Still Tired, but Better

Hey, Family.

I just want to check in. I'm feeling pretty weird. I feel almost wide awake after using my machine for the first 2 nights. I also feel like I can use a nap, but it's not overwhelming. I feel like feeling good is close but just out of reach. I took a nap yesterday, after using machine for the first night, but today I am going to try to stay awake all day. Yup, no nap today. I wonder if that's a good idea? I figure if i do take a nap, that will help to pay the sleep debt faster. But if I don't take a nap, maybe that will help to get me back to a normal way of being. What do you think? Nap or no nap today? I just want to hurry up and be able to grab hold of that wide awake, can-take-on-the-world feeling.

It was terrible for me trying to get out of bed this morning. I felt like I hadn't slept at all. I actually slept for 12 hours. Will there come a time with CPAP compliance that I will actually be able to get to bed without forcing myself?What's your experience?

As long as you nap with the machine and not without it.

I say don't nap. You'll probably sleep better at night. The sleep debt may be paid off faster if you nap, because you body will probably want to sleep as much as possible; but, if you wait until it's time to sleep, you will get into proper sleep pattern faster. Moreover, I've heard that waking yourself up after--at the most--eight hours you'll probably feel better. You probably already know that too much sleep will make you sleepy...

I'm remembering my sleep center visit. The Doc told me that when I first start using CPAP, my body might try to sleep a lot because it has been REM deprived so long. It gets a taste for REM again and desires it!

Let me tell you my experience, so far. I've been with my CPAP for only 5 nights. My first night was a Tuesday. I work M-F and needed to wake up early. I felt great getting up after 7 hours of solid sleep! But, Friday night I had a chance to sleep in...And did I sleep in!!!! I slept approx. 12 hours. I felt really tired upon waking up. My face was swollen and my back hurt. I'm thinking that I slept too much. Last night, Saturday, I slept only 8 hours. I woke up a bit tired. I totally felt like sleeping more, but I forced my self to get up. I feel like I'm on top of the world this now! Unlike yesterday.

I really feel that the key in feeling good for me (and maybe you too)--especially early in the "recovery" period--is going to include following proper sleep patterns. I.e., get 7-8 hours of sleep on a regular schedule. Our bodies may be enjoying the newly found sleep ability and take it while it last. But, maybe we should control it.

At least that is what I thkink and that's what I am going to try to follow. I don't know if it's the best method or not, but that's what I'm doing.

You and I have started this at the same time almost. It's interesting to follow other people and what they are experiencing.

Thank you,

Chappy

I have been using cpap for about one month. Have noticed some days are better than others. Keeping my mask on at night determines what kind of day I will have.

I was hoping that I would feel much better than I do by now. Have read many comments on this site that say it simply takes time to get to normal.

Hunter1

I have been using CPAP machine for 3 nights. I got up on my own after 8 hours on the first two nights. I felt a little light headed during the entire day and did not geel cranky. Yesterday (3rd night) was not so great; I was tired when I got up this morning and have been cranky all day at work/home. Is this normal? Will it get better?

I've used APAP for 2 1/2 months and haven't napped - not that I haven't wanted to : ) Therefore my advice is coming from a place without experience.

Given that, I think you should nap if you didn't get the desired amount of sleep the night before. If you don't sleep well the night after napping because you're not sleepy enough, then don't nap.

That's my 2 cents.

Thanks, guys. I did nap on that day, for four hours, with my mask, and woke up still feeling horrible.

Thanks also, Gasp, for your 2 cents. I always get what should be a good night's sleep of 10-12 hours with no interruptions in sleep. Feel horrible when I wake up. Then I get another 4-6 hours worth of nap and still feel horrible.

Today is day 5 witth the CPAP. I've been feeling miserable all day, just kind of lazy-ing around the house and on the net. Basically doing absolutely nothing but waiting for 7:00 p.m. so I can go to bed for good.

This is a miserable way to live. Thank God I don't have to go to work everyday. I'm retired on disability, so my days are totally free to do what I want. Too bad that doing what I want comprises of sleeping. I cannot wait to live again. I guess I'll just have to wait awhile.

Will there come a time with CPAP compliance that I will actually be able to get to bed without forcing myself?What's your experience?

I've been on the hose for a little over a month. I know what you mean about having to force yourself to go to bed. For me, it seems so much nicer and more comfortable to lay on the couch and drift off to sleep in front of the TV. I know, this is terrible sleep hygiene, but it's become a habit.

And going to bed is actually something that requires effort now. I have to put water in the humidifier and strap a mask on my face. Most nights I really don't look forward to going to bed.

It really is worth it though, because even though I don't feel great, at least I no longer feel so tired that I just want to die (like I did before starting CPAP).

