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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Sleep Health Support Group.

OK I was quick to the jump the gun, I've never been much of a reader and just read others who experience this too. I've just had the biggest cry ever because I've suffered with this for so long, being exhausted through the day, having to nap, being called lazy but everyone because I get poorly all the time for absolutely no reason and can't work because of it. And then I see I'm not alone and it's like all of a sudden I've realised I actually am suffering with something, I'm not lazy. It's like a light has just been shone on me. So glad I found this post!

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@rockysoftis

Greetings,

I just returned from the Mayo clinic a few days ago and was looking for diagnosis information. I came across this thread and signed up to share what I know. My son has had a sleeping disorder for over ten years. It resembles Epic Dreaming, but the doctor believed it was a variant.

There is one known study on Epic Dreaming, although it is small. It is titled: Polysomnographic and clinical correlates of epic dream complaints: A retrospective study of 28 Taiwanese adults.
_https://experts.umn.edu/en/publications/polysomnographic-and-clinical-correlates-of-epic-dream-complaints

It does contain medical treatment.

I don't know the rules yet for this forum, and I am not a doctor or in the medical profession. I also hesitate to identify the medication he prescribed. I can post his name and medication if it is allowable; just let me know.

Also, he intimated he was treating someone for a similar diagnosis.

Hope this helps someone!

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Hi @rockysoftis
You said your son suffers from a sleep disorder which resembles epic dreaming. Please could I ask exactly what it is he goes through with the sleep disorder? Does he struggle to sleep, does he have such vivid dreams that he wakes up exhausted? I really want to know if I'm suffering from similar. Thank you

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@kirstiep22

Hi @mazeppabob
I have just woke up from another one of my dreams absolutely exhausted. This happens to me all the time. And then I found your post. Can we talk? I'm sorry I've literally just signed up here to speak to you so I have no idea how we communicate privately?

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@irstblblis
About all I can do is say I know what you are experiencing is real and not rare. I am 78 and just try to cope with it now. I take modafinil a couple times a day (only affordable with GoodRX). I use those little 5 hour energy shots bought in bulk at Costco and take naps.
Nothing I have tried stops the relentless dreaming.

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@kirstiep22

Hi @rockysoftis
You said your son suffers from a sleep disorder which resembles epic dreaming. Please could I ask exactly what it is he goes through with the sleep disorder? Does he struggle to sleep, does he have such vivid dreams that he wakes up exhausted? I really want to know if I'm suffering from similar. Thank you

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Hello @kirstiep22, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with @mazeppabob, @rockysoftis and others. @ljones0720 started a related discussion that you may want to join here:
--- Vivid Dreams: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/vivid-dream/.

Have you seen a sleep medicine doctor or had an overnight sleep study done?

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Not sure if this thread is still active. I am wondering where you are at with this. I experience the exact same thing.

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@christopherfromcp

Not sure if this thread is still active. I am wondering where you are at with this. I experience the exact same thing.

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Hi @christopherfromcp, Welcome to Connect. Yes this discussion is still active. Hopefully you will hear from @mazeppabob soon.

Have you had an overnight sleep study done?

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@johnbishop

Hi @christopherfromcp, Welcome to Connect. Yes this discussion is still active. Hopefully you will hear from @mazeppabob soon.

Have you had an overnight sleep study done?

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I have had a sleep study done to rule out sleep apnea. It was not a complete study, it had it's complications. It was recommended to me by the doctor to contact a psychologist with a phd.
I have not had success in finding one, but nonetheless, I truly do not feel that will solve this problem but I am open to any suggestions and will try anything reasonable.

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Just a thought: If I take an antihistamine at night for allergies, I dream a lot and the dreams wake me out. It's a restless sleep, even though I start out being very sleepy and go to sleep easily. If you are taking antihistamines at night such as Zyrtec, Claritin, Benadryl, etc., you may want to try something else. This may be your dreaming issue and fatigue.

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@johnbishop

Hi @christopherfromcp, Welcome to Connect. Yes this discussion is still active. Hopefully you will hear from @mazeppabob soon.

Have you had an overnight sleep study done?

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@johnbishop
I quit following connect a while back because I was spending way to much time reading, replying, getting emotionally involved, up set etc. It is a great tool but because it covers everything under the sun there are so many repetitive, overlapping, sad, heartbreaking posts.

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@mazeppabob

@johnbishop
I quit following connect a while back because I was spending way to much time reading, replying, getting emotionally involved, up set etc. It is a great tool but because it covers everything under the sun there are so many repetitive, overlapping, sad, heartbreaking posts.

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Thanks Bob. I completely understand. Taking care of yourself is and should be job number one.

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