Weird sleeping problem...am I alone?

[newyorknative]

Sometimes a go through periods where as I try to fall asleep, I will make some sort of noise or take a deep breath involuntarily. It may happen like 2 or 3 times in a row and then I have trouble falling asleep for the rest of the night because of those episodes. I know its sounds nuts that I would be that bothered by a slight noise or a jerk or a slight change in my breathing pattern. I would just like to know that I am not alone with this and that others from time to time have had this problem.

[Julie]

You're not alone at all in having such incidents, but I'm not sure about they're having the overnight 'long term' effects you describe.

[newyorknative]

I think for me my reaction is mostly psychological since I have OCD.

[The Guest]

Very likely hypnagogic jerks, or sleep starts. They are common but if they are affecting your sleep you might want to mention it to your sleep doctor. Here is a link to a nice article on it. http://www.sleepeducation.com/Disorder.aspx?id=17

[DoriC]

I can relate to that as a non-cpapper. Occasionally, I'll fall asleep at the usual time and suddenly wake up,eyes wide open, but do not recall any jerks or dreams. I look at the clock and only 10-15mins have passed. I feel completely awake and not sleepy at all (like after a brief nap), which sets off an anxiety reaction because then I can't fall asleep again for a long time. A Tylenol sometimes helps and it doesn't happen to me very often.

[Janknitz]

I have those jerks right before I fall asleep and sometimes I can feel my body kind of "going offline" as I fall asleep. It's a terrible feeling, even though it's supposedly "normal". It happened a lot more before my apnea was treated--not as frequently now on CPAP.

I fell asleep watching t.v. without my mask on last night and woke myself snoring a few times but I was too lazy to go into the bedroom and hook up (BAD!). And last night I had a big full body jerk before falling asleep later (with my mask on). I really think that over time, CPAP smooths out those sleep transitions.

[Bons]

My doctor thinks my startling just as I fall asleep is from sleep onset apneas - which I guess are central? He was PO'd with me at the time for asking questions, so when I asked about the startling and waking he crossed his arms and said, "tell me everything you know about sleep onset apnea", but that's all I got out of him.

[newyorknative]

I just found the follow article on the Internet which explains SLEEP ONSET APNEA.


Some of the atypical breathing patterns shown in my Atlas are not described
in any other textbook. However, any sleep professional who has been in the
field for an appreciable length of time, has seen these patterns. I am
personally well acquainted with repetitive sleep-onset central apneas,
because at one time I experienced them myself. In addition, I have worked
with a number of patients who have exhibited this phenomenon.

When we enter sleep (specifically NREM sleep), our breathing becomes solely
dependent on metabolic control. If, at the time of sleep onset our CO2
levels are too low, a compensatory breath pause occurs. This is analogous to
a deep sigh, which is also usually followed by a pause. In some cases, the
pattern of sighing and breath-holding becomes repetitive. This is frequently
seen in people under stress or experiencing anxiety. During sleep onset, a
normal compensatory breath pause may lead to an arousal, to which the
subject reacts by taking deep breaths. This is followed by additional
compensatory pauses, as the subject attempts to fall back asleep.

In essence, you may be slightly hyperventilating as you try to fall asleep,
which leads to normal compensatory pauses in breathing. The more you focus
on the pattern, the more likely it tends to persist. The solution is to work
on relaxation techniques, to slow your breathing and avoid excessive CO2
drops. It is good to have the reassurance of a formal sleep study, to rule
out any underlying pathology. However, I can tell you that most people who
have pathological sleep apnea are unaware of their problem. In contrast, the
ones who are aware of breath pauses usually fall into the benign sleep-onset
apnea category. In those cases, it is also reassuring to know that once you
enter a deeper stage of sleep, your breathing will automatically normalize.

I experienced my own bout with sleep-onset apneas almost twenty years ago.
In retrospect, I was going through a period of generalized anxiety at the
time. The apneas resolved on their own, and I have not had them since (even
when I have periods of anxiety). The key is not to focus on them. The more
attention you give them, the more likely you will over-react by taking
deeper breaths, thus perpetuating the condition. In some cases, a mild
sedative may be helpful, but most sleep professionals advise against the
chronic use of sedatives. You might try relaxation tapes, or just try slow
abdominal breathing with progressive muscle relaxation.

[DoriC]

My doctor thinks my startling just as I fall asleep is from sleep onset apneas - which I guess are central? He was PO'd with me at the time for asking questions, so when I asked about the startling and waking he crossed his arms and said, "tell me everything you know about sleep onset apnea", but that's all I got out of him.

Bons, do you really like this Dr of yours? Isn't that why you're there, to ask questions and have them answered to your satisfacton? Do we have a little God complex going on here?

[JohnBFisher]

Here's a research article that describe sleep onset issues, including central apneas:

Ventilation is unstable during drowsiness before sleep onset
http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/99/5/2036

It's a common issue. Most people have it happen some. Some people have it happen a lot. Usually if they can learn to adjust to it they are fine. Sometimes a medication to help with sleep onset is warranted. But it's not something that needs to be treated, since it is perfectly normal. If it continues AFTER sleep onset, that's when it must be treated. But hopefully you will be able to either get used to them or find something that can help you get to sleep quicker.