CPAP Insomnia ?
Question:
I used to drink 2 pots a day of coffee. Do yourself a favor and cut out both alcohol and caffeine, good luck. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 05:04:31 -0400, Cliff <Cliff@eyehop> wrote: >Hello all. > I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I >probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out >about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for >the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight >the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I >adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., >and am now sleeping very comfortably with it >The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >time, but maybe not. >So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get >through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of >my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular >schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? >Thanks again.
Response:
On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 16:01:22 +0100, Andy Hall <an…@hall.nospam> wrote: >The best advice is the sleep hygiene one. Avoid caffeine drinks in >the last few hours before going to bed, if you do wake up and don’t >sleep again easily, it is OK to get up, but I would get up rather than >reading in bed.
I’ve been doing the best I can with that. I don’t drink caffeine drinks anyways. I used to read in bed, but I’ve changed to at least going over to the couch in the next room. >If sleeping position and mask leak are a problem, the ResMed Mirage >Activa mask is an excellent solution as reported by most people here >who have tried one. The extra layer of air-filled cushion means >that it is very tolerant to sideways forces which can happen when you >are on your side. However, I would suggest waiting for a bit, >because this is not a cheap mask. See how things are in a month or >so and then review the mask issue.
I looked at the Activa when I was getting my CPAP earlier this week, but I didn’t like it that much. I settled on the Ultra Mirage, which I find comfortable. I don’t think the sleeping position is so much of a problem, because I have no problem initially falling asleep on my back. My DME provider did tell me that ResMed allows returns, so I have up to 30 days to trade in the Ultra Mirage for something else, if it doesn’t work for me. Hopefully I’ll have a better idea by them. Thanks, Todd Todd Palino Website: http://bonkoif.com/ Public Key: http://bonkoif.com/publickey.txt Your excuse is: Route flapping at the NAP. SpamBlock in place. Get rid of the "foobar" before you email me.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Todd Palino" <signe…@barbonkoif.com> wrote in message news:0hnvf093es7s59rup14soht8qdvjcphgs8@4ax.com… > On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 16:01:22 +0100, Andy Hall <an…@hall.nospam> > wrote: > >The best advice is the sleep hygiene one. Avoid caffeine drinks in > >the last few hours before going to bed, if you do wake up and don’t > >sleep again easily, it is OK to get up, but I would get up rather than > >reading in bed. > I’ve been doing the best I can with that. I don’t drink caffeine > drinks anyways. I used to read in bed, but I’ve changed to at least > going over to the couch in the next room. > >If sleeping position and mask leak are a problem, the ResMed Mirage > >Activa mask is an excellent solution as reported by most people here > >who have tried one. The extra layer of air-filled cushion means > >that it is very tolerant to sideways forces which can happen when you > >are on your side. However, I would suggest waiting for a bit, > >because this is not a cheap mask. See how things are in a month or > >so and then review the mask issue. > I looked at the Activa when I was getting my CPAP earlier this week, > but I didn’t like it that much. I settled on the Ultra Mirage, which > I find comfortable. I don’t think the sleeping position is so much of > a problem, because I have no problem initially falling asleep on my > back. > My DME provider did tell me that ResMed allows returns, so I have up > to 30 days to trade in the Ultra Mirage for something else, if it > doesn’t work for me. Hopefully I’ll have a better idea by them. > Thanks, > Todd
The Ultra Mirage (and similar Respironics Comfort Select) are excellent masks, and light and small – but if you turn over much, leakage can wake you, and the Activa, "klunky" as it seems in comparison (larger and heavier), is then superior. I alternate between the CS and Activa, which helps – though I have just started with a full-face mask due to mouth-breathing. BTW, I have a spare sealed Ultra Mirage with headgear, in medium, for sale if you go for the Activa, but then also want a lighter mask (a medium in one fits a medium, or standard, in the other) to alternate with it. — David Ruether r…@cornell.edu http://www.ferrario.com/ruether
Response:
On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 08:51:04 -0400, Todd Palino – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<signe…@barbonkoif.com> wrote: >On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 05:04:31 -0400, Cliff <Cliff@eyehop> wrote: >>The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >>hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >>up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >>time, but maybe not. >OK, I just started (last night was my third night), and I’m having the >same problem. I go to bed about 11pm, and sleep soundly until about >2am, when I wake up. Then I spend the rest of the night tossing and >turning and not sleeping well until my alarm goes off at 6am. >Similar to what someone said in this thread already, I figure that >this is because my body is so used to getting 3 effective hours of >sleep because of the OSA that it needs time to adjust to getting 7 >hours of sleep (or whatever I settle out at). But my question is, >should I get up when I wake up at 2am, or should I go back to sleep? >Right now I’m staying in bed, but is that the quickest way to letting >my body adjust to the quality of sleep that I’m getting on CPAP?
