Question:
I got the results of my sleep study and was really distressed to learn that
there was NO recorded stage 3 and stage 4 sleep. I fell asleep in less than 60
seconds (how profoundly tired do you think I am??) and I slept 318 minutes,
with very few arousals and only one awakening of 2 minutes duration. BUT, of
that 318 minutes, 256 were in stages 1 and 2, and the remainer in REM. The
sleep specialist said, "I have good news: you don't really have sleep apnea,
and you passed the daytime portion of the test by not sleeping during the
forced rest periods. You really did sleep very well." OK...please tell me if I
am crazy, but it seems to me that if a person sleeps an entire night without
one brief moment of slow wave (delta) sleep, that they are going to feel like a
zombie in the morning. I pointed out to her that insomnia was never the problem
that brought me to the sleep center, and asked what could be done for a person
with fibromyalgia who lacks stages 3 and 4 sleep. Do you know what she said? "I
wouldn't get hung up on the stage 3 and 4 problem." What the hell is that
supposed to mean? That leaves me absolutely nowhere. I've been taking 30 mg.
nortriptyline at bedtime and 20 mg. Prozac in the morning for about 6 months
now. At the beginning I thought maybe it was helping increase deep sleep (I
felt a little better then), but now it is obviously not doing anything to help.
I'd like your comments and suggestions, and would like to hear other stories
about sleep studies and fibro.
Answer:
I've had 3 sleep studies. The first one was a wash out because (Shocker) I
never slept! That was at a rock-bottom time in my life.
My second study was worse! I got to sleep (because by that time, I'd gotten
meds to help me sleep), but I had sleep apnea. The tech came in and hooked up
the CPAP mask and we tried to see what settings were best for me. She came in
later and woke me up and said that she had turned the CPAP machine up as high
as it would go, and it still wasn't enough for me. She said that hospital
policy said that I couldn't sleep there, because the CPAP was not helping and
they couldn't be liable if something happended while I was sleeping!
Now, I lived 150 miles away -- one way! My daughter had to drive me there and
stay in a motel. They kicked me out of the sleep study center at 3 AM. I had
to go down to the ER lounge. They wouldn't let me stay in the Sleep center.
There was no way I was going to wake up my DD at that time. She still had to
drive us home. So I sat in that ER lounge until 7 AM, then I called her. I
cried the entire time I sat there. I was terrified! I kept thinking that I'd
stroke out or have a heart attack if I slept! Not exactly good for a person
with severe sleep problems!
The next week, the center called me to reschedule another study. I told them
what had happened. They apologized profusely and said that I would not be
charged for that second disastrous study.
The third time really was the charm. I had a different tech and got my CPAP
all adjusted with the right settings and right mask, slept well, and went home
happy and more rested than I had in years.
But, like you, I never got into Stages 3 or 4. I guess that is not unusual for
Fibromites. I dream the entire time I sleep.
Actually, that's one of my main sleep problems. I dream all the time, but they
are always nightmares and I always remember them.
I also have PTSD. I'm supposed to see a psychiatrist for this, but can't
afford it right now.
Like you, I fall asleep very quickly. I used to think it was because I was
always so busy with 2 jobs, 1 husband, 2 kids, 2 elderly grammas to take care
of, and various pets. But, the neurologist told me that the average time in
which to fall asleep is 20 minutes. I knew I was asleep before my head hit the
pillow. He said that was a symptom of sleep disorders.
Sleeping problems are still one of the biggest problems in my life. The CPAP
does help, however, and I didn't have any trouble getting used to it.
I'm on meds for Restless Leg Syndrome and muscle spasms. They've helped a lot.
But because of the nightmares, I hate going to sleep. I know the things I
"should" do, but I just hate going to bed. I usually crash about 5 AM, then
sleep until 10 AM. And that's on a "good" night.
I think pain has a lot to do with it, too. After all, how well can a person
sleep if they hurt like hell all over? I take my pain med and other sleep
meds, but I can't stand any pressure at all on my shoulders. I don't sleep on
a bed anymore. I've slept on my recliner for the past 3 years. That way, I
don't have so much pressure on my shoulders.
I don't know if I've answered any of your questions, or just confused you. I
hope you get some kind of regular, restful sleep soon. For several weeks, I
was sleeping just 3-4 hours a WEEK, and it was very weird. I don't ever want
to do that again.
Wouldn't get hung up on stage 3 and 4? What the heck is this lady
thinking.......oh wait a second........she ISN'T! Sheesh, I'm going for a
study next month and truly hope I don't get an idiot doctor such as this.
