Well, I think I've run the gammut of weird disturbed and disturbing sleep...but, now its over the top.

Please someone tell me they have heard of this one.

Okay, I've got RLS, insomnia, night terrors/anxiety and I can't sleep more than 4 hours on a really, really good night...but, until now, this was all par for the course.

This new thing is actually kind of hilarious if it weren't so disturbing and abnoxious...and sleep depriving. A couple years ago I started talking in my sleep. Not too unsual, although I'd never done it. Now, in the last few months it has gone from a few unintelligable mutterings to full-on sentences and parts of conversations. Then, shortly, that progressed to body movements. I know this is not PLM...the sudden limb movements that some people deal with...my hubby has it just a bit and I'm always afraid he's gonna really knock me in the head one of these nights! No, I am "acting out" my dreams while I sleep. (I'm laughing just remembering this, but really, its quite disturbing.) I don't get up out of bed and move around (heaven help me!) but, I do movements with my hands and arms and somewhat with my feet that correspond with my dreams.
Not individual thrashing movements but, detailed, orchastrated movements. Now, don't tell anyone as this is sooo embarrassing, but about two weeks ago, I woke myself up after I had spat across the room...twice! One shot landed on my pillow and the wetness, coupled with my ever-patient, ever-supportive hubby exclaiming, "You've got to be kidding me!" woke me up and boy, did I feel stupid! But, I couldn't help it! I had no idea! (And no, I don't generally "spit" in real life but as I recall, dog poop was somehow involved in the dream...ugh! I think that more than warrants a little spitting!) Mind you, Loving Hubby was complaining as he walked into the bathroom to get a towel to wipe my slobbery mess up! He's such a good guy!

But, this is really out of hand. I haven't started, stopped or changed doseage on any meds in the last year. I have gone thru a few series of seriously horrible nightmares coupled with the sleep-talking and action movements. Truly bizarre.

Although...I do laugh every single time I think that I actually spat in bed while I slept. I mean, really, it is a little funny. Unless its a symptom of something dreadful....

I was just thinking that there must be some mechanism that generally keeps our bodies at rest while our brains spiral thru dreams. Might it be controlled by the autonomic nervous system...?

Anyone???

(Okay now, no ganging up and laughing at me behind my back!) I both laughed and cried that night. I was embarrased, ashamed and upset that my hubby had reached a point of frustration finally...but, then, it was just sooo darned funny!

sheri

It could still be the meds regardless of not changing doses.

Have to consider possible time changes with the meds. Are you taking one at a closer time with another lately?

Also, generic meds are not all they're cracked up to be. I've found that out the hard way with wellbutrin. Then my neuropsychiatrist confirmed that a lot of generics are a problem.

Also, sometimes the body chemistry just changes. The body is incredibly intricate. Body chemistry changes with stress or without it, seasonally, and hormonally. Age change could be a factor. Summer versus winter could be a factor. You could have more stress or less stress so your adrenaline and cortisol levels have changed.

I'd honestly consider taking 500mg of GABA with 100mg of L-Theanine and see how well you sleep. This seems to prevent the night terrors and weird crazy sleep disturbances and calms down my anxiety when the wellbutrin just isn't enough.

P.S. in the past I've literally screamed in my sleep. Once right after a romantic night with my date. Scared the crap out of him.

Yet that started a couple years after I'd been on my beta blocker. Hadn't changed anything. The beta blockers can be really tricky when it comes to the neurochemistry of the brain though. crazy crazy.

As I sit here in my own sleep deprived stuper (I have an EEG scheduled this morning so I could only sleep 4 hours max)I have to say, I also do this on occasion. I have done it since I was a child and my husband gets a kick out of it! But it has gotten worse since the neurologist started me on Effexor to raise my BP and HR...

rachel, look at the 'NET' forum posted by Rosie yesterday or day before. Someone mentioned SSNRI's should make POTS worse and I think Effexor is a SSNRI - something you might want to check out.

Donna

Sorry, Sheri, I had to laugh. I've done exactly the same thing. I dreamed poop got in my mouth and I spit on my pillow! rotf I have acted out different things in my sleep, too.

I don't know the tech stuff, but I do know that there is something that is supposed to, more or less, paralyze us as we dream so that doesn't happen.

I don't know why it ever happened to me, but it did stop.

hugs

Rachel, I feel for you (been there done that). I hope you were able to keep occupied on the internet or something during the night. That helps it to go a little easier. Now you just have to get thru the ride to the facility. Hang in there!

hugs

Check my FOR QUESTIONS IN RE post. I tried to touch on this for you.

Jan P, funny that we had the same response to similar dreams! It really is funny to tell, but was frustrating at the time...although my warped sense of humor kicked in pretty quickly!


Thanks all, for responding...