I found that exactly the same thing happened in the early days and the solution for me seemed to be to stay in bed for up to about half an hour, and if I was still wide awake, get up and go downstairs (or to a living room) and read or do something else. More often than not, I would feel sleepy again in a couple of hours, go back to bed and sleep again for a couple more hours. Gradually the effect changed to the point that I would wake up initially, later until I would sleep through until about 0500 and then wake and not want to sleep again. Finally, the time lengthened to around seven hours. All of this took several weeks though. The best advice is the sleep hygiene one. Avoid caffeine drinks in the last few hours before going to bed, if you do wake up and don’t sleep again easily, it is OK to get up, but I would get up rather than reading in bed. Everybody is different, though. >Waking up doesn’t appear to be due to any external stimuli. The CPAP >is quiet enough (doesn’t bother me or my wife). My mask fits well and >is adjusted loosely. I have been sleeping the first part of the night >on my back (which is a chance from how I usually sleep), and falling >asleep quickly. I don’t move around once I’m asleep either. The room >temperature is stable, and I don’t need to go to the bathroom when I >wake up at 2. After I wake up, I end up trying to sleep on my back, >and can’t get to sleep. If I roll over onto my side or my stomach, I >have a hard time getting comfortable with the mask on and end up >sleeping, but not well. >I know that it’s going to take time to adjust to the CPAP, I just want >to make sure that I’m doing everything I can to help it along.
I think that you pretty much are. The best advice is to take it steadily, don’t change more than one thing at a time. Most people find some immediate effects and others later and more subtle. If sleeping position and mask leak are a problem, the ResMed Mirage Activa mask is an excellent solution as reported by most people here who have tried one. The extra layer of air-filled cushion means that it is very tolerant to sideways forces which can happen when you are on your side. However, I would suggest waiting for a bit, because this is not a cheap mask. See how things are in a month or so and then review the mask issue. .andy To email, substitute .nospam with .gl
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Todd Palino" <signe…@barbonkoif.com> wrote in message news:2idvf0h5h2scrs5rf9pnga9g4of8at91kj@4ax.com… > OK, I just started (last night was my third night), and I’m having the > same problem. I go to bed about 11pm, and sleep soundly until about > 2am, when I wake up. Then I spend the rest of the night tossing and > turning and not sleeping well until my alarm goes off at 6am. > Similar to what someone said in this thread already, I figure that > this is because my body is so used to getting 3 effective hours of > sleep because of the OSA that it needs time to adjust to getting 7 > hours of sleep (or whatever I settle out at). But my question is, > should I get up when I wake up at 2am, or should I go back to sleep? > Right now I’m staying in bed, but is that the quickest way to letting > my body adjust to the quality of sleep that I’m getting on CPAP? > Waking up doesn’t appear to be due to any external stimuli. The CPAP > is quiet enough (doesn’t bother me or my wife). My mask fits well and > is adjusted loosely. I have been sleeping the first part of the night > on my back (which is a chance from how I usually sleep), and falling > asleep quickly. I don’t move around once I’m asleep either. The room > temperature is stable, and I don’t need to go to the bathroom when I > wake up at 2. After I wake up, I end up trying to sleep on my back, > and can’t get to sleep. If I roll over onto my side or my stomach, I > have a hard time getting comfortable with the mask on and end up > sleeping, but not well. > I know that it’s going to take time to adjust to the CPAP, I just want > to make sure that I’m doing everything I can to help it along. > -Todd
