Nightmares on my back.

During my sleep studies I was awakened several times and asked to sleep on my back. It was explained to me that this was to get better diagnostic information which I understand. My question is- I never sleep on my back as just as I'm falling asleep I have "nightmares" and frightening experiences/noises. Is this normal and why does it happen? This doesn't happen if I fall asleep on my side.

Don't sleep on your back. The technician was correct - they needed to get a worst-case scenario on file for future and to see what pressures you needed, but no one would suggest you sleep that way normally - it provokes more apneas.

I don't "make" people sleep on their back during the study. I have alot who say they never sleep on their back, and as long as they don't during the study I don't worry too much about it. With the technology in the CPAP machines, I let them know if they continue to have daytime fatigue, to bring in the card from the CPAP and the DEM can adjust for optimal pressure.

People with untreated seep apnea do report nightmares. It could be that when you were untreated, your apnea was positional and worse on your back as opposed to your side. Are you saying you continue to have nightmares when you sleep on your back with treatment, or just during the sleep studies? If you continue to have nightmares on your back and have good AHI numbers in your treatment, that is a different situation.

check also this:

http://www.apneasupport.org/about24546.html