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Permalink Reply by Mike on May 4, 2009 at 6:08pm

Margo, YES! sleep walking can be caused by sleep apnea. which is good news, because once you get your cpap and start using it properly (and that's the key), then you might stop sleep walking altogether. Here's a post you might find interesting on the connections between sleep walking and sleep apnea.

Margo Lozoya said:

Wow this is interesting because I don't have my CPAP yet, but when I do dream, my family ALWAYS wakes me up durring my REM..I guess when I do dream my dreams are pretty intense. but I hardly ever remember going into REM sleep. This past year my family has found me sleep walking too. I get up, open the refrigerator, (not knowing I opened it) I have also turned on the electric stove and only found it on when I awake the next morning. The tech who performed my sleep test observed that my brain never shuts down durring sleep! and advised me to get key locking dead bolts for all my doors. Do people with sleep apnea sleep walk? I never know I am doing this until my family starts telling me "Go back to bed" it's like I kinda hear them, but then I don't. But them constantly waking me up durring my dreams or REM is really making me tired and I wake up irritated the rest of the day.

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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on May 4, 2009 at 6:46pm

You have to think of sleep walking as an arousal disorder. The more arousals you have, the more chances of sleepwalking. Given the high amount of arousals in an untreated apneac patient I would have to say yes to your question. I can't seem to find my research on this subject. Try searching "sleepwalking and apnea" or "somnambulism and apnea" both of these should pull up alot.

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Permalink Reply by bonesigh on May 4, 2009 at 6:47pm

Thanks Judy, I'll do that. I'll need help understanding it all though. The only thing I remember from the original titration is the 88 apneas an hour with oxygen level of 76%. I do have RLS. They didn't think it was that bad, couple of arousals an hour. A month ago I tried a medication for it, in case that's the problem, but it caused insomnia and other problems.


Judy said:

Bonesigh, this time when you have your titration study request a copy of not only the doctor's dictated results (1-2 pages) but also the full scored data summary report w/condensed graphs from your study AND a copy of your "script".

In fact, two years isn't that long ago, I would request copies of both those reports from your original sleep evaluation and titrations studies AND ask my local DME supplier for a copy of that original script as well. And any scripted pressure changes if any were ordered and done since you first started on CPAP. You may well have another sleep disorder in addtion to OSA such as RLS/PLMs, etc. that weren't addressed at the time w/the thought that treating the OSA would reduce or eliminate them.

bonesigh said:

I have been remembering a lot of dreams since the machine.I have also been aware of waking quite often during the night though. Not for very long though. I usually go right back to sleep. I used to wake up a lot because I had to go to the bathroom. There is an occasional bathroom trip now but not often. Why else would I be waking so often? Is that why I am remembering the dreams? I have been on a bi-pap for over 2 years now. Why don't I feel great? I don't have too many issues with the mask now. I so wish I could say that I was one of the people who got that great rush of energy. I do feel better but not dramatically so and I still drift off sometimes after reading to my little one at night. I will push on though and I have a request in for another sleep study that I hope they will approve.

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