severe sleep issues 
#120326
15 y
11,221
† Cross †
I have been having serious sleeping issues for about 4 1/2 months now. I started having these "hypnic jerks" where some part of my body will jolt me awake just as soon as I start to drift off. It happens over and over and I get very little sleep. I have tried various medications, as well as natural treatments. I am currently experimenting with some herbs which I think help some nights. But on those nights that I am able to get to sleep, I almost always wake up within an hour of falling asleep, not with a jolt, but I am just awake. If I manage to get to sleep again, I wake up within an hour again. I have very vivid dreams, and I feel like all I do is dream. I have been getting about 3-4 hours of sleep a night all broken up. Some nights I have the hypnic jerks for several hours before I can fall asleep. And usually they will start up again sometime in the morning as I am trying to get back to sleep. I have had a sleep study, and of course that night was so much better in that I did not get the jerks, and for some reason I slept about 5 1/2 hours total, only waking up twice. So the doctor said there was nothing wrong with me and I just need to take an anti-depressant. I have tried this already with no success, in fact, it wired me at night. So, any ideas on what could be making me wake up so constantly? Does anybody else experience this? I feel like if I got some solid sleep, the hypnic jerks would resolve.
Any help would be appreciated.
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- Re: severe sleep issues #91565
15 y
10,654
This is a reply to # 1,507,948I get them too, usually when initially trying to fall asleep. I'll jolt straight up and gasp for air with a feeling that I had stopped breathing. It can sometimes take me hours to fall asleep. If it is waking you up while in a deep sleep, then it is probably sleep apnea which I used to get too. I'd literally stop breathing and wake up gasping for air. I know for me, the "jerks" are worse if I am extremely tired. Which is cruel b/c I am usually extremely tired when I can't get to sleep b/c of these stupid episodes. I also used to get, every once in a while, night terrors, when you're not entirely awake, but your eyes are open and you can see, but you can't move a muscle in your body...and you hallucinate a bit and it's usually bad thoughts. That, I am told, is a form of narcolepsy. Thankfully, that only happens to me once every two years or so. That used to happed to my mother too.
My guess is that your other sleep study went well b/c you knew someone was watching and you felt safe. When my husband is awake and alert, I can fall asleep like a baby. But when he's asleep or travelling, that's usually when I have my episodes. Try some relaxation techniques before going to bed. Deep breathing, warm baths, etc. Try to get another sleep study done too.
I don't have answers for you, but I wanted you to know you aren't the only one this happens to. Are you particularly stressed from something going on in your life?
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- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
11,119
This is a reply to # 1,508,425I actually have never experienced gasping for air when I get woken up, even when I'm in a deep sleep, I'm just suddenly aware that I'm awake. The jolts as I'm falling asleep sometimes aren't even that strong, but somehow it's enough to keep me from getting to sleep. The sleep study doc said that I don't have any sleep apnea and my oxygen levels were perfect. I would like to get another study done, but unfortunately they are expensive even with insurance. I do think it's related to stress, however, even when I feel calm all day it happens. I have tried so many different relaxation exercises, yoga, deep breathing, taking a bath, I can be completely relaxed (at least I feel like I am) and it still happens.
Thanks for your input, it's good to know I'm not the only one this happens to, I just wish I could get it resolved because it's driving me insane.- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
11,035
This is a reply to # 1,508,508I have replied in previous posts about my solution to this. I still don't know if it was a coincidence or it actually helped.
I started taking two krill oil tablets a day and after about two weeks I started having great sleep.
Recently I stopped the krill oil for two weeks as they are quite expensive but the jerks started coming back. I have started the krill again and the jerks started subsiding.
Do you drink alcohol? Excessive alcohol brings it on and it takes about a week to get over it.
If you are having repeated jerks don't keep laying in bed. I find going to the couch to watch a bit of tv while laying down and falling asleep there helps or having a little walk around.
Do you drink coffee or any caffiene? Removing this might cure you. It will take a couple of weeks.
This hypnic jerk thing is horrible.- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,587
This is a reply to # 1,509,422Can you tell me what the milligrams are for the krill oil tablets, and what brand do you use? I don't drink alcohol or caffeine of any sort. You are right, this stuff is absolutely horrible.
- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
11,126
This is a reply to # 1,510,197Omegagen brand. 300mg per capsule. I would buy Dr Mercolas Krill Oil if I was in the U.S. His capsule coating is supposed to be a less toxic plastic.
If you have an improvement after trying Krill oil, could you let me know? I would like to know if it's helpfull for me or just a coincidence.- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,609
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,609
- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
11,126
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,587
- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
11,035
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
11,119
- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
10,800
This is a reply to # 1,507,948You might want to consider going on a parasite cleanse. parasites are known to disrupt sleep. If you don't have any underlying health conditions that would cause sleep disorder and it appeared out of the blue with no change in home and work environment and stress level, then a parasite cleanse just might do the trick.
I assume you've had a full panel of tests run: full blood, thyroid, hormone, etc...
