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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
        
(Message started by: stuey on Aug 20^th, 2003, 9:56am)

Title: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by stuey on Aug 20^th, 2003, 9:56am

How many here who post has Exploding Head Syndrome? I have had it for years and just found out what it was called. I will be sleeping or drifting off and suddenly a huge Boom or Explosion happens in my head and my body jumps uncontrollably. It isn't painful, just disconcerting. My body only jumps once and it's an uncontrollable, automatic thing. My neuro told me what it was after I explained what happened to me and said it happens to people who get serious recurrent headaches. So wondering if anyone else gets this from time to time or how often. Stuey

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by Brian_Y on Aug 20^th, 2003, 9:58am

Could it be somethign psychosomatic (sp?)? i.e. mental illness? I have severe anxiety and have had somethign like this similar. Or is it like restless legs syndrome?

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by Cooked Brain on Aug 20^th, 2003, 9:59am

huh ??!

never had this or heard of it,

sounds like something different to me ???

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by stuey on Aug 20^th, 2003, 10:14am

I know no more about it than what I said. It's as if a huge explosion occurs in my brain, non painful and your body jumps. I am trying to find out more, don't know if it's psychosomatic or not. The headache specialist I asked said he has a few patients who have the same thing happen, it only happens during sleep or while drifting to sleep and they don't know what causes it, just that people who have it have serious headaches. I at first thought everybody gets it, then I thought maybe because I have nocturnal seizures maybe it was due to that but he said it happened to people with headaches. If anyone knows more about it please let us know.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by stuey on Aug 20^th, 2003, 10:24am

I found this online.

SOMETIMES THE MOST AWFUL symptom can be entirely harmless.

Such is the case with certain types of headache conditions that produce severe and intolerable pain but carry no dangerous implication. The same is true with a rare condition called exploding head syndrome.

More than 55 cases have been reported in the medical literature. But it is likely that hundreds, if not thousands, of patients have experienced this phenomenon.

A nighttime phenomenon the condition is characterized by a terrifying sense of explosive noise in the head, and it typically occurs within an hour or two after falling asleep. Individuals report that they are awakened by a startling and frightening massive sound that they can clearly distinguish from a dream. It occurs exclusively at night and is unaccompanied by any pain.

The sound has been described as an "explosion," "enormous roar" and "so loud it could kill me."

Activities prior to retiring at bedtime do not appear to have any relationship to the sound, although three physicians, who themselves suffered from these attacks, report that the incidents occur during periods of personal stress or when they are particularly tired and overworked. The attacks may develop at any time during life, even in childhood. Women are slightly more likely to experience these events than men.

Sometimes two or more attacks may occur over a period of days or weeks, followed by total remission. One individual reported up to seven attacks in one night, only to have them vanish for several months. Some individuals experience only one such attack during a lifetime. A family history of similar attacks has been reported by a few individuals, and some report a history of migraine or epilepsy.

After the attack, patients often feel a sense of terror, rapid heartbeat and anxiety.

No cause has been found

A 73-year-old physically and mentally normal woman who experienced attacks of migraine throughout her life began to experience, at age 67, a different type of attack that would occur 2-3 times per week, exclusively during sleep. The attacks were characterized by "being awakened by a sudden bang in my head, as if my head were bursting, with a flash of light in both eyes, and after which I would feel dazed for a split second." The individual reported that she was terrified and experienced "heart thumping" after the attack. No pain was experienced. Her examination was normal, and the patient remained healthy.

No underlying cause has been identified to explain the condition, which was first reported in 1988. Some authorities have suggested that it may have something to do with a sudden movement of a middle ear component or a "springing open" of the eustachian tube. Others have suggested that it may be related to a minor seizure in the temporal lobe that contains the nerve cells for hearing.

All agree, however, that exploding head syndrome is an entirely benign condition, is not caused by psychological disturbances and is very real and frightening.

DR. JOEL SAPER is director of the Michigan Head Pain & Neurological Institute in Ann Arbor. Write to him at: Dr. Joel Saper, c/o Detroit Free Press, P.O. Box 828, Detroit 48231.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by maggie_may on Aug 20^th, 2003, 10:28am

You know, I've had this, or something extremely similar to it for years. I can remember as a really young kid, maybe 4 or 5, experiencing it. Though I wouldn't call it Exploding Head Syndrome since there's no noise associated with it, just the jolt and I'm nowhere near terrified when it occurs.

