OpenHealth Q&A

Concerned About Sleep Behavior and Its Impact on My Child

I am a 29-year-old woman, standing at 5 feet tall and weighing 160 pounds. For the past three months, I’ve been taking Zepbound at a dosage of 2.5 mg. In terms of my medical history, I have been diagnosed with "unspecified parasomnia" and inappropriate tachycardia syndrome following a COVID infection. Currently, I'm undergoing investigations for elevated antinuclear antibodies (ANA at 1:640) and thyroglobulin antibodies (332), along with experiencing erythromyalgia. For the last 16 years, I have been dealing with peculiar sleep behaviors that began abruptly when I was just 12. These nocturnal episodes can range from mildly bothersome to distressing, but I never sought answers until I became pregnant with my daughter in 2022. My previous habit of leaping out of bed became increasingly hazardous as my pregnancy progressed. After her birth, I found myself picking her up from her bassinet and running with her while she was still asleep, an act that fills me with dread to think about even three years later. Now that she’s 2.5 years old, just last night she inadvertently found herself in bed with me after a long night. I experienced an episode where I abruptly got out of bed, dashed into the kitchen, raced back, picked her up, and continued out of the room, before seemingly placing her back in bed. I was in a half-awake state yet retained enough awareness to remember this behavior. My sleep-related symptoms include: - Vivid hallucinations that arise approximately 10 to 30 minutes after I fall asleep. These can occur several times in one night or only once or twice weekly, but they never happen during my waking hours. - Sleep paralysis that primarily occurs during naps when I sleep on my back in a warm environment, although it rarely happens at night. - Confusional awakenings where I regain consciousness unable to speak or recall my identity, my husband's, or my whereabouts; I may simply feel a general sense of familiarity, requiring some time to fully recover. - Sudden episodes of running out of the room while still partially asleep, which might be triggered by a hallucination I can't recall. - Daily exhaustion regardless of whether I sleep for 5 or 9 hours. In the past, I relied heavily on coffee and naps, but my tachycardia diagnosis and having a toddler has made that impossible. The overwhelming fatigue typically strikes around 1 or 2 PM each day, and if I resist the urge to sleep, it leads to severe brain fog. - My inappropriate sinus tachycardia syndrome worsens at night, particularly due to frequent sit-ups or startling awake from a deep sleep, causing my heart rate to spike up to 200 at times. This issue has developed in the past three years, post-COVID. In terms of testing: - A sleep neurologist considered narcolepsy as a potential diagnosis. My Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) showed no early onset sleep or REM episodes, though I did sleep through all five naps. During my nighttime polysomnography (PSG), I experienced a sleep latency of just 6 minutes. In a previous PSG, the latency was also 6 minutes, and I reached REM sleep at 50 minutes, which was deemed early. After the MSLT results, the neurologist couldn't provide further direction and suggested I return if anything changes. - I consulted another neurologist who performed a 5-day ambulatory EEG, which was clear of seizures but did capture numerous nocturnal episodes that the PSG/MSLT had not detected. - An MRI of my head with and without contrast appeared normal. Any advice or insights you may offer would be immensely appreciated. I have aspirations of adding another child to my family, but I’m deeply concerned about the risks I might unwittingly pose to my children. My husband works away for three weeks each month, leaving me responsible for our daughter most nights. Additionally, managing fatigue is a challenge without my usual coffee or the opportunity to nap since my toddler has stopped napping.

Answers (1)

7/19/2025, 12:40:48 AM

OpenHealth AI

Thank you for sharing your detailed experiences and concerns. It sounds like you’re navigating a complex situation with your sleep disturbances, health conditions, and parenting responsibilities. Here’s a structured response to help address your main concerns.

Main Points

1. Continuous Management of Sleep Disturbances: Your parasomnia symptoms, including sleepwalking and vivid hallucinations, require ongoing attention to ensure safety for you and your child.
2. Addressing Fatigue: Your daily exhaustion is troubling, especially when caring for your daughter alone.
3. Future Family Planning: Your concerns about the implications of your condition on future pregnancies are valid and common.

Explanation

Your symptoms, including parasomnia, sleep disturbances, and excessive daytime fatigue, can significantly impact your daily life and responsibilities as a parent. Sleep disorders can vary widely, and it’s essential to keep monitoring your situation since sleep-related issues may evolve. Safety is paramount, especially with interactions involving your daughter during sleepwalking episodes.

Given your history and current symptoms, it's important that you maintain a safe sleeping environment to protect yourself and your child. The specific details you provided—like the vivid hallucinations and confusional awakenings—suggest that continued professional evaluation and possibly updated treatment could be necessary, especially considering your motivation for expanding your family.

Next Steps

1. Establish a Safe Sleep Environment: Ensure your daughter sleeps in a separate room or a safe sleep space, away from any hazards that could pose risks during your sleepwalking episodes. Consider using safety gates, removing sharp objects, and ensuring your home is secure.

2. Track and Document Experiences: Keep a detailed sleep diary that notes when your episodes occur, accompanying feelings, and environmental factors (like sleep position, room temperature, etc.). This log can be invaluable for sleep specialists and neurologists to understand patterns.

3. Prioritize Rest Techniques:

   • Sleep Hygiene: Maintain a consistent sleep schedule (going to bed and waking up at the same time every day), create a calming bedtime routine, avoid screens an hour before bed, and limit alcohol and heavy meals before sleeping.
   • Fatigue Management: When possible, integrate brief moments of rest throughout your day. These need not be long naps but rather moments of stillness, even if just for 10-15 minutes when your daughter is engaged in play.

4. Explore Treatment Options for Tachycardia and Fatigue: Coordinate with your healthcare providers about appropriate methods to manage your inappropriate tachycardia, especially as it may worsen your daytime fatigue and overall feeling of incapacity.

5. Consider Professional Guidance: If not already considered, seek a sleep specialist or a multidisciplinary team to reassess your condition periodically, particularly if your symptoms evolve. This could include adjustments in medication (like Zepbound) under supervision.

6. Discuss Family Planning: When ready, discuss your aspirations for having more children with your healthcare provider, focusing on any necessary precautions or adjustments needed based on your medical history and dynamics at home.

Your concerns about your health's impact on your family are entirely valid. Remember that your well-being is crucial for your child's safety and happiness, so prioritizing your health in this journey is essential. If you ever feel overwhelmed, reach out to a support group or counselor specializing in parental challenges with health conditions. You’re not alone in this, and there are resources available to help you navigate these complexities.