Guest guest Posted August 9, 2001 Report Share Posted August 9, 2001 Lynn, Most of us PLSers all jump; it's called exaggerated reflex. Just part of PLS. I can't tell you how many times that I have tossed my coffee when the phone rings or the dogs bark. My husband (and others) too are always apologizing for startling me when they just walk in the room and say something. I rarely eat at other people's house (other than at the table) because a couple of times I was startled by something and spilled food or a drink on their furniture. This has been a major topic of discussion in the past. Some people do take meds to help with it. I'm sure you will here from lots of in the group. Not to worry, it's not just you. Also, you've probably read lately another common PLS topic. It's called emotional lability and that's inappropriate laughing and crying. Another thing that we are "blessed" with--the inability to control our emotions. It's also normal that we seem to fall asleep when taking the kinds of drugs you referred to. Usually the doctor recommends a very low dose and then gradually increasing. I tried Elavil at a very low dose but was such a zombie, that I stopped. I've come to the conclusion that we all respond as differently to the drugs as we do to the PLS. Gentner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2001 Report Share Posted August 9, 2001 Lynn, Bob and are so right we all share the same symptoms of exaggerated reflex and emotional crying/laughing. Like many of us the ringing of the phone or sharp sounds a car going by, etc., make us stiffen up. Even an emotional commercial on TV makes me cry so your not alone its normal for us go to this web site PLS Home Page for information. Flora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2001 Report Share Posted August 9, 2001 Lynn, About one year ago there was a lot of shared information among the PLS'rs about the the " startle " reflex.It seems that it is a common afflication shared by many , along with , by the way , excessive laughter and sometimes weeping.Sooo....don't be alarmed by the reaction it is shared by many. God Bless You...Bob TWO QUESTIONS > Hi PLSers, > I went to the doctor the other day. as I've been having head and back aches. He gave me a perscripation for NORTRIPTYLINE 25mgs. twice a day. Anyway every time I sat down I feel asleep in the chair. So I decided to try taking just one in the evening, before I went to bed. I did sleep good, but when I got up I was so druged out that I think I ran into every piece of furniture getting out of the room. Luckly I didn't fall, but came awful close. I stopped taking them after three days. I was wondering if anybody takes these pills, and how does it affect you? > > My second question is about me and if anybody else might do this? I jump at everything. When my husband comes in to the room, ( I JUMP ) He says I know he is in the house but I still jump. It is a big joke. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack someday. Other people scare me all the time. A man in the parking lot, scrapped his foot on the cement and I Jumpped. I'm so sick of people saying their sorry. It's not their fault. Anyway I said something to the doctor about this and he took a blood test, which is going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester N.Y. He said something about it might be a stiff person decease. I never heard of this!!! Has anybody else? Thank in advance for any help I can get. > LYNN > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2001 Report Share Posted August 9, 2001 Hi Lynn Yes my husband has the same problem. I think it has to do with the hyper reflex that plsers seem to have. He also laughs out of control. And will also cry which is real hard to take as this is a man that I had never see cry. Will don't know if this is any help to you but I hope so. You take care. Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2001 Report Share Posted August 9, 2001 I sure can relate to the jumping bit as I do that all the time and getting worse about it by the day. You sure are not alone. I figured it was just part of PLS. No one has offered any help or hope for it. ---------- > From: skunkygolfer@... > To: PLS-FRIENDS > Subject: TWO QUESTIONS > Date: Thursday, August 09, 2001 9:42 AM > > Hi PLSers, > I went to the doctor the other day. as I've been having head and back aches. He gave me a perscripation for NORTRIPTYLINE 25mgs. twice a day. Anyway every time I sat down I feel asleep in the chair. So I decided to try taking just one in the evening, before I went to bed. I did sleep good, but when I got up I was so druged out that I think I ran into every piece of furniture getting out of the room. Luckly I didn't fall, but came awful close. I stopped taking them after three days. I was wondering if anybody takes these pills, and how does it affect you? > > My second question is about me and if anybody else might do this? I jump at everything. When my husband comes in to the room, ( I JUMP ) He says I know he is in the house but I still jump. It is a big joke. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack someday. Other people scare me all the time. A man in the parking lot, scrapped his foot on the cement and I Jumpped. I'm so sick of people saying their sorry. It's not their fault. Anyway I said something to the doctor about this and he took a blood test, which is going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester N.Y. He said something about it might be a stiff person decease. I never heard of this!!! Has anybody else? Thank in advance for any help I can get. > LYNN > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 9, 2001 Report Share Posted August 9, 2001 Lynn, I have to chime in on this one. As others have stated, many PLS'ers have this same symptom. I've broken the cradle that holds my computer keyboard because once when my wife walked unexpectedly into the room and just said, "Hello", I was so startled that my leg flew in the air breaking the cradle and my arm and hand flew across the keyboard, knocking over a container of pens and pencils!!! Try to relax, laugh at it and know that it may happen again and again and again! It's next to impossible to anticipate or predict. (Delaware) belgium46@... wrote: Lynn, Bob and are so right we all share the same symptoms of exaggerated reflex and emotional crying/laughing. Like many of us the ringing of the phone or sharp sounds a car going by, etc., make us stiffen up. Even an emotional commercial on TV makes me cry so your not alone its normal for us go to this web site PLS Home Page for information. Flora Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2001 Report Share Posted August 11, 2001 Lynn, Yes, Stiff Man's disease was one of the original problems they thought I might have. It wasn't. The MRI ruled that out immediately. Don't know why, though. About the JUMPING. It's a startle reflex. I have spilled coffee all over my office (when I returned to work on 8/16/96) when someone's door closed. The darn thing has also caused me to fall more times than I can recall. It is one of the major causes for my falls. I just stiffen and go down. Phone calls are the worst. If I'm standing, I frequently will go down. The last time cost me a trip to ER and a hospital bill, along with 14 stitches to repair a cut above my left eye. It was in the same area that had the plastic surgery done from another fall. The ER doctor must know how to do the plastic surgery stuff. There is virtually no scar now, either. But I have thrown pills around the room, spilled things, fallen, thrown what I was holding, etc. It is worse when I am tired or getting sick. The Klonopin I take helps a lot. I am able to keep it under control most of the time and have learned to hold onto something when I am in the kitchen or bathroom, just in case. I also stand with my legs slightly apart with one foot slightly forward of the other. Knees are slightly bent. This has helped me keep from falling much of the time. Nothing is completely fool-proof, however. The startle reflex is one of the things many of us just have to live with. Mike Gray Logansport IN skunkygolfer@... wrote: Hi PLSers, I went to the doctor the other day. as I've been having head and back aches. He gave me a perscripation for NORTRIPTYLINE 25mgs. twice a day. Anyway every time I sat down I feel asleep in the chair. So I decided to try taking just one in the evening, before I went to bed. I did sleep good, but when I got up I was so druged out that I think I ran into every piece of furniture getting out of the room. Luckly I didn't fall, but came awful close. I stopped taking them after three days. I was wondering if anybody takes these pills, and how does it affect you? My second question is about me and if anybody else might do this? I jump at everything. When my husband comes in to the room, ( I JUMP ) He says I know he is in the house but I still jump. It is a big joke. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack someday. Other people scare me all the time. A man in the parking lot, scrapped his foot on the cement and I Jumpped. I'm so sick of people saying their sorry. It's not their fault. Anyway I said something to the doctor about this and he took a blood test, which is going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester N.Y. He said something about it might be a stiff person decease. I never heard of this!!! Has anybody else? Thank in advance for any help I can get. LYNN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2001 Report Share Posted August 11, 2001 , I though I was the only one this happen to. I must hold on to anything I can when the on coming sneeze comes. I have nearly fall from them. I always sneezed in a gigantic way when was a regular person (normal) I could lift the roof and loud too. Glad to hear I am not alone. Flora/Florida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2001 Report Share Posted August 11, 2001 This prompts me to remind anyone who is new to this startle reflex....be careful when you sneeze or cough. I've almost fallen on several occasions when I did either. Sounds strange but my sneezes have become more intense. I try to quickly get close to a wall or something to hold onto before I sneeze. Otherwise, the sneeze itself throws me off balance and the next step is on the floor, sidewalk, etc.. It may seem insignificant at the moment, but I hope this helps some to prevent a fall and the possibility of a broken bone(s). (DE) Mike Gray wrote: Lynn, Yes, Stiff Man's disease was one of the original problems they thought I might have. It wasn't. The MRI ruled that out immediately. Don't know why, though. About the JUMPING. It's a startle reflex. I have spilled coffee all over my office (when I returned to work on 8/16/96) when someone's door closed. The darn thing has also caused me to fall more times than I can recall. It is one of the major causes for my falls. I just stiffen and go down. Phone calls are the worst. If I'm standing, I frequently will go down. The last time cost me a trip to ER and a hospital bill, along with 14 stitches to repair a cut above my left eye. It was in the same area that had the plastic surgery done from another fall. The ER doctor must know how to do the plastic surgery stuff. There is virtually no scar now, either. But I have thrown pills around the