REM Sleep & Vivid Dreams/Nightmares

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Mon May 09, 2005 7:03 am

Lately I have been having very vivid dreams and nightmares. So vivid and real they are even in color. The confusing thing to me is that they occur as quickly as 20 minutes within going to sleep. I guess I thought that most dreams occur during the REM stage of sleep and thought that it took quite some time to go into REM Stage Sleep. If this is true why am I going into REM so quickly now (like within 20 minutes)? Another question is this because I am sleeping so good now that I am well accustomed to my APAP therapy? I fell asleep last night within about 10 breaths of putting on my APAP and nearly immediately went into REM. I know this because I was woke up for an Ambulance Page 20 minutes after going to sleep and had already started a very vid and colorful nightmare when the page went off. The nightmares are no bother really, I am just curious about the change in dream habits and very restful sleep I am getting so I am not complaining, just curious.

FYI I am not using any sleep aids but still only average 6 hours (which is plenty for me) on a good night because of my job as a paramedic.

Rockside · Post by **Rockside** » Mon May 09, 2005 7:58 am

I have finally started dreaming 2 days ago. It has been weird to finally have a dream. I am no help at your question. I was wondering if I am starting to dream now that I am actually sleeping better. Hope you get some good explanations. I will be curious to know what people are saying

littlefeat · Post by **littlefeat** » Mon May 09, 2005 6:12 pm

I'd recommend a book called "The Promise of Sleep," by William Dement, the father of sleep medicine. He explains sleep stages, dreaming, OSA, and many other aspects of sleep and sleep disorders very clearly.

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Mon May 09, 2005 7:06 pm

I guess I am also curious about whether anyone else here is having similar stuff happen to them? Not getting much of a response though.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 09, 2005 7:25 pm

I had the same thing happen to me when I first started using my CPAP. My dreams were wild & in color, very vivid. My dr. told me this was normal since I hadn't been dreaming much before due to sleep deprivation. As the months went on, the dreams became less vivid & finally in black & white only. My dr. said this was also normal. He told me that my body was adjusting to the sleep it was now getting, hence the vivid, in color dreams as my body was "catching up on sleep". As my body got accustomed to a good nights sleep, I no longer had the really vivid, wild, in color dreams. I sure miss those! I was fasicnated by them & couldn't wait to go to sleep to see what kind of dream I was going to have! I've never had a nightmare while using CPAP interestingly enough. I had them when I was sleep deprived, though. Anyway, just thought I would let you know you aren't alone.
~Lori

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Mon May 09, 2005 8:49 pm

Thanx,

That's the kind of personal stories I was looking for......Amazing how intriguing those colorful vivd dreams can be. Even my nightmares althrough they were scary were also intriguing at the same time to the point ofbeing disappointed when I awoke and even trying to get them back when I went to sleep again.

Keep 'em coming people....the way the human mind works never ceases to amaze me.

Later

IWannaSleep · Post by **IWannaSleep** » Mon May 09, 2005 11:31 pm

As you all state, I have been nearly dreamless for years. I have just finished my 3rd week on therapy and have yet to have a dream, at least that I remember. Even though I am feeling better in subtle ways, I still am unable to sleep more than about 6 hours max. I usually lay there breathing and trying to fall asleep after waking that first time, for a couple hours. I sure wish I could sleep straight through for 7 or 8, I feel like I really need it.

How long did it take for your dreams to start again? Was it right away or did it take time.

.

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:00 am

WannaSleep,

Stick with it....it took me a couple of months toget to sleep good....now I fall asleep almost immediately.

Are you on APAP or CPAP....I love my APAP

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 10, 2005 9:48 pm

My dreams started right away. I was on a CPAP test machine at home for two weeks because I had such an awful time in the sleep lab. I slept well from the first night & was dreaming very vividly from that first night. I did not want to send that machine back & wait two weeks for test results!! It was such a miracle I could not wait to go to sleep at night. Once I got my own CPAP machine I started dreaming again. I would say my in-color, wild dreams lasted about 6-8 weeks & then started getting back to more normal dreams.
~Lori

MoSleep · Post by **MoSleep** » Tue May 10, 2005 10:13 pm

Wow this forum is an eye opener. Up til reading the posts here I figured everyone dreamed in color. I believe most if not all of my dreams are in color. Since the apnea started though the dreams are interrupted by spasms, waking me up at the moment the dreams begin. Just this evening I was sat trying to read a book without much luck. I would read a line or too then find myself waking out of a dream. Only seconds passing. Strange trying to sort between the dream and the story. Hmmm, dreaming in black and white, seems a bit boring.
Anyway, Wishing a better nights sleep for all. Thanks to all for this forum.

Lost Snoozer · Post by **Lost Snoozer** » Fri May 13, 2005 12:50 am

I felt good after my sleep study but vaguely remembered my dreams. My technician said I was doing a lot of dreaming during my sleep study after they started me on cpap.

The weird thing was that I dreamt about the sleep center but with a huge satellite dish on top and I was a few blocks away trying to call them on a radio.

After having the CPAP machine for over a month I still don't have many dreams that I can remember. I would like to have some memorable dreams as sleeping would be more entertaining.

Good luck all you dreamers out there.

loonlvr · Post by **loonlvr** » Fri May 13, 2005 3:05 pm

I suppose the answer to dreaming once we start OSA traetment is pretty simple:hard to get into the rem stage when apneas are constantly occurring. Wonder if anyone has had flying dreams. Had them years ago. Keep dreaming I was on a tall structure in middle of ocean. Finally one nite jumped and flew to land. Then I could fly at will. Prettty exciting.

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Fri May 13, 2005 7:19 pm

Snoozer,

I find it amazing.....I dreamt about the Sleep Lab too.....I forgot about it until I read your thread though.....

Later,

Lori · Post by **Lori** » Fri May 13, 2005 7:29 pm

I had the most wonderful dreams at the beginning of my CPAP treatment. As I stated before, they were very vivid, in color, & action packed! I felt as though I was dreaming all night. They were also unique in that I was doing a LOT of flying in them (whatever that means) I was mostly flying low over rivers, bayous, waterfalls, etc. It was incredible because I could fly wherever I wanted. Very fascinating & I remember details of them to this day. Now after being on CPAP therapy for almost 18 months I find I rarely remember my dreams & they are never in color anymore. I am getting a good 8 to 9 hours of sleep each night so apparenlty my body is catching up on all it's missed sleep.
~Lori

jdschooler · Post by **jdschooler** » Fri May 13, 2005 10:24 pm

Lori,

I'm no dream expert but am fascinated by the interpretation of them......Seems to me you flying "wherever you wanted too" and stuff was signifying that your subconscious was telling you that now you were finally FREE.

Later

Mask

REM Sleep & Vivid Dreams/Nightmares

REM Sleep & Vivid Dreams/Nightmares

Dreaming during sleep study.