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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drwass2 | @drwass2 | Sep 21 9:04am

You can train yourself when you are in those situations to KNOW it’s a dream and run with it knowing you are safe.
I believe it is then call Lucid dreaming.

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usernamealreadyinuse | @usernamealreadyinuse | Oct 1 12:19am

Vilano 20 tablet
This is what my psychiatrist who is also a sleep specialist prescribed for me. He wrote it down in a second as I started describing my problem. When I Google the tablet's name it just says it's an antidepressant. But it hit the nail on the head. The only problem is if I miss a dose, it comes back that night. My dependence on this medicine worries me. But I think I should just be grateful something is working for me.

PS: I feel sorry for the OP and others who've had to live with this for years. I couldn't imagine. The constant dreaming like you're going through a tasking day even while sleeping and waking up tired and feeling fatigued all day is a horrible, horrible experience. I couldn't function that way for long.

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usernamealreadyinuse | @usernamealreadyinuse | Oct 1 1:25am
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @mazeppabob Yes, I know what you mean. Many medications and disorders cause vivid dreams. I've..." + (show)
@hopeful33250

Hello @mazeppabob

Yes, I know what you mean. Many medications and disorders cause vivid dreams. I've experienced this as well. When I've had a night of vivid dreaming, I wake up feeling like I've worked all night. The dreams aren't nightmares they are just very active dreams. Is this your experience as well? For many people this is in reaction to certain medications or disorders like Parkinson's.

You might take a look at your medications and see if vivid dreams are described as a side effect. Since you've had this problem for a while and you've seen a sleep specialist it might not be the case for you but still might be worth looking into.

Will you let me know what you think about this?

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"Wake up feeling like I've worked all night" - couldn't describe the feeling better

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usernamealreadyinuse | @usernamealreadyinuse | Oct 1 1:32am
In reply to @mazeppabob "The DR who made the diagnosis of Epic dreaming described it as non-REM dreaming. I can..." + (show)
@mazeppabob

The DR who made the diagnosis of Epic dreaming described it as non-REM dreaming. I can take a short nap and dream. They seem to start as soon as I nod off. The dream continues for what seems like hours. I can be drifting in and out, partially awake, and go right back to the same dream. The only way to end it is to physically get up and walk around. When I return to bed a new dream starts and goes on and on.
This has been going on every night basically my whole life. I can't believe that I have been stressed every single day or that it is medication related since I wasn't on any when younger.
I asked the DR if there had been any research for cause and treatment. His reply was that no one wants to spend time and money on rare disorders.

Jump to this post

"They seem to start as soon as I nod off. The dream continues for what seems like hours. I can be drifting in and out, partially awake, and go right back to the same dream. The only way to end it is to physically get up and walk around."

I relate a 100%. Saddens me to think you have been going through this for so long.

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minditaylor | @minditaylor | Oct 6 12:32am

Prazosin is a game changer.

Mayo Clinic Review: Blood Pressure Drug Effective for Treating PTSD-Related Nightmares

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minditaylor | @minditaylor | Oct 6 12:38am

Research the medication Prazosin.

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1 reply
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Oct 6 7:00am
In reply to @minditaylor "Research the medication Prazosin." + (show)
@minditaylor

Research the medication Prazosin.

Jump to this post

Hello @minditaylor, Welcome to Connect. I thought I would share the links for you since new members are not allowed to post links for a short period of time to prevent spamming our Connect community.

-- Mayo Clinic Review: Blood Pressure Drug Effective for Treating PTSD-Related Nightmares
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-review-blood-pressure-drug-effective-for-treating-ptsd-related-nightmares/
-- Prazosin: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/prazosin-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20065617

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dandoporsaco | @dandoporsaco | Oct 29 10:49am
In reply to @mazeppabob "The DR who made the diagnosis of Epic dreaming described it as non-REM dreaming. I can..." + (show)
@mazeppabob

The DR who made the diagnosis of Epic dreaming described it as non-REM dreaming. I can take a short nap and dream. They seem to start as soon as I nod off. The dream continues for what seems like hours. I can be drifting in and out, partially awake, and go right back to the same dream. The only way to end it is to physically get up and walk around. When I return to bed a new dream starts and goes on and on.
This has been going on every night basically my whole life. I can't believe that I have been stressed every single day or that it is medication related since I wasn't on any when younger.
I asked the DR if there had been any research for cause and treatment. His reply was that no one wants to spend time and money on rare disorders.

Jump to this post

That's exactly what I'm experiencing for a few years now: even if I fall asleep and someone wakes me up a minute later, I can recall at least 30 seconds of my dreams. I can't remember the last time I was not dreaming when I woke up, and I typically can recall very long dreams just after waking up. I don't have PTSD, I am not stressed and I don't take any medication -I just dream non-stop, and it is very tiring, almost like I've been studying for an exam for the last 8-10 hours non-stop.
Ah, they are normal dreams, not "banal physical activities", so they can have all sorts of themes, being boring, scaring, weird, happy, sad, with known people, with made-up people... In fact, not many of them are nightmares, but they are all very very long.

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kishor1 | @kishor1 | Oct 30 7:19am

I am 74 yrs and take etizola 0.5 before sleeping at night . Not sure it will work every day. But I get awake by 3.45 / 4.00 am and do not feel rested at all. I keep on dreaming continuously, So it is just like remaining awake. Very rarely, I take etizola 0.25 again at 4.00am but that really dosn't help. Now I don't want to take any other medicine also . I tried hypnotherapy also. But of no use. Also etizola is of no use if taken at any other time of the day. Cannot understand what to do. Only one solution I feel may help is taking regular exercise (even though light) and learning to do meditation. But since no rest and not fresh in the morning I am lazy throughout the day. If anybody is facing similar problem and has overcome it , pl put up your suggestion .

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