It will always occur when I'm laying in bed and just about to fall asleep. My mind is wandering and its like I'm dreaming, because I ALWAYS see myself walking down the sidewalk and then tripping. When I trip, that's when my body jolts. It only does it once, but it wakes me right up.

I never realized that I really DO jump. It wasn't until after I moved in with my BF and we were going to sleep when it happened to me again. It scared him and I couldn't believe that I really did jolt up like that. It happened a few more times after that.

I finally asked my neuro about it, and he said something similar was the cause - soemthing about mini-seizures I think, though I can't recall exactly what he said - but that if it were to happen extremely often, like I guess every day, then that would be something to look at.

Very weird. And people think I'm weird when I tell them about it too ::) go figure!

maggie

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by inside-out on Aug 20^th, 2003, 10:40am

Hi, I got this experience from time to time and I'm quiet sure that it's because of a choc in your dream, that your conscience take for reality I sugest a lot of cold water on your face when you wake up because you R awake but your consience still in the dream and you know the rest .........
Just a opinion
Patrick

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by 2late on Aug 20^th, 2003, 10:44am

that's real intreresting dude, i've definately had this, one of the first times i had this, i thought someone broke down my front door. it freaked me out to the point i was walkin' around my house with a loaded shotgun. this has happened to me many times over the years. just like cluster's i thought i was the only one who experences this. ...............Jack

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by Patrick_A on Aug 20^th, 2003, 11:05am

Ummm, Wow! I get these too!

Patrick

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by KingOfPain on Aug 20^th, 2003, 11:12am

No info about this known to me.

Good luck.

I sure hope they find a way to stop this condition for you.

KingOfPain

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by stuey on Aug 20^th, 2003, 11:14am

Isn't it something to realize other people experience the same thing - I thought it was just me too but it aint. I called my sister and she said the same thing happens to her. She's not a CH sufferer, she gets migraines with aura. Wow that is something. stuey

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by suzy617 on Aug 20^th, 2003, 11:19am

This has happened to me twice that I recall. Each time I thought the house exploded, it was very terrifying. I had just chalked it up to being a dream though.

Suzy

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by judyw on Aug 20^th, 2003, 12:20pm

Wow, Stuey...this site is always opening up things for all of us that we think only we experiece...I have suffered for years from periodic "jerk ups" as I think of them...Don't get the explosion, but frightening sensation of falling...causing an unsettled feeling that takes a bit to recover from...My family have commented through the years that I sometime cry out...Thanks for bringing this out...I can reassure my family I am not totally losing it... ::)

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by stuey on Aug 20^th, 2003, 1:33pm

Judy I get the whole jerking thing sometimes too. Often I will wake up and see these black sqiggly things in front of my eyes also that seem to swirl about and finally end up disapating. Also, I do get paranoid at these times and swear someone is trying to get in my apartment - and it's irrational fear because I have a great pitbull who barks at the slightest noise but during these fugue states (that's all i can think to call them) I don't understand that. Although slightly different it seems many of us experience similar types of things. Stuey

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by jminmilwaukee on Aug 20^th, 2003, 2:12pm

Has happened to me several times. Last time, about a month ago, I was dead asleep and BANG!.....sounded like someone broke right through a door or something. I live alone and my dog was still asleep but I was sure there was someone there.

Grabbed my trusty baseball bat and went through the entire house. Man was I freaked out. Even grabbed a flashlight and walked the the yard.

Musta been in my head cause the dog would have freaked if it were for real.

Strange for sure.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by Gofishgriff on Aug 20^th, 2003, 2:17pm

Yes, I experience something like this as well. I could not describe what I get any better than Maggie May does below.

Quote:

Though I wouldn't call it Exploding Head Syndrome since there's no noise associated with it, just the jolt and I'm nowhere near terrified when it occurs.

It will always occur when I'm laying in bed and just about to fall asleep.

I always passed it off as something that happens to everyone right when their bodies are crossing over from being awake into being asleep.

ANdy

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by jminmilwaukee on Aug 20^th, 2003, 3:01pm

Having experienced the bang and the jolt, my guess is they are not related. I have gotten the jolt when I am on the cusp of falling asleep. It's like your nervous system had a discharge of some sort and normally happens when really tired.

The "bang" on the other hand has happened during actual REM or deep sleep.

