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What Causes Nightmares, Anxiety And Hallucinations When Diagnosed With Sleep Apnoea?

Posted on Mon, 12 Oct 2015

Question: I was diagnosed with PTSD in 2013 by a VA psychiatrist. 7 months ago, I also was diagnosed with both central and obstructive sleep apnea by the VA hospital. I am currently under medical care through the VA, and taking several medications to include trazadone, gabapantin, citalopram, and other stuff. I experience nightmares, heavy anxiety, flashbacks and lots of hallucinations even with all the meds. I need a medical opinion to establish a connection between the ptsd condition and the sleep apnea condition. The ptsd symptoms agravavates the sleep apnea treatment, making it extremely impossible to treat. I hardly sleep most nights. is it possible to obtain a diagnosis and or letter stating that there is a relation between the 2 conditions to submit to the VA for claim purposes?

Thanks

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Sleep apnea and PTSD are following a vicious loop

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have carefully analyzed your situation. It seems that you are in a vicious loop of sleep apnea and PTSD. Although sleep apnea is actually probably either due to a nasal pathology like deviated nasal septum or due to a structural abberation of the tongue base which is obstructing the airway during sleep. However, the sleep apnea is triggering an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain and is probably worsening the PTSD. On the other hand, PTSD is leading to issues like nightmares, heavy anxiety, flashbacks and hallucinations thus worsening the sleep apnea and making things worse. This vicious loop needs to be broken if you are to be given relief.

Unfortunately only your treating psychiatrist can write about a possible correlation between these two. Talk to him about the explanation that I have given. A polysomnography might need to be done. In the meantime, get a ENT opinion about whether something can be done to improve your sleep apnea.

Hope that helps.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (11 hours later)

I have a VA psychiatrist, who refuses to provide an answer to this problem because she is representing the VA organization. This is the reason for my trying to get help from an outside doctor. I guess I can't use this service if I won't be able to get the help I need.

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
We are always eager to help.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back.

I would love to help you and so would any other doctor on this platform. I have already given you a detailed explanation with possible correlations. You can surely take a printout of what I have said and produce it before the concerned persons for claim purpose. But they perhaps have restrictions regarding the possible sources they acknowledge and the very fact that prescriptions cannot be given directly through the platform of HealthcareMagic has been already in place even before you raised your query and the same has already been in the disclaimer.

Let me assure you that you would get all possible help from me or this platform but you need to realise what is feasible. Ask me for explanations and interventions related to your health related concerns and surely I will be more than happy to help.

Hope you understand.

Regards

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar