Question:
No Sleep Apnea but also No REM Sleep

Thanks to all of you who answered my post yesterday regarding Sleep Apnea testing. I suffered through the test and coughed most of the night due to a post nasal drip from a virus that I hd last week. I took the test last night (and finally fell asleep at the last possible minute) and although the tech did not discuss any "results" with me he hinted at no sleep apnea but he did say that one of the reasons that I do not dream is because I did not have REM sleep. I wonder if this happens to me often. I usually wake up wanting to sleep again and can only recall dreams from several times in my life. Anyone have any experience with not getting REM sleep?    — meliss0725 (posted on April 23, 2003)

April 23, 2003
I may be wrong, but I would guess that the reason that you didn't get into REM sleep is due to the coughing. Your body wasn't able to get into a deep sleep. From what I understand, you only dream during REM sleep.
   — Carolyn M.

April 23, 2003
I also have problems with sleeping and getting REM sleep. I used to sleep 8 - 10 hours a night and since having my daughter, I find that I get 5 - 6 hours per night. However, I am not getting in alot of REM sleep, initally because I would hear a noise and think that there is something wrong with my daughter. Now it is to the point where I am waking up every few hours because that is what my body is used to. I completely understand wanting to immediately go back to bed thing.
   — Missy C.

April 23, 2003
During a normal night's sleep the brain cycles through light to deep to Rem sleep every 90 minutes to 2 hours (depending on your age). If your sleep was distrubed for any reason like being sick, sleeping in a strange bed, being awake most of the night, etc. it can keep you from achieving Rem. Unfortunately, for some people Rem sleep is when they have their worst breathing problems. In the lab I worked at we rescheduled patients who were ill as we wouldn't be getting their normal pattern of sleep.
   — LLinderman

April 23, 2003
Hi! Fibromyalgia can cause lack of rem sleep...Some other symptoms are muscle aches,fatigue,unrefreshed sleep,headaches and waking up during the night.
   — jennifer A.