[Nypit1]

First I’ll say I was diagnosed via a home sleep study with apnea..I was told it was mild to moderate about 15 episodes an hour. I don’t know if a sleep lab study would show more . I tried several different cpap masks but could not get to sleep using them. Therefore I  don’t currently used a machine. I usually sleep for 90 minutes wake and sleep again for 90 and so on. I don’t wake feeling myself gasping or anything but have been told the apnea is why I’m waking.

I say all this as a bit of insight into a different much more troubleing issue I’m having. I don’t believe apnea is connected but wanted you..the reader..to know and maybe you may see it connected.

3 years ago I had sleep disturbance that went away but is now back with a vengeance. Here it is… Everytime I start to drift off to sleep I get what I can only describe as a huge rush of adrenaline which I feel in the center of my chest. It’s not painful but u feel like you want to scream to get rid of the feeling. Everytime I am about to fall asleep bam it hits me. I’m not thinking about anything that would cause this. I don’t even know if it is adrenaline.. the best way I can describe it is as if I would be driving and all of a sudden u look in your rearview mirror and see cops lights flashing that unexpected rush. Or if you see your child about to run into the street. That’s the feeling. And it’s every night or day if trying to nap. I’m on day 7 now where sleep has been almost non-existent. Now I do know I have dreams so I must be asleep at some point but this can’t continue. Am I alone in this? Is it apnea related? Help.. sorry this is so long.

 

[Martin Reed]

Welcome to the forum, nypit1. The symptoms you describe as you are falling asleep could be down to hyperarousal. You could be monitoring for sleep so, as it’s about to happen, the brain kicks into gear to wake  you up to tell you sleep is happening (which, obviously, isn’t helpful!).

You could also be experiencing some conditioned arousal — in other words, due to your repeated experiences of poor sleep, you have learned to associate sleep with worry, wakefulness, frustration, etc. So, your brain keeps you alert to protect you from this just as you are about to fall asleep.

If you tend to wake and have no trouble falling back to sleep, then your awakenings could be down to your sleep apnea. If you find it hard to fall back to sleep, then your difficulties may be associated with a high level of arousal and are more likely to be related to insomnia. It is also quite possible that both are disrupting your sleep.

Have you asked your sleep doctor or sleep center if an alternative to CPAP may be appropriate for you? For example, an oral appliance may be helpful (or even some positional therapy).

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