Twitchy

[watergirl]

Alrighty - I have a question. I've been single and sleeping alone for going on two years now, but lately I've been seeing someone and we stay at each other's houses fairly often.

This isn't an insomnia thing, or a sleep apnea thing, or a snoring issue. When I drift off to sleep, I twitch. My ankles will twitch - just a very quick flick of the feet, that's all. I've never kicked him hard or anything like that. At that point, I'm usually still vaguely concious, and I can feel my ankles twitch, and I'll either fall asleep entirely or wake up cause I'm trying to stay up and watch tv or something.

Now, my guy tells me that after my ankles twitch, it moves on up. The knees, the arms, more random twitching of the ankles. I'm asleep by then, it's totally involuntary - I'm not even aware of it happening! I worry that it keeps him from falling asleep, and I feel sort of goofy and apologetic and embarrassed about this. He says he thinks it's hilarious, that he doesn't sleep much anyways, and I shouldn't worry about it. He just likes to tease me because it's fun. <grin>

My question is - are any of you twitchy when you fall asleep? Does it bother your partner? Do you have any ideas for me on how to be less twitchy?

 

[TNRkitect2b]

i sometimes get "twitchy" in the ankles and legs as you describe it, typically as I fall off to sleep. It tends to wake me back up. But i have not heard any complaints or observations on it continuing after i am asleep. It also does not hit as often as you describe.

As for ways to slow it down, maybe having him tire you out with strenous sex before bed?

 

[SensualCealy]

LOL Dont worry about it. Worry when you hit him by accident! lol

Im kidding, all it is, is your body reliving your day. You likely are walking as you fall to sleep and its just your feet moving.

Sounds like you fall into a deep sleep quick and thats why your legs may follow suit. Ive been known to kick or even jerk (not him) fairly hard to the point he asks if Im okay. I play soccer with the kids so Im just getting more exercise! lol

So long as he is just teasing you dont worry about it, you could always wake him when the twitching starts and say, its time , roll over Im taking advantage of you! lol

Have fun,
Cealy

 

[ReadyOne]

Have you iron levels checks.

Twitching (especially legs) and eating ice are two thing that often accompany low iron levels.

 

[horny_boi]

hmm i think i have a "twitch"
but after i twitch i always get woken up out of my sleep
sometimes it is kind of scary because i wake up hurting sometimes not like bruise or anything just aches?

hmm not sure if it is the same thing

 

[BirdsWife]

Have you iron levels checks.

Twitching (especially legs) and eating ice are two thing that often accompany low iron levels.

Also make sure you are getting enough potassium.

 

[yaspis]

I used to twitch when I was a kid, but it disappeared before I turned 9. Nowadays I just talk in my sleep. And sing, too, if you're unlucky.

 

[firefighter02]

Although it could be nothing major to worry about it may be symptoms of Restless Leg Disorder...You can find more information here.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/restless_doc.htm

Good Luck..

FF

 

[midwestyankee]

Although it could be nothing major to worry about it may be symptoms of Restless Leg Disorder...You can find more information here.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/restless_doc.htm

Good Luck..

FF

Take this seriously. This is a true sleep disorder and may be causing you to get less sleep or less good sleep than you need. I found that my own case of RLD diminished tremendously when I gave up caffeine a few years ago. I still get it occasionally but nothing like the nightly frequency I experienced when I was a heavy coffee and diet cola drinker. Alas, that's just one of the vices I have been forced to give up but I do prefer getting to sleep comfortably.

 

[Bobmi357]

Yes do take this seriously. I have suffered from a sleep disorder (apnea) since 1988, and restless legs are just one of the side effects. WAY back when, before it was properly diagnosed and under control, the restless legs bothered me even while awake. I found it extremely difficult to sit for any great length of time, going to a movie or a play was an agony I avoided like the plague.

While its normal to twitch every so often, even a couple times a night, its not normal to do it enough that it becomes an issue.

Your doc may ask you to undergo a sleep study. While you may not currently have a case of apnea, you may be leaning in that direction, and the restlessness is just part of an early symptom. Get it looked into.

 

[zhukov1943]

Some people say that quinine helps with restless legs.

A good source is tonic water. I drink mine with vodka!

 

[crazybbwgirl]

I too will get twitchy legs during sleep - or even worse while driving! The only thing that has really worked for me is stretching. Before bedtime and right when I get up. Long leg streches and lower back stretches work the best for me. I can always tell when I'm inbetween yoga classes.

 

[watergirl]

Yikes!

Wow, you all are so serious! Yikes!

TNArkitec - oh, no worries, there is often some good sex before bed, and in the morning, too. That's part of why I sleep at his place so often!

ReadyOne - thanks for the iron thoughts, but I take a flintstones vitamin every day, which does promise me my daily dose of iron.

hornyboi, I don't wake up with cramps or hurting or anything, and he hasn't yet either from me kicking him, so that's alright - I think we've got different things going on, you & me.

Birdswife, I will buy bananas and have a banana a day for a while, and see if that helps. Thanks for the tip!

firefighter, it doesn't keep me from falling off to sleep, and m'guy says it doesnt' bother him, either. I don't get twitchy or fidgety or restless during the waking hours, this seems to be just a quirk as I fall asleep.

midwestyankee, I don't drink coffee or eat much chocolate. I do drink a diet soda a day or two, but I might switch to caffeine free or something... that's a thought, but I'm not sure they're connected. The twitching doesn't bother me or keep me from dropping right off, and I don't wake up overtired or anything... I
don't really need a jolt of caffeine to get me going in the morning.