It might even be a good idea to do a liver cleanse/flush.
In the mean time, you can try phosphidtyl serine at night to help lower cortisol levels. Raised cortisol levels at night disrupt sleep.
ioite- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,705
This is a reply to # 1,509,638Yes, I have had blood tests done. I was wondering about the phosphyditil serene because it says that it is best avoided at bedtime because it may prevent sleep. Have you tried taking it for sleep?
- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
10,793
This is a reply to # 1,510,198Phosphodityl serine helps lower cortisol levels. In the early stages of adrenal fatigue, insomnia is one of the big symptoms. The insomnia is caused by abnormally high cortisol levels disrupting sleep. When my AF was at its worst, I was waking every hour. I had to go back on elavil and lots of melatonin just to stay asleep for more than an hour. Seriphos is a really good product that helps lower nighttime cortisol levels. It would be a really good idea to get a 24hr cortisol saliva test done. http://www.canaryclub.org
has the home kits you can order. Other things that help lower cortisol are zinc, and holy basil.
iolite- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,571
This is a reply to # 1,512,471Thanks for the info. A few questions: How long did you take the seriphos before it started helping you sleep? Did you take it at night? I am really hesitant to take anything that says it may cause insomnia.
- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
10,681
This is a reply to # 1,513,626I've been working on my adrenal fatigue-high cortisol for over a year now. Until recently, I was taking 50-75mg elavil, 30mg melatonin to sleep. I now take just 12.5 elavil (trying to wean off), 10mg melatonin, 50 mg benadryl and 2 seriphos. I wake up maybe once or twice at night but it's usually because of reflux or back pain. It takes a while to bring the cortisol levels down. Taking extra C (2-4grams), unprocessed salt and vit A and B's help feed the adrenals.
iolite- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
10,712
This is a reply to # 1,513,988I find the lemon juice before bed helps with reflux issues and I now take pro-biotic digestive aid (Papaya 35).
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,547
This is a reply to # 1,513,988I did get a serum blood cortisol level checked at the doctor's recently and it was 10.5 at noon. He said that was normal, but of course who knows what it is at night. I can't exactly afford to do the online 24 hour cortisol test, so perhaps I should just start trying the cortisol lowering supplements and see if it helps. What do you think?
- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
11,132
This is a reply to # 1,514,331You can try the seriphos at night before bed to help you sleep. If you wake up in the middle of the night you can take another capsule. I haven't tried any other brand other than Interplexus. The last order I placed was with vitamin life at a really good price.
http://www.vitaminlife.com/product-exec/PNAME/SERIPHOS/product_id/37510
I think Dr. John Lee has a one time saliva cortisol test for about $30. You could maybe get that and do the 10 pm-midnight test to see if you're high cortisol or not. I suspect that it probably is high. If you had low cortisol, insomnia would not be a problem.
http://www.johnleemd.com/store/prod_stest.html
iolite - Re: severe sleep issues blueberry234987
15 y
10,671
This is a reply to # 1,514,331Dear Elibob,
Other ideas:
* if you are a woman, have you tried progesterone cream. I find 25 mg puts me to sleep, and helps me stay asleep. It helps even better when I also take melatonin. The progesterone cream may take a few days to "build-up" and have its best effect.
* have you tried also (with progesterone) a long-acting / sustained-release melatonin. Twinlabs makes 1 that I have used. You could use a long-acting melatonin that you swallow in combination with a melatonin capsule where you put the contents sublingually (see below).
* if you are having trouble getting to sleep, try some melatonin under the tongue. Get a 3mg capsules, and open the contents. Keep under the tongue, swish around. Eventually swallow. Sublingual is a good way to get it into your system. Faster than swallowing that same capsule.
* Does your saliva taste acidic? Try some baking soda in water. If it tastes good, then maybe your system is acidic. When I don't need it, it tastes horrible. Keep some baking soda by the side of your bed to use if it happens again when you wake. I find that when I am acidic, that I am AWAKE. If I can lower my pH, becoming less acidic, that I naturally just fall asleep, and stay asleep.
* If you are jerking awake, are your muscles feeling tired or sore in any way when you try to go to sleep? If so, you might be helped by a plain calcium / magnesium supplement. Whole Foods puts out a product called "Cal-Mag" with calcium carbonate (1000 mg in 3 capsules) and magnesium oxide (500 ms in 3 capsules). Try 1 or 2 capules when your muscles feel this way. Skeletal muscles will relax in the presence of calcium. Keep these by the side of your bed in case you wake up and your muscles are sore/in pain. I find that with 1 or 2, if I wake up sore, I can put myself back to sleep with the calcium/mag supplement.
