Confusion and waking dreams

[volospian]

Hi all,

I think I have sleep apnea, I am just waiting for some information from the sleep apnea society to take with me to the GP to get him to refer me to a sleep clinic. I have already had some surgery at the ENT clinic and that helped a bit, but I have rapidly gone downhill again lately.

I wake up several times every night, often in states of confusion, or experiencing a nightmare about no air in the room, drowning, being buried alive or something, and I wake up gasping for breath.

However, a couple of times lately I have had really confusing dreams, which, when I have "woken up" I still can't shake off the feeling that I'm dreaming. I can get up, walk around, switch the lights on, even read a book, but I'm still only just about awake and it feels like my life is a dream. Then, during the day, I am so tired that I feel detached and spaced out all day. It's really freaking me out now as I seem to be losing touch with what is real and what is a dream.

Does anybody else get these feelings? Tell me I'm not going mad!!

[Sleep2Snore]

Oxygen starvation can do strange things to the brain.
Some people I have talked to, have woke up before CPAP treatment and seen people that were not there standing by the bed.
It may not be Sleep Apnea you are suffering from though as there may be other causes.
Feeling tired during the day and waking up feeling as if you have had little or no sleep is a good indication of Sleep Apnea, but there may be other causes.
What did the ENT Dept' say when you saw them?
I am surprised they did not do a follow up in your case to see if the surgery helped (Maybe they did and you did felt better then) and then follow up by suggesting a sleep study.

Be interesting to see what other think on this one.

Have you taken the Epworth test?

[volospian]

My breathing through my nose has improved significantly, but my sleep never improved massively, although it was better for a few months. I had septoplasty to open up one of my nostrils. The ENT clinic signed me off 6 months after the operation as my nasal passages seemed improved.

My actual sleeping initially seemed better, but... the op was in Feb and I generally sleep better through the summer months anyway.

I took the Epworth test and scored a 17, which, it says, makes me excessively sleepy and that I should seek medical advice (which I am already doing).

[Tigers Fan]

Classic

Hey volospian!

You describe classic OSA symptoms, but I'm not an MD.

If it is OSA, CPAP will sort you in no time once you get a machine.

Tigers Fan

[Sleep2Snore]

I took the Epworth test and scored a 17, which, it says, makes me excessively sleepy and that I should seek medical advice (which I am already doing).

Good, at least you are not in denial and seeking advice.
You are doing the right thing

[James @ Intus]

Your ENT experience is a classic one. It helps for a bit and then wears off. It's a shame so many people still use it as the first attempt even though it's often irreversable, expensive (if not NHS) and potentially very painful for a long time.

With an Epworth score of 17 and gasping and choking, you have all the signs of it. There may be something else in the mix such as night terrors etc. but that is often improved with less-interrupted sleep after treatment anyway.

So indeed, get a referral for a sleep study. If they take too long for your liking, I can tell you how to get one privately.

[volospian]

I went to see my GP this morning and they have agreed to refer me to Glenfield Hopsital in Leicester.

I think you may be right about night terrors and so on because I get really wound up about sleeping now. I'm quite anxious about going to sleep in case I have nightmares or wake up gasping and so on.

It's a bit of a vicious circle and I'm hoping that if the sleep study shows anything up, and helps me get a few good nights sleep, then I may be less anxious at night and the additional nightmares may fade away.

If that makes sense?

[Berneta]

Night Terrors or Something!

Hi --I usually sleep very well having pleasant dreams. I went to bed a little later last night (about midnight) and slept well til 6 AM. I was awakened by what sounded like a lady shouting "Wake Up--Wake Up!" I tried to open my eyes and they would not open. I was frozen in position except for my right hand and arm--so I opened my eyes with my hand, and immediately woke up. Never had an experience like that before! It seemed so real--so did I have a nightmare and wake at the end of it? I could not remember a dream and I usually do. Or could it have been the result of an AHI? I didn't gasp, or feel like I needed more air at all. My heart was not pounding etc. It was so vivid. The voice sounded like my own. It was very real and did not seem like a dream. I looked around to see if there was a lady in my room! I also checked my blood sugar level and it was ok--and I did not feel the need to use the loo. I got a drink of water-- and put my mask back on and slept peacefully til 9 AM. I don't remember anything else. IT was all really strange--but not frightening. I feel fine today, and am not tired at all. I have read that we have a "motion freezing action" while dreaming-- but have never actually felt anything like that before. Once awake I thought" What the hell was THAT?" Anyone ever experience something like that? xx Berneta

[shuckie]

Hi Berneta!

I'm curious. Did you suddenly get the urge to reply to an old thread?

In all seriousness I'm wondering if volospian is still with us as this thread hadn't been updated for a while?

I used to have horrible night terrors before I started my CPAP treatment. I'd wake up in the night thinking that the ceiling was about to crush me, and I'd have to stand on the bed and touch the ceiling just to make sure it wasn't moving before laying down again. My poor other half had no idea what was going on until I was diagnosed.

CPAP may not be perfect but I don't miss my night terrors or morning headaches one little bit!


shuckie x

[Berneta]

Night Terrors

Hi--No I didn't even remember that there was the thread and had to look it up. I haven't had that happen again--so don't know what was going on. Guess maybe I was just having a dream. When I first started out on CPAP all my dreams were happy ones--nothing frightening at all. Now in the last month I am having more dreams that are not really scary --but unusual. Guess my brain is just still sorting out things and I am now down to the unusual stuff. I don't have things like ceilings falling or animals chasing me, or strange things that go bump in the night. Just that one night with a lady shouting "Wake Up". I do think I remember some of your posts about standing in the bed, etc(scary stuff)--but so far I haven't had anything like that. I guess I could send in my smart card (Again) and ask if I had a bad AHI one night--but they will tell me when I send it before my next Dr apt. next month. I seem to be sleeping ok. About the same as usual 5 hours then a check on my blood sugar then 5 more hours. When I first started the CPAP I was sleeping about 8 hours a night--now that has extended to 10 hours. Maybe I just need the extra sleep since I started doing more exercising and using the treadmill. Thanks for reminding me about your struggles and I am happy you are not shouting at the walls now! xx Berneta

[Sparticus]

I would check your drug intake first to see if there are any effects berneta, my mrs has many weird dreams and she can do all sorts of crazy stuff. It sounds like a dream at which you woke yourself by trying to move your arms. There are lots of drugs which have side effects or it could just be your body sorting out some problems that you have sub conciously

[Berneta]

Dreams

Hi Graham, I don't think its any of my meds that I take that caused it. Haven't changed any of my meds and haven't had any side effects before and have been taking them 4 years now-- and I only take a small shot of insulin once or twice a day (sometimes I don't need it at all) --one Blood Pressure pill--and a very small dose of valium for stress --none of which have side effects like mine. I think it was just a dream---or that I actually had a AHI and my mind woke me shouting "Wake Up". It hasn't re-occured since then. I have been sleeping fine.
You got me on the Cream T and Splodge, so I looked it up and it looks like its a Chocolate dessert. (Tart--Pie--Pudding or Cake) Anyway--something Chocolate, that I am sure I would love. I make a Splodge that the family loves. Chocolate Cake covered with Chocolate Pudding and Whipped Cream. Is the Cream T--Tea with cream? Couldn't figure that one out for sure. LOL. Speaking of Movies--have you watched "Hot Dogging"? Its about skiing. xxBerneta