Current Events > Something scary happened last night. Don't know if I should see a doctor.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Last night I was sleeping and dreaming. While dreaming a normal dream, there was a sudden flash/burst of light (seemingly separate from the dream) that jolted me awake. Like if my eyes were closed and someone took a photo with flash directly in front of my face.

When I was jolted awake, I made this weird audible gasping sound like if my body was just started from death.

I've never experienced anything like this before. I don't know if my heart went into like afib or if it is something with my brain or what. There wasn't any pain and my heart rate maybe was up from 63 resting to 81, so not too high.

Sounds like you woke up suddenly from a dream.

Did you hearan explosion? Could be exploding head syndrome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploding_head_syndrome

Youve almost reached your final form, try again tonight

LazLemon posted...

Sounds like you woke up suddenly from a dream.

You would think so. Hell, I do it often and even did so at another point last night. This was something unlike anything I've ever felt. Specifically the flash of light - it felt like like my brain was being scrambled? Charged on with jolt of electricity? It's hard to put into words that I can honestly say that it wasn't me dreaming when it happened.

Norman_Smiley posted...

Did you hearan explosion? Could be exploding head syndrome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploding_head_syndrome

I saw this when trying to figure out what happened. No sound at all. Quiet, pitch black room. Only sound was my audible gasp like if I just came back to life.

Hell, I can remember the conversation being had in my dream, but this was just an inaudible burst of light.

Ive had that several times before.

very unpleasant, but I think harmless.

I do have a history of migraines, so maybe something to do with that.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/2/4/AAUFZqAADdH8.jpg

Norman_Smiley posted...

Did you hearan explosion? Could be exploding head syndrome.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploding_head_syndrome

I occasionally get this. Extremely unpleasant.

Mearcstapa posted...

Ive had that several times before.

very unpleasant, but I think harmless.

I do have a history of migraines, so maybe something to do with that.

Ever have it diagnosed or looked at? Granted, I don't even know who you would see about something like this.

Get a brain MRI just to be safe.

Probably nothing to be worried about though.

Talk to a neurologist to schedule it.

You were kicked out of astral projection.

You're not yet worthy to enter than plane of consciousness.

Sleep apnea? Just saying since you stop breathing at random intervals while asleep if you suffer from it and arent taking steps to mitigate its effects.

Terminal case of ass cancer, I'm sorry.

Joking aside, any history of night terrors or trauma?

Tyranthraxus posted...

Get a brain MRI just to be safe.

Probably nothing to be worried about though.

Talk to a neurologist to schedule it.

Had an MRA last August and nothing was found. Since then though, I have had shingles, COVID again, and some other health issues so who knows....

Also kind of hard to afford one at $1000.

gunplagirl posted...

Terminal case of ass cancer, I'm sorry.

Joking aside, any history of night terrors or trauma?

Nope.

I've experienced dis minus da gasping

The_X_Dawg posted...

Ever have it diagnosed or looked at? Granted, I don't even know who you would see about something like this.

Ive had 2 MRIs of my brain done, and a couple of ophthalmologist examinations. Neither turned up anything.

cutting back on my screen time, especially just before bedtime, and better regulating my sleep schedule seem to have helped. Your mileage may vary though.

also, are you taking any new medications? I was on antidepressants for a short time back when I was trying to get the problem figured out, but they only made things worse, so I quit them.

Mearcstapa posted...

Ive had 2 MRIs of my brain done, and a couple of ophthalmologist examinations. Neither turned up anything.

cutting back on my screen time, especially just before bedtime, and better regulating my sleep schedule seem to have helped. Your mileage may vary though.

also, are you taking any new medications? I was on antidepressants for a short time back when I was trying to get the problem figured out, but they only made things worse, so I quit them.

Nope. Just alcohol. Which I'll drink 4 nights a week. No more than 4 glasses of wine.

I've had a slew of concerning health issues the past year though, so I don't know if that is a factor.

The_X_Dawg posted...

Nope. Just alcohol. Which I'll drink 4 nights a week. No more than 4 glasses of wine.

I've had a slew of concerning health issues the past year though, so I don't know if that is a factor.

Alcoholism could be a factor.

I'm just concerned that you hear white flashes could be warning sign of an upcoming full-blown stroke.

Did see a couple of stars/small white things when getting ready for bed, but assumed it was normal.

The_X_Dawg posted...

I'm just concerned that you hear white flashes could be warning sign of an upcoming full-blown stroke.

Did see a couple of stars/small white things when getting ready for bed, but assumed it was normal.

Its quite concerning indeed when someone can auditorily process visual stimuli.

Gasping after waking up is a sign of sleep apnea. The light can also be attributed to you stopping breathing like when you're about to pass out

Axiom posted...

Gasping after waking up is a sign of sleep apnea. The light can also be attributed to you stopping breathing like when you're about to pass out

This, TC. I can attest to having similar symptoms as what Axiom described given the fact that my dumb self rarely wears the CPAP machine my doctor highly recommended me to be wearing whenever Im sleeping since I cant for the life of me stand how claustrophobic it makes me feel.

The_X_Dawg posted...

Did see a couple of stars/small white things when getting ready for bed, but assumed it was normal.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_field_entoptic_phenomenon

Possibly?

Agent_Stroud posted...

This, TC. I can attest to having similar symptoms as what Axiom described given the fact that my dumb self rarely wears the CPAP machine my doctor highly recommended me to be wearing whenever Im sleeping since I cant for the life of me stand how claustrophobic it makes me feel.

Do you regularly have this happen though? This is my first time experiencing it. I know Fitbits aren't incredibly accurate (but still very helpful), but there doesn't seem to be any real O2 variation to high levels in any of my nightly charts.

So hypnic jerk might be a possibility. Though they generally happen while falling asleep and not during REM stages.

I've had that happen a lot and crazier similar shit. You get used to it.

Edit to include post 30: both while falling asleep (more often) and while already asleep for some time (less often)