I met with my Otolaryngologist who conducted the sleep study. Results are negative for restless leg syndrome, sleep apnia, sleep talking, and (most importantly) seizures. That said I know I talk in my sleep; maybe it was the lack of my dear nocturnal interlocutor with whom I imagine I am having conversations (and somethimes actually do…)
What *is* interesting is that I had unusually low levels of REM sleep, and correspondingly I woke up more frequently than “normal”. I woke up 5 to 6 times an hour. Waking up has a special meaning in this context: from what he explained this means I go from deeper (bur not necessaryily REM) sleep to a much lighter conscious or semiconscious state, usually for a matter of seconds.
He asked me repeatedly if I fell asleep during the day, as this level of non-REM sleep must result in high levels of fatigue and day sleeping.
He also explained that all three of my current psychoactive drugs (lexapro, klonopin, and seroquel) all inhibit REM sleep. He wants to repeat the study once I have titrated off these meds.
The doctor was quick to emphasize that it was hard to sleep in the lab setting, and this does have a tendency to skew results towards worse sleep.
The takeaway: I’m not sleeping well, and it is probably because of the meds. That said there may be/certainly are long term neurological and hormonal changes from the Interferon that are hopefully temporary.
The goal: continue titrating of these meds. Will restart that when I meet with my Oncololgical Psychiatrist in January.
