OK..this is weird

Sherryg683 · 09-05-2006, 10:38 AM

For the past few weeks I have been having something weird happen..only when I am asleep...it wakes me up. I don't really know how to describe it but he best way would be it's like static in my head. It feels like a buzz or a jitter or something. It happens once or maybe twice a night. It's not painful but feels like my brain is shortcircuiting..does that make sense??? I have been having terrible sinus issues now for the longest, headaches everyday. I have trouble sleeping and take an ambien every night. My scans just came back clean and my Oncologist doesn't think I need another brain scan because I had an MRI a few months ago, it was clean. I don't know if maybe I am having rapid eye movement when I sleep or what the hecks going on. Has anyone else had this happen and what the cause was. Like I said, it doesn't happen in the day, only when I am sleeping....Of course I worry about brain mets..sherryg683

StephN · 09-05-2006, 11:19 AM

That is a new one on me, Sherry.
Perhaps you should schedule a sleep study through your general doctor. Just tell him you are on the Ambien and are still waking up at night.

I have a friend who conducts sleep studies and he says that these studies will answer a lot of questions.

A word on brain mets. I had a clean MRI in January 2004 and within 5 months my CEA started rising. If I had had the MRI every 6 months instead of every year my tumors would have been caught earlier and maybe I would not have the trouble I have today. I had NO symptoms even with a large tumor, so don't let your onc dissuade you from having another brain MRI if the sleep study does not answer your problem.

Lala · 09-05-2006, 12:01 PM

Hello Sherry,

I am sorry that you are having discomfort.

I would also consider the possibility of you having ‘Tinnitus’… My sister suffers from this condition; she describes it as buzzing or waves in the ear and head. She finds that it is most noticeable while in bed at night because of the quiet noise level in the room.

She has suffered many years from sinus infections and allergies.

This is just one of many websites available for information, look under what causes Tinnitus:

www.ata.org/about_tinnitus/consumer/faq.html#1

I also have to agree with Step on the MRI of the brain being done twice a year. My oncologist likes this schedule for her2+ gals for sure. I think the sleep study is a great idea as well.

I hope you feel better soon!

Sherryg683 · 09-05-2006, 01:18 PM

Thanks for the info. I am going to mention my newest symptoms to my Oncologist. We did an MRI a couple of months ago and he said he would do another scan in 3 months, so I guess he's following the every 6 months rule. It's probably something to do with my sinuses. It's just the weirdest feeling and only lasts for a few seconds, just enough to disturb my sleep...other than that, I sleep pretty well on the ambien. I'm afraid if I check into a sleep disturbance clinic, my husband will divorce me. He's already pretty sick of my constant ailments...lol..sherryg683