Has your CPAP caused weird/scary dreaming?

Been about a week since I have been trying my new CPAP and I have had disturbing dreams. Last night was particularly bad- the problem is in my dream I have trouble breathing and I feel my face and I have my mask on so I take it off... and wake up... but then I realize I took my mask off in a dream and it's still on so I take it off again... but it doesn't help, and then I wake up- and realize I had "woken" up into another dream and I have to take it off again... That cycle repeated over 10 times last night/this morning... I was so sure I was finally awake- until I realized I wasn't! I kept waking up from dreams within dreams within dreams. The night before this happened, maybe 3 or 4 times... but last night it was much worse. I've never had it happen so deep before... Has anyone else had similar issues?

Kind like "Ground Hog Day"

Yes I have had some weird dreams ... but nothing like what you are describing

Do you feel your pressure settings are correct as they are now? Are you careful not to cover the CO2 vent holes with bedding? Are you sure you don't have acid reflux?

Just once. When I first started. I remember it vividly. I got past it. trust you will too

BirdOprey5 wrote:Been about a week since I have been trying my new CPAP and I have had disturbing dreams. Last night was particularly bad- the problem is in my dream I have trouble breathing and I feel my face and I have my mask on so I take it off... and wake up... but then I realize I took my mask off in a dream and it's still on so I take it off again... but it doesn't help, and then I wake up- and realize I had "woken" up into another dream and I have to take it off again... That cycle repeated over 10 times last night/this morning... I was so sure I was finally awake- until I realized I wasn't! I kept waking up from dreams within dreams within dreams. The night before this happened, maybe 3 or 4 times... but last night it was much worse. I've never had it happen so deep before... Has anyone else had similar issues?

YES! Absolutely! Before I got on the hose I had repetitive dreams. Sometimes several of the same one each night. Only after I got on CPAP and the dreams stopped did I realize they were related to my throat trying to smother me while I was sleeping. The dreams took several forms: I was underground in a tunnel, feeling claustrophobic and searching for a way out. I could see cracks in the ceiling of the tunnel and a little light coming through, but couldn't reach them; they were just beyond my reach. In another, I was locked in a room with no doors, only a small window on one wall near the ceiling. I kept trying to reach that window to open it and get some air, but it was just out of reach. In another, I was snorkeling, and I had dove deep and couldn't make it to the surface; it was just out of reach, and I was about to black out. Each time I would have the repetitive dreams, I would wake up exhausted.

In my opinion, and that's all it is, there might be something wrong with your machine settings. I think you're not getting enough air, which is causing the smothering dreams.

What are your pressure settings, and are you in AUTO mode on that machine?

BirdOprey5 wrote:Been about a week since I have been trying my new CPAP and I have had disturbing dreams. Last night was particularly bad- the problem is in my dream I have trouble breathing and I feel my face and I have my mask on so I take it off... and wake up... but then I realize I took my mask off in a dream and it's still on so I take it off again... but it doesn't help, and then I wake up- and realize I had "woken" up into another dream and I have to take it off again... That cycle repeated over 10 times last night/this morning... I was so sure I was finally awake- until I realized I wasn't! I kept waking up from dreams within dreams within dreams. The night before this happened, maybe 3 or 4 times... but last night it was much worse. I've never had it happen so deep before... Has anyone else had similar issues?

Are you checking your downloaded nightly data to possibly see what's happening when these circumstances occur?
Sounds like your pressure may be too low or your sleeping position may be restricting airflow.

I don't recall having any "disturbing" dreams since I started therapy 10 1/2 years ago.
In fact, just the opposite. The vast majority of the dreams I remember (now) are nicer and more pleasant.
Before therapy, I had dark, mysterious, reoccurring dreams.


Den

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There is some theory by other users that once they are getting treatment, they are actually having enough REM to actually have dreams and then they wake up in the middle of it. I only remember dreams when I'm choking and trying to wake up (the months pre-cpap). Otherwise, I have no memory of remembering dreams for decades (and I have only had apnea for perhaps the last 3 years at best).

