Doctors Answers (4)
I am not certain what you mean by "not getting into REM sleep". If you mean "dream sleep" which is commonly associated with REM sleep then you should look at your medications which often suppress REM sleep. Specifically, both Lexapro and Seroquel. REM sleep is our lightest sleep whereas Stage 3 sleep is our deepest sleep. Daytime fatigue is commonly associated with loss of Stage 3 sleep. There are generic medications which enhance Stage 3 sleep.
Typically a disorder is what prevents a person from obtaining REM sleep. However, it would be worth investigating if your prescription medications could also be causing this.
It is advised that you be evaluated by a sleep disorder specialist. The physician will evaluate your medical history and correlate with any symptoms you are having to determine the need for proper testing and any subsequent treatment that may be needed.
You possibly have or more likely, do have some level of sleep apnea. You need to get yourself scheduled with a sleep physician and be evaluated, and possibly have a sleep study done. The no insurance issue makes it more expensive to get taken care of, but your health is really suffering if you have sleep apnea. Your sleep MD may be able to do a screening for sleep apnea at a more reasonable cost with an ambulatory polysomnogram or at least a pulse oximeter study at night to possibly eliminate sleep apnea as a cause, but a full blown PSG done in a sleep lab is the only way to be sure of sleep apnea.
