Does Sleep Apnea cause weird dreams?

I also have had the experience of waking up "breathless"... awoke and found myself breathing hard - almost panting - on awakening. Wondering if anyone else has experienced?

Hi @jjspokane61 I have had this experience, but only after experiencing night terrors. Luckily as I have aged I get them less often, but when I do they are truly terrors and always the same -- ever since my first back in junior high days, which was a L-O-N-G time ago!

I do not have sleep apnea so I unfortunately cannot give you any insight into that aspect of your question. Perhaps others will be able to help with that.

This link explains a bit about night terrors.

Strength, courage, and peace!

I too had nightmares from sleep apnea and I think the CPAP contributed as well.I often woke up out of breath and shaking all over....even with the CPAP.
Knowing the CPAP was needed to live, I tried to wear as much as I could. I dealt with severe sleep apnea for 13 years. I hated it and always was researching another treatments, which many I paid out of pocket without success. Last year, the FDA approved a surgical implant I had been reading about the past several years. It TRULY has saved my life. PLEASE research Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation. It is surgically implanted and is in tune with your breathing NOT apneas. It is so new, many doctors do not even know about it. I share the information with everyone I can. It is only performed now at the countries top hospitals, Emory, Vanderbilt, etc. I had mine done at Duke Medical Center in Durham, NC. They were incredible and my life has been changed. I sleep, my color is better, depression better...a true miracle!!!!! Inspire is the only company I know that makes the implant but are there at the hospital every step of the way. Their website has a wealth of information. They fight for their patients too in obtaining approval from insurance companies.Please check it out!! Good luck!

I have had such horrific nightmares since the beginning of 2018. I lost 40 lbs and my CPAP mask has been coming off.

@mygrain316 Thanks for the info... I don't think my sleep apnea is bad enough to consider an implant - but it's good to know that such a thing exists! Glad it worked for you!!

Does anyone here have sleep apnea? I do and I have the worst nightmares. I use my CPAP regularly, and am on Clonapin for nightmares, which is not working for me. My nightmares are so bad, I walk around, throw stuff, fall down, etc. This happened to me last night AGAIN, and I really hurt my neck, back and side. I am scheduled for an appointment to see a Neurologist on the 4th of January, hoping she can figure this out. I also have a raging headache most days. I just can't deal with this anymore. Any suggestions? I can't take melatonin, as it GIVES me more nightmares.

You're not alone, Lori. Fellow members @jjspokane61 @mygrain316 and @macjane have also mentioned having nightmares and apnea. I moved your question to this existing discussion so that you can connect with them.

I'm glad to hear that you have an appointment with a neurologist coming up very soon. I look forward to hearing what you learn. In the meantime, maybe we can help you come up with good questions to ask at you appointment. What do you plan to ask her?

I have a couple of questions for you. How long have you been using a CPAP? Did you have nightmares before using the machine? Are the headaches new or recent?

I have had the CPAP for about a year now. The first one was the recalled Phillips, and so I got a new one. And, YES, I had the nightmares before using the CPAP, that is why they sent me to a sleep study. They calmed down for a while, but have gotten worse over the last few months, and I don't believe it's all due to stress. I had fallen and hit my head back in the summer, I had an x-ray, and it showed nothing, but the Dr. said I did have a concussion. It's funny, now that I think of it......I had a CAT scan with contrast a couple months ago, for my heart. And it seems to me that's when they started to get worse, along with a MAJOR, CONSTANT HEADACHE! I will be asking the neurologist to do a cat scan on my head. I really don't know what to ask her.......I just want these to quit! I am hurting myself, tearing up my room, I have broken my tv, I sleep walk and slam doors cussing people out.......I just can't deal with it anymore! Thank you for all your help! I certainly will keep everyone updated!

Hello @loribroda, I've been using a CPAP regularly for about 3 years. I had what you might call vivid dreams or nightmares off and on even before using a CPAP. I still might have one once in awhile but they aren't as regular and often. Here are a couple of articles on using CPAPs and dreams that I thought you might find interesting and maybe helpful.

— Changes in dreaming induced by CPAP in severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17118100/
— The Mind Revealed: Learn More About Sleep Apnea Dreams and Nightmares: https://www.cpap.com/blog/sleep-apnea-dreams-and-nightmares/

Here's an article that has a few things to try that might be helpful.
-- What causes vivid dreams? - Medical News Today: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325396

One of the things mentioned that really has helped me is setting a regular time for going to bed and waking up. Also avoiding coffee and exercise just before going to bed.

@johnbishop, thank you for the info. I checked them both out, but neither had any info on the kind of dreams, sleepwalking, and hurting my self in them. I need to literally need to have my head examined. Thank you again