Man in coma for 23 years, was actually conscious whole time

[Kev]

I think if that happened to me I would off myself the second I woke up. I can't even imagine how horrible this is. It's pretty much my worst nightmare.

I get sleep paralysis occasionally, and the only reason I can deal with it is because I know it will pass.

 

[Dangerer]

Sleep paralysis is a relatively common (at least common enough to not be considered unusual, anyway) occurrence. Basically, it stems from the portions of your brain that inhibit movement during sleep not coming "online" quickly enough once you exit the sleep state. I've never experienced it personally, but have met quite a few people who've dealt with it; they mirror your statements about its unsettling nature.

i get this now and then. it used to be a bit nerve wracking until i figured it out. the human body is surprisngly well automated in that if for some reason i have to wake up for work or school then this kind of thing will never happen. at least in my case. howeever, if its a lounge day and i drift into a sleep, i will occasionally get sleep paralysis but i usually just ignore it and continue sleeping. the few times that ive forced my body to wake up from sleep paralysis i've found myself extremely tired and not as awake as i thought i was.

 

[Dangerer]

actually i might just be having a very surreal dream on having sleep paralysis

 

[drum]

What if he saw that episode of House before they realized he was still in there?
Over the edge!

 

[Kev]

or being operated on while wide awake and not being able to say anything or move.

There was a movie with anakin skywalker in it where he was operated on while still conscious. Apparently this happens a lot:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anesthesia_awareness

 

[bignateyk]

i get this now and then. it used to be a bit nerve wracking until i figured it out. the human body is surprisngly well automated in that if for some reason i have to wake up for work or school then this kind of thing will never happen. at least in my case. howeever, if its a lounge day and i drift into a sleep, i will occasionally get sleep paralysis but i usually just ignore it and continue sleeping. the few times that ive forced my body to wake up from sleep paralysis i've found myself extremely tired and not as awake as i thought i was.

Yeah I've noticed the same thing. It only ever happens when I sleep too much. It usually happens when I wake up, then decide I have nothing better to do, so I just go back to sleep, and drift in and out of sleep in a nap-like state.

 

[dsity]

Yeah I've noticed the same thing. It only ever happens when I sleep too much. It usually happens when I wake up, then decide I have nothing better to do, so I just go back to sleep, and drift in and out of sleep in a nap-like state.

It sucks for me because I always hear whispering or evil laughter with sleep paralysis. Occasionally catch "evil" beings in the corner of my eye starring at me.

 

[TheVrolok]

Wow, that's an absolute nightmare. The fact that he ISN'T crazy after 23 years is incredible. Apparently, you can't be bored to death.

 

[darkxshade]

I'm surprised he even knows what a computer is.

 

[Locut0s]

How is this man not insane? Like Kev said I'd probably kill myself the first chance I got after that.

 

[MotF Bane]

Hooooly fuck.

 

[irishScott]

I've had this happen to me, and it really is terrifying. Usually it happens when I am drifting in and out of sleep alot. If I am a passenger in a car or airplane, for example.

It also tends to happen when I have gotten too much sleep. If I have gotten >10 hrs sleep, and just keep laying there in bed going in and out of sleep it will usually happen.

It's really hard to describe. I usually lay there concentrating as hard as I can, just wanting to scream and move every muscle in my body, but nothing happening. After what seems like a long time (but probably only 20 seconds), I can start to move my core, and slowly after thrashing back and forth I am able to start moving my extremities.

Lol, wait until you get it from head trauma. One of the choir groups I used to sing with caroled annually at the local LL Bean. Due to being in a full tux under a low ceiling and heating vent, I fainted about half an hour in and fell forward, twisting and ramming the back of my head onto the slate floor as I did. Apparently I was unconscious for about 30 seconds. When I woke up, I couldn't move for another 30. I thought I was fricken paralyzed. Turns out I got off with a low grade concussion.

