Weird question - twitches and jerks and vibrating

[Dreamingofsleep]

Okay guys, thanks for putting up with me all these months (since Feb). I have yet another question

Does anybody experience a weird thing with their nervous system when they are half awake, like a vibrating feeling inside? It's not anxiety. I have no butterflies in my belly and I may be half asleep, but I have had this thing for years now, it is especially in my neck and head, but also I feel it in my back and arms. My doc thought it might go away with CPAP. I also have like twitches where I will move my neck or hand or something and I have a little extra movement that I didn't make. It is a subtle thing, I feel it but so far no one has observed it.

Since CPAP the vibrating thing has actually gotten better in my head, but now I have in the daytime an overall feeling of jitteriness again not anxiety, just like my nerves are vibrating under the skin and still have that kind of a twitch thing when a move my neck on hand, or other area of body.

I had an MRI a year ago. It was okay.

I am just wondering if I am just plain weird which is possible, or if anyone else has had this. I know sleep deprivation does a lot of strange things.

Again, thanks for being there

Dreaming

[Julie]

A lot can change in a year MRI-wise, and I'd ask a neurologist (if one is handy to look at your neck in case there is any connection to the twitching, etc.

[jnk]

What is your caffeine intake like?

[kteague]

See inserts in text...

Does anybody experience a weird thing with their nervous system when they are half awake, like a vibrating feeling inside?
I have a few times, as recently as last week. Since I live in L.A. I thought it was probably an earthquake, but none were reported. I have read on another board of people who experience this. While not common, it's not unheard of. Never read of anyone having a conclusive answer as to exactly what it is.

I also have like twitches where I will move my neck or hand or something and I have a little extra movement that I didn't make. It is a subtle thing, I feel it but so far no one has observed it.
Did your sleep study reports make any mention of limb movements? See if any of this sounds similar... You reach to push something push-button and get a stuttering movement that turns the item on then right back off. Or you turn your head toward the phone to answer it and your head moves farther than intended or gives a little jerk.

Since CPAP the vibrating thing has actually gotten better in my head, but now I have in the daytime an overall feeling of jitteriness again not anxiety, just like my nerves are vibrating under the skin
Could this be RLS? You mentioned in a prior thread about having it. Also, how's your thyroid? An overactive thyroid can cause jitters. Are you on any meds it could be a side effect of?

and still have that kind of a twitch thing when a move my neck on hand, or other area of body.
Again, what meds are you on? I had extra movements like you describe and it turned out some were a side effect of my meds, but then again, I was also very sleep deprived so who knows what systems might misfire in that state of being.

Dreaming

[DreamDiver]

...Does anybody experience a weird thing with their nervous system when they are half awake, like a vibrating feeling inside? It's not anxiety. I have no butterflies in my belly and I may be half asleep, but I have had this thing for years now, it is especially in my neck and head, but also I feel it in my back and arms. ...

Answering questions with questions:

This is the sensation of twitching, not actual physical twitching?
It only happens in your neck and head?
If this only happens upon awakening or falling asleep, I wonder if it might a REM sleep phenomenon.

Again is this actual skin/muscle jitters or the sensation of jitters?
Is the jitteriness significantly different from the twitching?
If so, it is possible this is a separate phenomenon?

Just a thought:
Have you had your iodine levels checked?
Have you had any thyroid testing?

[Tipiford]

Does anybody experience a weird thing with their nervous system when they are half awake...

I am just wondering if I am just plain weird...

Nope, you're not weird, just having an issue and looking for a solution. I don't know if this would work for you, but as all the nerves in your body travel through your spinal column, I get monthly chiropractic maintenance adjustments, and except for my clogged arteries (which caused a HA 3 years ago) and sleep deprivation, I feel really healthy─'specially now, getting better sleep on CPAP.

Tipiford

[purple]

Try a good multi-vitamin multi mineral supplement for your age/sex. Yes it can get rid of some of these kinds of things as they can be related to a mineral deficiency.

[Dreamingofsleep]

Thanks guys for all your responses!

Okay to answer a few of your questions. I get actual twitches, and the feeling that I will "break out" in twitching all over. The twitches are short lived, like two of three involuntary movements of my thumb, or one of two after I move my neck. I get twitches all over body, and sometimes I feel like I have a bug crawling on me, lol when there is not. NO I don't do drugs

I have to say. I think non restorative sleep if not the cause certainly fosters it.

I am seeing a chiropractor next week that is supposed to be awesome. I'll quiz him too.

Coffee intake..guilty. I still drink too much. I drink about five cups or so a day, then add tea, Try to stop before noon.

Thanks for your ideas. I notice no one else confesses to such weird phenomenon.

Dreaming

[jnk]

"Since twitching is so common, I would first recommend cutting back on your caffeine intake and trying some simple relaxation techniques . . ." --http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/id/QAA400171

[Dreamingofsleep]

Thanks jnk

I definitely have too much stress and caffeine - worth a try.

God bless,
Dreaming

[Papit]

I especially like what Julie and jnk had to say for you. A good neurologist and quitting coffee for awhile are what I would do.

I'd also suggest asking one of your docs to give you a prescription for some physical therapy to get you going on some massage therapy and some applicable exercising (e.g., neck, shoulders, arms, back) and doing them religiously at home every day. Overall improvement in muscle tone can do wonders for lots of ailments. Sound good?

Best of luck in your continuing therapy! I'm optimistic for you, Dreamy.

[Dreamingofsleep]

Thanks so much Papit! It helps to have your support and encouragement!

Dreaming

[Isadora]

I haven't had much the way of twitching but the vibration thing I have had on and off for many many years. It used to happen every time I awakened (especially if I woke up gasping or startled). My arms/legs would be affected and it was like a little motor inside my muscles. Sort of like your phone set on vibrate was stuck inside your body. It would eventually fade as I woke up. It ONLY ever happened on waking, never at any other time. (I have had my brain scanned twice so nothing there -- hahah well except my brain;) It went away for a couple of years and I felt it again recently a few times.

(I also get hallucinations when waking which I've had for 15 years now.)

[kteague]

I haven't had much the way of twitching but the vibration thing I have had on and off for many many years. It used to happen every time I awakened (especially if I woke up gasping or startled). My arms/legs would be affected and it was like a little motor inside my muscles. Sort of like your phone set on vibrate was stuck inside your body. It would eventually fade as I woke up. It ONLY ever happened on waking, never at any other time.
I also get hallucinations when waking which I've had for 15 years now.

Your description of the phone on vibrate was spot on for me. When it happened recently, my first thought was the phone was left in the bed. I've had two friends doctors give them different explanations for the hallucinations upon waking. One was told it's a side effect of one of her medications, which she needs. The other told her it was due to low oxygen during apnea events. Wonder if any who experience this have it go away with CPAP treatment - hmmmm.

[Dreamingofsleep]

Hey Kteague
thanks for your posts in response to mine. I am not on any medication. A few years ago I took Reglan for quite a while, but haven't since. the neck movements you describe do sound like me. Do you know what would cause that extra movement?

thanks,
Dreaming