Well I am happy to say the two nights since I don't recall any disturbing dreams. Must have just been something weird going on. The ResMed website has reported my scores between "good" and "great" each night since I've been using it. Last night was only night #6. Today is the first day I'd say I felt more awake then I was used to.

It is a fully automatic machine, it should be going to whatever pressure it feels is best so long as it's 20 and under.

I sleep in a hospital bed on my back, with my head somewhat up, I don't really move in my sleep.

Not sure I don't have acid reflux but if I do I don't feel any burning. They've tried to give me Nexium before for the cough just in case, it did not agree with me.

Cpap has increased my dreaming. Nowadays I remember more dreaming at morning than before. Someone said me that maybe it is result from my more deep sleeping. And the deep sleeping time is longer than earlier.

The dreamings are not weird or scary.

I had lots of weird, scary, strenuous, and bizarre dreams before going on cpap.
Any dream at all is rare now. That's OK.

BirdOprey5 wrote:Well I am happy to say the two nights since I don't recall any disturbing dreams. Must have just been something weird going on. The ResMed website has reported my scores between "good" and "great" each night since I've been using it. Last night was only night #6. Today is the first day I'd say I felt more awake then I was used to.

It is a fully automatic machine, it should be going to whatever pressure it feels is best so long as it's 20 and under.

I sleep in a hospital bed on my back, with my head somewhat up, I don't really move in my sleep.

Not sure I don't have acid reflux but if I do I don't feel any burning. They've tried to give me Nexium before for the cough just in case, it did not agree with me.

Then you don't understand APAPs (in ranges of pressure) and how they work.

If you don't yet have and use Sleepyhead, you need to.


Den

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BirdOprey5 wrote:Well I am happy to say the two nights since I don't recall any disturbing dreams. Must have just been something weird going on. The ResMed website has reported my scores between "good" and "great" each night since I've been using it. Last night was only night #6. Today is the first day I'd say I felt more awake then I was used to.

It is a fully automatic machine, it should be going to whatever pressure it feels is best so long as it's 20 and under.

I sleep in a hospital bed on my back, with my head somewhat up, I don't really move in my sleep.

Not sure I don't have acid reflux but if I do I don't feel any burning. They've tried to give me Nexium before for the cough just in case, it did not agree with me.

I'm glad to read you've had two nights of better dreams. It is probably wise to also realize that two nights don't necessarily make a trend. I wish it did, but I've yet to find this as the case.

If you can, consider downloading and using the SleepyHead software to monitor your progress. With the software, you have access to much more information and can see how changes in your nighttime rituals, medications, sleeping positions, etc. impact your AHI and over all sleep quality in numerical terms. For me, it means my therapy is in my hands and I have more to discuss with my doctor when I find that certain medications affect my nighttime events.

As far as dreams go, my sleep study reported that I didn't enter into N3 or REM sleep at all. I hadn't dreamed for quite a while (about a year) and those dreams I remember where similar to yours - dreams of not feeling safe and without a way to escape. I had panic attacks when I woke up - I would tell myself I was safe, but my body didn't believe me. Thankfully, that has changed!

I'm glad you've had some success and hope you continue to improve!

Pay no attention to anybody's talk about adjusting your pressures. You are dealing with a few grumpys who think they have bad doctors (and they very well may). After one week, you are still adjusting to CPAP, and that should be your focus. Dreams are how your brain deals with your daily emotions. If you are dreaming about pulling the mask off, it is because of your general anxieties about CPAP. Don't worry about it.

I sure hope CPAP doesn't cause me to have WEIRDER dreams, because mine are already VERY weird.

Most of my weird dreams were no doubt triggered by suffocation.
That is likely to be true for you as well.
Remember, Pugsy's aliens are only a metaphor for stuff we can't explain.
{{{sorry! Pugsy!}}}