Possible seizure in sleep? Anyone that suffers with this able to help please ?

[Empop91]

Last night I was up most of the night with my 9 month old teething daughter. I fell asleep on my back where I was so tired (I never usually do this, I always used to get sleep paralysis when I did but I was so tired last night it just happened!)

Anyway I had a very strong real dream that I was in my kitchen went light headed and fell to the floor my jaw was very tight and I couldn’t open it and my body was stiff and jerking. It felt very real on me. I half woke up and as I did I still couldn’t move or move my mouth to make any noise. I was petrified. After about 10 seconds I felt fine got up used the toilet and went back to sleep.

Anyway I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this all day. What if this was a seizure? Is it possible sleep paralysis could make me feel this way in my dream? I’m so confused. I’m so scared as I’m at home all day every day with my little one and scared this is going to happen to me in real life now.

Is this typical of any sufferers that it happens in a dream and is actually really happening to your body?

It definitely sounds like sleep paralysis. I have had it a couple of times and always during times when I have been stressed and exhausted. Cant move, try to shout out for help but nothing comes out. Really quite disconcerting.
When my son was a week old, I was obviously exhausted. I dreamt that I was being suffocated by my husband, that he had his arm hard on my chest and was stopping me from breathing, I tried calling out in my dream but nothing came out. When I actually woke in the morning he was laying asleep with his arm across my chest! Sounds silly now but it’s was really frightening at the time.

I had sleep paralysis when I was on holiday some years ago. I opened my eyes and saw my friend sitting reading on her bed but I couldn't move or speak. It was absolutely terrifying. I closed my eyes and just tried to breathe quietly and stay calm and thankfully it passed. I've never had it since.

It sounds like sleep paralysis to me too, I get it sometimes, it’s horrible and scary, but normal. I find it happens after particularly bad insomnia and with a new baby I doubt you are getting much sleep! I also get myoclonic jerks quite frequently, which a neurologist told me are normal too, though I have never found anyone who gets them as often as I do. Again related to insomnia.

I don’t think you are having seizures, but you could ask for a neurologist referral if it happens again? They might suggest an EEG. I had one and it was normal.