what is with these jolts/ticks/jerks just as I start to sleep? need help please!

[[sw...]]

Though things have largely finally been a lot better (I seem to *finally* turned a corner at the 9 month mark), for the past 4-5 nights I have been beseiged by these weird muscular things (jolts/ticks/jerks) that either take place in my legs or originate in the right middle quadrant of my body that jerk my *entire* body fairly hard as I lay in bed.  These strike every time I begin to doze off and it's been keeping me awake to the point where I've barely slept in the past few nights including one night when I didn't sleep at all. 

 

Worse yet, every time one of these jerks goes through me I have this sudden feeling of suffocation, so if the jolt through my body doesn't wake me up my sudden involuntary gasp for air will.  Does this have a name?  Is there a solution for it?  I tried a muscle relaxer and got no results.  I'm hitting a real level of desparation with my insomnia, here, and while I don't know that there is anything to be done beyond perservering, any information might help.  I've had probably around 30 of these so far tonight, alone.

 

I'm having a very bad time, here, and for the first time in a long while really need some help.  Thanks.

[[BY...]]

Hello,

 

That happened to me during that time frame. The muscle jerk would wake me up and my heart would be beating super fast and my anxiety would kick in to overdrive, shortness of breath to follow.

The sleep starts "insomnia" for me were one of the longest symptoms I had. Hopefully, this will be short lived for you.

 

 

If it is just not breathing that wakes you, it might be sleep apnea and you could talk to a sleep specialist about that. Just a thought.

 

Take care ,

Mike

[[sh...]]

I had those after I went off Lyrica and was rxed ambien- which is a z drug- I wish I had never gone on it. I listen to meditation to help me sleep- there are many on line- they really help me fall asleep though I haven't had as many shocks lately-knock on wood!I know it is hard to meditate while you have these shocks but if you try it every night it may help. I have just started to try passion flower tea and it seems to calm me down.

[[Br...]]

I sympathize with you.  I had sleep starts as well.  Mine were accompanied by what sounded like a loud metallic clang (auditory hallucination?).  I had this for a couple of months until it gradually diminished.  I hardly got any sleep during this period. It all seems like a bad dream now, pardon the pun.  The good news is that it does go away with time.  Best of luck!

[[Iw...]]

I would lie on the couch and stick my hands and feet under the cushions and back of the couch trying to keep them from jerking. Sometimes my whole body would jerk like it was convulsing. I took Remeron for a few weeks and it all went away.

[[it...]]

When I have this symptom, I find getting out of bed for an hour to be the best remedy.  Keep doing that until you fall asleep.

 

I know how awful this is.  I went without sleep for 6 days once.

[[cn...]]

In month 1 or 2 I'd wake up involuntary gasping for air from time to time but it has left it seems.  It'll leave.

[[pa...]]

Hi Sweetg,  The same happened to me, the same has happened to my husband.  Its the cns responding.  I was terrifed when it occurred, but figured what was happening, it finally left.  It left my hubby also.  I know its frightening when it occurs, but put it into context, just the nervous system healing.  You'll be ok.  Patty

[[sw...]]

Hey, thanks for weighing in, everyone.  It turns out that these things are apparently called "myoclonic jerks" and lots of people have them for lots of reasons.  I'm not sure that the problem is gone as I was having it still, last night, but I think I hit the point where I was finally so exhausted after nearly a week of extreme sleep deprivation that my body finally just fell asleep despite the jerks. 

 

This has been very unpleasant and frankly was about as bad as the problems I was having with restless leg syndrome (where you can't fall asleep due to a urgent feeling in your legs that you can only get relief from while you are moving them).  Anyway, I agree, just like all the other symptoms there is really nothing to do about them except for to persevere until it goes away.

 

Best wishes.

 

[[we...]]

I was about 6 off benzodiazepines when the myoclonic jerks started. People with Alzheimer get them, they're associated with brain damage. I thought that would cheer you up. I got about 60 a night when I would try to fall asleep or when I was relaxed. Since then, it's been about 8 months, they have decreased in intensity to where now I only get about 10 per night.  I associate them with being relaxed and tired, and now when they come, I just think to myself oh I am relaxed I will fall asleep soon. I just pass them off as a nuisance.

[[su...]]

I wonder if you are referring to hypnic jerks?  I hope I am not breaking some rule by posting this link.  I'm not a doctor....we studied this in anatomy and physiology.  Anyway, I've had them pre-benzo and post-benzo.  Just when you are about  asleep, BAM!   

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk

[[...]]

Hi there i have had these too.  For me it was like my whole body jerked as if i had received a bolt of electricity and it would normally happen just as i was about to drop off to sleep.  Very alarming.  As i have progressed with my taper and gained in confidence about sleeping, it appears to have stopped.  I hope this fades for you too. :  best wishes Fly

[[Bi...]]

So glad this thread caught my eye.  I've had this for years and never knew what it was.  I know it was worse when I was drinking and that it subsided when I stopped.  It is back and stronger than ever in wd.  Mine seems to hit in the chest, arms and legs; it's like I get hit with a cannon ball.  Always just at the point of falling asleep.  Happy to know what it is and have hopes it will subside when I'm done tapering.  Thanks Sunnyside

 

Bilbo

[[Al...]]

Wonder if a 'weighted blanket' would help? I started a thread on this under 'Anxiety'.

[[sw...]]

I was about 6 off benzodiazepines when the myoclonic jerks started. People with Alzheimer get them, they're associated with brain damage. I thought that would cheer you up. I got about 60 a night when I would try to fall asleep or when I was relaxed. Since then, it's been about 8 months, they have decreased in intensity to where now I only get about 10 per night. I associate them with being relaxed and tired, and now when they come, I just think to myself oh I am relaxed I will fall asleep soon. I just pass them off as a nuisance.

 

That's a beautiful way of looking at it. 

[[sw...]]

I wonder if you are referring to hypnic jerks?  I hope I am not breaking some rule by posting this link.  I'm not a doctor....we studied this in anatomy and physiology.  Anyway, I've had them pre-benzo and post-benzo.  Just when you are about  asleep, BAM!   

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk

 

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That was just the thing I was looking for- a name for it at last, and a small explanation, too.