1. < Sleep Health

Anyone wake feeling exhausted after seemingly dreaming all night

Posted by mazeppabob @mazeppabob, Jul 26, 2022

I never wake refreshed/rested. It has been like this for as long as I can remember and I am 77 now,
My sleep medicine DR called it EPIC dreaming. A rare disorder with no known cause or treatment. His only suggestion was to prescribe Modafinil (a stimulant) taken in the morning to perk me up.
I have tried CPAP and other meds to no avail.
I wonder if this is really that rare.

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miphobia | @miphobia | Jun 30 9:05pm
In reply to @extragreenjean "Just came across this discussion after waking up from another night that felt like a whole..." + (show)
@extragreenjean

Just came across this discussion after waking up from another night that felt like a whole year of dreaming! Not sure why I waited so long to Google the issue, which has been annoying and exhausting me for years.

My first question: wondering how many of you have a history of serious childhood trauma, e.g. domestic violence, sexual abuse, etc.? I always had vivid dreams, but they went into serious overdrive the past few years as I began to come to terms with the abuse I suffered decades ago. Haven't really been dreaming about that issue specifically, but plenty of scary and stressful stuff. (I know anxiety can play a part in this issue. No question I have a good bit of that, too.) Tired of feeling so tired when I wake up in the morning!

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From what I gather from many discussion online and from my own experience, I would like to address some of your questions:
1, people were mostly born with it, no matter growing up trauma or not.
2, the dreams are not necessarily nightmares, just very active vivid and you can remember them long after waking up.
3, I myself am not sure if I really wake up "tired" or "refreshed" because as you have experienced this the whole life, you don't have a standard to refer to. You can only know someday you feel worse or better than your other days. So it doesn't really bother me anymore and I learn to function with whatever amount of energy I restore from my sleep.
What I am trying to say is, your problem seem to be very different from what is currently discussed here, and medical treatment can potentially help!

REPLY
SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Jun 30 10:39pm

@miphobia
I was waking up more tired than when I went to bed.
My doctor sent me for a sleep study. Turns out my brain was not in a DEEP sleep long enough for me to get proper rest.

I was diagnosed with hypersomnia. I take the prescription drug Armodafinil to give me energy during the day.

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1 reply
rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | 6 days ago
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@miphobia I was waking up more tired than when I went to bed. My doctor sent..." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

@miphobia
I was waking up more tired than when I went to bed.
My doctor sent me for a sleep study. Turns out my brain was not in a DEEP sleep long enough for me to get proper rest.

I was diagnosed with hypersomnia. I take the prescription drug Armodafinil to give me energy during the day.

Jump to this post

@SusanEllen66
What did they recommend for treating the lack of deep sleep?
Thanks!

REPLY
SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | 6 days ago

@rjjrjjacobsen I take medication in the morning to keep me more awake during the day. That’s all.

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1 reply
rjjacobsen | @rjjacobsen | 5 days ago
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@rjjrjjacobsen I take medication in the morning to keep me more awake during the day. That’s..." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

@rjjrjjacobsen I take medication in the morning to keep me more awake during the day. That’s all.

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I do too... it's called coffee! Heh!

But no caffeine after Noon - not even chocolate!

Been having trouble with the chronic lack of deep sleep and was seeking a possible solution.

Thanks!

REPLY
1 reply
SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | 5 days ago
In reply to @rjjacobsen "I do too... it's called coffee! Heh! But no caffeine after Noon - not even chocolate!..." + (show)
@rjjacobsen

I do too... it's called coffee! Heh!

But no caffeine after Noon - not even chocolate!

Been having trouble with the chronic lack of deep sleep and was seeking a possible solution.

Thanks!

Jump to this post

@rjjacobsen
The medicine doesn’t prevent me from having to take a nap.
I have several autoimmune diseases that bless me with fatigue.
I only drink one cup of cawfee a day…
Being 74+ contributes to my problem…

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