Jolt in head during sleep

[giantred]

I haven't used my CPAP equipment in a long long time, and I have a general question. It's really weird. I never had this before, but for a while after I fell asleep, I would wake up after say 2 or 2.5 hours and I felt like this buzzing in my head as if it was like an electic brain wave feeling. No I don't drink or do drugs, but it was really weird. It doesn't happen that often anymore, but I think I get up a few times in the middle of the night to go to the restroom, I really can't remember, but I still sleep, actually sleep rather deeply, however when I wake up, I am so so so tired, moody, depressed during the day, etc. But that weird like electric buzz in my head was like it kept buzzing in a way and jolted something in my head as I fell back asleep. It really didn't scare me, for if it did, I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. When it happens, i think I'm up only for about 30 seconds and then I go back to sleep. Has anyone ever had something like this. Also, I'm pre diabetic, so that might have something to do with it as well, not sure? Thanks for any input with some knowledge. I'm not even sure if this is apnea?

[DreamDiver]

I haven't used my CPAP equipment in a long long time, and I have a general question. It's really weird. I never had this before, but for a while after I fell asleep, I would wake up after say 2 or 2.5 hours and I felt like this buzzing in my head as if it was like an electic brain wave feeling. No I don't drink or do drugs, but it was really weird. It doesn't happen that often anymore, but I think I get up a few times in the middle of the night to go to the restroom, I really can't remember, but I still sleep, actually sleep rather deeply, however when I wake up, I am so so so tired, moody, depressed during the day, etc. But that weird like electric buzz in my head was like it kept buzzing in a way and jolted something in my head as I fell back asleep. It really didn't scare me, for if it did, I wouldn't be able to fall back asleep. When it happens, i think I'm up only for about 30 seconds and then I go back to sleep. Has anyone ever had something like this. Also, I'm pre diabetic, so that might have something to do with it as well, not sure? Thanks for any input with some knowledge. I'm not even sure if this is apnea?

It sounds like something that happens to me sometimes when I wake up in REM. (Most of my apneas are during REM, so they may be related.) I've attributed weird things like that to the idea that my body -- or subconscious -- has been so used to waking me up every few minutes that when I don't, it tries to find a new way to do so. Loud noises, knocks on the door, scratching sounds, bells, sirens, water pouring over my head, slaps in the face, being chased by bees, the sense of warmth 'bleeding' out of my ears -- you get the picture -- anything bizarre enough from the 'land of la' to startle me awake. When I was a child, I would often dream that parents, siblings and friends were calling my name. I've also sensed weird buzzing, tinglings, pops, the sense that something big, like an elephant has just stomped my whole body flat, the sense of being stretched infinitely tight and snapped like a rubber band... The mind can do some wild things when it wants to wake you. I'm really not sure what limits there are on the imagination of the human subconscious. It's taken a while for me to be able to convince my subconscious into realizing these tricks are no longer necessary now that I'm on CPAP, and that if I really need to wake up, how about trying something that makes me laugh instead?

Incidentally, if you wake up and you can't move, you're conscious dreaming. If you recognize it quick enough, you can slip 'out of your body' and 'visit' places you've been, fly, walk through walls, etc. Yeah, it's all powered by your imagination, but try it -- it's fun.

If you actually do wake enough, consider jotting down the time and compare it with apneas during that period on your graphs the next day.

[giantred]

Yes, also I noticed when i dream, it's really weird, I'm in the same dream all the time. I think there are like about 25 or so dreams that I'm constantly in over and over. But I can't remember then when I'm awake. But I realize it I think when I'm dreaming, I can't identify them right now, but I can if I'm sleeping, strange as it sounds. As a matter of fact, as soon as I close my eyes they start before I even fall asleep. Really weird. This sleeping stuff is really strange.

[chrisp]

Don't be alarmed but have it checked out. Atrial fibrulation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atrial_fibrillation.

Or just this. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypnic_jerk

good luck,

[giantred]

I'm not alarmed, i just want to know what is going on. Thanks for the information.

[DreamDiver]

Yes, also I noticed when i dream, it's really weird, I'm in the same dream all the time. I think there are like about 25 or so dreams that I'm constantly in over and over. But I can't remember then when I'm awake. But I realize it I think when I'm dreaming, I can't identify them right now, but I can if I'm sleeping, strange as it sounds. As a matter of fact, as soon as I close my eyes they start before I even fall asleep. Really weird. This sleeping stuff is really strange.

Hey - I've been there before. I went for a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and told them that I start dreaming before I actually fall asleep and they told me I was full of it. Then I recounted for them all I had seen and experienced for each and every nap - I don't remember now what they were, but when they wake you up 20 minutes after you fall asleep, it's pretty easy to recall. It sounds like you are not getting full benefit from therapy and further suggests to me that my idea in this thread might be correct. Something you're not noticing may be acting as a trigger, keeping you awake. Talking with an internist or a sleep doc or other specialist may be the way to go. If you haven't already had an MSLT, it may be worth considering.

Caution though: if they do find MSLT, it means you can't drive because you're likely to fall asleep at the wheel. If you do fall asleep easily during the day at the drop of a hat, you probably shouldn't be driving.

I hope you'll be able to solve this. I'm hoping others will chime in soon with other ideas or even better ideas. Here's hoping for a quick and useful remediation of your challenges.

[giantred]

I lost my car, I can't afford one anymore. I'm close to being homeless. I walk to my office each day.

[giantred]

Serious question, If I'm homeless, will I get less apnea events or will I keep waking up from the sounds? Maybe I'll get better oxygen with the outside air going through my nose instead of being inside. I can't use the equipment too many problems, I gave up. but maybe homeless is the way to go, I won't have a choice soon anyway. Not scared at all, it might be part of God's plan for me.

[DreamDiver]

Serious question, If I'm homeless, will I get less apnea events or will I keep waking up from the sounds? Maybe I'll get better oxygen with the outside air going through my nose instead of being inside. I can't use the equipment too many problems, I gave up. but maybe homeless is the way to go, I won't have a choice soon anyway. Not scared at all, it might be part of God's plan for me.

Using the machine is what keeps you alive. It's real important to get to a doctor right away. See an internist immediately and tell him everything you've said here. I'm praying for you.

[scrapper]

Giant Red wrote on 3/4/11: I am so so so tired, moody, depressed during the day, etc. But that weird like electric buzz in my head was like it kept buzzing in a way and jolted something in my head as I fell back asleep....

giant red on 1/13/2009: I feel sorry for all of us. I know I'm going down. It's over.... I don't care if I go bankrupt, I don't care if I lose my business, I don't even care if I'm homeless one day. This apnea is the worst thing in the world and it's really not fair that it destoryed me.

giant red on 7/3/2009: I don't even remember writing that back a while ago, but I guess this problem is still going on and work is suffering. I'm such a loser.

Giant Red on 12/29/2009: It's just not fair, I had this talent and I realized that because the way I feel from the apnea, I couldn't get things done. When I go to Starbucks in the morning and I drag myself to get there

Giant Red on 1/15/2010: there is so much pressure and pounding in my head, that many times I can't concentrate or focus.

GiantRed: I just looked over your posts of the past year. For one reason or another, the same complaints thread through most of them. People here have empathy and can offer advice, but you need to find a professional and get some help for the jolting, buzzing, etc--I'm no doc, but I don't think these things are attributable to prediabetes or sleep apnea.