your new docs.
Always here for you ?
Warmest wishes to you and your wife. I hope your both in the same room next time I hear from you. I will pray for you not to have COPD that's a scary illness. I smoked for 40 years and worry about that myself! Been on ecig for 2 years, hopefully it's the less of two evils! Take care Rich xx
richard29068
Posted
Hello hello mainly to Lily and Lorraine!!
8 months since my last appearance on here, I thought it was time to update you lovely ladies!
Well, COPD, Sleep Apnoea and Cough Syncope all confirmed, but you probably all know that already.
No more doctors, had enough of their tests and rubbish, and apart from when I start developing a cough, I stay clear of them.
NT's (or whatever they are) are still there, but they no longer control me, I control them, and I am happy to say that I haven't had a "proper" one in over 6 months. Worst one in the last 6 months was the only one that developed past the "feeling stage", and it was relatively mild, just needed to escape and settled happily under the dining-room table which appeared to do the trick - I suspect this one was only able to develop because I went to bed after a few too many drinks, therefore had not as much self-control as usual.
The Cough Syncope is now the major concern for me, although changing my brand of cigarettes has helped my coughing massively. Still very aware of my cough though, and although I haven't passed out from it for a long time, there have been 5 or 6 occasions when I've come very close to it.
We're emigrating in 2 weeks to sunnier and more relaxed climates, so I'm hopeful that will be another way of improving my quality of life, because although work won't be any more relaxed (no change in my work, I'll just manage it remotely), my off-duty hours will be spent in the sun, with a beer or a coffee, relaxing!
I hope you both are doing really well!!
Cheers
Rich xx
lorraine52317 richard29068
Posted
Hi Richard ?
So lovely to hear from you. Sorry to hear about the COPD diagnosis Rich. I smoked for 40 years and know how hard it is to give up. I switched from lighting up to ecig about three years ago. Maybe try it Rich and give up those fags!
Glad you have a handle on the NT's but it is still not nice having to cope with them.
Your move sounds fab! I am jelly!
Please stay in touch from time to time Rich, and importantly take care of yourself ??
So wonderful to hear from you xx
lily65668 richard29068
Posted
Lovely to hear from you after all this time, Rich! Glad to hear you're getting to grips with the NTs. I thought you would. They're always worse for the first few months, when we get anxious about them. Mine were the same. I found that once I (and my hormones!) calmed down, they became much more manageable.
I haven't had a serious one in years, though I still sit up suddenly in bed a few times a month either thinking there's something I have to do or momentarily convinced that "they" are coming from the other dimension to get me. But they never last more than a few seconds before I realise what's going on - certainly not long enough for me to get out of bed or do myself any damage these days.
I haven't had a really spectacular sleep paralysis attack for a year or so either, though I still get minor ones a few times a month. They can definitely be triggered by too much alcohol in my case!
Somewhat unfairly, since I've never smoked in my life unless you count heavy passive smoking as a child, my doctor now says I'm at risk of COPD! In my case, it's due to an autoimmune condition I've had for 20-odd years that's now started having a go at my lungs. But only in a minor way. The steroid inhaler he prescribed has now got my lung function completely back to normal.
So you're leaving the old country too? I left 42 years ago, though not for the sun - Belgium! (But Brussels is having it even hotter than London right now.) I'm sure a more relaxed tempo of life will help a lot.
I do hope your business hasn't been negatively affected by the falling pound. I know some businesses are actually doing better out of it. I won't be too badly affected as only about 20% of my pension is paid by the UK. However, once they're out out it will stop being indexed, which is a bit of a bummer. (Unless the UK stays in the EEA of course, which looks unlikely.) Still, at least my status here is assured. I actually saw all this coming 10 years ago and took Belgian nationality!
I'd echo Lorraine's sentiments - don't be too cavalier about your health, especially your chest problems. I'm not one for excessive medication myself. Only saw a rheumatologist once for my autoimmune condition, then realised there was no point in ever going again, as I had absolutely no intention of taking the low-dose immunosuppressants she wanted to prescribe. They actually give small doses of chemotherapy drugs for life to people suffering with autoimmune conditions these days. Sounded like a non-starter to me! 20-odd years on from the start of it all, I'm still doing fine just by managing the symptoms. But do try and cut back on cigarettes if you can, one way or another. The tars are no good for your lungs, and can attack your DNA too. But then I guess you know that already...
Hope you're OK too Lorraine.
Stay in touch, both of you, if you want to, either on this forum or by private message.
Lily xx
lorraine52317 lily65668
Posted
Hi lily
Made my day hearing from you and Rich ??
I am finally over my depression but still on two antidepressants. I feel really well now. I haven't had any bad nights in ages so I consider myself to be fortunate. I really hope all is well with you lily.
So glad to hear from you both ???