RE: Can a dream wake you up
Since I started successful CPAP therapy on 7/23/15, dreaming is back. During the years that I was suffering from apnea issues, I pretty much was void of dreaming. For me, the nose pillows was key to CPAP success, previous attempts with full face masks were a disaster, so I went years without therapy until my sleepiness during the day became very dangerous.
I seem to be always dreaming when hooked up, but I only become aware that I'm dreaming just before I wake up to go to the bathroom, which for me is once or twice nightly.
I pretty much have accepted that dreaming is part of a good night's sleep. I also realize that some dreams are somewhat disturbing, and thankfully they are not common with me, but if someone is plagued with those types of nightmares I would definitely seek a doctor's consultation for possible medication therapy.
But as for regular dreaming... be glad you can dream... REM sleep is a good thing.
RE: Can a dream wake you up
What a great thread !
I learned something yesterday from the sleep doc when I asked him about the fact that I seemed to be having more weird dreams since starting treatment and he said that you always dream but that those that you remember are only the ones you were awakened from so apneas way waken you but you remember the dream as it was in progress. Something else I learned recently is that dreams don't happen in real time so a dream that may have seemed like it lasted hours may have been over in minutes or seconds.
He also stated what I guess is obvious but that I hadn't really thought about before is that I will naturally dream more as treatment improves as I spend more time in stage 3&4 sleep where dreams happen.
Sweet dreams all zzzzzzzzzzz :-)
Rob
RE: Can a dream wake you up
Like Louis, I also lost the ability to dream due to OSA and this went on for at least 5 to 6 years and probably longer. When the dreams started to come back after my xPAP therapy began to work it was a relief.
RE: Can a dream wake you up
I used to wake up from dreams a lot when I was little, but not so much these days.
Pain beats the dreams to it! However, I do on occasions and I don't think it is unusual for anyone to wake from dreams.
Some will be remembered and others will not. If it is a nightmare it will most certainly will be.
I am NOT a doctor. I try to help, but do not take what I say as medical advice.
Every journey, however large or small starts with the first step.