Dreams?

I posted earlier about my gradually increasing AHIs. I haven't dreamt since I started my CPAP (maybe one stray dream since August). Now my AHIs are creeping up, into the mid teens, most are HIs. Anyway, the last several nights I have been up anywhere from 4-6 times a night to urinate and I am dreaming non-stop, like a video playing over and over. What is going on?
I see my sleep doc later this month. I had been feeling great, now the headaches are back, the fatigue is almost as bad as when I started the CPAP in August. This sucks!!

FeelingBetter wrote: I haven't dreamt since I started my CPAP (maybe one stray dream since August). Now my AHIs are creeping up, into the mid teens, most are HIs. Anyway, the last several nights I have been up anywhere from 4-6 times a night to urinate and I am dreaming non-stop, like a video playing over and over. What is going on?

They say we don't remember dreams unless we wake up during a dream. I bet you were dreaming back when the AHI was stable and low...you just didn't wake up to remember them...this is good.

Now with the increased AHI, the increase in nocturia again, the waking up and remembering multiple dreams, the return of the headaches....this all points to something failing in your therapy. Something has change and your current settings that were working just fine, are now not working well.

I don't remember which machine you are using...so I don't know what software is available to see if anything jumps out as a possible culprit. I remember reading a while back about someone who presented with similar problem...after a new machine, a new sleep study...it was found that her hose has tiny holes in it from her cat.. Losing therapy pressure and valuable time. She didn't have a machine that recorded any data. No way to know about the leak.

I just checked...you have the Intellipap...what is it saying? Are you using the software or just the smart codes?

One other question...did you have any history of centrals in your sleep study?

I recently read that constant, vivid dreams are a sign of depression. I have no idea what the connection to CPAP/BPAP is, or if there is one, but I found this interesting.

FeelingBetter wrote: I am dreaming non-stop, like a video playing over and over. What is going on?

It could be that you're experiencing Hypnagogic Imagery rather the true dreams. These occur during walking and nodding off phases and are not related to REM sleep. Some people have very vivid imagery during these phases. It would make more sense then you having increased REM sleep as your numbers and symptoms are deteriorating.

But knowing that doesn't help your problem. Have you changed anything? Medication? Increased leaks? Hope you can get things back on track soon.
J

Thanks for everyone's input. I was using the Intellipap Auto and I have the software (not just the smartcodes). The AHIs started climbing while using that machine. I have a Resmed S8 Auto for backup (as I felt so much better with the CPAP initially that I was terrified at the thought of my machine dying & me going without even for one night). Anyway, I then switched to the S8 to see if the AHIs were any better, they're not (I have the card reader & software for this one as well). I have not had a medication or weight change. I do have an intrathecal pain pump & have for 2 years (before the sleep study) & on the sleep study I had a lot of central apnea but they thought it was from over-breathing the CPAP, however they did say my centrals were much higher than what they normally see while adapting. The Dr. thinks it is most likely the pain pump suppressing my respiratory drive, thus causing central apnea & he's thinking I may need to go to BiPap. I see him on the 23rd.
So we'll see.

FeelingBetter wrote: The Dr. thinks it is most likely the pain pump suppressing my respiratory drive, thus causing central apnea & he's thinking I may need to go to BiPap. I see him on the 23rd.

Sounds like a good plan. If your AHI is mainly centrals (or non responsives I think they might be called with the DeVilbiss machines) for sure things need to be checked out. While people do have their needs change on xpap machines..not normally so soon after beginning therapy. It is good that you will be seeing your doctor about this soon. What you are experiencing is not normal so best to defer to the doctor. With the history of centrals on the sleep study...I wouldn't even think of suggesting the usual "raise the pressure" thing to see if the AHI comes down in your case. Best to be cautious I think.

I don't think the pressure is the problem as I am using the autoset with a floor of 8 and a max of 14. My average is around 10 most nights. One thing of interest, if I wake up around 0200 to go to the bathroom, I usually check my numbers on the machine. Most of the time, at that point my AHI is around 3. Then when it averages in the last 3-4 hours, it jumps into the mid-teens as an average. When I look at my nightly data, my AHI skyrockets in the last few hours, sometimes into the 40's.
Rae

My last hour in bed shows a big drop in patient triggered breaths as I drift in and out of sleep. If my ASV didn't treat them, I would have a big increase in my AHI due to centrals during that time. After each arousal (turning over, etc.), I have the same problem. If you have a lot of centrals, do they show up during transition from waking to sleep?

My machine doesn't differentiate centrals. The only way I know I have them is from the split night study in July.