Sleep Quality - Is this Normal?

[lipappy]

I just began CPAP a few days ago and I have some questions. I couldn't find the answer to this in a search.

Last night I woke up about 3 hours after having a vivid dream. I remember guessing it was almost wake-up time, but when I looked at the clock it was only 2:30 am. I couldn't believe it. I felt like I slept for 7 hours, but it had only been 2.5. If it makes a difference, my AHI was 1.3 and 0 leaks.

1.) Is it normal to feel like you're sleeping a lot longer than you really are or that the night is going by a lot more slowly?

2.) Does that mean I'm getting better sleep or worse sleep?

3.) I never used to remember my dreams. Now I feel like I'm dreaming a lot more, and remembering. Does that mean I'm getting better or worse sleep?

4.) I feel groggy in the morning still, but I can't tell if that's because I'm tired or just coming out of a deeper sleep. Is it normal to still feel groggy in the morning even if you may be getting a great sleep?

Thanks!

[kolchak]

Hi Lipappy,
Congrats on what sounds like sucessful treatment and better sleep!
Unfortunately I can't offer any techincal explanation but ~ 3 years into my successful XPAP treatment, I remember having some of the same experiences you're having during my first few months. The feeling of sleeping for longer periods of time happened because I wasn't waking up every few minutes gasping for air or to use the bathroom, so I believe this to mean better sleep.
I'd speculate your remembering dreams now because you're actually reaching REM states, where most dreaming happens. In my case, I remember much less of my dreams after beginning XPAP because I wasn't waking up frequently during REM. The remembering of dreams after starting XPAP seem to be individualized with people reporting more & less.
After 3 years, I still feel very groggy for the first ~ 30 minutes after waking. I assume this is because I've been reaching much deeper level of sleep. It's strange because mornings I wake up early to go fishing or use the bathrooom 3 or 4 hours prior to normal wake up time, I feel much more clear headed. I've considered getting up everyday after just 4 or 5 hours of sleep &
wonder if other people have the same "groggy" morning XPAP experience. Hopefully some other (more educated) hose heads will address this while answering your questions.
Regardless, prior to XPAP I felt groggy all day so 30 minutes isn't bad
Best of luck!

[GTOJim]

Congratulations, it sounds like your treatment is working just like it is supposed to.

I never used to remember any dreams. After my sleep apnea was under control, every time I woke I was dreaming. Hit the alarm clock snooze, 8 minutes later when the alarm woke me I was having a different dream, then again after another 8 minutes I was having another dream. This pattern continued about 6 months. It was wonderful, dreaming, not feeling like crap every morning. At first I was sleeping an extra hour or two when not using the alarm.

From what I read about 7 years ago, with untreated sleep apnea we do not reach rem sleep, there are four stages of sleep. After getting sleep apnea under control we skip some sleep stages and go straight into rem sleep. After awhile everything evens out and you achieve a normal sleep pattern and reach all four stages of sleep.

I suppose some may disagree, this is what I read, and it seemed to fit my experience.

It can take awhile for everything to become normal, a lot of us we had untreated sleep apnea for many years, probably 20 years for me, so it can take awhile to get back to a normal state. It won't happen in one night.

[snipsnsnails]

Hi lipappy, I'm just about two weeks in and experience the same thing. The first few nights I would wake up after a few hours and think it should be morning already. I had about three nights that I would be up for about an hour before feeling sleepy again, put the mask back on and finish the night. The fourth night I woke up and decided to not get up but just try to go right back to sleep. It kinda worked and I did that for several nights each night it got easier to just go right back. The last three nights I've slept between 7 1/2 hours and 8 1/2 each night with out waking up.

Personal theory is that before cpap I was worried about over sleeping and with the better sleep it took a few nights to readjust my internal wake up call. glad you are here and wishing you the best of sleeping!

[lipappy]

It's strange because mornings I wake up early to go fishing or use the bathrooom 3 or 4 hours prior to normal wake up time, I feel much more clear headed. I've considered getting up everyday after just 4 or 5 hours of sleep &
wonder if other people have the same "groggy" morning XPAP experience.

That's happened to me too - where I feel really rested early in the morning, but when I continue sleeping and wake up again at my normal time, I then feel groggy. I think that probably has to do with what sleep stage (how deep) you're in when you wake up. Thanks for your reply.