* When you jerk awake, are you SURE you are NOT having an apneic episode? If you want to be absolutely sure, you could try to see if you can keep yourself on your side when you are sleeping. That is sometimes easier said than done. I have tried something that works for this. Wake up fewer times gasping for air with my heart-rate up.- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,565
This is a reply to # 1,514,787I have thought about the progesterone cream option, however, I got my progesterone checked and it was 3.2 which the doctor said was normal (this was about 3 weeks after I started my period) Looking it up online, it seems to me that it is not exactly normal, but it's very confusing. Also, I am 31 yrs. old. Is that an appropriate age to need progesterone? One thing that I did not mention in my original post is that this all started after I gave birth to my son, and it is not due to him not sleeping because he now sleeps through the night and I wasn't able to sleep even when he did at the beginning. I have tried several anti-anxiety type meds, herbal and pharmaceutical, that just don't seem to help, or if they do it is minimal. I also tried anti-depressants, since the doctors thought it could be post partum depression/anxiety, which did not help either. The thing is that I did not feel depressed or anxious at all when this started.
My muscles are not tired or sore at all, and often it is not even a big jerk, it can be just a small twitch or just a feeling in my head that wakes me up (not easy to explain). Lately I have been getting those less, but I still wake up literally like every hour or less. Sometimes it's after just 15 minutes of sleep. I sleep in all sorts of positions and it doesn't matter. I have been taking calcium and magnesium. I will give the baking soda a try. I have tried melatonin sustained release which I think maybe helps a little, but not enough to keep me from waking constantly. I appreciate all the advice.- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
10,730
This is a reply to # 1,514,989Give the seriphos a try and you might want to consider a parasite cleanse like humaworm, clarka or even ParaGone that you can usually pick up at Vitamin Shoppe or local health food stores.
Then, if your feeling more adventurous: a liver flush.
iolite- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,552
This is a reply to # 1,515,176Thanks, I did buy the seriphos so I will give that a try when it arrives.
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,552
- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
10,730
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,565
- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
11,132
- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
10,712
- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
10,681
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,571
- Re: severe sleep issues Iolite
15 y
10,793
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,705
- Re: severe sleep issues yvonneiva
15 y
10,631
This is a reply to # 1,507,948Perhaps this may help: anitidepresents should not be taken before bed time...they should be taken early in the day. I had a severe leg discomfort/jerking/uncomfortable sensation and my doctor called it 'Restless Leg Syndrome' and prescribed 'Miripex' that I take every night. It does rid me of that jerking sensation. Please inquire with your doctor. Thank you, hope this helps..Yvonne
- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
10,820
This is a reply to # 1,510,076The parasite cleanse didn't make a difference for me. One thing that also helped sometimes was having the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon before bed. I think alkalising myself was really helpful.
Oh it's sooooo good to be able to sleep now like a normal person. I so know what you are going through.
- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
10,820
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A few questions... Solus
15 y
11,077
This is a reply to # 1,507,948The response from your doctor is all too common and tends to compound these kind of problems because it doesn't address the underlying issue. I would like to pose a few questions to you in order to be able to offer some suggestions.
All problems arise from a combination of lack of nutrition and toxicity, so we need to figure out what changes occurred prior to this problem starting up.
Were there any renovations around your home/place of employment?
Did you change housing locations or jobs?
Are you thinking differently about aspects of your life? (stress is a form of toxicity).
Use this line of thinking to hone in on any changes that would be considered toxic...
Also examine your diet to see if you are getting what you need. Stress along with lack of nutrients will compound any problem. Then, depending on what is going on, it will manifest as a symptom. In your case it is manifesting with this sleep problem.
Once we know the trigger we can clear it with some appropriate changes with nutrition, removing or changing toxic environmental factors (thoughts and emotions included).
Hang in there, the sand"wo"man is coming! ;)
- Re: severe sleep issues intheclouds
15 y
10,826
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,604
This is a reply to # 1,520,207Yes, I have, and perhaps it has helped a little, as there are a few nights here and there that I don't get the jerks, but I still am sleeping horribly, so I am hoping they just take time to see real benefit.
- Re: severe sleep issues epcaitken
6 y
1,274
This is a reply to # 1,520,453Hi Elibob, I came across your message when searching for Hypnic jerks postpartum. Did yours ever go away?! I know it’s been 9 years since you messaged about them. I have them quite severely and got them 5 months postpartum with my 2nd child. Would love to hear from you.
- Re: severe sleep issues epcaitken
6 y
1,274
- Re: severe sleep issues elibob
15 y
10,604
- Re: severe sleep issues NevenSesardic
15 y
10,491
This is a reply to # 1,507,948I have tried every prescription product on the market for insomnia and none of them worked; my cousin referred me to the web site narcomundo.com there I purchased a package of Somatize. I tried one serving and I was a sleep in 20 minutes and after using it for 3 nights I did not need it anymore. I am not joking!
- Re: severe sleep issues NevenSesardic
15 y
10,710
This is a reply to # 1,507,948
I have tried every prescription product on the market for insomnia and none of them worked; my cousin referred me to the web site narcomundo.com there I purchased a package of Somatize. I tried one serving and I was a sleep in 20 minutes and after using it for 3 nights I did not need it anymore. I am not joking!
- Re: severe sleep issues #91565
15 y
10,654
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