Hang in there

It takes a little while to adapt but you will see a difference

DSM

And going to bed is actually something that requires effort now. I have to put water in the humidifier and strap a mask on my face. Most nights I really don't look forward to going to bed.

i hear ya, amandalee
sometimes it actually cracks me up just how much is involved in getting ready for bed nowadays, from taking my plmd meds to making sure my hair's tied up so the straps won't ride up, to chapstick, to nasal lubricant, to pur-sleep, to putting on the headgear, tying on the pantyhose strap, eliminating leaks and finally laying down on the papillow...then suddenly realizing i haven't been to the bathroom one last time...arggghhhh...sometimes i miss the old days of flopping face down on the bed and waking up 12 hours later...feeling like poo, mind you, but much less preparation

about the napping thing, i think recent research has shown that we should all be napping, that humans are meant to sleep twice in a 24 hour period and that's why we all start to fade in the afternoon...look at the europeans (esp. italians and spanish) who still siesta every day and certainly experience the health benefits...main thing for us though is to wear the mask...and of course, a nap, by definition, is a short duration, like 45 minutes to an hour--in my pre-cpap days i thought crashing on the couch for 3 hours was a nap! and then i wondered why i felt worse instead of better

LyricZ wrote:Thanks, guys. I did nap on that day, for four hours, with my mask, and woke up still feeling horrible.

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP

Good Golly! I don't consider four hours to be a nap! That is half a night. I could never sleep at night with that much daytime sleep. If I were you I would consider taking no naps or just nap for 30 mins to an hour and see if that makes a difference in your waking hours. I think there is such a thing as to much sleep.

I've been a hosehead for a month now. A couple weeks ago, I was at an A.W.A.K.E. meeting with a doctor as a guest speaker. I told him that before BiPAP therapy, I was awakening every morning alert and raring to go. Since starting therapy, I feel groggy for a few minutes upon awakening. This is exactly the opposite of everything I had heard would happen.

I told the doc that my personal theory was this: before therapy, I wasn't sleeping deeply at all, so I was already half awake when it came time to get up. Since starting therapy and sleeping more deeply, waking is more of a "chore" and it takes longer to arouse. The doc said my theory was not correct. Actually, I think he misunderstood me, and I think he thought I said I was groggy all morning after therapy, not just for a few minutes.

But I gave the doc some other comparisons:

Before therapy: got up every night in the wee hours to go to the bathroom.
After starting therapy: haven't gotten up a single time.

Before therapy: started dozing at work at lunch time.
After starting therapy: haven't dozed once at work.

Before therapy: started falling asleep at night before bedtime while watching TV.
After starting therapy: I almost have to force myself to go to bed and fall asleep.

So the doc said not to worry about the morning grogginess, especially since I reiterated that the grogginess only lasted a couple minutes.

But I do wish I was able to hop right up and get out of bed feeling refreshed right off the bat, like I had heard would happen. Maybe in time. It's only been a month.

[quote="LyricZ"]Thanks, guys. I did nap on that day, for four hours, with my mask, and woke up still feeling horrible.

Thanks also, Gasp, for your 2 cents. I always get what should be a good night's sleep of 10-12 hours with no interruptions in sleep. Feel horrible when I wake up. Then I get another 4-6 hours worth of nap and still feel horrible.

Today is day 5 witth the CPAP. I've been feeling miserable all day, just kind of lazy-ing around the house and on the net. Basically doing absolutely nothing but waiting for 7:00 p.m. so I can go to bed for good.

This is a miserable way to live. Thank God I don't have to go to work everyday. I'm retired on disability, so my days are totally free to do what I want. Too bad that doing what I want comprises of sleeping. I cannot wait to live again. I guess I'll just have to wait awhile.

jla930 wrote: But I gave the doc some other comparisons:

Before therapy: got up every night in the wee hours to go to the bathroom.
After starting therapy: haven't gotten up a single time.

Before therapy: started dozing at work at lunch time.
After starting therapy: haven't dozed once at work.


_________________

Exactly.....I used to get up a couple of times every night to go to the bathroom and now I never do. I was nodding off at my desk and now almost never do My sleep patterns are changing, I'm turning into an early bird. I'm usually up by 4 or 5 am at the latest. I feel a little groggy when I wake up but it does pass quickly and I'm good to go in the morning. By mid afternoon I'm starting to fade. Most evenings I'm tired out by 8 pm, although some nights I get a second wind, especially if I'm already active or working on something that is important to me. I find that the more active I keep my mind the less bored and sleepy I get.

Sharon....I know what you mean about the preperation for bed now! I used to just fall into bed and call it good. But now I have to re hook the hose up (it hangs all day to air out and dry if needed), put water in the humidifer, put the mask back together and on the hose, lately put a bandaid on the spot that the tape ripped skin off, put the mouth tape on, use the nasal saline gel, put the mask on, and whew finally done. OH and this is after doing the sinus rinse so my sinuses are clear. And brushing my teeth, and going to the bathroom for the last time. (whew).

Nothing like getting all geared up and then realizing you forgot to brush your teeth..that sucks.

_________________

CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): hose

I don't think any of us should be so concerned about feeling tired or not feeling tired. People who slept very poorly before will notice a more obvious difference, but breathing well during the night has to be doing good for us. In my case I don't notice a great difference, but I never knew there was anything wrong before BUT my triglycerides and blood pressure are way down since treatment of the apnea. And I wouldn't be surprised if my cholesterol lowering is also from the CPAP.