Seriously Injuring Oneself While Dreaming

[AslinSparx]

The morning of NYE around 5.30am, I woke up on my floor covered in blood. What lead to this horrific event is difficult for me to accept and comprehend. I was having a vivid dream where I was falling down a dark and narrow elevator shaft and in the process my body was being cut. I was desperate to find my way out and I think I was frantically waving my arms about and I actually smashed my hand into a glass vase on my bedside table. I was still dreaming when I found myself on the floor and injured in real life. I was scared, wet with blood and unsure if I was really trapped in an elevator shaft and about to die. Luckily my housemate was home to rush me to hospital. My room, hallway and bathroom was splattered in a shocking amount of blood and for someone who has never injured herself in all of her 35yrs, I was absolutely terrified. I severed an artery, a nerve, tendons and muscle and have rehab ahead of me. I've only been out of hospital 2 days and having trouble sleeping, afraid of what other accidents may happen.

Has anyone else injured themselves while sleeping??

 

[Friday]

For sure. When my nightmare cycles get bad I pretty much sleep in a bed (or couch) in the middle of an empty room. Not as bad as severing an artery, but I've broken bones & dislocated joints.

 

[barefoot]

Yes, but nowhere near as badly as you! Plenty of bruises and scrapes, a black eye, some torn ligaments but, thankfully, nothing more serious.

It would be worth you safeguarding your bedroom as best you can to try to prevent similar things happening again. My bedroom is pretty sparse, mainly to try to limit things spooking me in the night (e.g. I got rid of things that cast weird shadows) and to keep floor space free so that I don't trip over stuff. No more glass vases next to your bed!

Sorry you had such a scary experience. Aside from the injury, I know how disorientating and frightening it can be to wake up and not know where you are/what's happening. I hope your injury heals well.

 

[J'qel]

My husband has almost given me a black eye-twice-while asleep. He now has a CPAP (sleep apnea machine) and moves a lot less. I sincerely appreciate it. :P

But yes, minimizing may help and you may want to talk to a sleep specialist if you haven`t already.

 

[Neverthesame]

I sleep walked a couple of times.

(No idea why) a passing freight train seems to have been the catalyst.
Woke up when I was smacked in the face by a tree branch.
Wasn't injured, but could easily have been on the tracks when the next train came by.

The other time (caused by medication. f*cking Ambien... or was it Lunesta...? Can't remember...)
I tried to cook something. Put a frozen dinner in the oven and promptly forgot about it.
Fortunately, someone else was home. They found it when it started burning, they removed it before the whole bloody house went up. Scared the hell out of me.

Best thing I can suggest in the meantime, would be to remove any other glassware from thrashing range (obvious I know.).
You may also want to try tying an arm or leg to the bed frame. Though make sure you move anything out of range of your head should you fall.

Did anything unusual happen that day? (You don't have to answer any of these, just putting them out as thoughts).

• Start or stop a new medication?
• Witness an event or media, which may have upset you?
• Unusual environment (sirens, roadworks, construction, nearby domestic disturbance, odd smells, ect, ect?

Wishing you a swift recovery, you have certainly had a rough night.

EDIT: Couldn't remember which !@#$ing medication caused me to sleepcook.

 

[Fadeaway]

Yes. I think my husband gets the brunt of the injuries from me lashing out in my dreams though. Niether one of us have ever needed medical attention though.

So grateful that your roommate found you.

 

[ShodokanJenn]

I had a similar injury to my leg when I cut myself sleep walking. It ended up infected and I've had 23 subsequent operations. It's been two years since I last had any infection, so the doc has declared it cured (finally). I am still rehabbing, and will have permanent deficits.

I am so glad your roommate was there. I bet it was absolutely terrifying.

 

[Phantom Shadow]

Yes I have Had an antique metal frame bed and headboard. There was a window thru the headboard. I put my hand thru it. Thank heavens my wife woke up as I didn't and was attempting to go out thru the headboard and put my other hand thru the top window. Had to have 245 stitches. Wife had to put cold water in my face to get me back to real world.

Of course I had to move the bed in the bedroom. got rid of the glass furniture in the room also. Another time woke up with my pistol in my hand. Thank heavens I was field stripping it in my sleep. Had to get a lock box for it. Had to put my rifles in a different room with locked cases also. Wife still worries about them being in the house.