Hello:
The symptoms your boyfriend is having might be caused by sleep apnea. It happens when the air stop moving through the airway or moves slowly. It happens at intervals during the whole night in a kind of cycle.
The cause can be obstruction of the airway (
Obstructive Sleep Apnea) as in hypertrophic tonsils, hypertrophic nasal turbinates, obesity and any other condition narrowing the airway. The other cause is an abnormal breathing rhythm or control with brain origin (Central Sleep Apnea).
Due to breathing cessation during sleep, the patient can wake up (even for less than a second), interrupting sleep, sometimes hundred times per night. This can cause restless sleep,
daytime sleepiness, fatigue, memory impairment and headache,
By now I suggest stop using oxycodone if possible (because it can cause disordered breathing) and consulting with a sleep
neurologist and do a
polysomnography to confirm the diagnosis and determine the kind of sleep apnea. For the treatment he may need a Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Machine. It helps to keep the airway open during sleep and provides a continuous airflow.
I hope this helps. If you have any doubt before your appointment, please let me know.