Bobmi, I don't have any trouble sitting still during the day or night or anything - never have been one of those people who bounce one leg up & down from the toe or the ankle while sitting... I don't have a regular doctor or much of a health insurance plan, so I'll probably just keep on ignoring this except when I get teased for it...

zhukov & crazybbwgirl, thanks for the thoughts... I'm not a big drinker, but I haven't been to the gym as regularly as I'd like to be going. Work has gotten nutty for me lately, so I tend to blame the twitchyness on my body/brain working out the fidgets. I have a half hour/ forty minute drive to & from work every day, and sometimes another half hour of driving if I go down to my guy's place to sleep - so I think it's just that I'm not physically tired enough...

Maybe soonish I'll get back to swimming or some other kind of good workout in the mornings before work again, and that might help.

I don't really have a problem sleeping . I do fall asleep pretty quickly, and I don't feel tired during the next day. I usually wake up just a little bit before my alarm, and I'm not a grumpy morning person. I have been drinking a fair amount of diet cola lately - I'll switch to caffeine free in addition to buying bananas. <grin>

Thanks for all the advice - you guys almost have me worried!

 

[waterkemist]

A couple of more ideas:

Kava Kava relaxes many people and is inexpensive.

Try getting more exercise.

Have sex everynight before bed. Then who cares if your legs twitch.

--Waterkemist

 

[watergirl]

kava kava?

what is kava kava? an exercise, a tea, an herbal thing???? And, yep, if i'm sleeping at his place, there's almost always sex!

 

[midwestyankee]

Question for you, watergirl: do you have any sensations in your legs when you twitch? For example, do you ever feel any ticklish sensation in your feet or behind your knees as you are twitching or about to twitch?

 

[watergirl]

midwest -

Hmmm... Not really? It's usually so quick that I don't even know it's coming. You know how you can feel a sneeze coming on? It's not like that - I don't anticipate it, but it's over about as quickly. Have you ever seen a dog's paws twitch while they're asleep? LOL - I think it's similar to that....

 

[midwestyankee]

midwest -

Hmmm... Not really? It's usually so quick that I don't even know it's coming. You know how you can feel a sneeze coming on? It's not like that - I don't anticipate it, but it's over about as quickly. Have you ever seen a dog's paws twitch while they're asleep? LOL - I think it's similar to that....

The ticklish sensation is generally associated with Restless Leg Syndrome, though not always. If you are waking before your alarm and feel refreshed by your sleep, then I wouldn't worry about it very much. Chances are you don't have a sleep disorder.

Just have the bf wear a cup to bed if he gets concerned that you might knee him in your sleep.

 

[waterkemist]

Kava Kava

Yes it is an herb. I've taken it myself and I consider it safe. From what I understand, it is a mild relaxant.

Sleep is a strange thing to understand. Our bodies produce a chemical that paralyzes us somewhat so that we don't move so much during dreams. The chemical has to be balanced by our need to breathe and respond to emergencies. One theory about leg movement that I heard was that the chemical was not produced enough in some people, so their legs move while they dream. It is not so uncommon. My wife's dog whimpers while he sleeps, and I think it is the same thing there.

Try a search on Kava Kava first. If you decide, Echerd's used to carry it and they still may have it.

Did I also mention exercise? I hate it when people tell me to exercise. Let me take that back. Don't exercise!!!

Sweet Dreams

 

[logan ross]

Alrighty - I have a question. I've been single and sleeping alone for going on two years now, but lately I've been seeing someone and we stay at each other's houses fairly often.

This isn't an insomnia thing, or a sleep apnea thing, or a snoring issue. When I drift off to sleep, I twitch. My ankles will twitch - just a very quick flick of the feet, that's all. I've never kicked him hard or anything like that. At that point, I'm usually still vaguely concious, and I can feel my ankles twitch, and I'll either fall asleep entirely or wake up cause I'm trying to stay up and watch tv or something.

Now, my guy tells me that after my ankles twitch, it moves on up. The knees, the arms, more random twitching of the ankles. I'm asleep by then, it's totally involuntary - I'm not even aware of it happening! I worry that it keeps him from falling asleep, and I feel sort of goofy and apologetic and embarrassed about this. He says he thinks it's hilarious, that he doesn't sleep much anyways, and I shouldn't worry about it. He just likes to tease me because it's fun. <grin>

My question is - are any of you twitchy when you fall asleep? Does it bother your partner? Do you have any ideas for me on how to be less twitchy?

i could also be nocturnal epilepsy. this is very common. according to scientist everyone has a form of epilepsy and doesnt know it.
or jacksonian seizure which causes the motor neourons to shut down for half a second and causes twitching as they fire up again. this usualy starts from the feet or the hand and works its way up the body.

 

[Cakegirl]

I have a friend who is twitchy. He's a fighter, and he usually dreams about fighting, and while he's sleeping, he's twitching, changing which way he's facing, punching, elbowing, kicking, etc. He has punched a hole through a cupboard next to his bed. His poor girlfriend has been hit while she was sleeping too, although she punched him back, which woke him up.

Cakegirl

 

[watergirl]

aha

Jacksonian seizure sounds like a winner. M'boy tells me it starts with one ankle, then the other, then one knee, then the other, then a pretty good torso twitch, then one shoulder, then the other, and if i'm laying on my side, I twitch the arm that's up, twice. Wacky, huh? And he says this only takes a minute or so... it's just disturbing to be teased about something I'm not aware of or in control of, it seriously bothers me. That's a bigger issue than the twitching itself, and it annoys me that I let it bug me that he picks on me about it. Sighhhh.

Thanks for all the sharing & suggestions!