The night before last, I woke at 1:30 with a pretty strong hit.  I was on the 02  for about 15 mins, then went back to bed.  As I was lying there, trying to go back to sleep, the strangest thing happened.  I know that it is not a typical CH occurrence but I am hoping that someone can shed some light.

I'm not sure if I had drifted back to sleep or not.   This all could have been a dream, for all I Know.  I suddenly felt as if something terrible was about to happen.   Then I felt my entire body become tense, as if all of my muscles were contracted to the point I was trembling.  I was unable to open my eyes, speak or move.  With my eyes closed, I kept "seeing" blue flashes of light.  In my head, I was thinking that I was having some kind of seizure. I felt fully aware of what was going on but I am not sure how long this lasted.

When it was over, what ever it was, I was definitely awake and scared.  Soon I fell asleep, only to wake every two hours to another hit.   

I am curious if anyone has ever had anything similar to this?  I would think that it was a seizure, if not for the fact that I remember it so vividly.  Maybe I am just crazy...

Jeannie

Likely what is call an "aura"; common in migraine, quite unusual in Cluster, but of not clinical concern.

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2010 Dec 15.

Cluster Headache with Aura.
Rozen TD.

Geisinger Specialty Clinic, MC 37-31, 1000 East Mountain Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18711, USA, tdrozmigraine@yahoo.com.

Abstract
Aura was not recognized as a clinical symptom of cluster headache until fairly recently, but studies now have indicated that upwards of 20% of patients with cluster headache may have aura, the same percentage of migraine sufferers who have aura. This paper looks at the epidemiology of cluster headache with aura, suggests possible roles of cortical spreading depression in cluster headache pathogenesis, and looks at the clinical/diagnostic implications of aura in cluster headache sufferers.

PMID: 21161447 [PubMed]
===================

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2005 Aug;9(4):264-7. 

 
Aura with Non-migraine Headache.

Krymchantowski AV.

Outpatient Headache Unit, Instituto de Neurologia Deolindo Couto, Headache Center of Rio, Rua Siqueira, Campos 43/1002, Copacabana Rio de Janeiro, 22031.070 Brazil. abouchkrym@globo.com.

The typical aura associated with migraine is characterized by visual or sensory and speech symptoms, with a mix of positive and negative features and complete reversibility within 1 hour. However, auras are not an exclusive migraine-dependent phenomenon. There have been descriptions of aura occurring in association with cluster headache, hemicrania continua, and even with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. In addition, the occurrence of aura without headache or followed by a headache resembling the criteria of tension-type headache is encountered in clinical practice. This paper reviews the literature about auras in non-migraine headaches and the features involving this uncommon presentation. The possibility of a specific genetic origin for the auras, not related to the primary headache type, also is raised.

PMID: 16004842 [PubMed]
=========

Cephalalgia. 2002 Nov;22(9):725-9.   

 
Atypical presentations of cluster headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. RozenT@ccf.org

Recently, cluster headache has been shown to occur with aura, suggesting that as more cluster patients are seen by headache specialists new forms of this well-defined primary headache syndrome will be identified. This study presents three atypical presentations of cluster headache: persistent or unremitting cluster, periodic cluster, and reflex or event-related cluster. Case reports are presented with an explanation as to why these headaches should be considered cluster headache.

Publication Types:
Case Reports

PMID: 12421158 [PubMed]
============================

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2001 Feb;5(1):67-70.   

 
Migrainous features in cluster headache.

Peatfield R.

Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF, UK. rpeatfield@ic.ac.uk

Migraine and cluster headache have been considered entirely separate clinical syndromes, both in routine clinical practice and in the 1988 International Headache Society classification. Neurologists seeing large numbers of patients soon realize, however, that there is a considerable overlap between the two conditions. Some patients have attacks with the cardinal features of cluster headache, but also have a few symptoms (especially a visual aura) usually attributed to migraine. In addition, it is not uncommon for a patient with a lifetime's history of migraine to experience a typical bout of cluster headache, although the reverse is less common. This article reviews the published series of such patients.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 11252140 [PubMed]

Thanks, Bob.   I hope that's all it was.  It was pretty frightening to feel like I had no control over my body.  I hope it never happens again. 

Scary Jeannie.... :o...have not experienced that one thank goodness. Hoping it's what Bob suggested.

Joe

I've been reading about different types of seizures and apparently one can be conscious during one.  I'm not sure what to think about what I experienced.  I do know that I'll be heading to the neuro if it happens again. 

The good news is that I had a PF night last night.  Hoping for one again tonight.   Fingers crossed!

Two things come to mind here, and remember, I'm only guessing. The first thought is that CHs are very fond of REM sleep, and 1:30AM is right there in the sweet spot. It's possible you awoke from and then returned to REM and that might be a connection. The other is on seizures. We all have a kind of seizure from time to time. Remember that feeling you get sometimes, just before sleep hits, of falling and catching yourself? That's a bittie seizure as I understand it. Again, as Bob said, nothing to be worried about there. Still, I think I would share that experience with your neuro. Probably will say, hmmmm, really? But you never know. Blessings. lance