OSA with hypnic jerks

Just searched hypnic jerk on Wiki. Interesting stuff. As with most things we don't experience for ourselves, I didn't know they could be so bothersome. My random hypnic jerk did not prepare me to understand it can be a pervasive problem for some. I can't imagine how frustrating it would be to be startled awake nearly every time you dozed off. When I get time I'm gonna see what's available to read over on PubMed. I'm wondering if sleep studies have captured hypnic jerks at the very point of sleep or sleep stage transitions. All this neuro stuff with movement disorders captures my interest as it has affected my life so radically.

One problem I've run into regarding my multiple sleep studies is that because they are studying sleep, the things that happen during wake periods are not considered a part of the sleep study. Twice they've had to go back and report on my wake periods at my insistence. When I was having augmentation on a dopamine agonist, one sleep study reported minimal limb movements during sleep. I was in tears because I knew I'd had the night from hell but nowhere was it reflected in the report. Upon review, the report was amended to state that there was something like 363 PLMs during a 45 minutes wake period. Especially with augmentation, all the norms can be thrown out the window, including that a sleep disorder is only related to sleep periods. The very fact that my experience was outside the expected realm, my issues were almost completely overlooked. My movements while technically awake were classic PLMD in that they were patterned and stereotypical.

In this day of the popularity of some meds known to be prone to augmentation, I wonder how many people walk away from their sleep studies with an incomplete picture of their condition. Medications would now be my first evaluation when dealing with movement issues.
RLS during sleep?

Thank you all for replying.

Interestingly when I first had the hypnic jerks three months ago I was going through an extraordinarily stressful time (I had a particularly bad infection on my legs). The stress turned into anxiety disorder which I'm still taking loads of meds for.

In my Sleep Study there were clear correlation between the apenas and the hypnic jerks. Basically each time I have an apnea, it is followed immediately by a hypnic jerk – so I can reasonably say that one causes the other.

Because of the jerks (and the anxiety!) I have to take Pregabalin (good sedating anticonvulsant) and Zopiclone (sleeping tablet) to go to sleep. But now I've learnt that they're BAD for apneas because they relax the muscles around the throat a bit too much. Having been on them solidly for three months I can't just stop stone cold (I'll get rebound anxiety). But, if I could 'sleep' through the apneas before using CPAP, the CPAP can only improve on the situation, no? It's a Catch 22 situation. I'm just hoping that, if the data says I still have significant apneas, I'll just crank the pressure up a bit...

Maybe that's why I'm not getting the 'Wow I feel so refreshed' feeling immediately. In fact I'm getting some teary-eyed sleepy spells + tight anxious shoulders during the day which I DID'NT have before CPAP. So Weird...

Pugsy, there're quite a few numbers under the machine. There's a bigger number that says IPX1
does that tell you anything?

Sir Noddinoff, may I ask how long did you use the CPAP initially before your hypnic jerks disappear?

From what I learnt, the apneas starve the brain of oxygen, at this point part of the brain triggers the fight or flight respond to wake you up (via the jerks) because it thinks you're in danger. Using CPAP, in theory, should solve the problem. That is, if the air pressure is correct. Xanax makes things worse because it relaxes your throat muscles too much and closes your airway further.

Headintheclouds wrote:Sir Noddinoff, may I ask how long did you use the CPAP initially before your hypnic jerks disappear?.

Immediate... I haven't had one episode since starting CPAP, three months now.

Headintheclouds wrote: Xanax makes things worse because it relaxes your throat muscles too much and closes your airway further.

My sleep doctor Rx'd ZOLIPIDEM 10mg for me to solve my original pre-sleep-study problems, plus to get me thru the sleep study itself. He told me to avoid Xanax for the reasons you stated. He claimed he was trained to look thru the zolipidem and accurately interpret my sleep study. I no longer need Xanax or zolididem to sleep. I am not a doctor but this advice is prudent: Please do not try and cold turkey these sleep drugs or painkillers, but instead taper off if you choose to get them out of your system..

I hope you can unravel which maching you have You really need to fill out your equipment profile... this will help people help you.

Thanks Sir Noddinoff. I'm not seeing immediate improvements with the jolts – I suspect the air pressure is not my optimum. They might need to bump it up a bit when i see them again at the hospital. I also got a nasal spray today from an ENT doctor for my nasal congestion. That might work with the CPAP too.

