Waking Up Durring REM!?

[Klitch]

I have an odd problem that so far nobody has heard of before. Whenever I sleep facing upwards (sleeping on my back looking at the ceiling), I always wake up in the middle of the night dizzy and my eyes moving around so much that everything is a blurr. It takes me awhile to make my eyes stop moving (1-2mins), but in that time I've normally thrown up because of the extreme dizziness, which results in me having a HUGE headache for the rest of the day.

Its pretty easy to avoid because all I have to do is sleep on my side, but my concern is if I am getting any REM sleep or not. I am often sleepy and in my opinion it could be linked to a lack of REM sleep.

So has anyone ever heard of a problem like this or have any info that could help?

[DrmDoc]

Hello Klitch,

You are likely experiencing a type of vertigo brought on by the disorentation resulting from waking in that face-up position. Although you likely do experience REM--as do everyone--your REM is probably curtailed by the anxiety arising from your sleep disturbances. You should consult a sleep specialist to evaluate whether your condition isn't also a form of sleep apnea, which could become serious if not properly diagnosed and treated. I hope this helps.

[Wolfjk]

Originally Posted by Klitch

I have an odd problem that so far nobody has heard of before. Whenever I sleep facing upwards (sleeping on my back looking at the ceiling), I always wake up in the middle of the night dizzy and my eyes moving around so much that everything is a blurr. It takes me awhile to make my eyes stop moving (1-2mins), but in that time I've normally thrown up because of the extreme dizziness, which results in me having a HUGE headache for the rest of the day.

Its pretty easy to avoid because all I have to do is sleep on my side, but my concern is if I am getting any REM sleep or not. I am often sleepy and in my opinion it could be linked to a lack of REM sleep.

So has anyone ever heard of a problem like this or have any info that could help?

Hi,
REM is not what it was cracked up to be. It is simply a sign that the sleeper is watching a dream.
Sleeping on ones back causes a lot of bad dreams including nightmares and sleep paralysis. However dizziness is probably caused by something else.
As DrmDoc said you should consult your doctor.
It is possible that you're allergic to some food you eat before going to bed. Migrain could also cause the condition you describe.
I experienced dizziness after I had bells palsy however i got dizzy when I lay down or turned over in sleep but there was no sickness with it. It was caused by the balancing mechanism in the ears.
Your best course of action is to see your doctor.
Cheers Wolfjk

[Zuludawn]

I would definitely not sleep on your back, that doesn't help. Go for the side only.

[sarahsimagination]

tell your doctor about this, it sounds pretty serious

[Zuludawn]

I wouldn't use any sleep aids either, other than natural ones, they may only make things worse.