You may want to look at pillow alternatives that are more comfortable to use with masks (with nothces, or with "memory" – I use a "NASA" foam $20 pillow from Target that works well, though it is "hotter" than I like). It took me several nights of fiddling with the straps’ (light) tension in tiny increments for the mask not to leak (mostly) when I turned over, and to accept some (not too uncomfortable/noisy) leakage. Before placing/replacing the mask, a wipe first of the mask seal area, then the skin seal area helped the seal. A heated humidifier was essential. Helpful for me was having two different masks for alternating (Activa and Comfort Select) every few days. I still had trouble getting much sleep. I found it best to not worry about it for maybe 1/2 hour after waking (while still connected to the CPAP gear), then if sleep failed, to *get up* and read or watch TV. If the desire to sleep returned soon enough, returning to bed was sometimes useful. Somewhat later, I tended to stay asleep longer, but then could not sleep again (with about 4.5-5 hours/day total). This was followed by a recent period of a returning to being a mouth-breather (I had been one previous to using CPAP gear with a nose mask), not solved by trying to add a chin strap. (A 4-day EEG for other problems revealed that I was not reaching stage 3-4 sleep.) I started using a full face mask last night, and slept 1 hour without it while sitting and watching TV, then 8 hours with it. The mask leaked, but not enough to disturb sleep or reduce effective pressure. Bottom line: this stuff can be difficult to get working well for you, but its use is essential if needed (I have two x-rays of my heart and various BP numbers and rhythm graphs to show what only three months on CPAP gear can do for the heart, let alone the brain…). Keep going with it, frustrating as it can be. Slow death by oxygen starvation and heart problems (or fast by clots or arrhythmias) is much less fun! Good luck with it! — David Ruether r…@cornell.edu http://www.ferrario.com/ruether
Response:
I’ve been doing CPAP for three months now and had a similar experience. I found myself sleeping relatively little and waking up (or at least feeling like I woke up) many times a night. Only recently has my sleep pattern begun to approach "normal" in the sense of long periods of unbroken sleep. My normal pattern now is to fall asleep between 10:30 and 11:00 PM, wake up after about an hour (at which point I may visit the bathroom), then fall back asleep fairly easily and sleep for another 5-1/2 or 6 hours. But that’s after it settled down after a couple of months. It may be more reassuring to focus on how you feel when you’re awake. If you’re not experiencing the symptoms (in my case, overwhelming sleepiness) that led you check about sleep apnea, you may well be OK and just live with it. One thing I found tremendously useful was a sound generator (think of a white noise generator, although my sound of choice is actually a thunderstorm). I couldn’t fall asleep from the "Darth Vader effect" of hearing my own breathing, and this masked it enough for me to relax. Good luck. Julian C. Lander "Cliff" <Cliff@eyehop> wrote in message
news:dmbsf0tjec7dbrenu0v753f78betg5ghh1@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello all. > I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I > probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out > about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for > the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight > the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I > adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., > and am now sleeping very comfortably with it > The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 > hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke > up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the > time, but maybe not. > So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get > through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of > my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular > schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? > Thanks again.
Response:
On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 14:59:02 +0100, "Frankie" <femMyfrankieSPL…@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote: >Hi Cliff >Good to hear that you are mastering the beast 
>I had the same problem when I started out 7 months back. Slept like a log >for a 2 weeks and then wham would wake up in the early hours bright and >breezy and ready to take on the world. I often would take myself off >downstairs to watch a movie or use the computer… which isn’t good either! >Your body has to adjust to this new sleep routine especially if it has had >years of broken sleep patterns. I now get 7 hours sleep nightly with no >probs.
