How long before REM sleep?

On average, how long does it take to enter the good or recuperative sleep (REM?) once you have fallen asleep. I've been on cpap for two months and am still struggling with it. The "best sleep" I have had so far is waking every 2 hours. Just wondering if I'm getting any good sleep. Not that I was before... Thanks for any help ...

According to Peter Haurie (former director at the Mayo Clinic Insomnia Program), it is stages 2-4 that deal with recovery of the body. REM sleep appears to be more involved with mental recovery. He states "if you don't have REM sleep, it's harder to make sense out of your life."

You're probably doing better if you don't remember your dreams for if you do, you are probably waking up during them. I too wake up every 90-120 minutes and normally during a dream.

Apnea's can often get worse during the REM stage of sleep, which at least in my case, would explain why I'm always waking up during a dream.

What I have done for experimentation on my theory is this:

I am using a REMSTAR Auto which starts a 4 CMH20. I've left the mask on for 20 minutes or so while awake and it stays at 4.

After falling asleep and my first awakening, I turn on a flashlight and in every case, the machine is up to +/- 9 CMH20.

That to me is proof that the apneatic episodes that are waking me up are during REM (since in most cases I was in the middle of a dream).

I am now uncertain as to whether or not the maching is too slow in responding which is causing me to wake up, or if I am waking up because of the difficulty exhaling against this pressure. (I am normally a very shallow breather).

I am switching to the new REMSTAR auto with CFLEX next week which will be able to rule out possibilty number 2.

According to the same Dr. referred to above, REM sleep normally occurs every 90 minutes. The first one being about 5 minutes, the second 10, the third 15. The final dream is normally 30 minutes but can last up to an hour.

This information is from a book "No more sleepless nights" by Peter Hauri and Shirley Linde. It was written in 1996 so is a bit outdated, but is quite informative. I presume you could find it at Amazon.com.

Regards

What good info, Hugh. Thanks!

I'll be very interested in hearing your impression of the auto with C-Flex. I normally breathe very shallowly myself. I don't have any particular problem exhaling with my Remstar Auto (doesn't have C-Flex and usually rocks along in the 10-11 range) but have been very intrigued by what I've read so far about the new auto+Cflex machine. Have been thinking about it as my next machine; relegating my present one to back-up status.

The book you mentioned sounds like a good one, regardless of publication date.

Hugh J,

Thanks for that info. What you said describes my experience last night to a T. I remembered all of my dreams and I was up every two hours.

Am I waking so frequently because the my pressure is incorrect? or just still trying to get used to being a hosehead.

Background:

machine: (CPAP) REMstar Pro with CFLEX w/ heated humidifier. Pressure: 13 Mask: Mirage Activa (nose only) Sleep Study: once night last half used to find pressure.... never slepted...

Apparently a mouth breather. I wake up with a dry mouth. Despite concerns, taped my mouth to find out. When I did my mouth wasn't dry that night. DME has been great. They suggested a chin strap before a full face mask. He felt the full face was a last resort due to leaking issues.

Thanks again

[b]Restedgal[/b].... just wanted to say thanks for all your postings. You wisdom and experience has been a great help. All I have learned has come from this site. My doctor never had a followup with me nor was anything explained to me about this condition. Haven't even seem my report yet which I finally requested a copy.

Does the label C-Flex mean the prescribed pressure is lowered when you exhale? and is that a good thing on a CPAP?

I also inquired into trading to a auto-pap. My DME told me that my insurance would not cover the difference in $ but suggested letting me use it for a week or two. They would then download the data to see if my prescribed pressure was correct and then inform my doctor and I.

Do you think that would be okay or would it be worth the investment to pay the $4-500 extra (at the DME's cost) plus buy the software to track my condition continually? I am a hands on person when it comes to my own or my families health after all doctors "practice" medicine and don't and can't be expected to know everything.