Dream Pain (plus more dreams)
Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2011 10:30 am
(Bumped on 10-4-11 to add yet another dream story at the end.)
This event needs a better title than Dream Pain (suggestions are welcome ). And it happened last night (wait, that’s almost a film title...). But Dream Pain is a first for me. And I wonder if it happens to anyone else. (And now you’re all thinking, “Oh geez, it’s another of euphoniaa’s True Life Stories.”)
But here goes. I've been dreaming a lot in the last few months - deeply, frequently, pleasantly, excitingly, epic-ly, (sometimes sexily). It’s great! I've been wondering if the restful sleep and colorful dreaming are due to my current sleep position - propped up in a long incline of pillows to avoid my most current medical crisis, nighttime Reflux where I wake up choking to death from aspirating my most recent meal into my lungs. (This is not apnea...it's an actual choking event that takes me an hour to cough up out of my lungs until I can take full breaths. Another creepy non-MS story altogether.)
Anyway, last night I was dreaming I was in an auction crowd, someone had just bid on a painting, and I got one of my Screaming Leg Spasms (or maybe a cramp this time). The weird thing was that I was still in the dream, concerned that my howls would draw the attention of the bidders, while still close enough to being awake that I noted all the specifics – like, as usual, it was my left leg, and it quickly climbed to a searing pain level of about a “12” (on a pain scale of 10) this time.
In my dream I panicked, even though I knew this type of spasm lasts only about 10 minutes for me, it was becoming totally unbearable - the worst ever! (they usually hover around 7-8 or spasm back & forth between 4 & 10, without lingering at the top more than 30 or so seconds.) The pain was so real! I also remember thinking that the Screaming Tri-Monthly Nerve Spasm wasn't due yet – it was too soon. I just had one 2 weeks ago.
I could even SEE the pain. It was terrifying. I remembered my routine, pulled myself awake, threw off the sheets, grabbed my leg, and moved to the edge of the bed to stand like I always do - and then I realized that the pain was fading away with the dream. And I was awake.
But it had really hurt! Was it totally imaginary Dream Pain? Or had the most painful leg spasm ever, jolted me into consciousness? I guess if nightmares can scare you as bad as daytime fears - and sometimes worse - Dream Pain could feel just as real. I still don't know whether this was a real spasm. Or was my demyelinating brain mischievously screwing with my unconscious mind?
But it’s fascinating. I’d love to get some replies or other sleep stories, but sometimes I just have to express myself, so it’s okay if I don’t.
Wishing pleasant thoughts, pleasant dreams, and better health to all.
(Edited to add a P.S. - The reason I don't blame MS for the choking, I was dx'd with a hiatal hernia in January.)
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This event needs a better title than Dream Pain (suggestions are welcome ). And it happened last night (wait, that’s almost a film title...). But Dream Pain is a first for me. And I wonder if it happens to anyone else. (And now you’re all thinking, “Oh geez, it’s another of euphoniaa’s True Life Stories.”)
But here goes. I've been dreaming a lot in the last few months - deeply, frequently, pleasantly, excitingly, epic-ly, (sometimes sexily). It’s great! I've been wondering if the restful sleep and colorful dreaming are due to my current sleep position - propped up in a long incline of pillows to avoid my most current medical crisis, nighttime Reflux where I wake up choking to death from aspirating my most recent meal into my lungs. (This is not apnea...it's an actual choking event that takes me an hour to cough up out of my lungs until I can take full breaths. Another creepy non-MS story altogether.)
Anyway, last night I was dreaming I was in an auction crowd, someone had just bid on a painting, and I got one of my Screaming Leg Spasms (or maybe a cramp this time). The weird thing was that I was still in the dream, concerned that my howls would draw the attention of the bidders, while still close enough to being awake that I noted all the specifics – like, as usual, it was my left leg, and it quickly climbed to a searing pain level of about a “12” (on a pain scale of 10) this time.
In my dream I panicked, even though I knew this type of spasm lasts only about 10 minutes for me, it was becoming totally unbearable - the worst ever! (they usually hover around 7-8 or spasm back & forth between 4 & 10, without lingering at the top more than 30 or so seconds.) The pain was so real! I also remember thinking that the Screaming Tri-Monthly Nerve Spasm wasn't due yet – it was too soon. I just had one 2 weeks ago.
I could even SEE the pain. It was terrifying. I remembered my routine, pulled myself awake, threw off the sheets, grabbed my leg, and moved to the edge of the bed to stand like I always do - and then I realized that the pain was fading away with the dream. And I was awake.
But it had really hurt! Was it totally imaginary Dream Pain? Or had the most painful leg spasm ever, jolted me into consciousness? I guess if nightmares can scare you as bad as daytime fears - and sometimes worse - Dream Pain could feel just as real. I still don't know whether this was a real spasm. Or was my demyelinating brain mischievously screwing with my unconscious mind?
But it’s fascinating. I’d love to get some replies or other sleep stories, but sometimes I just have to express myself, so it’s okay if I don’t.
Wishing pleasant thoughts, pleasant dreams, and better health to all.
(Edited to add a P.S. - The reason I don't blame MS for the choking, I was dx'd with a hiatal hernia in January.)
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