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dreams
has anyone else noticed an increase in their dreams when they started using a CPAP?
Views: 81
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike on
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absolutely. this happened to me and it happens to a lot of other people. the reason is that when we use CPAP, we finally reach the deeper levels of sleep, including REM or dream sleep, that we have been deprived of for so long. with untreated sleep apnea, we keep being aroused and hover at superficial levels of sleep while we engage in a fight or flight struggle to survive (breathe). make sense?
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Permalink Reply by Sugarshirl on
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Yes, I sure did, it was awesome. I cannot remember having any dreams for many years so I guess this means that I am really in a deep sleep now with my CPAP mask. I couldn't do without it.
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Permalink Reply by Judy on
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Nope. But then I don't remember EVER remembering dreaming or dreams more than 4-5 times my entire life. So, of course, I fail to see the big deal about dreaming and remembering dreams.
As a matter of fact, it used to be said that we dreamed only during REM sleep and that we only remembered dreams if we woke up during a dream which meant waking up and remembering our dreams was NOT a good thing as that meant we were waking during REM. There now seems to be some controversy back and forth about the accuracy of this.
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Permalink Reply by bonesigh on
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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.
Judy said:Nope. But then I don't remember EVER remembering dreaming or dreams more than 4-5 times my entire life. So, of course, I fail to see the big deal about dreaming and remembering dreams.
As a matter of fact, it used to be said that we dreamed only during REM sleep and that we only remembered dreams if we woke up during a dream which meant waking up and remembering our dreams was NOT a good thing as that meant we were waking during REM. There now seems to be some controversy back and forth about the accuracy of this.
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Yes, I am dreaming again. A good indicator to me that I am experiencing more REM sleep. I think my very jagged Non-sleep rhythm is beginning to reestablish itself into a more smooth normal flow of the four stages of sleep. Looks more like rolling hills than jagged gorges! Melba
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I am very new to CPAP and I already see a difference with my dreams....for years I couldn't remember my dreams, now I have them and they are quite vivid....some are hilarious and some have a little too much action either way I think this is a positive sign for us \!!!!
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Permalink Reply by BPLink on
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I think my amount of dreams are about the same as they always were but the strange thing is that my titration study showed that the apneas (my AHI was around 22) mostly stopped during the REM period so I guess I should have expected more dreams since beginning treatment but the number of dreams seem about the same as always.
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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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Permalink Reply by RockRpsgt on
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Dream are one of my many subplots that keep me going in sleep. I have recently read a study that makes all of the above posted hypotheses on dreams correct. The entire study is a great read for anyone interested. I think that staring at pg 399 best suits this post.
http://books.google.com/books?id=V2fDiR6HKUgC&pg=PA399&lpg=...
This study talks about the "Wake up theory" This is the thinking that we only remember the dreams that we wake up during. It also discusses the high % of dream recall in patients that wake up a number of times during NREM sleep. It is the early and later stages of NREM sleep that untreated apneac patients generally have problems with. These being Stage 1 and S3/4. It is the problems in these stages that lead to a lack of REM. Meaning that the more times you wake up in NREM the more dreams you are going to remember.In conclusion under this particular theory dreaming could be bad for apneac patients with a high amount of arousals.
The REM Arousal theory is as equally fascinating. This theory states that the vivid dreams of REM are to arouse us to keep an eye on our environment as a safety precaution. This theory explains why in so many creatures REM is followed by a relapse into stage 1 or a semi-awake state. Some scientist believe that the lack of need for this type of arousal in humans will eventually evolve REM out of our sleep cycle. This is based entirely that due to the evolution of our sleep habitats that humans do not need to be aware of life threatoning situations during sleep.
The REM arousal theory along with the wake up theory I believe help explain why poeple on CPAP have and remember such vivd dreams. It is said that longer states of REM produce more and better dreams(REM recovery). Also the more vivd the dream the better chance of you waking up during and remembering it. According to the arousal theory anyway.
So in theory from this study, or at least my interpretation of it is this. It is not the dream itself that is bad. If you believe that you are having too many dreams. Especially if they are earlier in the evening you might be having a high amount of arousals. If you are on CPAP your machine may need to be adjusted. If you have not had your sleep evaluated this could be yet another sign.
For those of you recentally new, or already on CPAP GOOD NEWS. The vivid dreams you are having could and may very well be evidence of REM recovery or just plain good sleep cycles.
I beleive that dreams are a way of helping us file and organize memories. I also believ that dreams are a by-product of our brain's inability to deal with the sensory deprivation that comes along with sleep. I don't however believe that either any of these theories brand dreams as bad. At least it makes for great research and conversation. This was by far the most fun I have had in researching any topic on any of the posts I have been involved with. Thank you for that.
Rock
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I love this information!
Thank you for posting it.
Barbara
Rock Hinkle said:
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Permalink Reply by Margo Lozoya on
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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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