room, spilled things, fallen, thrown what I was holding, etc. It is worse when I am tired or getting sick. The Klonopin I take helps a lot. I am able to keep it under control most of the time and have learned to hold onto something when I am in the kitchen or bathroom, just in case. I also stand with my legs slightly apart with one foot slightly forward of the other. Knees are slightly bent. This has helped me keep from falling much of the time. Nothing is completely fool-proof, however. The startle reflex is one of the things many of us just have to live with. Mike Gray Logansport IN skunkygolfer@... wrote: Hi PLSers, I went to the doctor the other day. as I've been having head and back aches. He gave me a perscripation for NORTRIPTYLINE 25mgs. twice a day. Anyway every time I sat down I feel asleep in the chair. So I decided to try taking just one in the evening, before I went to bed. I did sleep good, but when I got up I was so druged out that I think I ran into every piece of furniture getting out of the room. Luckly I didn't fall, but came awful close. I stopped taking them after three days. I was wondering if anybody takes these pills, and how does it affect you? My second question is about me and if anybody else might do this? I jump at everything. When my husband comes in to the room, ( I JUMP ) He says I know he is in the house but I still jump. It is a big joke. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack someday. Other people scare me all the time. A man in the parking lot, scrapped his foot on the cement and I Jumpped. I'm so sick of people saying their sorry. It's not their fault. Anyway I said something to the doctor about this and he took a blood test, which is going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester N.Y. He said something about it might be a stiff person decease. I never heard of this!!! Has anybody else? Thank in advance for any help I can get. LYNN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 11, 2001 Report Share Posted August 11, 2001 , You're right. I forgot about that. Those sneezes can make you a "fallen person" quite quickly. It is important to find something to hold onto when you feel a sneeze coming on. Thanks for reminding us. Mike Gray wrote: This prompts me to remind anyone who is new to this startle reflex....be careful when you sneeze or cough. I've almost fallen on several occasions when I did either. Sounds strange but my sneezes have become more intense. I try to quickly get close to a wall or something to hold onto before I sneeze. Otherwise, the sneeze itself throws me off balance and the next step is on the floor, sidewalk, etc.. It may seem insignificant at the moment, but I hope this helps some to prevent a fall and the possibility of a broken bone(s). (DE) Mike Gray wrote: Lynn, Yes, Stiff Man's disease was one of the original problems they thought I might have. It wasn't. The MRI ruled that out immediately. Don't know why, though. About the JUMPING. It's a startle reflex. I have spilled coffee all over my office (when I returned to work on 8/16/96) when someone's door closed. The darn thing has also caused me to fall more times than I can recall. It is one of the major causes for my falls. I just stiffen and go down. Phone calls are the worst. If I'm standing, I frequently will go down. The last time cost me a trip to ER and a hospital bill, along with 14 stitches to repair a cut above my left eye. It was in the same area that had the plastic surgery done from another fall. The ER doctor must know how to do the plastic surgery stuff. There is virtually no scar now, either. But I have thrown pills around the room, spilled things, fallen, thrown what I was holding, etc. It is worse when I am tired or getting sick. The Klonopin I take helps a lot. I am able to keep it under control most of the time and have learned to hold onto something when I am in the kitchen or bathroom, just in case. I also stand with my legs slightly apart with one foot slightly forward of the other. Knees are slightly bent. This has helped me keep from falling much of the time. Nothing is completely fool-proof, however. The startle reflex is one of the things many of us just have to live with. Mike Gray Logansport IN skunkygolfer@... wrote: Hi PLSers, I went to the doctor the other day. as I've been having head and back aches. He gave me a perscripation for NORTRIPTYLINE 25mgs. twice a day. Anyway every time I sat down I feel asleep in the chair. So I decided to try taking just one in the evening, before I went to bed. I did sleep good, but when I got up I was so druged out that I think I ran into every piece of furniture getting out of the room. Luckly I didn't fall, but came awful close. I stopped taking them after three days. I was wondering if anybody takes these pills, and how does it affect you? My second question is about me and if anybody else might do this? I jump at everything. When my husband comes in to the room, ( I JUMP ) He says I know he is in the house but I still jump. It is a big joke. I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack someday. Other people scare me all the time. A man in the parking lot, scrapped his foot on the cement and I Jumpped. I'm so sick of people saying their sorry. It's not their fault. Anyway I said something to the doctor about this and he took a blood test, which is going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester N.Y. He said something about it might be a stiff person decease. I never heard of this!!! Has anybody else? Thank in advance for any help I can get. LYNN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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