Bad nights and dreams

Dear ones here at Mayo Clinic Connect. Parus, John Bishop, Ryman and so many others. I am recovering from several days of high stress and long appointments for two of my loved ones experiencing serious complications of Diabetes and possibly the beginnings of congestive heart failure. Anytime an Adult experiences excessive coughing, congestion, shortness of breath or sleep disturbances, I take it very seriously.

Anxiety has many causes, one of the most serious being trauma or illness that seems to have no end. It can worsen blood pressure, result in skin eruptions, ulcers, IBD, and contribute to sleeplessness. This is not advice from me, as I do not give advice. I am not a medical practitioner and never have claimed to be. But I am an pld lady who has had a long and illustrious career as a patient
. You can learn a lot from me how NOT to do. Don't just assume that congestion or a constant cough is nothing. Run, don't walk, to the best primary care physician you can find and spill your guts. Tell them evetything, even the embarrassing stuff. That is the only way you will get better. Follow their advice. Trust them. Respect them.

Keep notes, write things down in a notebook. Make a jounal, keep a food log. Be the best advocate you can be for yourself. You deserve it

Mamacits

Just important words, @mamacita!

@mamacita Sorry to hear of the stress you are dealing with from health problems of loved ones. I know how that is too well. I hope things are going better and that there are no extremely serious issues.

Great ideas about keeping notes, etc. I generally do that before any doctor appointments but I thought I would remember everything for my PCP appointment this past week, and of course did not. I read somewhere that the greatest lie we tell ourselves is that we will remember something. I find that too true.
JK

Hi, @ryman - you'd mentioned before you were having some trouble with sleep, waking up every hour or so, and some bad dreams. How is this going recently?

Way too many dreams(not bad, not great) but my daughter, a nurse-practitioner, has mentioned too much REM is not good? Thoughts?

@wgatap21 there is another discussion on REM sleep disorder that you might want to read through and post questions here:

> Groups > Sleep Health > My husband has REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/rem-behavior-disorder-rbd/

Hi, @wgatap21 - Here's some Mayo Clinic information on all the stages of sleep, including rapid eye movement (REM) sleep https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-what-are-the-stages-of-sleep/.

I think that understanding a little of your daughter's reasoning might be useful to comprehend more of where she is coming from for this discussion on REM sleep. Just wondering, if it was stated, if you'd share the reason your daughter was saying that too much REM sleep is not good?

Just guessing, but I would assume it takes away from Deep sleep, depending on the amount. I really don't know how long I dream or the amount of deams but at times seems like too many. I've had sleep tests years ago, more for apnea, which is another issue but never looked at REM time. And CPAP was not for me. But dreams are recognizable people but I forget quickly, in whatever situation. Never scary. I've read quite a lot and all sorts of varying opinions. I was just wondering if I had less REM(if I truly am in that stage, that I am not getting enough quality sleep. That's all. Only wake up briefly once or a few times for whatever reason some nights. Thx for the reply

Relates to Dreams: Hi, i am a Mayo Clinic patient. I travel from my country to Mayo Clinic once a year . I will have the polysonnogram test next week. Probably my problem is from my autoinmune condition together with my complete hysterectomy and some medications I use for inflammation. After the oxymeter they told me theres level apnea and will be test for rem sleep. After my diagnosis we will discuss options as rem sleep melatonine. Ive tríed over the years with commom melatonine and have to discontinue it bc of vivid dreams that repeat every night and that stop after i stop taking the melatonine. I would like to know people with the same side effect while on melatonine and how they overcome that situation without having to stop using melatonine. Melatonine seem to be the best option for cyrcadiam rithm & want to give it a try. Is there any option about how to take the melatonine in order to avoid this terrible side effect (vivid dreams). Thanks for your suggestions and advice

@lorena1egas, according to this article by Mayo Clinic, melatonin is generally safe for short-term use. It's not a long term solution.
- Is melatonin a helpful sleep aid — and what should I know about melatonin side effects? https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/melatonin-side-effects/faq-20057874

See this Mayo Clinic Minute with sleep expert Dr. Timothy Morganthaler.
https://youtu.be/x7CuirsCNSo

This is a good topic to bring up next week when you're at Mayo for your polysomnography (sleep study). I look forward to hearing what you learn. Please report back.