REM sleep - Sleep Disorders Message Board

tiredpoet · 03-23-2009, 07:29 AM

Can anyone out there explain Sleep Onset REM Periods to me?
I know that it can mean you enter sleep through REM instead of the usual sleep cycle of stage 1, 2, etc.
But can it also mean you enter REM very quickly, for instance spending a short time in stage 1 or 2 and then hitting REM within 20 minutes or a half hour?

And when multiple SOREMPs are seen on nocturnal polysomnogram what does that mean? Does it mean you wake up briefly and then go right back into REM, or does it mean you wake up briefly and then go into REM very soon after?

Thanks!

Missused1983 · 03-25-2009, 04:39 PM

It can mean both actually... REM shouldn't be hit for 2-4 hours after your initial sleep onset... and then it cycles... I know during my sleep study they were looking for this because I basically lack the ability to hit REM normally, so.... they did tests to see how much REM I hit and when.... but after the first REM you should cycle back through every 60-90 minutes.

tiredpoet · 03-26-2009, 09:15 AM

Thanks. I didn't hit REM during my sleep study for over 3.5 hours after initial sleep onset, and after the first REM I didn't hit it again for over 2 hours, and that was right before they woke me up. The prolonged REM might have been because all the sleep leading up to the first REM was severely fragmented, so I was wondering if it's possible I didn't really "sleep" until until around the time of my first REM period, in which case it could be considered a sleep onset REM period. But I don't know much about any of this.
(I had an arousal index of 32.3/hr of sleep, but not caused by respiratory issues or limb movements - no cause noted for arousals on my 6-page report). But they didn't say this was abnormal or what could have caused it. The results of my study read as normal.
(I hadn't taken any medications or anything else known to prolong REM latency or cause sleep fragmentatoin).