That’s encouraging. Right now it seems like adjusting to jet lag. I hope it only takes a few days.
Response:
On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 15:46:07 -0400, "Julian Lander" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<unu…@nospam.spam> wrote: >I’ve been doing CPAP for three months now and had a >similar experience. I found myself sleeping relatively >little and waking up (or at least feeling like I woke up) >many times a night. >Only recently has my sleep pattern begun to approach >"normal" in the sense of long periods of unbroken sleep. >My normal pattern now is to fall asleep between 10:30 >and 11:00 PM, wake up after about an hour (at which >point I may visit the bathroom), then fall back asleep >fairly easily and sleep for another 5-1/2 or 6 hours. >But that’s after it settled down after a couple of months. >It may be more reassuring to focus on how you feel when >you’re awake. If you’re not experiencing the symptoms >(in my case, overwhelming sleepiness) that led you check >about sleep apnea, you may well be OK and just live >with it. >One thing I found tremendously useful was a sound >generator (think of a white noise generator, although >my sound of choice is actually a thunderstorm). I >couldn’t fall asleep from the "Darth Vader effect" >of hearing my own breathing, and this masked it enough >for me to relax. >Good luck. >Julian C. Lander
Right now I just wake up too early- wide awake. Then I have to decide whether and when to try to get back to sleep. If I can’t i’st frustrating, if I don’t try I know I’ll crap out later. Thanks for your comments. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->"Cliff" <Cliff@eyehop> wrote in message >news:dmbsf0tjec7dbrenu0v753f78betg5ghh1@4ax.com… >> Hello all. >> I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I >> probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out >> about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for >> the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight >> the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I >> adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., >> and am now sleeping very comfortably with it >> The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >> hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >> up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >> time, but maybe not. >> So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get >> through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of >> my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular >> schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? >> Thanks again.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 17:31:01 -0400, Cliff <Cliff@eyehop> wrote: >On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 14:59:02 +0100, "Frankie" ><femMyfrankieSPL…@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote: >>Hi Cliff >>Good to hear that you are mastering the beast >>I had the same problem when I started out 7 months back. Slept like a log >>for a 2 weeks and then wham would wake up in the early hours bright and >>breezy and ready to take on the world. I often would take myself off >>downstairs to watch a movie or use the computer… which isn’t good either! >>Your body has to adjust to this new sleep routine especially if it has had >>years of broken sleep patterns. I now get 7 hours sleep nightly with no >>probs. >That’s encouraging. Right now it seems like adjusting to jet lag. I >hope it only takes a few days.
It is very similar to that, Cliff. In fact, there are a whole bunch of things that will tend to improve as a result of better oxygen levels and better sleep – most organs work better, for example. One of the first parts is repaying a sleep debt that has built up over many years. There are really three bits of advice for the coming weeks – Try to practice good sleep hygiene where you can, but don’t get hung up over it. – Don’t be too surprised if you have some plateaus or even setbacks in what happens – that’s very normal too. A kind of honeymoon effect is common when starting CPAP use. – Listen to what your body is saying and if you need to sleep do so, but if you don’t, then again, try not to become upset about it. .andy To email, substitute .nospam with .gl
Response:
On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 10:24:02 +0100, Andy Hall <an…@hall.nospam> wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 05:04:31 -0400, Cliff <Cliff@eyehop> wrote: >>Hello all. >> I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I >>probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out >>about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for >>the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight >>the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I >>adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., >>and am now sleeping very comfortably with it >>The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >>hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >>up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >>time, but maybe not. >This is very typical, Cliff. Your body had become used to 9 hours >of lousy sleep and 4 hours of decent sleep has replaced it. A week in >and this is not surprising at all. >>So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get >>through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of >>my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular >>schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? >Absolutely. Don’t be surprised if it takes several weeks to become >more normal. However, don’t get hung up on it because you don’t know >what "normal" is for you. It could be as little as 6 hours. >What I would recommend is to take a look at sleep hygiene (Google for >this or look at the archives of this group). There is a temptation, >because of the improved sleep quality, to be sloppy about this or push >the envelope. You mention caffeine and it would be an idea to cut >it a bit. Some people can experience effects of it a long way in >advance of their sleep time, so one recommendation is none after 8 in >the evening. It’s something to try out. >Try to take your time over changes that you make and do one at a time >to see what has an effect. >You may also find that (assuming you are in the northern hemisphere) >that you will wake relatively early as it gets light at this time of >year. >>Thanks again. >.andy >To email, substitute .nospam with .gl
Thanks, Andy. I’ll look up the Sleep Hygiene
Response:
Todd I had same trouble as you.. Got a second mask,, The breeze with pillows. I can sleep on my side, hugging pillows… MUCH improvement.. don’t have to be "carefull’ of my positon , well not as much as a "normal" mask. Takes a few days to to get real comfortable with the nasal pillows, and correct size. Chuck On Thu, 22 Jul 2004 08:51:04 -0400, Todd Palino – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<signe…@barbonkoif.com> wrote: >On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 05:04:31 -0400, Cliff <Cliff@eyehop> wrote: >>The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >>hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >>up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >>time, but maybe not. >OK, I just started (last night was my third night), and I’m having the >same problem. I go to bed about 11pm, and sleep soundly until about >2am, when I wake up. Then I spend the rest of the night tossing and >turning and not sleeping well until my alarm goes off at 6am. >Similar to what someone said in this thread already, I figure that >this is because my body is so used to getting 3 effective hours of >sleep because of the OSA that it needs time to adjust to getting 7 >hours of sleep (or whatever I settle out at). But my question is, >should I get up when I wake up at 2am, or should I go back to sleep? >Right now I’m staying in bed, but is that the quickest way to letting >my body adjust to the quality of sleep that I’m getting on CPAP? >Waking up doesn’t appear to be due to any external stimuli. The CPAP >is quiet enough (doesn’t bother me or my wife). My mask fits well and >is adjusted loosely. I have been sleeping the first part of the night >on my back (which is a chance from how I usually sleep), and falling >asleep quickly. I don’t move around once I’m asleep either. The room >temperature is stable, and I don’t need to go to the bathroom when I >wake up at 2. After I wake up, I end up trying to sleep on my back, >and can’t get to sleep. If I roll over onto my side or my stomach, I >have a hard time getting comfortable with the mask on and end up >sleeping, but not well. >I know that it’s going to take time to adjust to the CPAP, I just want >to make sure that I’m doing everything I can to help it along. >-Todd >Todd Palino > Website: http://bonkoif.com/ > Public Key: http://bonkoif.com/publickey.txt >Your excuse is: Route flapping at the NAP. >SpamBlock in place. Get rid of the "foobar" before you email me.
Response:
"Julian Lander" <unu…@nospam.spam> wrote in message
news:vN-dndJmfetjWmPdRVn-qA@comcast.com… > One thing I found tremendously useful was a sound > generator (think of a white noise generator, although > my sound of choice is actually a thunderstorm). I > couldn’t fall asleep from the "Darth Vader effect" > of hearing my own breathing, and this masked it enough > for me to relax.
I have the REMStar Plus, and I find that there is significantly less "darth vader" effect when I use the humidifier. It seems to me that the humidifier chamber acts as a kind of "muffler". Without the humidifier chamber in the path, my breathing just sounds much louder, and there is a resonance in the tubing. FWIW. Also, something else I found quite interesting. When I was first starting off, I tried a few different CPAP machines. I tried both the older Fisher & Paykel model, and the newer one. The newer one is very similar to the previous one, but it’s quieter. It did sound like the overall sound level emitted by the newer model was less, but part of sound contained a relatively distinct constant pitch – this pitch was quite audible over the other "white noise" sound of the machine. I much preferred the previous model, even though it’s noise level was greater – it had a very pleasant sound, which even helped to lull me to sleep. But I ended up getting the REMStar - for all intents & purposes it’s silent for me. One reason I went for it was the sake of my partner. (I didn’t want to bank on the audible Fisher & Paykel lulling her to sleep – it may have kept her awake instead ;^) But now I’m partner-less so it doesn’t matter anyway. LOL ;^) Greg.
