Hello, new to these forums but glad I have found them, very useful.

15 years ago I was diagnosed with nocturnal epilepsy after having strange moments of paralysis during sleep. I was sent for an EEG which didn't show anything, I then went for a sleep-deprived eeg which did apparently show something. I was put on Tegretol (which has never fully controlled it) and that was that....

However, after reading some reports of similar experiences I'm not convinced that it is epilepsy anymore. This is what happens during one of the episodes, please could people that do suffer with SP or epilepsy have a read and let me know if the symptoms sound the same?

During my sleep I will sometimes 'wake up' but will be unable to move aside from maybe my fingers or tongue. My head will become really dizzy and will begin to 'pulse' to my heart beat. Once that pulsing has stopped my body remains paralysed until either I wake up properly or go back into REM sleep. I do not believe my body moves at all during this, no jerking movements as usually associated with epilepsy. My heart will also race during this, something that I'm not sure is related to SP or not.

During the episodes I sometimes hallucinate a little and sometimes think I have gotten out of bed when in actual fact I haven't. Also, sometimes I can feel one of these coming on before it actually happens.

If anyone has any advice I would be very happy to hear it. I am wondering whether to go back to my GP to be checked to make sure I haven't spent the last 15 years thinking I am epileptic for nothing.