I noticed that this morning (day 2) I'm having a few dreams. I took it to be a good sign because I'm at least having REM sleep long enough to have dreams. Sleep is still a bit broken up at this point though.

And good tip about filling out the profile. I'm not registered yet here, being so new, but will do when i have a minute spare.

Headintheclouds wrote:Pugsy, there're quite a few numbers under the machine. There's a bigger number that says IPX1
does that tell you anything?

Not off hand. Model number is usually a 3 digit number.. and normally there is also a number pointing to manufacture date in
year/month/date format on the same sticker.
Example a May 1, 2012 manufacture date would show up at 20120501.
Earlier machines had "50" in the number and the latest have "60"
Model numbers are 150, 160 if it is heated hose model and unsure if they even make it in that low end model. Doesn't even have any exhale relief.
250 and 260 The Plus machine...no data except hours of use
these machines below offer full efficacy data
450 or 460
550 or 560
650 or 660
750 or 650
Usually but not always they are preceded with DS in front of the 3 digit number.
If you find a 3 digit number if it has a 50 in it then it will work with Encore Viewer 2.0
If you find a 3 digit number with 60 in it then it will NOT work with EncoreViewer 2.0.

The 60 series machines are the newest and have a special heated hose.

Also most models have the full name showing on the top of the blower unit. If you don't see Pro with CFlex or Auto with AFlex or BiPap... or Plus with CFlex. If you don't see anything else on the top of the machine it may be a 150 model.

Also Encore Viewer 2.0 is 32 bit software only. If your computer is 64 bit it won't install on your computer. There is a work around for it but it involves installing in on a 32 bit computer and manually copying the files and folders and moving them to the 64 bit computer.

Can't tell you how many times people come here and they have spent $100 on software that won't install on their 64 bit computer or won't work with their new 60 series machine. Not happy campers spending $100 on something and can't use it.
Once the package has been opened it cannot be returned.

Hi Pugsy, thanks for being patient with me. I'm a newbie and still trying to get to grips with things.
OK - I've got this information here...
Remstar Auto INTL 20110429
Remstar Heated Humid 20110418
did i get the right numbers...?

More info:
I'm on the PR REMstar Auto A-Flex

headintheclouds wrote:Thanks for your list, Wonderbeastlett. For my jolts, I'd like them to stop. This is what stops me from falling asleep naturally and having to use sleeping pills. During the day I'm having to cope with tiredness as well as symptoms from my nervous breakdown. I literally feel fear with inner tremors. It was pretty nasty a few weeks back but it's getting better all the time. So many things are happening all at once, and I'm taking so many medications (antidepressant, anticonvulsant) I just don't know the symptoms from the side effects any more.

It was a shock learning about the Obstructive Sleep Apnea (and so soon after learning that I have anxiety disorder), but also a strange relief. Finally something that bears correlation to the jolts! I'm still trying to digest the whole having-to-strap-myself-up-to-go-to-sleep thing, not to mention coming to terms with daily maintenance + future issues like travelling.

Listen, I am having the exact same thing you have or had. Exactly. it started when I got on testosterone therapy. Can you offer any updates it is nightmarish. Your last post was a year ago and no update. I am guessing the Jerks left? Please say yes.

Sir NoddinOff wrote:

Headintheclouds wrote:Sir Noddinoff, may I ask how long did you use the CPAP initially before your hypnic jerks disappear?.

Immediate... I haven't had one episode since starting CPAP, three months now.

Headintheclouds wrote: Xanax makes things worse because it relaxes your throat muscles too much and closes your airway further.

My sleep doctor Rx'd ZOLIPIDEM 10mg for me to solve my original pre-sleep-study problems, plus to get me thru the sleep study itself. He told me to avoid Xanax for the reasons you stated. He claimed he was trained to look thru the zolipidem and accurately interpret my sleep study. I no longer need Xanax or zolididem to sleep. I am not a doctor but this advice is prudent: Please do not try and cold turkey these sleep drugs or painkillers, but instead taper off if you choose to get them out of your system..

I hope you can unravel which maching you have You really need to fill out your equipment profile... this will help people help you.

I can go to sleep 10 times in 30 minutes and wake up 10 times with Hypnic jerk. Having oral appliance ready next week. If that does not work I will try APAP. Nightmare, I have to believe it is OSA it came on after testosterone therapy.