not so sure it's Apnea

deadtom · Post by **deadtom** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:36 pm

I am wondering now after I have tried to use my AUTO CPAP for a month with no results. If it is not something else that is keeping me from getting good sleep. I have been experiencing jeking movements such as fast repetitve head noding and shoulder and hands jerks while I try to go to sleep. I also have, for the last 6 months or so have been vividly dreaming constantly all night long. I can sometimes even realize I am dreaming when I and nodding off to sleep.
When I originally saw sleep doctor about my sleeping problems he didn't really seem to be too concerned and had me do a sleep study.
After I was finally perscribed an auto CPAP he said the movements may go away. Presently they still go on every night along with the dreaming from the time I lay my head down untill a dream wakes me in the morning. I called and asked him about it and he perscribed 0.5 mg Clonazepam. It has made no difference whatsoever and I have taken it for 2 weeks.

I realize that I have a mild case of Sleep Apnea (9.5 events an hour) but could these seizure-like movements and dreaming be causing the bad sleep?

wading thru the muck! · Post by **wading thru the muck!** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:44 pm

Hi deadtom,

I wouldn't rule out the apnea. You may just have more than the apnea going on. I too have mild apnea (12 events an hour) and have seen great improvement from my auto-pap. I'd keep up with the apap and see if you can also find a treatment that works for the seizure-like movements and dreaming.

deatom · Post by **deatom** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:52 pm

How long does it take to see some results form the auto CPAP?
I have olny used it for 2 nights (I just now found out that since I can't breath through my nose while I sleep I had to get a full face mask) and got one in on Saturday.

Also something strange I can't explain is happening. For the last two nights I will go to sleep with the mask and then in the morning wake up and it is beside me on the bed. I don't remebmer taking it off though!

I have read that this can be common. How long will it take for me not to do that?

chrisp · Post by **chrisp** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 9:43 pm

Before CPAP you didn't dream because you didn't get t that stage of sleep where dreaming occurs. Now you are dreaming . Thats a good thing unless they are bad dreams. Is your auto unit set on auto or manual ? It sounds like you may be getting too much pressure. Do you have gas ? Do you feel rested ? What unit do you have?
The night of my study I didnt sleep but 2 hrs but I felt rested and had more energy . It lasted 2 days. IMHO I would say that you would feel the results rather quickly ...at once ! Thats what I felt. But if you can't keep the mask on thats not a good thing. Pessure too high or low ? Not the right mask for you ? Other problems ? Who knows. Give yourself a while to adjust to the new experience . Good Luck....Chris

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:51 am

Some people are not going to feel results as quickly on cpap as others...if ever. Years of untreated hypoxia (low oxygen levels during the night) can do lasting damage to parts of the brain. But even if a person still feels tired or exhausted on optimum cpap treatment, they shouldn't give up. Preventing further damage is so important. There are ongoing studies looking at why some people continue to have EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness) even though they are on cpap therapy which has brought their apneas and hypopneas under control.

Assuming a person is using the right machine, correct pressure, comfortable mask, etc., but is still not getting some relief even though the "numbers" look good, then one really should start looking for more keys to the puzzle - hormone levels, thyroid, other sleep disorders, and other health problems that can disrupt sleep. There are also medications (e.g. modafinil, brand name Provigil) that might be helpful in some cases of persistent residual EDS.

All that said, the first thing to examine, if cpap therapy doesn't seem to really be getting the job done, is the therapy itself. Getting machine/mask working as perfectly as possible for each individual is almost an art. It's why so many of us keep trying different masks, different machines. ...different doctors.

deadtom · Post by **deadtom** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:53 pm

The dreaming all night has been going on since the middle of the summer. I was not feeling really exhausted until a couple of months ago when I went to see the sleep doctor.
I read that the dreaming all night is very bad because you never fall into the deep sleep where you don't dream.