Response:
Typical ‘adjustment’ takes several weeks. Focus on ‘is it working’ rather than ‘how many hours’. If daytime drowsiness, headaches, nocturia are reduced then it is working. regards, eric pearson nonono.ericp1.non…@nonono.fuse.net – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 05:04:31 -0400, Cliff <Cliff@eyehop> wrote: >Hello all. > I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I >probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out >about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for >the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight >the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I >adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., >and am now sleeping very comfortably with it >The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >time, but maybe not. >So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get >through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of >my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular >schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? >Thanks again.
Response:
On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 05:04:31 -0400, Cliff <Cliff@eyehop> wrote: >The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >time, but maybe not.
OK, I just started (last night was my third night), and I’m having the same problem. I go to bed about 11pm, and sleep soundly until about 2am, when I wake up. Then I spend the rest of the night tossing and turning and not sleeping well until my alarm goes off at 6am. Similar to what someone said in this thread already, I figure that this is because my body is so used to getting 3 effective hours of sleep because of the OSA that it needs time to adjust to getting 7 hours of sleep (or whatever I settle out at). But my question is, should I get up when I wake up at 2am, or should I go back to sleep? Right now I’m staying in bed, but is that the quickest way to letting my body adjust to the quality of sleep that I’m getting on CPAP? Waking up doesn’t appear to be due to any external stimuli. The CPAP is quiet enough (doesn’t bother me or my wife). My mask fits well and is adjusted loosely. I have been sleeping the first part of the night on my back (which is a chance from how I usually sleep), and falling asleep quickly. I don’t move around once I’m asleep either. The room temperature is stable, and I don’t need to go to the bathroom when I wake up at 2. After I wake up, I end up trying to sleep on my back, and can’t get to sleep. If I roll over onto my side or my stomach, I have a hard time getting comfortable with the mask on and end up sleeping, but not well. I know that it’s going to take time to adjust to the CPAP, I just want to make sure that I’m doing everything I can to help it along. -Todd Todd Palino Website: http://bonkoif.com/ Public Key: http://bonkoif.com/publickey.txt Your excuse is: Route flapping at the NAP. SpamBlock in place. Get rid of the "foobar" before you email me.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Cliff" <Cliff@eyehop> wrote in message news:kjpsf0hiib51i1dip0v73jsmetotl5553f@4ax.com… > On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 12:23:51 GMT, "David Ruether" > <r…@no-junk.cornell.edu> wrote: > >"Cliff" <Cliff@eyehop> wrote in message news:dmbsf0tjec7dbrenu0v753f78betg5ghh1@4ax.com… > >> Hello all. > >> I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I > >> probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out > >> about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for > >> the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight > >> the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I > >> adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., > >> and am now sleeping very comfortably with it > >> The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 > >> hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke > >> up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the > >> time, but maybe not. > >> So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get > >> through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of > >> my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular > >> schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? > >I’m still dealing with this one, 7 months in… > >I went from 4.5 hrs/day to a bit more recently, > >but I think this is more due to the CPAP gear not > >working for me as well as it did (mouth-breathing, > >even with a strap, though for several months > >after starting, this was not a problem – I’m getting > >a full-face mask today…). Two doctors told me > >"needs vary, so 4.5 hours may be enough for you", > >but I don’t believe it. Also, a recent 4-day EEG > >revealed that I don’t get into stage 3-4 sleep… > >I don’t know what the answer is for getting more > >sleep, but 4 hours of good sleep is DEFINITELY > >better than 8-10 hours of oxygen-starved, often > >interrupted sleep (been there, done that! 
