Insomnia

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
ILOVELUCY

Insomnia

Post by ILOVELUCY » Fri Dec 12, 2014 4:34 pm

My mom uses resmed cpap. But because she does not sleep well she ends us wearing the mask while she waits to fall asleep and has come to hate cpap.
Any tips . . .? How can I help her. Can she take a break? I know stroke is a danger of sleep apnea--my mother takes coumadin and her levels are always well.
Can she ease into it---I don't know how to help-----I hate to see her suffer

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SGearhart
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Re: Insomnia

Post by SGearhart » Fri Dec 12, 2014 6:39 pm

Welcome to the board.

Talk to your mom and try to find out what she dislikes or if she is experiencing any anxiety. What type of mask is she using? Things like discomfort, claustrophobia, stuffiness, and unable to obtain a natural sleeping position are the most common (I'm sure I've forgotten a few more). It may be helpful if you can obtain a listing of the equipment make, model , and settings of all the equipment she is using.

Good Luck and again, Welcome to the board.

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chunkyfrog
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Re: Insomnia

Post by chunkyfrog » Fri Dec 12, 2014 6:47 pm

If you can, find out how well her mask fits--I'm afraid too often a person is "fitted" with a mask that doesn't.
Also, see if her machine has a ramp function, which can help.

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FredToo
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Re: Insomnia

Post by FredToo » Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:19 pm

a bit of clarification might help here. You said your Mom "does not sleep well"...which sounds to me like you are not necessarily blaming the CPAP for keeping here awake (although I can understand it making a bad situation worse).

Are you saying she suffered from Insomnia even before CPAP? If that is the case, I'm afraid that CPAP is not anything close to a cure for that...

FredToo

ilovelucy

Re: Insomnia

Post by ilovelucy » Mon Dec 15, 2014 11:56 am

He uses RESMED CPAP AUTO
AND RESMED NANO MASK

Yes! She has had insomnia for many years.
So she puts the mask on and ends up waiting hours to fall asleep and so hates the cpap.
I tell her "mommy put the mask on as you are falling asleep not when you are awake"
She said "I know that is the way it works but when I do that--by the time I put the mask on then I am awake again".
Bottom line the problem is insomnia and the sleep doctor says she has to use cpap and prescribed a very strong drug to sleep which is way strong and addictive
Plus is she takes it---it is so strong she could even pee in the bed-----I am sure you can understand how depressing this is.

I have given her a few days off the cpap and she seems less burdened.

BTW I was told that sleep apnea is dangerous bc it causes strokes

Should I take comfort in the fact that my mother takes coumadin and is doing great in that regard.

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MsCJBC
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Re: Insomnia

Post by MsCJBC » Mon Dec 15, 2014 4:14 pm

There are lots of risks with Sleep Apnea. High Blood Pressure, Fatigue (which can cause other accidents like falling, motor vehicle etc...)heart problems, liver problems, complications with medications and surgery, diabetes, depression, and like you said, stroke. So your mom needs to be treated.

I completely understand what you're talking about though. I have been a lifetime sufferer of insomnia, and I am extremely OCD about my sleep habits. Cold room, nothing touching me besides blankets,pitch black room, no tv or music, sleep alone, and worst of all I can't stand being tangled in things or having anything on my face. You can see then, how this complicates my treatment. I have severe sleep apnea (107 pr hour and oxygen that dips into the 60% range) so this is seriously life and death for me. I've been struggling for the past week, but have found a couple things that are helping a little. The most important is that the mask is a comfortable as possible. I cover the inside of the mask with a thin layer of gauze because it gets too hot for me with the plastic on my skin, I have taken sleeping pills (Ambien) but limit that as much as possible to prevent dependance. Something I have found that seems to help is a white noise app I found on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Relax-Melodies-wh ... +noise+app

It's free with limit sound choices, but for 5.99 there are a ton of other sounds and options. It helps a lot with relaxation and keeping my mind off trying to sleep. Good luck

ilovelucy

Re: Insomnia

Post by ilovelucy » Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:21 am

very kind reply
thank you
will check out white noise
God bless you

ilovelucy

Re: Insomnia

Post by ilovelucy » Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:30 am

How often do you take ambien?

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Julie
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Re: Insomnia

Post by Julie » Tue Dec 16, 2014 11:58 am

Has she tried Melatonin (in a very small - 1 mg) dose? How about Valerian tea?

jaycee2
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Re: Insomnia

Post by jaycee2 » Tue Dec 16, 2014 3:59 pm

ilovelucy wrote:He uses RESMED CPAP AUTO
AND RESMED NANO MASK

Yes! She has had insomnia for many years.
So she puts the mask on and ends up waiting hours to fall asleep and so hates the cpap.
I tell her "mommy put the mask on as you are falling asleep not when you are awake"
She said "I know that is the way it works but when I do that--by the time I put the mask on then I am awake again".
Bottom line the problem is insomnia and the sleep doctor says she has to use cpap and prescribed a very strong drug to sleep which is way strong and addictive
Plus is she takes it---it is so strong she could even pee in the bed-----I am sure you can understand how depressing this is.

I have given her a few days off the cpap and she seems less burdened.

BTW I was told that sleep apnea is dangerous bc it causes strokes

Should I take comfort in the fact that my mother takes coumadin and is doing great in that regard.
Can your Mom take a different drug to sleep or cut the dosage of the one that the doctor prescribed? She needs to sleep but not such a deep sleep that she can't get up to go to the bathroom. It is wonderful that you are there for your mother.

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MsCJBC
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Re: Insomnia

Post by MsCJBC » Tue Dec 16, 2014 5:09 pm

I've only taken the ambien a couple times. My family has a history of dependence so I am very, very, careful and use it as a last ditch effort. Ambien has gotten a lot of bad press in recent years, but as long as it is used sparingly, not mixed with alcohol or other drugs and carefully monitored by your mom's doctor it should be perfectly safe. Always read the info that comes with it from the pharmacy too, you can read up on side effects and early warning signs of trouble.

ilovelucy

Re: Insomnia

Post by ilovelucy » Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:34 pm

Dr suggested TEMAZAPAM 15 mg

we have tried benadryl

and now using unisom caps

is ti okay to take breaks from the cpap

or do 4 times a week

Tango
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Re: Insomnia

Post by Tango » Wed Dec 17, 2014 12:42 pm

I heard someone mention Kaviance as a sleep aide.
I looked it up and found they also have an ultra pm kaviance.
The difference between the two is the regular kaviance has taurine while the ultra uses melatonin. The ultra is more
Anyone ever try this?
I think I might try it but I have to but it on line vs go into a store?
T

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Krelvin
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Re: Insomnia

Post by Krelvin » Wed Dec 17, 2014 1:00 pm

ilovelucy wrote:is ti okay to take breaks from the cpap

or do 4 times a week
You should use cpap everytime you lie down to sleep, take naps etc.
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