I'm not sure if anyone can answer this question, but I thought I'd put it out there because if anyone can, it would be those on these forums.

First I'll describe my situation and then ask my question. When I first fall to sleep at night I usually experience SP or something like it -- I feel like my whole body has fallen asleep without me -- except my mind is still working. Quite often I will dream and know I am dreaming, other times I'm just thinking about my day, especially if it's been a rather busy or stressful day. So my question is what stage of sleep is this? Would I be considered sleeping? I know that one of the things measured in the MLST is how quickly a person falls asleep and I'm wondering whether this would be considered asleep or something else - any thoughts? I will be seeing a neurologist at a sleep clinic, but my doctor called and was told it would be 3 months for a severe case and 12 months for most other cases - YIKES!!! Yes, I live in Canada, in a BOOMING city with great hospitals, professionals, etc., but LONG waits.  

Hey there,
You are in the beginning stages of sleep from what I can tell.  Our bodies release a chemical when it falls asleep that "paralyzes" us.  This is to make us relax but some people due experience too much of it being released.  That's really all I can tell you.  I think one of the terms used is cataplexy but they listed paralysis separately in my summary.  It's definitely something to look into.
Sher

Hi Sher!
Here's a great summary on sleep paralysis, if that's what you're thinking:

Sleep Paralysis

But what you're describing could just as easily be plain old Stage 1 sleep, which as you transition from Wake to Sleep, is characterized by the appearance of "dreamlets", and could be quite normal.

Are you going to the neurologist for just that symptom or are there others?

Cataplexy is a feeling of generalized muscle weakness triggered by strong emotion, and whenever you see cataplexy, you gotta consider Narcolepsy.

Stay in touch.

sleepydave