 

[destrekor]

Wow, that's an absolute nightmare. The fact that he ISN'T crazy after 23 years is incredible. Apparently, you can't be bored to death.

I'm pretty sure I'd wake up with 42 different personalities, at least 3 of them intent on killing any number of the other. One of them likely trying everything possible to kill the one real one, because seriously, I think after a year of being trapped in my own head, I'd be begging for escape.

 

[JDub02]

Sleep paralysis is a relatively common (at least common enough to not be considered unusual, anyway) occurrence. Basically, it stems from the portions of your brain that inhibit movement during sleep not coming "online" quickly enough once you exit the sleep state. I've never experienced it personally, but have met quite a few people who've dealt with it; they mirror your statements about its unsettling nature.

it's happened to me a few times. really freaky.

 

[Modelworks]

I'm pretty sure I'd wake up with 42 different personalities, at least 3 of them intent on killing any number of the other. One of them likely trying everything possible to kill the one real one, because seriously, I think after a year of being trapped in my own head, I'd be begging for escape.

I think I would turn into a serial killer. I would start by finding the doctor who diagnosed me as being in a coma, then every person who mistreated me during those years, like mean nurses, or workers.

 

[dennilfloss]

Kinda reminds me of Johnny Got His Gun.

First thing that came to mind.

 

[lokiju]

There was a movie with anakin skywalker in it where he was operated on while still conscious. Apparently this happens a lot:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anesthesia_awareness

That movie SUCKED!

But the premise was horrifying.

 

[Kev]

yeah i thought it was a great premise, completely wasted on a horrible story

 

[GeekDrew]

Sleep paralysis is a relatively common (at least common enough to not be considered unusual, anyway) occurrence. Basically, it stems from the portions of your brain that inhibit movement during sleep not coming "online" quickly enough once you exit the sleep state. I've never experienced it personally, but have met quite a few people who've dealt with it; they mirror your statements about its unsettling nature.

Unsettling doesn't begin to describe it. Whenever I have a nightmare and eventually wake up (which usually happens just as I'm about to be murdered, in my dream), I'm paralyzed for 5-10 seconds. It fucks me up, BADLY. I won't be able to sleep for days at a time, until I just get so exhausted that I unintentionally fall asleep. It's so terrifying to me that I'd rather be dead that even have to live through another few seconds of it.

 

[TheVrolok]

I think I would turn into a serial killer. I would start by finding the doctor who diagnosed me as being in a coma, then every person who mistreated me during those years, like mean nurses, or workers.

I really hope this guy writes a book. I mean, how could he not? It would be an instant best seller. I'm sure it would be interesting to hear the good/bad treatment he received over those years.

 

[coldmeat]

I think once someone is in a coma for 20 years, it's time to let them go.

 

[vailr]

Re: "Man in coma for 23 years, was actually conscious whole time".

The guy never slept for 23 years?
Not.

 

[TheVrolok]

I think once someone is in a coma for 20 years, it's time to let them go.

That's the point .. he WASN'T in a coma. He was just completely paralyzed. And by completely, I mean only his voluntary muscle it seems? Annnyyway, he could see/hear everything, he just couldn't respond for 20 years.

 

[zerocool84]

Sleep paralysis is a relatively common (at least common enough to not be considered unusual, anyway) occurrence. Basically, it stems from the portions of your brain that inhibit movement during sleep not coming "online" quickly enough once you exit the sleep state. I've never experienced it personally, but have met quite a few people who've dealt with it; they mirror your statements about its unsettling nature.

I've read that also during this state, most people will hallucinate and these are now being blamed for the cause of abductions or hauntings when people say they are paralyzed by the aliens or by the ghost and will see things.

 

[Locut0s]

That's the point .. he WASN'T in a coma. He was just completely paralyzed. And by completely, I mean only his voluntary muscle it seems? Annnyyway, he could see/hear everything, he just couldn't respond for 20 years.

I'd be begging for someone to kill me.