. > Seven months ? Ouch ! I read you were doing Ok but then something > changed that set you back. So far I have no mouth problems, as opening > my mouth causes this large noise and uncomfortable blowing sensation. > Even though I’m sure I breathed through my mouth before just to get > enough air, so far I don’t thinkit’s a problem keeping it closed. I > hope the mask change works for you.
Before I started out using CPAP, I was a "mouth-breather" at night (nose plugged upon hitting pillow). The CPAP gear seemed to clear this up (at least after I added a heated humidifier – with hose insulator), and my mouth stayed closed for the reasons you gave. Some time back, though, I seemed to stop being bothered by the feeling/sound of opening my mouth, and began losing the effectiveness of using the CPAP gear (though I do not sleep much while using it, and other problems that may have arisen due to OSA have not gone away – though some have, and my heart is in noticeably better condition). I’m still looking for more time asleep, and more late-stage sleep… Good luck with your use of the gear – it is necessary. — David Ruether r…@cornell.edu http://www.ferrario.com/ruether
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Hi Cliff Good to hear that you are mastering the beast I had the same problem when I started out 7 months back. Slept like a log for a 2 weeks and then wham would wake up in the early hours bright and breezy and ready to take on the world. I often would take myself off downstairs to watch a movie or use the computer… which isn’t good either! Your body has to adjust to this new sleep routine especially if it has had years of broken sleep patterns. I now get 7 hours sleep nightly with no probs. — Frankie I used to be normal but didn’t like it. To Reply By E-Mail Remove ’MY SPLEEN’ http://uk.msnusers.com/LivingWithSleepApnea ————————————————————————- FIGHT BACK AGAINST SPAM! Download Spam Inspector, the Award Winning Anti-Spam Filter http://mail.giantcompany.com "Cliff" <Cliff@eyehop> wrote in message
news:dmbsf0tjec7dbrenu0v753f78betg5ghh1@4ax.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hello all. > I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I > probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out > about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for > the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight > the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I > adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., > and am now sleeping very comfortably with it > The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 > hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke > up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the > time, but maybe not. > So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get > through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of > my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular > schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? > Thanks again.
Response:
On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 12:23:51 GMT, "David Ruether" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<r…@no-junk.cornell.edu> wrote: >"Cliff" <Cliff@eyehop> wrote in message news:dmbsf0tjec7dbrenu0v753f78betg5ghh1@4ax.com… >> Hello all. >> I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I >> probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out >> about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for >> the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight >> the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I >> adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., >> and am now sleeping very comfortably with it >> The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >> hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >> up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >> time, but maybe not. >> So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get >> through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of >> my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular >> schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? >I’m still dealing with this one, 7 months in… >I went from 4.5 hrs/day to a bit more recently, >but I think this is more due to the CPAP gear not >working for me as well as it did (mouth-breathing, >even with a strap, though for several months >after starting, this was not a problem – I’m getting >a full-face mask today…). Two doctors told me >"needs vary, so 4.5 hours may be enough for you", >but I don’t believe it. Also, a recent 4-day EEG >revealed that I don’t get into stage 3-4 sleep… >I don’t know what the answer is for getting more >sleep, but 4 hours of good sleep is DEFINITELY >better than 8-10 hours of oxygen-starved, often >interrupted sleep (been there, done that! .
Seven months ? Ouch ! I read you were doing Ok but then something changed that set you back. So far I have no mouth problems, as opening my mouth causes this large noise and uncomfortable blowing sensation. Even though I’m sure I breathed through my mouth before just to get enough air, so far I don’t thinkit’s a problem keeping it closed. I hope the mask change works for you.
Response:
On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 05:04:31 -0400, Cliff <Cliff@eyehop> wrote: >Hello all. > I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I >probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out >about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for >the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight >the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I >adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., >and am now sleeping very comfortably with it >The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 >hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke >up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the >time, but maybe not.
This is very typical, Cliff. Your body had become used to 9 hours of lousy sleep and 4 hours of decent sleep has replaced it. A week in and this is not surprising at all. >So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get >through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of >my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular >schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way?