This is my experience only so I could be wrong.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by 9erfan on Aug 20^th, 2003, 3:19pm

I was going to reply to this by saying I had never gotten this but after reading some of the descriptions I realized it has happened to me a few times....weird. I also have the restless leg syndrome. ::)

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by OwieMan on Aug 20^th, 2003, 3:29pm

I just gotta add to this one to make sure people arent being confused here.

To me it sounds like we are describing two different things.

The exploding head thing I have never experienced, but I have experienced the JERK thing others are talking about.

The Jerk is basically your autonomic system mis-firing when your body trys to make the jump into the sleep zone. It can be something like a falling off of something feeling or tripping or whatever. This can happen to everyone.

the exploding head sounds like a ghost sound while you are already asleep and waking you.

Just checking to see if everyone is on the same page here.

Actually I found this:

Each night as soon as I doze off (unless I fall asleep in front of the TV)I get a jolt, I jump up and my heart is pounding, my first instinct is to take a quick breath. At first I thought my heart was skipping a beat. It scared me. I talked to a friend who studied psychology. He asked if I use to have the sensation of falling out of bed, and then jerking as a result of it. I replied "yes". He mentioned that as I'm getting older the sensation is greater. His explanation of this is that my brain and my eyes are not in sync with each other. And that as I fall asleep my brain tries to synchronize with my eyes so that REM can be achieved, but since my eyes and brain are still unsynchronized, my brain sends a "reset Command" which is the jolting "electrifying" sensation we all experience. He suggests less stress, more exercise and no caffeine. I hope this helps everyone, if anyone finds a doctor who has a name for this phenomenon please let me know.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by don on Aug 20^th, 2003, 3:50pm

Quote:

(Don't Be Funny)

OK Stuey you've had more thyan your share of legitimate response, can I do it now?

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by Karla on Aug 20^th, 2003, 4:27pm

My husband gets this also and he has no ha at all. I think it is just random that it occurs or we are misunderstanding what you are going through.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by goaway on Aug 20^th, 2003, 5:14pm

I do sort of jump or "jolt" occasionally. No bang or other noise, however (at least that I am aware of).

Have thought of it sometimes and wondered. Glad you brought it up. Sort of makes me think that you are crazy like me.
:) :) ;) ;)

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by eyes_afire on Aug 20^th, 2003, 6:21pm

For those of you who have not had the whole 'exploding head' thing but still experience those wakeup jolts, perhaps you are suffering from

Myoclonic Jerks

or

Hypnic Jerks

I have occasionally gotten these along with my other strange sleep stuff ::)
But it is probably kinda normal for people to experience this occasionally. It's when it is more constant that it can be aggravating.

Here's a link (sorry it's a bit simplistic):
http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon971114/skinnyon.html

And it also mentions the 'Auditory Sleep Start' which maybe is another name for this 'Exploding Head'.

Here's another link... more detail:
http://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/Myoclonic.html

--- Steve, the NightCrawler...

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by Callico_Kid on Aug 20^th, 2003, 8:51pm

Glad I'm not the only one to do this too! I've had it for years, since I was about four or five, usually when I'm very tired or have a lot on my mind. My kids love towatch whenI take a nap in my recliner trying to catch up on sleep and one hits.

thanks for posting it.

jc

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by FrankF on Aug 20^th, 2003, 9:37pm

I have been awakened almost every night for the past week by a doorbell ringing... got up and run to check the door. The trouble is that there is nobody ringing the doorbell at 12-4 am. Sleeping with earplugs tonight.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by Georgia on Aug 21^st, 2003, 2:20am

There are surely two very different phenomenon being described in this thread.

The "jerk" thing with no sound as it was explained to me by a sleep dr: All of your voluntary muscles become paralyzed during REM. The normal sleep cycles goes like this: 1-2-3-4 (deep sleep)-1REM. When you are getting normal sleep, you progress to the paralysis slowly after going through all the other stages of sleep. When you are sleep deprived (REM deprived), your body jumps straight to stage 1 REM - the jerk is your voluntary muscles being forced into paralysis and because you are in REM, you often times dream of tripping or falling etc. It is quite common and well known among sleep specialists.

The exploding head thing experience: I haven't a clue...only know that it is different from the simple jerk.

