Horrible feeling at night

[glowingtwig]

I keep walking up at night with the most awful, horrible sensations. It's really hard to describe because I'm asleep then it starts to happen but I'm not fully conscious enough to explain it, then it starts to ebb away.

The closest I can get is a deep burning sensation in the back of my throat, chest and heart but also in my brain. It sort of washes over me then I wake in a panic with sort of pins and needles sensations and my heart starts to race.

Has anyone had anything like this?

I recently posted worried about daytime symptoms of muscle twitching, pins and needles and brain fog but I never get this sensation in the day. I'm worried about MS and GP is doing blood tests but says it's probably stress/anxiety.

I'm lying awake now exhausted as I e barely had more than 4 hours sleep a night in the last week and I'm frightened to drop off in case it happens again. What could it be?

My first thought is peri-menopause.

Have you had covid? Similar symptoms here just towards the end of covid for me.

Also depending on your age get a hormone check.

I hope it eases for you, in the meantime grab the calm app and listen to sleep stories or similar, they helped calm my brain, it's strange times so could also be nerves and panic that your not processing in the day.

Thank you so much for replying @Aquamarine1029 and @itwillbehormones

I'm just lying here terrified to try and sleep in case it happens again.

I hope it's not peri menopause as we are trying for another baby after a mc... I've just turned 40.

I'm so, so scared I've got MS.

I tested positive for Covid in October but never had severe symptoms. I've been getting this sensation on and off for about a month maybe but only in the last week have I had the other symptoms.

I hope it's not peri menopause as we are trying for another baby after a mc... I've just turned 40

My peri started at 40. This is not unusual at all. BTW, the issues you are having at night are anxiety attacks, and I had them, too. I had never had any anxiety issues before peri, and new anxiety or increased anxiety is a key symptom.

i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/well-good/teach-me/113666670/perimenopause-lead-up-to-menopause-very-uncomfortable-and-poorly-understood

Thanks for the link @Aquamarine1029

Hopefully it's not too late for another baby. It's ovulation day today/tomorrow so maybe it's the spike in oestrogen making things worse?

It's just such a horrible feeling. Is what I've described exactly what you felt?

Is what I've described exactly what you felt?

Yes, and sometimes much worse unfortunately. My peri started like a lightning bolt, really. Anxiety which became horrific, trouble sleeping/insomnia, horrendous brain fog. Then the night sweats and hot flushes started up.

I don't know about the daytime stuff but tbh the nighttime symptoms sound very much like acid reflux. It has a terrible effect on sleep and can seem like other things but is basically affected by eating too close to bedtime (less than 2.5 hours or so) and can depend on what you eat. I have more pillows now so that I'm more upright and I eat earlier and it's helped a lot. Could this be an issue for you?

@Nandocushion thank you for replying. I just had some gaviscon to see if that will help. I've been awake since 12:30am 😞

See if propping yourself up a bit helps too. That horrible burning sensation may 'just' be acid reflux, but it has in the past made me think I am having a cardiac event or similar, so it definitely can cause other mental and emotional effects.

The acid may act like heartburn and cause a feeling in your upper chest, but it can also travel all the way up your throat. In some lucky people it isn't even painful! Another symptom can be clearing your throat a lot during the day, or feeling 'phlegmy'.

My first thought was acid reflux. Try buying some Nexium and take one before half an hour before you eat your evening meal. If it helps you will soon know if it is acid reflux.

Yes, and in order to help figure out if it is a cause, eat your evening meal 3 hours before you go to bed and don't have anything after, including drinks (water is fine, but no tea or alcohol).

Are you sure its not some kind of night terror? I have these and they make me scared to sleep.

I'll try that re eating and drinking @Nandocushion .The feeling did go away after a swig of Gaviscon but I usually only get it once or twice a night- it's just I was too scared to go back to sleep so I've only had two hours proper sleep again apart from fretful dozing with my heart hammering away in my chest and my muscles twitching.

I'll look up Nexium @Bilgepumper , thank you.

@NaturalStudy I'm not sure. I vaguely remember a similar sensation years ago. Does it sound like it to you? I'm not waking up screaming or anything and it's the sensation that frightens me.

I'm now so exhausted but afraid for night to come again

Could it be sleep apnoea?

I don't think so @TheSockMonster I've never really had breathing issues at night or snoring or anything. My DH has never mentioned anything. Although who knows. x

It’s odd as I have started waking up in the last few weeks with palpitations and an overall feeling of doom . My heart was racing so much the other night I thought I was going to die! I probably had a panic attack in my sleep !

I get something similar when I'm low on potassium. I was terribly worried for months until someone suggested it might be this.

I bought some Saxa so low salt alternative which is 50% potassium to add to my food which has helped. If I forget to use it for a week I get the tingling sensations again, but on the whole it's really helped.

I'm menopausal so had assumed it was all related.

Sounds like panic attacks to me. I have them periodically seem to be very linked to hormones for me. For me it’s only when I’m first dropping off to sleep and I wake With heart racing, feeling of general doom and sometimes a trembling sensation for maybe up to 30 seconds. I was really panicking thinking something was seriously wrong (like you) and that was making it worse and I was terrified of going to bed in case it would happen. Then spoke to a Gp friend who said it sounded very like panic attacks. Once I knew this I was able to cope much better with it and they lessened. I’m also having thyroid checked though as it was a bit low at lash check.

@Hyppogriff this does sound similar. Like a crushing wave of awfulness and a burning feeling which is also cold at the same time, like a menthol sweet. Horrible.

@Emeraldeyes20 I'm sorry you've experienced this too. The racing heart is so unsettling. Mine seems to be a reaction to the feeling if that makes sense?

@purplebagladylovesgin I wonder if it's some sort of deficiency although I do have a healthy diet. I'm hoping it's not menopause related. We so want another baby.

Heartburn used to trigger SVT until I worked out what was going on and adjusted my diet.
I'd wake up with my heart racing and weird body sensations and used to jump out of bed and walk around trying to calm down.

@glowingtwig

I tested positive for Covid in October but never had severe symptoms. I've been getting this sensation on and off for about a month maybe but only in the last week have I had the other symptoms.

I have these symptoms, in fact I was awake this morning at 3am. I also had covid in October

Night time issues sound like reflux

Regarding the daytime stuff, have you had your B12 level checked? I had neurological symptoms when my level was very low. I had loading doses and now every 12 weeks and they're much better

@MrsTeachers that's really interesting, thank you for sharing. Can I ask when you started getting the night time issues? And do you have the other things I've described? I'm desperate for answers.

Maybe it is a delayed reaction to Covid... I'm a teacher and I'm fairly sure I caught it at school 4 weeks after we went back in September.