OpenHealth Q&A

Uncertain About Episodes: Seizures, Night Terrors, or Something Else?

I am a 35-year-old Caucasian woman, standing at 5'9" and weighing 150 pounds with an athletic build. I do not currently smoke and drink socially. The only medication I take, occasionally, is beta blockers for bothersome premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), which I rarely need. Last July, I experienced a concerning episode where PVCs triggered by vaping caused me to lose consciousness and injure my head. After just a few months of vaping, I decided to quit altogether. Background: My father passed away from brain cancer 15 years ago at the age of 63. In April or May of 2024, I encountered an incident that I initially thought was merely sleep paralysis. I distinctly remember feeling pain and considered trying to sleep through it. However, I ultimately decided to get up, but I found myself unable to move. I desperately attempted to will my body to move. After what felt like an eternity, my legs finally began to kick, and I rolled around frantically, fearing that stopping would render me immobile again. Eventually, I managed to stand up and exit my bedroom, feeling hot and sweaty. The following day, I discovered I had wet the bed. Although I wasn't feeling great, I continued with my daily routine as usual. In January 2025, I had three distressing events: 1. On January 3, I woke up making noises and rolling in bed before transferring to the floor. I felt a significant lack of control over my movements and had wet the bed again. Overwhelmed by nausea, I ended up on the bathroom floor, where I stayed for four hours. 2. On January 22, I awoke rolling to my side, moaning, with a severe ringing in my ears that subsided relatively quickly. While I felt off, it wasn't as severe, and thankfully, I did not wet the bed this time. 3. On January 27, I became aware without being able to control my body, similar to my earlier experiences. I was trying to calm myself, screaming internally. Eventually, I managed to move and found myself moaning loudly and uncontrollably. I realized I had wet the bed at some point. I stood up and walked, but stopping felt like falling back into a deep sleep. I wandered around my home for a while until I felt stable enough to cease movement, but I felt unwell for the next several hours or even days. February passed without any notable incidents. March 25, 2025, I was on vacation with my boyfriend when he reported waking up due to the strange sounds I was making, described as a combination of a snore and a cry. After shaking me without success, he left for the bathroom. When he returned, I was even louder. He tried to shake me awake again, prompting me to erupt into a scream. I don’t know how long I remained in this state before partially regaining consciousness and realizing I could not move. I could hear him reassuring me and felt him rubbing my arm. He noted that my limbs would twitch before I regained full control, with my left arm being the last to respond. At some point, I realized I had wet the bed again. A common thread in all these episodes is that they consistently occur within the first few hours of sleeping. My boyfriend has observed that I don’t snore otherwise, leading us to wonder if sleep apnea might be a concern. I have a neurology appointment scheduled for the end of May as it was the earliest availability. My cardiologist referred me due to concerns that my symptoms might be related to seizures.

Answers (1)

4/1/2025, 2:01:15 AM

OpenHealth AI

Your experiences seem to involve complex episodes that could potentially be related to seizures, sleep disturbances, or other neurological issues. It’s commendable that you have a neurology appointment scheduled, as this is vital for getting a clearer understanding of your symptoms.

Explanation

The episodes you've described, including loss of movement, involuntary sounds, and incontinence, especially occurring during sleep or shortly after, raise the possibility of sleep-related disorders such as night terrors, seizures, or even sleep apnea. The combination of feeling unable to move and making abnormal sounds during your episodes suggests a possible link to nighttime seizure activity or other sleep disorders. Given your personal and family history, including your father’s health concerns, bringing these issues to a specialist's attention is crucial.

Next Steps

1. Neurology Appointment: Prioritize your visit with the neurologist at the end of May. Be prepared to discuss all symptoms, their frequency, and any patterns you’ve noticed. This information will help them in diagnosis.

2. Keep a Symptom Journal: Document your episodes in detail, including their timing, duration, sensations experienced, any preceding events (like stress or consumption of certain foods/drinks), and how you felt afterward. This can provide valuable insights to your doctor.

3. Sleep Hygiene: Even while you wait for your appointment:

   • Establish a calming bedtime routine to encourage better sleep quality.
   • Avoid stimulants (caffeine, nicotine) in the hours leading up to sleep.
   • Ensure your sleeping environment is cool, quiet, and comfortable.

4. Discuss Immediate Concerns: If you experience any new or worsening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing during sleep, prolonged periods of confusion after waking, or any additional episodes, consider contacting your healthcare provider sooner.

5. Support System: Share your experiences with your boyfriend or another trusted individual. Having support, especially during episodes, could be comforting and provide assistance during your restless times.

Stay hopeful; the appointment with your neurologist will be a good step towards understanding and managing your symptoms. Feel free to reach out if you have any more concerns or updates before your visit!