Absolutely. Don’t be surprised if it takes several weeks to become more normal. However, don’t get hung up on it because you don’t know what "normal" is for you. It could be as little as 6 hours. What I would recommend is to take a look at sleep hygiene (Google for this or look at the archives of this group). There is a temptation, because of the improved sleep quality, to be sloppy about this or push the envelope. You mention caffeine and it would be an idea to cut it a bit. Some people can experience effects of it a long way in advance of their sleep time, so one recommendation is none after 8 in the evening. It’s something to try out. Try to take your time over changes that you make and do one at a time to see what has an effect. You may also find that (assuming you are in the northern hemisphere) that you will wake relatively early as it gets light at this time of year. >Thanks again.
.andy To email, substitute .nospam with .gl
Response:
Hello all. I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., and am now sleeping very comfortably with it The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the time, but maybe not. So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way? Thanks again.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -"Cliff" <Cliff@eyehop> wrote in message news:dmbsf0tjec7dbrenu0v753f78betg5ghh1@4ax.com… > Hello all. > I started using the CPAP last week for severe obstructive Apnea. I > probably had this problem most of my adult life and just found out > about it. Better late than never! First, I’d like to thank you all for > the mask tips. Just like a newbie, I had the damn thing on too tight > the first two nights and was miserable. Thanks to your sharing, I > adjusted the mask properly so it loats on air, did the washing etc., > and am now sleeping very comfortably with it > The " bad news" is I’m now getting 4 hours of good sleep instead of 9 > hours of lousy sleep, but I am up at 5 am writing this because I woke > up at 2 and can’t get back to sleep . Better than being tired all the > time, but maybe not. > So maybe I have to cut back on all the caffeine I used to swill to get > through the day, but is there also a natural period of adjustment of > my sleep cycle that I have to go through until I get on a regular > schedule? Is this normal? Did it happen to any of you this way?
I’m still dealing with this one, 7 months in… I went from 4.5 hrs/day to a bit more recently, but I think this is more due to the CPAP gear not working for me as well as it did (mouth-breathing, even with a strap, though for several months after starting, this was not a problem – I’m getting a full-face mask today…). Two doctors told me "needs vary, so 4.5 hours may be enough for you", but I don’t believe it. Also, a recent 4-day EEG revealed that I don’t get into stage 3-4 sleep… I don’t know what the answer is for getting more sleep, but 4 hours of good sleep is DEFINITELY better than 8-10 hours of oxygen-starved, often interrupted sleep (been there, done that! . — David Ruether r…@cornell.edu http://www.ferrario.com/ruether
| | | Well… what did he tell you they were from? How many sleep | apnea patients does he have? Does he, himself, have sleep apnea? | If not, who do you think is in a better position to tell you | their experiences than those with sleep apnea and night sweats? He doesn’t know….which pisses me off. He’s suppose to be a really good doctor. | | > Next week I go back to the | > specialist. | | What kind of specialist? He needs to be a diplomated sleep doc. No, nothing like that….an internal medicine specialist who had me use the oximeter | > Does anyone have an expert opinion on whether any of the three [night | > sweats, sleep apnea, acid reflux] are related? Hmm, good questions. I will ask this of the internist! | I’ve read here that untreated apnea can evidently cause night | sweats and acid reflux. Those reporting this have also reported | that both got better or went away when treated with CPAP. I | believe them. Most doctors that are not diplomated sleep doctors | don’t know sh*t about sleep disorders. This is at least comforting…at least knowing is better than not knowing. | | YOu’d better start realizing that there are two kinds of sleep | apnea, obstructive and central. For OSA, it provides continuous | positive air pressure (CPAP) through your nose that keeps your | airway(s) ’splinted’ open. CA requires an entirely different, | much more complex, machine. | | And if you are diagnosed with OSA (which can’t be done with a | finger oximeter), you will need to be manually titrated in a | fully equipped lab to determine the pressure required. | | > Will it prevent me from not breathing, if so, how? 