The ringing doorbell thing: Frank, I would be on your toes for some unexpected news. I would also make sure you clean up any bad feelings with people close to you.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by Timberlea on Aug 21^st, 2003, 6:07am

Hi everyone,
I've experienced the "jolt awake" syndrome usually as soon as I'm drifting off to sleep, it only occurs when I'm extremely tired and it is pretty freaky when it happens. I have also been startled awake by a huge boom, but I always fall right back asleep again, especially since my husband (who is a light sleeper) doesn't wake up from the noise. However, I did have a strange experience about 4 years ago which I'm sure has nothing to do with my CH but seems a little bit like what Frank described - I was awoken by music, it was really creepy, old-fashioned, turn-of-the-century music box music, I could actually hum the tune, I know I was awake and I actually walked around the house (upper floor only, I scare easily) searching for it and I couldn't figure out where it was coming from, but I knew it wasn't coming from outside because nobody lives near me. Anyhow, I do not normally hear things, and my mind is quite sane, but the next day I couldn't remember the tune as hard as I tried and I haven't forgotten since that night. Hmmmm, could be a ghost? Or perhaps I am insane after all these CHs.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by stuey on Aug 21^st, 2003, 7:58am

Yep there are definitely two phenomenons?? being described here. I get them both. Neither have ever been painful and as long as they don't cause pain like the CHs I will try not to be too devastated by either of them cause there are ,many other things to be devastated by. Stuey

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by jminmilwaukee on Aug 21^st, 2003, 8:01am

That is creepy.

On the other end of the spectrum and actually tied to the very first CH I can remember, I awoke one night because it was TOO QUIET! This happened the night I got hit by my first cluster.

Now I am sure this was a dream due to the details but thought I'd share.

At the time I lived alone in FLorida and (thought) I woke up from 0 to 60. All was dead silent. My curtens were frozen at a 90 degree angle, pointing straight out but not moving. Nothing was moving. My window was open and it was really cold. I remember that I could see my breath (in Florida).

I was major creeped out and even did the pinch thing to try to wake up, no luck. I got out of bed and walked towards the living room. Could not even hear my footsteps. When I got to the main room, a woman or girl (can't remember) came out of the fireplace kinday laying down like but hoovering. She floated up to me and turned upright without even touching the ground.

Next thing I know I laying in bed with the worst headache ever. Turned out to be my first cluster.

Even stranger I find out about 3 months later that a woman had been brutally raped and killed in the main room of that house about three years before I moved in.

Freaky for sure. I got a roomate, finished the lease and got the hell out of there.

Not making this up but feel free to flame away if you like.

Jmin

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by hopefull on Aug 21^st, 2003, 11:25am

I don't recall any sounds but I do wake up yelling what's that whats that....or what wrong, what happen...my husband just tells me everythings ok..go back to sleep sometimes it's once, some times it's 4-5 times in a short period of time..use to scare my husband to death but now it's like oh moms just yelling again...everybody back to bed....one time *LOL* I ran to him in the other room like a mad hatter and yell are you ok are you ok?!!he said yes...I turned and went back to bed....didn't even remember till he brought it up the next afternoon....life is never dull in this house!!

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by stuey on Aug 21^st, 2003, 11:36am

hopefull i don't know what exactly you are experiencing but the exploding head syndrome is a HUGE BOOM. It feels like an explosion went off in your brain but it's not painful. I don't know actually when I think about it if it's a huge explosion I hear or if it's something physical I feel I just know my body whole body is jolted when it happens like some kind of electrical current or something causes it. I will have to take notes next time. I have woken up paranoid and normally have a headache and a gross feeling in my head in the morning after experiencing the paranoia which sounds like maybe what you are doing but they are different things altogether. Do you have a type of headache or fullness in your head the next morning? I'm not the best at describing stuff sometimes and I don't know why I never mentioned it to a doctor before now cause it's been happening for so long. I know that there have been times where I am afraid I burst a vessel but then there was no pain.

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by hopefull on Aug 21^st, 2003, 11:46am

I've never connected head pressure or pain with it but that maybe just because I never thought about the connection...ha's have over shadowed so much of my life they are just there...

never connected the ear problems or eye tearing with HA's either till the Dr. ask and I thought wow...what else is connected!

Title: Re: Exploding Head Syndrome (Don't Be Funny)
Post by UnsolvedEquation on Aug 21^st, 2003, 1:08pm

I woke to explosion sounds and a Kip 10 everyday... multiple times, for about a week straight. Ended up in the hospital for a DHE getaway. Haven't had it happen since. ;D (That was about 8 months ago )