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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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I Have Had Episodes Of Sleep Paralysis For About 40+

I have had episodes of sleep paralysis for about 40+ yrs. I have them at the average rate of 4-5/yr. they last from 2-10 min. it seems. I also have had multiple spinal injuries and issues, PTSD, chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, and of course insomnia at least 3X/week. I do not know of agent orange problems but was in areas cleared. Independently of the sleep paralysis I also have night terrors approx 2-3 X/month. They used to be more frequent but remain directly or indirectly related to my combat experiences in Vietnam, 1968. The "evil" presence is almost always an unseen enemy sapper. On several occasions I have been captured and executed in my night terror, while I could not move or resist. The last episode resulted in my daughter (a new grad RN, and last year's Purdue's valedictorian, thinking I was having a MI, as I was wheezing and choking on mucous in my recliner as she in my wife returned home. They called 911, began CPR, the paramedics came and I still could not move. Initially I thought I was being drug away and beaten but gradually understood what was happening but not sure if I had actually had a heart attack or not. Lastly, I was 1 yr into recovering from a second spinal surgery, C3-6 bilateral lamenectomy/foramenotomy (previous anterior fusion with hardware and cadaver bone at C5-6) and a non-displaced and non dx C2 fx from a helicopter crash where I also received a depressed scull fx of the frontal bone just above the nose w/LOC for 18 hrs. I was medivaced and hospitalized (85th Evac in Phu Bai then transferred to 95th in DaNang for 6 weeks as pupils would not react to light or properly accommodate). I was a medic. I'm now a retired RN. The the blood work, CPK, ekg, etc. confirmed no MI. SO, I was given dx of drug OD. That is not correct. I was nearly completely weaned off my pain meds per my request so I could play golf again, I had already joined the health club and employed a golf fitness trainer. I was down from the max of 60mg of ER morphine with 2/10 mg hydocodone for break through pain to 2/ 7.5 mg hydocodone for purposes of tx of W/D symptoms vs pain management. I refused to defend my position as I had never brought up the issue of sleep paralysis, only PTSD and insomnia w/night terrors to my Dr. and my daughter had now been credited with saving her father's life and she also works at the hospital where I received emergency care and was admitted for two days. I have a follow up visit with a psychiatrist I know, respect and reached out to for tx of my PTSD when it was highly problematic some yrs ago. I'm unsure and anxious how he will hear me out. Any feedback is appreciated. Thank you.
Sun, 14 Jun 2015
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I Have Had Episodes Of Sleep Paralysis For About 40+