Forum for Sleep Apnea questions?

[nper]

That's reassuring. I tell my psychiatrist all the time that I'm constantly irritated for no reason. She just keeps changing my medicinal cocktail up.

Pre-pap, I was constantly borderline rage...

Yes, this was me, too, before CPAP. Always angry. I've had my machine for about 2 1/2 months now and it has already made such a difference in my mood and other things that my family and the people I work with have noticed. The results I've gotten from getting good sleep for the first time in years really have been amazing -- especially since my sleep doctor said I only had "mild" sleep apnea and didn't really need a CPAP machine unless I wanted one. I'm so very glad I chose to get one -- I'm not an angry zombie stumbling through my day anymore!

[palerider]

Ty for the warm welcome. Should I re-post my sleep study review in a new thread, or is this one okay?

please do carry on here

[chunkyfrog]

And by all means, WELCOME!

[Maryekatherine]

Okay here is the report I copied and pasted off of my online medical record. Anything anyone can tell me is greatly appreciated. The two things that seem alarming to me is the absence of stage N3 and that one prolonged REM period. I googled all day and 'am just freaking myself out.

Comments: Date: 1/26/2015. This study is reviewed. Sleep efficiency was slightly reduced at 84.9%. There was moderate sleep fragmentation with 36 awakenings, 110 stage transitions and an increased amount of Stage N1 sleep. Wake after sleep onset time was 60 min. There was one REM period with a prolonged REM latency of 336.5 min. Sleep stages: Stage N1 sleep increased 11.4%, Stage N2 sleep increased 83.1%, Stage N3 sleep or slow-wave sleep absent, stage REM sleep reduced at 5.5%. There were 33 respiratory events all hypopneas. The overall AHI 5.3, REM AHI 8.8, non-REM AHI 5.1, supine AHI of 4.2. Mean saturation was 93.3% and a minimum saturation was 89% there were 108 spontaneous arousals for a month ago arousal index of 17.4. There are 20 leg movements of which 7 were associated with arousals for a leg movement arousal index of 1.1.

[Drowsy Dancer]

Okay here is the report I copied and pasted off of my online medical record. Anything anyone can tell me is greatly appreciated. The two things that seem alarming to me is the absence of stage N3 and that one prolonged REM period. I googled all day and 'am just freaking myself out.

Comments: Date: 1/26/2015. This study is reviewed. Sleep efficiency was slightly reduced at 84.9%. There was moderate sleep fragmentation with 36 awakenings, 110 stage transitions and an increased amount of Stage N1 sleep. Wake after sleep onset time was 60 min. There was one REM period with a prolonged REM latency of 336.5 min. Sleep stages: Stage N1 sleep increased 11.4%, Stage N2 sleep increased 83.1%, Stage N3 sleep or slow-wave sleep absent, stage REM sleep reduced at 5.5%. There were 33 respiratory events all hypopneas. The overall AHI 5.3, REM AHI 8.8, non-REM AHI 5.1, supine AHI of 4.2. Mean saturation was 93.3% and a minimum saturation was 89% there were 108 spontaneous arousals for a month ago arousal index of 17.4. There are 20 leg movements of which 7 were associated with arousals for a leg movement arousal index of 1.1.

I wouldn't call either of them "alarming," just signs that the quality of your sleep is affected by apnea. CPAP can, in fact, help.

WELCOME!!

[Pugsy]

two things that seem alarming to me is the absence of stage N3 and that one prolonged REM period.

There was one REM period with a prolonged REM latency of 336.5 min.

This does NOT mean that you were in REM for 336 minutes...latency means how long it took you to get to REM stage sleep after sleep onset. Normal is somewhere around 90 minutes after sleep onset.

stage REM sleep reduced at 5.5%.

This means that your amount of time in REM was reduced..less than normal...normal being around 20% of the sleep time.
And it's actual time asleep..not necessarily time in bed. So roughly 5% of whatever time you were asleep.

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

The absence of slow wave sleep doesn't really surprise me since it took so long to get to REM sleep.
You aren't getting the normal cycling of the sleep stages that you need. It's likely that the arousals you were experiencing for what ever reason kept bouncing you out of the deeper sleep stages so you kept having to start over with the sleep cycles.

All this should be easy to fix with optimal cpap therapy as long as the poor sleep is only related to the OSA/arousal stuff.
Now if your poor sleep is related to meds or some other issues...then your sleep quality may not improve.

I don't know what meds you are on but you probably need to dig deep into the potential side effects of each med...some meds mess with sleep architecture significantly. This is especial true of the SSRI and similar type of meds used to treat various mood disorders.

[Maryekatherine]

Ooh, okay. That makes so much more sense to me about the REM cycle. Ty so much Pugsy. I'll for sure check into all my meds and discuss them with my Psych Dr.

[kteague]

Also talk to your doctor about your journey starting CPAP. It would be wise to be in tune to any indications you need a dose change once you start getting decent sleep. The environment of chemicals and hormones in your body and brain in which your meds were prescribed is likely going to be changing as you begin to heal. If it turns out your meds are significantly disrupting your sleep, you'll want to work closely with the doc on any weaning or changes. Best wishes sorting through things.

P.S. If anyone knows how to find the thread where the stress hormones of sleep apnea and anxiety are explained, can you please point me to it? I think one of the regulars posted a link.

[Maryekatherine]

^ That makes a lot of sense. TY!

[Sir NoddinOff]

The previous folks are correct, this is the best forum for your needs. Just one addendum to all the good advice you've already received: This is an unmoderated forum (ie. the inmates run the prison ) It can get a little rough and tumble at times but don't let it get you down... just try and take the good stuff while leaving the rest behind! Not unlike life in some ways.

[Tatooed Lady]

Hey, we are NOT "inmates!" The politically correct term is "secured facility RESIDENTS"

[chunkyfrog]

Some of us hop in from time to time, because making waves is FUN!

[Tatooed Lady]

I wonder how much help it would be to meditate while winding down for bed...while masked up? not in a kinky, frog style thing (that requires a washer on spin cycle), but anything we can do to help ourselves sleep without resorting to excess mess, booze, etc...would have to be good. And it might be a help for your anxiety. Masking up can be your "happy place." surprisingly, it's mine. I look forward to relaxing with Precious.

[palerider]

I look forward to relaxing with Precious.

just so's you don't start cuddling it in your sleep, whispering "my preciousssssssssss"... you might slosh water out of the tank!

[chunkyfrog]

Spin cycle!
You were WATCHING?