Words of The Day

I had never experienced a "night terror" before traveling to Asia. Well, I thought that was what they were called. I'd wake up in the middle of the night and be: completely paralyzed, seeing someone standing in the door to my room, hearing someone saying my name loudly, or all three.

Then I'd really wake up.

It was extremely frightening, especially since I was mostly traveling alone and staying in, er, less than reputable places. Some of my accommodations were literally mud huts with bamboo doors on them.

Today as I was bumbling through practice USMLE questions I came upon this answer to a question:

So THAT is what they were!!

Hypnopompic and hypnagogic hallucinations.

Ok, so aside from the fact that they are seriously cool words to add to one's vocabulary, I was intrigued by the transient nature of my former "classic symptoms of narcolepsy".

I stopped taking chloroquine about 5 months into my trip and the symptoms stopped. Of course I have heard that 'vivid dreams' are a common side effect of the prophylaxis...but now I can't help but think they should add hypnopompic and hypnagogic hallucinations to the list!
 

Father Ted - Road Block

Where did the weekend go and how is it that I got so laughably little done?

I've decided I have a nightmare problem. Well, I have known for a long time that nightmares seem to be my natural go-to in dreamland, but lately it's been getting ridiculous.

For example, last night I went to an Irish friend's house for a Father Ted marathon, and this was the final episode, "Speed 3". If you watch the clip you'll get an idea of the sheer ridiculousness of the show.

And yet, somehow my gray matter twisted the evenings entertainment into a nightmare that involved me having to drive a bomb-laden car to my epi prof's house to be disarmed. I awoke, very much afraid and then very much irritated at the realization that I can't even watch Father Ted without having to worry about my subconscious interpretation once I am asleep.

It is a drag. I mean, I'd really like to see Black Swan but I might actually have a heart attack in my sleep.

Fracking Insomnia!!!!

Why? Now of all times?

No exam stress. No noise. Adequate exercise. Normal meal times. Darkness. Early morning waking. Dim lights in evening.

AGHHHHH!!

I wish I was in my residency now. At least I could be putting lack of sleep to good use.

[Shakes tired yet wired fist at sky!!!]

What the hell, body??