Definitely doesn't help nightmares. You're choking to death every night all night long (if the OSA is severe) and your brainstem is screaming at your CNS that you are about to expire. It's akin to being waterboarded all night, every night.
'I wake up gasping, sweating and swinging...like I'm fighting someone.'
Don't remember any clear dream content (and certainly nothing thematically-related to the presumed traumatic events [that occurred 50+ years ago]).
'Nightmares' had their onset about five years ago.
Patient is 71 years old.
The G.E.D.umb and Q.E.D.umber chorus (social worker/LPN/neurologist) all agree that this is a 'classic case' (TM) of PTSD because...wait for it...(a) he is a 'veteran' and (b) he has 'nightmares' (
Q.E.D. (in lieu of
D...S...M...))
Snores 'like a freight train' and stops breathing in his sleep according to wife.
Wakes up with cotton mouth and headache. Feels like **** every morning after 10 hours of 'sleep'
Sleep study conducted. Severe OSA is diagnosed, AHI is something godawful
'Do you use your CPAP?'
'Hell no! I can't keep that {MIKE FOXTROT!} on. I get better sleep without it.'
And...
It's about to get a LOT worse, folks.
They just proposed changed/updated rules for the standard service-connection percentage assigned to folks with OSA.
Up til now, it's been a real 'anchor' contributing to massive bumps in 'total' service connection percentage since it has automatically been assigned a 50% rating (by itself), regardless of whether it was 'well controlled' (or even perfectly controlled) with CPAP therapy.
As I understand it, the updated rules are that it will be assigned a 0% rating if successfully treated/controlled by CPAP therapy. If the CPAP therapy isn't effective (or isn't used?), you'll get a percentage (maybe 50%?)
You
gotta love the first hits you get on a Google search of the issue these days...
Proposed changes to the VA ratings for veterans with sleep apnea mean NOW is the time to file for your veteran's disability benefits for sleep apnea.
brossfrankel.com
Changes to the sleep apnea VA rating schedule could impact tens of thousands of veterans. Here's what you need to know to protect your benefits.
www.repforvets.com