Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and nightmares ... please help

[YAFY]

My husband has Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), he has bad nightmares and 12 months ago also developed anxiety and PTSD. I recently read an article that says these 3 symptoms can be linked to OSA. Has anyone else come across this and is there any help to manage these symptoms as they affect his sleep and make him tired during the day which exacerbate all the problems!

He has a CPAP machine and uses this every night.

Also wondering about camping, anyone found anywhere they can hire a CPAP that could be used when camping without electricity? In USA you can hire them but can't find anything like that in the UK.

Thanks

AH

article was ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[sassy59]

Hi YAFY, your husband needs to speak to a doctor about this. I’m sure there’s help for him but a medical professional will be able to advise.

Thinking of you both. Xxxx

[YAFY in reply to sassy59]

thank you for your kind thoughts.

[Titchyj]

Hi there, does your husband have a Cpap maching? I have had OSA for a number of years and use a Cpap Machine at night, it takes time to get used to, but find I am better after a good nights sleep. Not had the nightmares though. Perhaps a talk to his GP would be advisable.

[YAFY in reply to Titchyj]

Hi, Thanks. Yes he has CPAP for 4 years now but not helping the nightmares which Consultant said are a side effect of Sleep Apnoea for some people. Thought the machine and regulation of oxygen would help but not so. Might ask for an appointment with Consultant again to discuss more about it. Maybe he needs to up machine pressure, might still be having apnoeas with machine.

Also wondering if anyone know about camping? we often went camping but to sites with no electric. Tried to look into solar convertors etc but don't know if you can hire anything to allow you to go camping with out electricity and still use the CPAP. We tried a few times without it but its not worth the recovery time afterwards!!

[Ian1967]

Hi YAFY, does your husband gasp for breath or stop breathing in his sleep, the other symptom you describe being sleepy in the daytime is one of the symptoms sleep apnoea, does he snore heavily in his sleep, this another symptom?

I’m not sure about the nightmares, that could be a symptom of PTSD, he definitely needs to speak to his GP or specialist, they might suggest doing a sleep study test, this is nothing to worry about, if he is diagnosed with sleep apnoea they will suggest using a CPAP machine at bedtime, this can be daunting at first, but believe me it will give your husband his life back.

I had the same test and as it happened, I didn’t have sleep apnoea, but was diagnosed with CO2 retention, I now use BiPAP and oxygen at bedtime and it has completely turned my life around.

I hope I have been some help.

Ian.

[YAFY in reply to Ian1967]

Thank Ian,

Yes he has a CPAP machine and it has definitely helped him be more alert in the day time and improved concentration but not improved the nightmares. We will go back to the specialist maybe they can do more tests and advise.

[Ian1967]

Hi YAFY, your husband could try this for camping with CPAP hope2sleep.co.uk/atom-batte...

I use this website regularly and can highly recommend it.

Ian.

[YAFY in reply to Ian1967]

WOW! thanks so much Ian.

[jabber in reply to Ian1967]

WOW from me too. This is exactly what I've been looking for to use in our camper. It would be lovely to be able to revisit some of the more isolated sites we've found in Scotland (when we're allowed up there again!)

I've used hope2sleep in the past too. Don't know why I didn't think to look there.

[knitter]

One of my preventer inhalers gave me terrible nightmares.....I would fall asleep...nightmare.....wake up in a panic.....eventually fall asleep ......another nightmare .

I discussed it with my pharmacist and asthma nurse.....tried a different preventer, now just have an occasional vivid dream.

Have a chat with your health professional.

It could be though the sleep apnea giving him nightmares, it may disturb his sleep and wake him so he remembers the bad dream .

Has he seen a sleep specialist at all ?

Tried CBT or other therapies for his anxiety....meditation, talking therapy , relaxation exercises ?

[jabber]

I also wondered what inhalers your husband is using. I used to have really upsetting dreams - not exactly nightmares as usually I couldn't remember details on waking, but real downers which left me feeling depressed and I had to work at getting myself out of those feelings daily. At the time I was taking Spiriva and Fostair which were working really well for my breathing.

Then my breathlessness started getting worse again and I asked my consultant to change me over to Trimbow which I'd heard was very effective. So he did and within a few days (I think - fairly quickly anyway) I realised that the unpleasant dreams had stopped and I was waking up feeling much more positive.

As knitter suggests I think it is worth discussing different meds with your health professionals. I hope your husband finds a solution to this soon. A good night's sleep is priceless!