Hello all & hoping everyone is having a nice holiday, & wishing all a Happy, healthy New Year.
I'd really appreciate if someone, anyone, can respond & is able to relate to my unique, bizarre "problem".
You all know me. (Robert) I've posted in this forum, 'bipolar' .."heart"...."GERD. etc.
Anyway- I live in Philly---but, spend winters in California (trying to get my screenplays read & avoiding that cold weather in the East Coast.)
To refresh memories- Back in 2006, I was experiencing strange, pre sleep "Hypnic jerks"...that really disturbed me. At that time, i was going off a small daily Seroquel regimen & attributed the jerks to the Seroquel, which , when I stopped the Seroquel, they did completely go away.
My theory on this (Which i shared w my Dr....my Psychiatrist & sleep Dr. was that ..in some way, the Seroquel wa "interfering" with my Valium, which I always take before bedtime.)
Anyway--Those "jerks" ceased--
Then....about two weeks ago, (mid December)- Due to a chronic middle ear problem, which causes vertigo, I started taking Antivert (Meclizine) an antihistime which knocks ou the vertigo, but makes me rather 'pleasantly' drowsy before bedtime.....so, i started slightly cutting back on my night time Valium dose (From 7.5 mg...to about 5 mg at nite.......& was NOT taking my afternoon 5 mg...Valium)--Sooo, i was going from about 12.5 mg of valium/day....to 5 mg/day----
Then..."IT" started--the "pre sleep"....hypnic jerks---
My friends here at HW....let me explain. As I was just about to fall off to sleep---
First...some hand & leg jerks. Often...these were preceded by a strange feeling thru out my body of a gentle "electric current". The LIMB jerks, i understood..do happen to people...but TWO other "strange features" ...really concerned me was the other things that were affected by these 'jerks'--
1) Was that my middle 2 fingers on my left hand....frequently "fluttered" for 2 or 3 seconds. This happened a few different nites..same 2 fingers---
2) The "jerk"...or "spasm"....affected my DIAPHRAM...on 2 different occasions......right before falling off to sleep---like forcing my breath ..."out"!
3) I felt on 2 occasions....the "zap" of electricity...on my face..(one of the 'facial muscles')--
It was almost like i was having ..."mini seizures".
I went to my neurologist....& told her--she eaximed me...& I even got a brain MRI--all normal
( I had...TWO sleep studies done in 2006......which showed some sleep apneas..but not out of normal limits..AND "periodic Limb Movement disorder"--
AGAIN---the "limb movements"..i could handle...but..the twitching fingers...the 'spasm' of my diaphram...& "face" zap...worries me----
I just...today--in LA..made an appt to see a sleep specialist in Santa Monica at St. John's Sleep Center-----in mid January-----AGAIN...my "theory" is......this is being caused by my cutbaxk on my valium.......do any of you concur...? Any stories about Valium withdrawel?
**MY QUESTION to others here----Has anyone ever experienced...anything even ..LIKE what i'm experiencing? (ASIDE from limb jerks.......the diaphram....& facial zaps?)
I worry i have some..strange..rare...neuro muscular disease! My neuro Dr. assues me i do NOT--but--still....I know awhat I'm feeling---
Please--IF anyone has...or has any words of reassurance....trust me..they will be welcomed & appreciated!---------------get back---& thanks---Robert