What Are Dreams For

[Guest041413-2]

Dreams are for fucking. I can't count how many fems I've fucked in my lifetime in my dreams. LMAO!
As SNL put it, I always tend to awaken before I 'xplode' and always rush back to sleep to "capture" that moment...TFF but true! I'm a freak as hell in my dreams! Isn't that what they are for???

[setman]

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Enjoy yourself.

Be safe.

Stay cool.

Setty

[boardman]

I finally caved to the SO a while back and did a sleep study. It was determined that I have Sleep Apnea. Something the SO has been telling me for years. I haven't had dreams in years.
This is what I found out.
When you go into REM sleep you have a kind of disconnect between your brain and your body. Only the functions from the Central nervous system in the brain stem remain active to control breathing and such. This disconnect allows the body to completely relax and rest. The unintended consequence of this total relaxation for some of us is that the part of the airway just above the larynx which is made up of only soft tissue can relax to the point that it will actually collapse. This can be due to many factors, Being overweight is a big one because there will be more fatty tissue in that area. Getting older and having less muscle tone in the area can cause it as well.
In the mildest cases, as a person breathes in the airway collapses even more but does not close off. Mild to severe snoring can occur. In extreme cases and what I was experiencing was when I would breathe in the tissue would collapse to the point of not allowing any air in at all. Kind of like sucking on those old paper straws. They would get weak from the liquid and eventually they would just collapse under the vacuum you created. When this happens over a certain number of times per sleep cycle it's call Sleep Apnea.

So as I would enter stage 1 - 3 sleep for example my snoring would increase as my body relaxed. But...When I hit REM sleep my airway would completely cut off and I would react just enough to exit REM sleep to a shallower level so I could breath. Thus never actually getting the proper rest needed to recover from a regular day of activity.
I was always tired, had no energy and could easily fall asleep at my desk during the day. It caused me to be irritable and I believe even contributed to some other health issues like AFIB.

To get back to the OP, I have since been put on CPAP and it has changed my world. Two things I noticed right away was I stopped having to take a piss every night in the middle of the night and I started dreaming. At first the dreams were very stressful such as working at a job where I had no clue what I was supposed to be doing or driving a vehicle I was unfamiliar with in heavy traffic. Slowly I have been having less stressful dreams so in a way I think that I am having to learn how to dream again. It's been an interesting ride so far but I feel so much better.
If you don't dream or have been told you snore badly or appear to stop breathing I urge you to get it checked out. You'll be glad you did.

Sorry for the long story and getting a bit off track but I just want to let guys know that if you have sleep apnea you can get help and you'll feel so much better.

[charlestudor2005]

@boardman - my SO insists I have SA, but I don't sleep with her. My snoring keeps her awake so I moved to another bedroom. No big deal, we don't have sex and I like sleeping alone.

Sometimes, during the day I feel just fine, other times I do feel tired at work. My brother uses a CPAP machine, but he's a lot bigger boned than I am and carries a lot more weight.

Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind, how much did the sleep study cost and did insurance cover any part of it or the machine?

[Still Looking]

Originally Posted by boardman

I finally caved to the SO a while back and did a sleep study. It was determined that I have Sleep Apnea. Something the SO has been telling me for years. I haven't had dreams in years.
This is what I found out.
When you go into REM sleep you have a kind of disconnect between your brain and your body. Only the functions from the Central nervous system in the brain stem remain active to control breathing and such. This disconnect allows the body to completely relax and rest. The unintended consequence of this total relaxation for some of us is that the part of the airway just above the larynx which is made up of only soft tissue can relax to the point that it will actually collapse. This can be due to many factors, Being overweight is a big one because there will be more fatty tissue in that area. Getting older and having less muscle tone in the area can cause it as well.
In the mildest cases, as a person breathes in the airway collapses even more but does not close off. Mild to severe snoring can occur. In extreme cases and what I was experiencing was when I would breathe in the tissue would collapse to the point of not allowing any air in at all. Kind of like sucking on those old paper straws. They would get weak from the liquid and eventually they would just collapse under the vacuum you created. When this happens over a certain number of times per sleep cycle it's call Sleep Apnea.

So as I would enter stage 1 - 3 sleep for example my snoring would increase as my body relaxed. But...When I hit REM sleep my airway would completely cut off and I would react just enough to exit REM sleep to a shallower level so I could breath. Thus never actually getting the proper rest needed to recover from a regular day of activity.
I was always tired, had no energy and could easily fall asleep at my desk during the day. It caused me to be irritable and I believe even contributed to some other health issues like AFIB.

To get back to the OP, I have since been put on CPAP and it has changed my world. Two things I noticed right away was I stopped having to take a piss every night in the middle of the night and I started dreaming. At first the dreams were very stressful such as working at a job where I had no clue what I was supposed to be doing or driving a vehicle I was unfamiliar with in heavy traffic. Slowly I have been having less stressful dreams so in a way I think that I am having to learn how to dream again. It's been an interesting ride so far but I feel so much better.
If you don't dream or have been told you snore badly or appear to stop breathing I urge you to get it checked out. You'll be glad you did.

Sorry for the long story and getting a bit off track but I just want to let guys know that if you have sleep apnea you can get help and you'll feel so much better.

Very interesting Boardman! This also explains the Canadians! LOL

[boardman]

Originally Posted by charlestudor2005

@boardman - my SO insists I have SA, but I don't sleep with her. My snoring keeps her awake so I moved to another bedroom. No big deal, we don't have sex and I like sleeping alone.

Sometimes, during the day I feel just fine, other times I do feel tired at work. My brother uses a CPAP machine, but he's a lot bigger boned than I am and carries a lot more weight.

Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind, how much did the sleep study cost and did insurance cover any part of it or the machine?

Sleep studies run about $1500-2000, If you go into Apnea soon enough during the initial one they can start treating you right away and you only have to do one. I had to do two because I had a hard time falling asleep with all the wires and shit connected to me.(Not uncommon).

Insurance did apply to the sleep study and CPAP and supplies for the CPAP.

The next step you need to take is get a referral from your PCP or schedule directly with a Pulmonologist (MD). He/she will take it from there and schedule the sleep studies and help you order your equipment. It was really pretty painless as far as any kind of hassle goes.

CPAPs come in all different styles and the headgear is lightweight, not cumbersome at all and relatively easy to get used to. I went through Sleep Med. That's who my dr. recommended. They filed all the insurance paperwork for the equipment and sent me a bill for my share once they got all the insurance payments sorted out.

If you are having any other(posssibly unexplained) symptoms especially symptoms that would commonly be blamed on stress(heart, digestion, depression or other emotional issues) and have been told by someone that your snoring is bad I would recommend getting a sleep study. It really has made a big difference for me.

Good luck.

[canuckvic]

Originally Posted by Still Looking

Very interesting Boardman! This also explains the Canadians! LOL

Jealousy will get you no where!! If you want to know Shayla doesn't have SA - she hogs the bed like crazy - shit better shut up or she's going to kick me..... again

[pyramider]

Chuck, insurance covered my sleep study and equipment 100%.




Do zombies wake up with morning wood?

[Still Looking]

I use to dream of the beautiful ladies I met hobbying! For some reason, now all dream about is cats? WTF?

[Chica Chaser]

Originally Posted by Still Looking

I use to dream of the beautiful ladies I met hobbying! For some reason, now all dream about is cats? WTF?

I found your cat

[Still Looking]

[charlestudor2005]

Originally Posted by Still Looking

I use to dream of the beautiful ladies I met hobbying! For some reason, now all dream about is pussies? WTF?

TFTFY!!!