Posted by Brian W. on August 27, 1998 at 07:48:52:
In Reply to: Clusters and Sleeping Disorders - connection? posted by Imelda on August 27, 1998 at 00:15:31:
Hi Imelda,
I clustered actively for 10 years and always had my sleep disturbed by them. I have been painfree for 2 years now (life is good, thank you :-)) yet continue to experience shadows.
The odd thing about this painfree time is that i don't sleep more than 3 hours at a time. I routinely wake up 3 times a night on the average. The first wake up will happen 30 to 60 minutes after going to sleep. This oddly coincides with what would have been my first cluster of a night. There is no pain. I go back to sleep (after i'm sure that the house isn't on fire or anything) and wake up 2 or 3 hours later. Usually get out of bed, walk around for a bit then go back to sleep without any trouble.
I've gotten used to this and have no complaints. If it's a trade off for the pain then i got a real good deal. The question i have though is whether the same chemical imbalance is causing these wake ups as caused the cluster pain? Or whether it is a reaction to either entering or leaving REM sleep? It could possibly be a conditioned response to having had clusters all those years.
Good luck to your husband. There are other reports of cluster being related to sleep apnea. I hope his cause is easy to find and the cure is just a good night's sleep away.
Brian W