What a great discussion! I'm glad to be part of it.

Robin, my sleep devervation doesn't stop my dreaming. Many think I have a sleep disorder called sleep apnea. This is where you stop breathing and wake up. Thus, I keep a mattress and pillow in my van in order to keep up by taking a few z's at lunch. These short bursts of sleep have produced many colorful dreams and have helped me make it through the afternoon.

This month I was being carried by a giant bird which swooped down in a valley. I was caught in a giant spider web and the bird let go. The spider, purple with a chrome spot, came at me to have lunch. Just in time, the bird came back and clutched the spider in it's claws. The bird took off with the spider.  I woke up coughing and gagging, which usually happens at lunch. Many times a dream happens right at the onset of sleep for me.

Then there was that psychodelic snail.... I can't believe I had trouble out running a snail! It all seemed to move in slow motion.

Robin, all sleep problems are different. Mine involves no pain, so maybe what works for me won't work for you. I never go to bed right after physical activity. Another thing that may sound odd is that I drink a sugar cola of some sort an hour before. Once that sugar high wears off, there is a sugar low that follows, thus a great time to hit the sack.

Sakina, I still write short stories based on nightmares. I did as a teen and still do now. I don't know if you know of my novels, but I still write. Some of the fighting scenes are based on violence and fighting from my youth and others on things that come in dreams. I'll take a dream and add some extra cause these dreams seldom last more than a couple minutes, not long enough for a complete story, but good plots. I have also painted scenes from my dreams as well.

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Yep.  They hooked me up to all kinds of equipment to track my sleeping and no REM sleep.  Actually, the experts were amazed at how well I function with the minimal sleep I get. The only time I can get into REM sleep is drug induced, but I don't like the fog I end up with the drugs.

Physical activity and wine are the two things that help me the most to relax.  The more physically exhausted I am, the more sleep I will get, but still no REM.  Wine is a great relaxing agent - I usually have a glass before bed.  The wine also helps knock down the pain so I can try to get a bit more sleep before being awakened.

Sleep apnea is one of the things they checked me for - but it is not the issue.  My constant awakening is due to arthritis in all my joints.  If the joints are left in one position too long, they become very painful, so I am awakened.  I already take maximum doses of anti-inflamatory drugs, but my body is fighting the Titanium rods in my back, so it is a constant battle I have learned to live with.  The amazing thing is, the only time I am not in some level of pain is when I am biking on my recumbent.

NaturalRogue;
Thanks for the virtual hug and the request for relief on my behalf. 

Just to put everything in perspective - the pain I have now is NOTHING like what I had prior to my 2 back surgeries.  I am greatful for the relief I was given and very accepting of my current physical condition.  It could be MUCH MUCH worse - been there, done that, and don't care to repeat it.

On the up-side - I get to read lots of books, surf the net, knit socks and do other things while the rest of you are snoozing your time away! 

"The amazing thing is, the only time I am not in some level of pain is when I am biking on my recumbent. "

The more I hear of your bike, the more I think my next bike, (if there is another) will be this style. There are times when the ONLY relief from migraines is a ride on the bike.

NR, I have a very good friend that sleeps with the machine. I have not been diagosed officially mainly because I'm afriad of the costs of the tests and the machine. His wife and mine are like Kayla and Kirby from the novel; best friends since freshman year in HS. They compare symptoms all the time, ie; the snoring, gasping for breath, coughing, falling asleep several times during the day, (another reason I carry a mattress and pillow in my van.) If it gets too bad while driving, I pull over and take 5 in the back.

Also, NR, I don't seem to have a constant physical appearence, (avatar as you say). It's never like the 'camera' faces me. Sometimes I'm old, sometimes young, sometimes naked, and as strange as it may seem, even thought I was the opposite gender or even an animal of some type.

Robin, I know I said there would be a chapter 5 soon. Well the Cards and Cubs went 11 innings and just now, 10:30PM getting to the writing. Looks like a night of knitting socks  I guess. Promise to have something new to read later in the week, maybe as early as tomorrow if I stay up late!

It sounds like we could have midnite chats sometime with our sleep habits!

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Did you have scoliosis surgery?  That's what I had.  I also have a bunch of titanium rods in my back.  Luckily, I came out with not that much aches and pains (except when it is cold), but I do have other things which I think resulted from the surgery.  But anyway, I know a girl who went to my same doctor, and it sounds like she had the exact same problem as you did.  She underwent the surgery twice, and still after no change decided she wanted to get the rods taken out.  During the third surgery, the doctor noticed that her bones were not fused.  He decided to leave the rods in, and fill with more bone.  Since then, she has felt much better.  I asked her if this is something that doesn't show up on x-rays - and apparently it is hard to tell. 

Hopefully this is not the problem because I would hate for anyone to go through another surgery.  It's just something to consider if you're looking for the root of it all.

Cynde

PS - Sorry my post is so off-topic!