Chronic Sleep Paralysis & General Anaesthetic

[Sheeeeeeeeeeep]

I am due to be put to sleep for an operation and I'm really scared. I have sleep paralysis most nights and I am worried this will mean I find it harder to wake up or won't wake up at all. Had anyone had a GA when you have sleep paralysis and did it all go OK?

I've suffered from sleep paralysis since I was young. i've only had one General Anaesthetic and I didn't have any issues coming round. Part of my sleep paralysis is auditory hallucinations though so when I was coming round I heard my parents talking to me, telling me to wake up but they were in a different country. Hope everything goes well with your GA.

And I say suffered because sleep paralysis can be horrific and terrifying, people who've never experienced it don't understand how it can affect you. Take care OP

I have had sleep paralysis on and off for years and had multiple ga's never been an issue

I read stuff on the internet that freaked me out so it's good to hear that it can all be fine.

@Funkopopper it is truly horrible. Have you found anything that helps? Mine feels like as I wake up something keeps dragging me under. It's awful and getting worse.

GA doesn't make you 'sleep' in the state that sleep paralysis takes hold, as I understand it, so it should be fine. And yes, I've had both.

I used to get sleep paralysis every few weeks and that was awful enough - it must be so horrible every night :(

@Funkopopper Mine were generally audial as well (though not every single time) - often I'd hear the door open and something would crawl up the bed and scream in my ear. Not fun.

I’ve experienced sleep paralysis most of my adult life - several times a week and sometimes multiple times a night at it’s worst. Never had an issue with coming around from GA, and as GA unconsciousness isn’t “sleep” as such, the mechanism of “awakening” is different.

I find that my SP is worst when I’m under a lot of stress or if I’ve been drinking alcohol several days in a row. It really improves when I’m worn out through exercise, so I run most evenings, and I also microdose with MDMA which helps enormously (not a suggestion everyone is comfortable with but there’s increasing research into the benefits of micro dosing.) I also have a body pillow to prevent me rolling onto my back during sleep, also very helpful.

Mine always felt like there was a presence in the room, sometimes it would feel like something was on the bed. like a cat landing on the bottom then slowly moving towards me. used to terrify me until I found out what is was, no I can of have one and my brain goes. "oh its just a sleep paralysis you go back to sleep" .
I often wonder if people who claim aliens visited them in the night are actually just experiencing this phenomenon as it feels so very real when its happening.

Mine starts with the fake awakenings, I'm unusually drowsy and can hear/see things heading up the stairs or coming into the room but just out of sight. I only realise lucidly what's happening by the time I try to shout or scream and can't.

I've kind of trained myself to keep repeating that I'm dreaming once that happens. Once I fully wake up I might not sleep properly for the next couple of nights and I never go back to sleep after and episode because I get dragged back in very quickly. Have you anything you can do, some people say they try to move a bit at a time and it breaks the cycle, doesn't work for me though.

@NewLevelsOfTiredness - Do you hear things that aren't there at any other times. I often hear my name / mum being shouted from other parts of the house. I am never able to be in a quiet house, I always need the TV or music on. The voices are always familiar too, family, kids, friends.

Maybe I just exist in a constant state of knackeredness and am always on the verge of sleep

I had something odd last night. I could hear the kids piano playing. It woke me up and I went through the usual pain to wake up of not being able to move at first etc. I could still hear the piano. So I walked into their room and as soon as I got into their room the noise stopped. I can totally believe that it is how people believe in ghosts! Was the first time a dream seemed to follow me into being awake. It's usually just the not being able to move or properly wake up thing.

I have sleep paralysis quite regularly. I’ve had 2 general anaesthetics in the last couple of years and had no issues. I don’t think I had any dreams at all, I was just put to sleep then woke up without any feeling of time having passed at all. Hope all goes well for you OP.

[quote Funkopopper]@NewLevelsOfTiredness - Do you hear things that aren't there at any other times. I often hear my name / mum being shouted from other parts of the house. I am never able to be in a quiet house, I always need the TV or music on. The voices are always familiar too, family, kids, friends.

Maybe I just exist in a constant state of knackeredness and am always on the verge of sleep [/quote]
I do get that from time to time! I need noise too though so it's rare it's quiet.

I have a 2yr old and 6 & 10 yr old step daughters. I don't remember what not being knackered feels like.

Mine is also worse when tired or stressed. I end up getting "stuck" in cycles of False Awakenings.

Some medication can set it off for me, My back pops every so often and I take strong painkillers, they can set off course of nightmares / paralysis.

I always wondered why sleep paralysis brings horror, just once a Mr Tall, Dark and Sexy would be awesome 🤩