Nap without CPAP - Not a good idea.

Sundown · Post by **Sundown** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:05 am

I wanted to share with you guys/gals that yesterday, at 4:00 p.m., I fell asleep on the couch while my daughter was doing her homework. I never take naps anymore, but I was sleepy. 45 mins, later.. I woke up startled. My heart was beating fast and I felt really shaky. I immediately took my heart rate and it was 87 and I could tell that I did NOT have a good experience sleeping when I drifted off... felt the way a person feels when the phone rings in the middle of the night.. that panicky/shaky feeling.

I won't be drifting off again on the couch. If I want a nap.. (which I never need anymore) I will make sure I am on my CPAP!!! I wonder how many times I had stopped breathing and how much strain I put on my body.

I'm annoyed at myself for drifting off. I was too lazy to do what I should have done... get off my butt and lay down in my bedroom. I won't do that again.

WearyOne · Post by **WearyOne** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:17 am

Sundown, been there, done that myself. And I know EXACTLY what you're talking about. Sometimes I've done that and didn't feel all that bad (although I woke up a million times), but much more often than not, I feel like you did.

(It's so much easier, though, just to stay on the couch when you start nodding off, isn't it? Not good for us, but easier!)

Pam

SleepGuy · Post by **SleepGuy** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:28 am

I've done the same thing a few times taking a relaxing bath in my oversize tub. The less that I think of OSA as a "sleep disorder" and the more that I think of OSA as suffocation and understand the effects of oxygen desaturation, the less likely I am to repeat this. It's scary to me now. You were suffocating there on the couch!

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 10:04 am

After using CPAP for my first two nights, I decided to go without on the third night ... it didn't take long for me to realize the difference between sleeping with and sleeping without CPAP. I have been 100% compliant ever since regardless of whether it is for the whole night or for just a short nap.

greenvelvetdragon · Post by **greenvelvetdragon** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:43 am

I concur with Dreamstalker, in that i always use my machine no matter what. I have not been keen to ever attempt a night's sleep with out the mask, but i have dozed off during the day in the recliner and had a frightful gasping awakening, and I vowed never again. Even if there is even the slightest chance I might drift off while reading on a lazy weekend afternoon(as I have trained myself to get sleepy when I read to combat chronic insomnia which in hindsight may not have been the best idea ever but...) I have that mask on and the machine on. This has also helped desensitise me using the mask which I think in the long run has made it easier to stay 100% compliant.

cheers

GVD

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:07 am

Has there been any discussion as to whether the CPAP makes our already lazy breathing mechanism even lazier? I seem to notice much, much more waking up gasping for air if I happen to snooze without my CPAP. I've been on it since December...

rested gal · Post by **rested gal** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:09 am

Joffive accidentally guested wrote:Has there been any discussion as to whether the CPAP makes our already lazy breathing mechanism even lazier?

I don't think people with OSA have a "lazy" breathing mechanism. OSA is a physical collapse/closure at various points of the upper airway. The collapse is anatomically based -- not because of a "lazy" breathing mechanism.

Not even neurologically generated central apneas nor the waxing/waning pattern of Cheyne-Stokes Respiration could be called a "lazy" breathing mechanism, imho.

track · Post by **track** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:23 am

Everybody is different. Most of my apneas are when I get in a deep sleep and on my back. During a nap I never get on my back and don't get into a deep sleep....usually only sleeping 45 minutes. I usually feel refreshed for the rest of the day after a nap. I no longer use cpap for naps. I also don't snore during a nap whereas I do at night. Different strokes for different folks.

6PtStar · Post by **6PtStar** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 9:56 am

I use my CPAP for naps. I used to have a tendency to fall asleep in my recliner watching TV so when I bought my backup machine, instead of putting it in the closet until I needed it I set it up next to the recliner with an extra mask. When I feel myself nodding I slip the mask on. Use it when I nap because I want to nap too. Has been real convient for me.

Jerry

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 10:53 am

I've fallen alseep and taken a nap without cpap a few times as well....

usually to only awaken feeling worse than before I fell asleep.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:06 pm

Okay, perhaps lazy wasn't the right term to use. But has anyone discussed whether CPAP makes the underlying cause of the OSA to become even more dependent on CPAP to assist in keeping the airway open? So that if you find yourself without the use of your machine, you are less able to get air than before you started treatment?

SleepGuy · Post by **SleepGuy** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:29 pm

I only rarely take naps anyway but I don't see how using cpap would make the condition worse, make you more dependent on cpap. I agree with RG on this point.

deerslayer · Post by **deerslayer** » Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:04 pm

[quote="track"]Everybody is different. Most of my apneas are when I get in a deep sleep and on my back. During a nap I never get on my back and don't get into a deep sleep....usually only sleeping 45 minutes. I usually feel refreshed for the rest of the day after a nap. I no longer use cpap for naps. I also don't snore during a nap whereas I do at night. Different strokes for different folks.

Machine	Mask

Additional Comments: straight cpap 12.20 AHI avg.0.79

Mask

Additional Comments: Strictly a side sleeper